Patch 1.02

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All Forums >> [New Releases from Matrix Games] >> Empires in Arms the Napoleonic Wars of 1805 - 1815 >> Tech Support >> Patch 1.02

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Patch 1.02 - 2/14/2008 8:36:14 PM

Grimrod42

Posts: 92
Joined: 1/10/2008
Status: offline

I was wondering if their was a release date for the next patch. Our PBEM game is waiting on it to start.

Thanks

Post #: 1

RE: Patch 1.02 - 2/14/2008 10:43:33 PM

bresh

Posts: 936
Joined: 8/8/2005
Status: offline

Im sure they work as hard as possible. Marshall Ellis did hint a possible beta in a few weeks. But keep in mind, 1.01 beta did also take abit longer than they did expect.

Regards
Bresh

(in reply to Grimrod42)

Post #: 2

RE: Patch 1.02 - 2/14/2008 11:01:32 PM

Grimrod42

Posts: 92
Joined: 1/10/2008
Status: offline

I was just wondering if their was an ETa ( I might have missed the news somewhere) ... not rushing anyone

(in reply to bresh)

Post #: 3

RE: Patch 1.02 - 2/14/2008 11:22:14 PM

Jimmer

Posts: 1968
Joined: 12/5/2007
Status: offline

Matrix being a small company actually works against getting patches out quickly. It's kind of backwards logic, but here's why:

Small companies have a higher ratio of developers to management.
Some of the management, even, came up through the ranks from development
Developers have a strong desire to "do it right the first time"
Management has a strong desire to "get it out the door and earn some money"

So, if there is a higher developer to manager ratio in Matrix (which seems VERY likely, given their presence on this set of forums), that means they will lean more towards "do it right the first time".

When 1.01 was being readied, Marshall mentioned that there were 50 patches in 1.01. Later, there were 60. Then 70. Finally, I believe there were 90+ at the end. There's an engineer behind that process, I guarantee it. "Do it right the first time."

In order to push patches out faster, there would have to be a "drop-dead date" for patch code. This would mean that, no matter what, no patch will be added to the patch after a certain date.

There are exceptions, though. If the patch set being developed itself created a bug, that bug would have to be evaluated to find out whether it would be necessary or not. Again, developers will lean towards "yes, it's needed", while management wants to know why and how much will it cost.

1.01a was nearly perfect, but didn't fix all of the previous problems. An engineer was in charge of that.

1.01b fixed all of the problems with 1.01a, but introduced a few more that were new. A manager was in charge of the decision to release.

The question for the customer boils down to this:

Would you rather have perfect patches less often? or

Would you rather have patches on a timeline, but not always perfect when they came off the line?

I personally would rather see them slam out a patch every two weeks come hill or high water. I happen to be an programmer, so I SHOULD lean towards the "perfection" end of things, but being a player is far more important to me than programming when it comes to EiA. "PUSH them patches!"

Which would YOU rather have?

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At LAST! The greatest campaign board game of all time is finally available for the PC. Can my old heart stand the strain?

(in reply to Grimrod42)

Post #: 4

RE: Patch 1.02 - 2/15/2008 12:01:41 AM

Mardonius

Posts: 654
Joined: 4/9/2007
From: East Coast
Status: offline

I am with you Jimmer. Get out what you can ASAP. If you try and fix everything it will take an inordinately long time and when you release it you will find that you have new problems anyway. Best to incrementally fix and keep the process flowing.

Plus, that way you have the added benefit of tapping into the enhanced play tester community that we have all become.

Reminds me of decentralized decision making against the old Soviet bloc et alias central control doctrines...

_____________________________

"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

(in reply to Jimmer)

Post #: 5

RE: Patch 1.02 - 2/15/2008 4:00:08 PM

Monadman

Posts: 2085
Joined: 12/6/2005
From: New Hampshire
Status: offline

Just trying to work thru a few problems associated with the new temp access function before releasing 1.02. Will not hold it back much longer.

Richard

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(in reply to Mardonius)

Post #: 6

RE: Patch 1.02 - 2/15/2008 4:56:40 PM

Grimrod42

Posts: 92
Joined: 1/10/2008
Status: offline

Thank you ... thats all I wanted to know.

(in reply to Monadman)

Post #: 7

RE: Patch 1.02 - 2/15/2008 5:29:52 PM

Mardonius

Posts: 654
Joined: 4/9/2007
From: East Coast
Status: offline

That is great news Richard! Thank you for all your hard work.

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