i've come to accept that this IS the game--an idea that backers get to observe, are included in the development, and play the game in their imagination. You're paying for the buy-in to be part of a development process and feel like you're making a contribution via feedback and alpha gameplay.

the company has made massive investments tech just around this feedback loop and to entertain these backers. it's a core to what they're doing.

unfortunately, this is not how it was sold when they first launched but that ship has sailed.

this is like WWF of game development. it's fake.

now you get a progress tracker that's fukin versioned to further feed you packets of endorphins to build up this imaginary world that doesn't exist.