Why No Escape Mode?

D11_Nat 2016-07-12 12:56:58 UTC #1

Hi everyone,

So I'm sure you're aware that Escape Mode is by far and away the most commonly requested feature on Prison Architect console edition. We get asked why it's not included quite regularly, so I wrote a short blog post to explain the decision and to provide a little background info. Here it is:

https://prisonarchitect.double11.com/headlines/why-no-escape-mode/

There isn't much on there that hasn't already been said if you've been following every thread, but I'll be directing people to this in future rather than giving myself carpal tunnel by typing the same thing over again!

Post your questions in here and I'll pick them up when I can

Nat D11

D11_Nat 2016-07-12 12:59:23 UTC #2

StormPoet 2016-07-12 14:21:27 UTC #3

Thanks for the thorough explanation although I had already figured it was something like this to begin with. You guys are doing great and I am enjoying the game so much I occasionally lose track of an entire day.

kyle_n_southard 2016-08-13 02:00:40 UTC #4

Let's say if you all started on escape mode how long do you think it would take to get release

Lukethemarine 2016-08-16 09:51:50 UTC #5

Scince the game was released there have been no major updates

D11_Nat 2016-08-18 09:12:44 UTC #6

As it stands, Prison Architect for consoles is a complete title. We're constantly reviewing the titles though and any additional content updates will be announced, but we'd never give speculative timescales for development work

Nat D11

Brado 2016-08-21 12:00:17 UTC #7

When i brought the game i played for a week building my own prison and running prison its getting boring and when i look on youtube the pc version got basketball courts and escape mode so i thought the console version had escape mode so i look it was not there and i got bored quickly and I paid £20 for the game so i want all the content that pc has and then that is worth my money would there be any updates for the console version can you put in basketball courts and more programs and more objects that the pc have.

Thank you
for reading

Trooperfriendly 2016-08-23 03:14:29 UTC #8

Escape mode for me is one of the most critical key parts of this game and it is one factor that people bought this game, I would just like to know if the developers will add this in or not... And if so, went?

Trooperfriendly 2016-08-23 03:15:00 UTC #9

Same here, I feel you brado

D11_Nat 2016-08-23 08:12:44 UTC #10

Hi @Trooper.

It's not necessary to post this across five or six different threads, for reference. It's just me on here from D11 and I see all new posts. Post it once, I'll see it.

Nat D11

Trooperfriendly 2016-08-23 14:26:44 UTC #11

:3 Sorry............

D11_Nat 2016-08-23 14:27:30 UTC #12

I forgive you

Nat D11

Jeremiah_G 2016-08-31 02:17:25 UTC #13

So basically what that link says is that you halfassed the game by not including escape mode simply because of deadlines, budgets, and/or laziness? Escape mode is the only reason why I and many other people bought the game in the first place. So how is it not a core element of the game? In my honest opinion, escape mode better be included in a free future update instead of a paid DLC, because I already feel ripped off. All I wanted to do was escape from prisons that I and other people built.

D11_Nat 2016-08-31 08:15:04 UTC #14

Sorry you feel that way, Jeremiah. I don't think there's much to say that would make you feel better. The decision was made internally that Escape Mode in its current form (at the time of development) was not a priority for the game. I understand that some players (a good vocal proportion) disagree with that sentiment. Unfortunately though, that disagreement doesn't change the outcome of that decision or the reasons that it was made. Games publishers aren't in the business of 'half-arsing' games, there's a huge financial risk in taking any game to market, and decisions are made on the basis of what will result in the best game. We've tried to be as open as possible about the differences between the titles and outside of printing 'No Escape Mode' in bold letters on the box (which is crazy talk) I'm not sure what else we could do. If we had dedicated resources escape mode, there likely wouldn't have been a World of Wardens, which means you wouldn't be able to play someone else's prisons.

Again, I'm genuinely sorry for your disappointment and hope that you can find enough value in the game outside of escape mode.

Nat D11

Jeremiah_G 2016-08-31 18:26:04 UTC #15

The irony here is that the world of wardens feature doesn't interest me at all. I have no interest in playing someone else's prison unless it's to escape it. Before I bought the game, I read it's description in the PlayStation store and no where did it say that escape mode is not included in the PlayStation 4 edition.

D11_Nat 2016-09-01 08:16:34 UTC #16

Your feelings have been noted and will be passed on to the appropriate people. I'm sorry we weren't able to deliver a product which met your needs.

Nat D11

AussieEffect 2016-09-04 14:07:57 UTC #17

@Jeremiah_G Haha wow mate you bought the game you get whats given, im reading few of these posts with dissapointments and complaints towards the game specially with those who said they had it on pc i cant help but to say yous just need to harden up, i dont know how game developments works but im sure if you wait like the rest of us and show a keen interest on an update for escape mode they might consider it. Hopefully fingers crossed

Jeremiah_G 2016-09-05 23:27:40 UTC #18

"you get whats given"
Thing is, I paid for a full game, I didn't pay for half a game. Unfortunately, what I got was half a game. I now understand, they value PC gamers more than console gamers.

AussieEffect 2016-09-06 06:27:40 UTC #19

I get what you mean but i guess you got to understand if the developers wouldnt have had the fund to provide everything im guessing there'd be alot of hard work to include everything that the pc provides. All in all just show your in for a massive update to include escape mode if thats what your after, staff did say if the demand is there then theres a chance they'd consider it so join us and lets show how much we'd love the game even more if they did (:

D11_Nat 2016-09-07 08:17:51 UTC #20

"I now understand, they value PC gamers more than console gamers."

We didn't even make the PC version

I'm afraid it's nothing nearly as exciting or controversial as preferring one group of gamers over another. We made the best console experience we could, within the parameters available to us, and genuinely think we came out the other end with a cracking game. We can't be all things to all players, which sucks for both us and you. We'd like to be able to give you guys the moon on a stick but sometimes that's not possible. Also, there's always the chance that someone will ask why we gave you a moon instead of the far superior Sun, don't we care about gamers?

The players are the only reason we can operate so please believe me when I say that your experience is our absolute priority.

Nat D11