[2020] "Optimization comes in beta" doesn't seem like a valid excuse

First, I have to say mad props on that avatar choice.

But it's not a heightmap, it's voxels. A heightmap means one height value for every x,y position, but voxels mean every bit is simulated in all three dimensions, including depth. That's what allows you to not only build up whatever shape you want, but also dig whatever shape you want out of the terrain.

That's a big deal. It's a fundamental difference that other games (like Ark) don't do. It means using components of your hardware differently than a non-voxel game. And not because it's unoptimized. A game doing voxels is like a game doing real-time raytracing: the hardware requirements are just going to be different, more taxing in some areas, at least until the tech becomes more mature and widely adopted.

The voxels have been in the game since Alpha 1. Without them, there is no 7DtD. They've been iterated on to look better (less Minecraft-like) and perform better ever since. So it wasn't a drop it in whenever 'cause it's cool thing, it was an 'item number 1' thing.

It's understandable that some don't fully appreciate how this game is different from non-voxel games, and assume performance has to do with draw distances or something else. If you're pretty meh on what voxels add to the game, then this may not be the game for you, and that's okay. As for dev priorities, every Alpha has had major new features added. Yes, there are optimizations along the way, but you can't put icing on the cake while you're still adding the ingredients - it leads to wasted effort and ultimately a longer production time.

Also, not everyone on the team is a graphics/engine programmer, and it's impractical from a production standpoint to have artists and designers sit on their hands just to satisfy some principle that the tech should be finished first. This game is presented as being in alpha because foundational components are still being added at different times.

We have a community here that's totally willing to help you achieve better performance, if you want to share your hardware specs and what results are most important to you. You can browse the many, many, many threads where people have done just that. I hope you find it helpful.

Originally posted by Mummel: I referred to WoW getting about seven years of development before release, my point not being related to it's performance so much as seven years being *plenty* of time for a much smaller game to set aside some time to get it running properly. They've clearly spent most of that time counting up all the money from the millions of copies sold.

I don't think that's being entirely fair, Mummel. Have you seen what the game looked like seven years ago?