ok, lets image what would happen IF EA or another big ass company developed this.
1. beta: WHAT beta. They would only release a rushed v 1.0 one that has whole bites of gameplay out of it just to please the public, bringing patches as the complaints get in.
2. improvements and idea's from the community: The company's doesn't give a crap about the public's opinion, they are interested in sales.
so next to the shortcutting, we would still be at having just a ladder instead of having a siege tower to.
When Armagan released a new version, there was always a "bug report of V. ***" and the good man fixed it as soon as he could.
The C's won't give a crap like stated before.
3. Hype: The C's would make banners, fan-sites, pop-ups, (TV-)commercials to make the game know and even beyond of what is expected.
remember Assassin's creed. do NEED to say more.
4. Us: Would we be even discussing all of this . . . NO.
Would the tavern be still full of epic stories . . No
Would there be mods as great as we now have. . . No
Would there still be a fun topic . . . yes, BUT with only the 4Chan and the like treads.
some of us have been here since v. 0.6XX and even before that. Why???
because the game is so good we stuck around to see it grow and we are almost the end, it's like seeing a child grow into an adult.
and why would that be?
because the game is so good: The freedom, The (mounted) combat, if you have the imagination: Your own stories.
the community it self, full with the humor. the epic quotes, the stories and the help you get and more.
we came here by chance or by fate. or even the best of all the stories we here from others our friends, from everywhere.
if they can impress you to play it when even they needed to be impressed by the game without a commercial or any of the commercials as stated before.
you made one hell of a game, a game of awesome, an Epic game of win.
so even if the game won't be as popular as it would by a big company, it will be one of quality, a dedicated community and great fun.