Reiryc
Posts: 4991
Joined: 1/5/2001 Status: offline
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quote:
Originally posted by Paul Vebber: It is frustrating to hear people complain that the MC has a bug that prevents them from enjoying it and, to offer a patch to fix it within a few weeks and then have only 34 people ask for the patch.
The MC did not exhibit this bug for any of the playtesters and I guess it is good that only 34 of the over nearly 2000 purchasers have asked for the patch - indicating it is not very widespread. Though it seems that some who need it are not aware, or don't want to ask for it?!?
What more can we do, but attempt to solve the problem, make a patch available, and assume that those for whom the game doesn't work, will avail themselves of it?
You say we did not make the game 'trouble free as much as possible'. How can we know that people with certain configurations of computer hardware and software, that none of the testers have, will have a problem? And what more than offer a patch that has fixed the problem for EVERY person who has requested it?
NO game out htere works perfectly on EVERY computer. GO to the support sites for Black and White a 7 figure budget game and you'll find folks complaining the video or sound or something is screwed up. How on earth can an outfit like us, working on a nearly non-existant budget create a game that works on everyones computer when the "big boys" on Mega-buck budgets can't?
I frankly think that this phenomenon is eventually going to kill teh mainstream computer game industry - which is already getting massively in bed withthe game console dudes.
Wargaming is stuck on PCs, and the reality is that NO game will run perfectly on 100% of computers. The C2 bug is a perfect example - the EXACT SAME code that runs perfectly on WIN 9X machines and follows MS standards, and works OUTSIDE THE MC, crashes 100% of the time under WIN NT/WIN2k running the MC. That is a problem with standards implementation across teh versions of Windows, that we have no control over, and can't fix (short of recoding the game in a more modern compiler, which is reason for Combat Leader).
I can't come to your house to install it myself, but can I make you patch recipient # 35 ReiryC? If offering a patch for emergent problems isn;t good enough, then I guess your only choice is to wait for wargames on Xbox or Gamecube.
The reason I have not asked for the patch is because it is not a final version yet. Nothing personal, but I dont want to "beta" test the patch. I knew full and well that the patch existed, I am waiting for it to become finalized.
If you have 34 people that already have the patch, then that should be a large enough pool from which to decide if the fixes implemented solve the problem.
I dont think it should frustrate you that I await a finalized patch to be placed in the downloads section, not everyone is eager to try an unfinished product/patch/whatever.
W/r/t wanting some perfect product, I am not asking for that. I understand bugs and issues come up. This is understandable to me. Things like problems with having extra moves for your units at the end of a turn, oobs that are somewhat off are reasonable and something I have not, nor would complain about. Problems that cause a game to crash to the DT is something altogether different in my mind.
It would probably surprise you to know that I was a tech support manager for a software company(www.heliospos.com) for a year and a half before I opened my own business, but I do understand technical difficulties and problems with getting programs to work on everyones machines. I also believe it is the responsibility of the software maker to find the solution or to refund the money of the customers that are having difficulties in getting the program to work.
I dont want a refund. I dont want to beta test the patch. I was disappointed that the game crashed to DT when trying to start the second battle. I chose to post that in a thread like this. I apologize if I offended, that was not my intent, however after spending my money on a product that does not work on my machine, I think it understandable that I am disappointed.
Reiryc -- awaiting the finalized patch.
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