How is the game coming along? (Full Version)

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varjager -> How is the game coming along? (7/1/2000 2:30:00 PM)

Just nosy how the game is coming along?



chanman -> (2/16/2001 1:55:00 PM)

I thought that I would renew the question of "how is the game going?" I understand UV is apparently on the front burner so to speak, but I haven't seen any updates.



Ed Cogburn -> (2/16/2001 3:11:00 PM)

quote:

Originally posted by chanman: I thought that I would renew the question of "how is the game going?" I understand UV is apparently on the front burner so to speak, but I haven't seen any updates.
It'll be ready when its ready. Let them work on it.



silkworm -> (2/17/2001 4:06:00 AM)

Some how I can imagine Matrix putting up a better PR effort.



Joel Billings -> (2/17/2001 4:37:00 AM)

Development is going full steam ahead. I wouldn't expect there will be anything more to show for at least 1-2 months, but that's my personal opinion and Matrix may have something in mind that I don't know about. Uncommon Valor is definitely on the front burner and we're making progress (even if that's not publicly visible at the moment). Joel



Ed Cogburn -> (2/17/2001 3:34:00 PM)

quote:

Originally posted by silkworm: Some how I can imagine Matrix putting up a better PR effort.
You mean answering the regular "How's it coming along guys" question that shows up over and over again? Thats not PR, its a waste of time, time better spent writing UV code.



silkworm -> (2/18/2001 11:43:00 AM)

It's a question of how you relate to your customer base, and where customer service, pre-release as well as post-release, fits into your corporate philosophy. Is Matrix about putting code into users' hands, and nothing more? Or is it about giving gamers a comprehensive experience, beginning with anticipation for the product?



silkworm -> (2/18/2001 11:57:00 AM)

quote:

Originally posted by Joel Billings: Development is going full steam ahead. I wouldn't expect there will be anything more to show for at least 1-2 months, but that's my personal opinion and Matrix may have something in mind that I don't know about. Uncommon Valor is definitely on the front burner and we're making progress (even if that's not publicly visible at the moment). Joel
Thank you, Joel.



Ed Cogburn -> (2/18/2001 8:16:00 PM)

quote:

Originally posted by silkworm: It's a question of how you relate to your customer base, and where customer service, pre-release as well as post-release, fits into your corporate philosophy. Is Matrix about putting code into users' hands, and nothing more? Or is it about giving gamers a comprehensive experience, beginning with anticipation for the product?
Huh? What customer service exists before the product itself even exists? Building "Anticipation for the product" sounds like advertising (not a "customer service" in my book), which is what much of Matrix's website is for, except that the forums are changing daily, meaning the developers have to monitor the forums daily. That is time the developers could be working on the products they're website is "advertising". However, advertising is not some radically new idea. Any computer game magazine is stuffed with advertising for mediocre products. I don't want Matrix to go the old tired route. Hire some PR dude to do the handholding on the forums and please keep the developers WORKING ON THE GAME. This is in Matrix's best interest, and thus our best interest, as they need positive cash flow. [This message has been edited by Ed Cogburn (edited February 18, 2001).]



David Heath -> (2/18/2001 11:13:00 PM)

Guys Let me jump in here. There is no doubt the our site is to help promote our games. It also serves as a place were gamers can find out information about our games. On the forum issue we feel as a company and as developers it is VERY important that we go to the forums. We get good ideas, let the gamers know what we are working on. In a way it really allows the public to help us develop the game. SPWaW is a great example of this. We are behind on some new screenshots and we are working on this. I hope this clears that up and keep your posts coming. David Heath



Supervisor -> (2/18/2001 11:40:00 PM)

I don't think you can fault people for being anxious about a new game coming out. I know you guys are very busy & don't want to take away from your valuable time but this might be a relatively painless suggestion. How about including in the individual forum sections a thread under the heading of "Updates"? This way the designers could keep us informed (when there's something worthwhile to post) & the unread post will show up when the reader logs on. Maybe this way the designers (& others!) won't be getting bugged all the time asking for updates. Then again, maybe all this is covered in the the "News" section, but I usually jump right into the forums before I look at the news section. Thanks for listening.



Paul Goodman -> (2/19/2001 12:46:00 AM)

Ed, I have to disagree with you. In order to produce a product, whether it is a Widget or a design or software, it is necessary to define when it is finished. Otherwise, I assure you, it will never be finished. It is also necessary to be goal oriented, particularly in so large a project. That goal must include a completion date. I find it perfectly reasonable to ask "what is your completion goal?" I am sure that Matrix would be more than happy to respond to these questions, if they could. But, lets face it, GG is now the driving force for these games. And GG, for better or for worse, does not correspond with the teeming masses. One might reasonably question whether GG corresponds with Matrix. He might just say "It will be ready when its ready." Paul



David Heath -> (2/19/2001 2:46:00 AM)

Paul Your a little off here. Our staff talks to not only Gary, but Joel and Keith almost daily. Let me also say that any release date or delays in the game are MY choice. I have made a policy that I will not state a release date until I am ready. When am I ready? About 60 days or less from public release. I will give you a clue and say late summer early fall and then only if I feel its ready. We will be updating the site as soon as we nail down a few more issues. If you are one of those gamers that have played a game designed by Gary before you know the level of detail that goes into his designs. This game by far exceeds any of his older games. So please give us the space we need to give you want you want. We are not saying anything because we don't want to but more because we are still under the hood working. David [This message has been edited by David Heath (edited February 18, 2001).]



Recon_slith -> (2/19/2001 6:35:00 PM)

The regular responses by Matrix to the board are what makes it the place it is today - an interesting place to visit. If lack of response on noticeboards is an indication of effort then Talonsoft must have the hardest grafting boys in the business(!) Lets not start down that route by discouraging replies. ------------------ Reality sucks, but it's all we have. Recon



Ed Cogburn -> (2/19/2001 9:41:00 PM)

quote:

Originally posted by Paul Goodman: Ed, I have to disagree with you. In order to produce a product, whether it is a Widget or a design or software, it is necessary to define when it is finished.
Paul, we're not talking about goals here. The ones asking the "how's it going" question aren't interested in goals, only when the game will be released. They don't care about design issues, or the methodology behind when David declares a game ready to ship. If David can manage his time to do the important work, along with answering these repeated questions in about a dozen forums he has to monitor then great. I know how much time this is taking because like you I bet, I visit 4-6 forums on a daily basis. If the time becomes tight though, I hope they'll choose to put the game over making regular visits to the forums just to keep us talkative types happy. [img]http://www.matrixgames.com/ubb/smile.gif[/img] [This message has been edited by Ed Cogburn (edited February 19, 2001).]



Elvis1965 -> (2/20/2001 12:50:00 AM)

Mr David Heath, If I read you right, I like your approach-- "ready when it's ready." FAR TOO MANY PC GAMES in today's world are driven by the marketing department and not the developers! Thus, we get games that DO NOT have all their "advertised" bells-and-whistles, crash constantly, or generally suck. Loading patch version 43.17g about eight months after the release date is a little tedious. Patches will always exist; but most companies sell products that are more "beta" level crap than "gold" level polish.



David Heath -> (2/20/2001 11:45:00 AM)

Thanks... I must say we do release a lot of patches but that is because I do not think the public should wait months for us to make a BIG patch. Gamers are trying to play the game NOW. They need the patch now to get the most out of the game. If it takes 3 patches of three months compared to 1 big patch three months later. I will always go for the patch a month route. David



chanman -> (2/21/2001 3:34:00 AM)

Didn't mean to raise a ruckus. A simple "we are on schedule" type of answer was all I was looking for. I certainly wasn't asking for a detailed breakdown of progress to date, accompanied by gant charts and deliverables. I was concerned by the "staleness" of the News link on the UV main page.



Paul Goodman -> (2/22/2001 8:30:00 PM)

Chanman No backing down from your reasonable question! You know very well that a statement of "we are on schedule" imparts absolutely no information if you don't know the schedule. All we are looking for is an expected availability, 2nd quarter, 2005 or such. What for? It'll be ready when its ready. Better late than buggy. Hey, I heard all this for 4 years with RtM. The bottom line is that if this is 2 years away, we might agitate for another update of PW. Paul



David Heath -> (2/23/2001 12:46:00 AM)

HAHAH ok guys... look this is a fun forum for wargamers. We are very close to being on time. We are working on the interface and some advance features. None of this is done. Gary is back in the code and Mike is improving the interface. I will have some new screen shots shortly. Lets now forget about the time line and go back to talking about questions on the game. We will be having a live chat soon to talk about this and War in the Pacific.... and no date has been set.



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