Its not faith, its forthright communication

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All Forums >> [New Releases from Matrix Games] >> Empires in Arms the Napoleonic Wars of 1805 - 1815 >> Its not faith, its forthright communication

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Its not faith, its forthright communication - 9/12/2007 2:42:27 PM

Mardonius

Posts: 654
Joined: 4/9/2007
From: East Coast
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I would like to address those following the couple of ongoing discussions pertaining to faith.

We who reads these forums have, implicitly, a keen interest in the prospects for EiA Napoleonic Wars, else we would not be reading this rather arcane forum. Where there is a keen interest there is almost certainly (lest you be a competitor to Matrix) an earnest desire to see the game release and succeed. Such earnest desire breeds hope, faith, and a degree of patience. These three are all sentiments that bode well for the continued support for this venture by the readers of this forum.

The turning about of such sentiments into scathing commentary about Marshall, Matrix, et alias is not an expected thing. Yet it is understandable. How did this come about from an otherwise hopeful, patient, and faithful following?

I believe that the answer is not found in and amongst the repeated delays of this product. We would all, albeit with some Grognards grumbling, wait patiently were Matrix to insure one thing: Forthright and consistent communication. There is a problem here. For example, we are getting different stories from Marshall and Monadman and, though David Heath had promised on 3 September 2007, to get back to us with the true, forthright communication, we have yet to know the real situation.

And so I say that the issue is not faith and patience or hope or anything of the sort. Matrix has unwittingly engendered a spirit of mistrust in the ranks of this forum. Certainly the revenues from a successful release of EiANW may ameliorate the damage in the short term, but I would venture to say that some of the readers of this forum may be less hopeful, patient, and faithful in the future unless Matrix takes a few proactive measures.

These measures, unsolicited advice but perhaps helpful to your business if you care to listen, are:

(1) Straighten out the current confusion and contradictory statements by Marshall and Monadman.
(2) Ensure that Matrix speaks with only one head and that this head knows the true situation.
(3) Don't make any prognostications, predictions, rose-colored glass statements that you can not hold up to.
(4) If the project -- disregarding sunk costs -- does not look achievable with a profit constraints, then sell off your license and try and recoup some of your investment.
(5) Keep us forthrightly informed. Perhaps this was not necessary at the beginning of the project but I reckon that now, with all the commentary that has preceded this day, it is indeed requisite lest you further engender ill will.

Semper Fidelis,
Mardonius

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_____________________________

"Crisis is the rallying cry of the tyrant" -- James Madison
"Yes, you will win most battles, but if you loose to me you will loose oh so badly that it causes me pain (chortle) just to think of it" - P. Khan

Post #: 1

RE: Its not faith, its forthright communication - 9/12/2007 3:06:05 PM

YohanTM2

Posts: 1143
Joined: 10/7/2002
From: Toronto
Status: offline

Very well thought out and well said.

(in reply to Mardonius)

Post #: 2

RE: Its not faith, its forthright communication - 9/12/2007 3:59:35 PM

denshiblocks

Posts: 15
Joined: 7/8/2004
Status: offline

well put indeed! i wholeheartedly agree, especially with point #4

why does this forum exist but as a sort of promotional tool to get potential buyers of the game excited about it? i was excited, then disappointed, then bitterly disappointed. if this forum was intended as a tool of actual information, then it is a failure. if it was intended as a promotional tool, then it is a maddening failure.

(in reply to Mardonius)

Post #: 3

RE: Its not faith, its forthright communication - 9/12/2007 7:31:33 PM

David Heath

Posts: 3274
Joined: 3/29/2000
From: Staten Island NY
Status: offline

Hi Guys

I am in contact with both of them and we discussing the issues. Once I have all of there feedback I will get back to everyone and let you know where we are going from here.

David

_____________________________

(in reply to denshiblocks)

Post #: 4

RE: Its not faith, its forthright communication - 9/12/2007 7:42:05 PM

Hanal

Posts: 2312
Joined: 11/1/2003
Status: offline

You know, HPS has such a cloak of secrecy over their releases that it can be an annoying experience when you have an interest in one of their titles, but when I see the garbage that is posted in this forum regarding EiA (present thread excluded) one can understand HPS' philosophy...you are damned if you do, damned if you don't!

(in reply to David Heath)

Post #: 5

RE: Its not faith, its forthright communication - 9/13/2007 1:00:56 PM

Ursa MAior

Posts: 1416
Joined: 4/20/2005
From: Hungary, EU
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: J P Falcon
you are damned if you do, damned if you don't!

Exactly what Kierkegaard said about getting married.

_____________________________

Art by the amazing Dixie

(in reply to Hanal)

Post #: 6

RE: Its not faith, its forthright communication - 9/13/2007 1:21:37 PM

PDiFolco

Posts: 1200
Joined: 10/11/2004
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: J P Falcon

You know, HPS has such a cloak of secrecy over their releases that it can be an annoying experience when you have an interest in one of their titles, but when I see the garbage that is posted in this forum regarding EiA (present thread excluded) one can understand HPS' philosophy...you are damned if you do, damned if you don't!

But they *do* release, and frequently....

(in reply to Hanal)

Post #: 7

RE: Its not faith, its forthright communication - 9/13/2007 8:07:08 PM

jchastain

Posts: 2164
Joined: 8/8/2003
From: Marietta, GA
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ursa MAior

Exactly what Kierkegaard said about getting married.

Milton was more to the point. Paradise Lost was released 4 years after he wed.

(in reply to Ursa MAior)

Post #: 8

RE: Its not faith, its forthright communication - 9/19/2007 1:29:11 AM

SittingDuck

Posts: 1166
Joined: 9/1/2002
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Mardonius
The turning about of such sentiments into scathing commentary about Marshall, Matrix, et alias is not an expected thing. Yet it is understandable. How did this come about from an otherwise hopeful, patient, and faithful following?

<snip>

And so I say that the issue is not faith and patience or hope or anything of the sort. Matrix has unwittingly engendered a spirit of mistrust in the ranks of this forum. Certainly the revenues from a successful release of EiANW may ameliorate the damage in the short term, but I would venture to say that some of the readers of this forum may be less hopeful, patient, and faithful in the future unless Matrix takes a few proactive measures.

I can appreciate the enthusiasm, mate. You're fairly new here, so don't have 5 years of angst that was the "Combat Leader" charade/debacle/joke/embarrassment/knifeinownhead. Straight up, MatrixGames has a growing rep as a company that has waaaay too much going on - "let's buy and commission every damn game that's been made!" - with little attention to refining it's own internal processes, which would have help, but not ensure, this situation right here. The damage to the community's perception of Matrix via the 'Combat Leader' situation should have been the impetus to get things straightened out. Alas, no.

Truth is, Matrix Games was once about potential. But potential is not enough. Thus, other companies are storming by with better products and clearly superior service. Matrix is no longer top dog and headed in the wrong direction.

I hope you guys, as a community, can salvage something from Marshall's effort, and the effort that has been invested by others. You deserve it. But be careful when pinning hopes on titles coming forth from here, chaps.

(in reply to Mardonius)

Post #: 9

RE: Its not faith, its forthright communication - 10/8/2007 8:24:46 PM

denisonh

Posts: 2194
Joined: 12/21/2001
From: Upstate SC
Status: offline

I tend to agree SittingDuck, but caveat by saying that I am never in a hurry to see any title.

I have been watching this develop for quite a while (before it was EiA) and have remained patient for the duration. I have little spare time for computer gaming these days and find that I have more interests than time.

My biggest bitch is investing my time in a game that was an incomplete product due to poor design implementation or testing. Vapor ware is better than investing time in a "coaster" as far as I am concerned. No manner of "customer service" or kissing my @ss on a forum will compensate for poor work. How many titles have been hurried for release then retroactively fixed with numerous patches? I would really like a game that is beta tested before it is sold rather than after. Matrix taking thier time does not matter to me, but the other scenarios mentioned above do.

Matrix has not made a single dollar from EiA and I have not wasted a single minute on the game, so what is the problem? My life has gone on and it is no worse because EiA has not been released.

So for those with issues with Matrix and EiA, express your doubts as to purchasing the product and provide suggestions on improving the process and product (much had been said in that regard). Just check the attitudes at the door, as no one here is owes you anything.

quote:

ORIGINAL: SittingDuck

quote:

ORIGINAL: Mardonius
The turning about of such sentiments into scathing commentary about Marshall, Matrix, et alias is not an expected thing. Yet it is understandable. How did this come about from an otherwise hopeful, patient, and faithful following?

<snip>

And so I say that the issue is not faith and patience or hope or anything of the sort. Matrix has unwittingly engendered a spirit of mistrust in the ranks of this forum. Certainly the revenues from a successful release of EiANW may ameliorate the damage in the short term, but I would venture to say that some of the readers of this forum may be less hopeful, patient, and faithful in the future unless Matrix takes a few proactive measures.

I can appreciate the enthusiasm, mate. You're fairly new here, so don't have 5 years of angst that was the "Combat Leader" charade/debacle/joke/embarrassment/knifeinownhead. Straight up, MatrixGames has a growing rep as a company that has waaaay too much going on - "let's buy and commission every damn game that's been made!" - with little attention to refining it's own internal processes, which would have help, but not ensure, this situation right here. The damage to the community's perception of Matrix via the 'Combat Leader' situation should have been the impetus to get things straightened out. Alas, no.

Truth is, Matrix Games was once about potential. But potential is not enough. Thus, other companies are storming by with better products and clearly superior service. Matrix is no longer top dog and headed in the wrong direction.

I hope you guys, as a community, can salvage something from Marshall's effort, and the effort that has been invested by others. You deserve it. But be careful when pinning hopes on titles coming forth from here, chaps.

_____________________________

"Life is tough, it's even tougher when you're stupid" -SGT John M. Stryker, USMC

(in reply to SittingDuck)

Post #: 10

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