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6/18 Development Status Report

 
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6/18 Development Status Report - 6/18/2004 11:57:49 PM   
Joel Billings


Posts: 32265
Joined: 9/20/2000
From: Santa Rosa, CA
Status: offline 		At the risk of throwing raw meat to the Sharks (my favorite hockey team), here's my limited view of what's been going on in development the past few weeks.

Around the beginning of June we had a pretty solid game. We were frantically working on the manual, which was a beast in its own right. David was working on getting higher quality sound and music files for the game. Knowing that we had some time to kill while the manual and sound/music were being finished, we continued to fix some annoying bugs as they were discovered. Most of these were small bugs or undesirable features that we could have lived with if we needed to. Of course with a game this complicated, any change has a chance of creating additional problems, and occasionally a bigger issue would pop up that we needed to fix. At this moment, we have no major issues outstanding.

The manual was finally sent off for layout about a week ago. The game manual came out to be 220 pages and we have 325+ pages of total documentation on the CD. Mike Eckenfels (game and editor manuals) and Richard Porter (tutorial guide) put in a lot of effort along with Marc Schwanebeck (PDF layout) to make these as informative as we could get them.

While David was working on the sound and music we realized that with a few changes to the sound engine, we could reduce the size of the files dramatically. Again, since we had the time, it made sense to try to do this. From what I understand, Matrix is just finishing up the sound and music files now and should be in a position to put together a complete game sometime within the next few days. This will still give time to test the final gold version and duplicate CDs for Origins.

Although we would have been happy to have been finished a few weeks ago, the extra time has resulted in a few more items being cleaned up, and hopefully much better (and smaller) sound/music in the final product. Anything can happen, but I know that David, Matrix and 2by3 are all doing everything possible to get the game out for Origins and then shortly (as soon as possible) thereafter for the Matrix Store. Now you know the real story (at least from where I'm sitting).

-Joel
Post #: 1
RE: 6/18 Development Status Report - 6/19/2004 12:05:18 AM   
kaleun

 

Posts: 5145
Joined: 5/29/2002
From: Colorado
Status: offline 		YEEHAAW. (Flipping over in glee)

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Appear at places to which he must hasten; move swiftly where he does not expect you.
Sun Tzu

(in reply to Joel Billings)
Post #: 2
RE: 6/18 Development Status Report - 6/19/2004 12:09:51 AM   
kev_uk

 

Posts: 288
Joined: 6/5/2004
From: South Wales, UK
Status: offline 		Great stuff. Wish you every success...

(in reply to kaleun)
Post #: 3
RE: 6/18 Development Status Report - 6/19/2004 12:17:45 AM   
freeboy

 

Posts: 9088
Joined: 5/16/2004
From: Colorado
Status: offline 		Can you imagine the time involved from inception to now.. my hat is off to the team.. testers included

(in reply to kev_uk)
Post #: 4
RE: 6/18 Development Status Report - 6/19/2004 12:21:25 AM   
GameTester


Posts: 156
Joined: 6/14/2004
Status: offline 		Everything looks good Mr. Billings. Can't wait to see the end product.

(in reply to Joel Billings)
Post #: 5
RE: 6/18 Development Status Report - 6/19/2004 1:04:48 AM   
ltfightr


Posts: 537
Joined: 6/16/2002
From: Little Rock AR
Status: offline 		Fresh meat ummmm

Great News I hope that every thing goes well

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(in reply to Joel Billings)
Post #: 6
RE: 6/18 Development Status Report - 6/19/2004 1:28:10 AM   
Xargun

 

Posts: 3690
Joined: 2/14/2004
From: Near Columbus, Ohio
Status: offline 		Everything sounds great Joel. Thanks for the update. I am assuming you will make a final announcement over the next few days if the game will be at Origins or not for 100% ? I would hate to drive there, buy a ticket to get in only to find out its been delayed. Thanks again.

Xargun

(in reply to ltfightr)
Post #: 7
RE: 6/18 Development Status Report - 6/19/2004 2:05:01 AM   
bilbow


Posts: 741
Joined: 8/22/2002
From: Concord NH
Status: offline 		Mmmmm. Very tasty. Thanks
I'll be at Origins Thursday with credit card in hand.

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An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile- hoping it will eat him last
- Winston Churchill

(in reply to Joel Billings)
Post #: 8
RE: 6/18 Development Status Report - 6/19/2004 2:12:25 AM   
rroberson

 

Posts: 2050
Joined: 5/25/2004
From: Arizona
Status: offline 		Hehe to think I just sent you my fed ex box ;).


quote:

ORIGINAL: Xargun

Everything sounds great Joel. Thanks for the update. I am assuming you will make a final announcement over the next few days if the game will be at Origins or not for 100% ? I would hate to drive there, buy a ticket to get in only to find out its been delayed. Thanks again.

Xargun

(in reply to Xargun)
Post #: 9
RE: 6/18 Development Status Report - 6/19/2004 2:15:49 AM   
Ironman664

 

Posts: 4
Joined: 8/6/2002
From: SC
Status: offline 		Thank you for the update....

(in reply to Joel Billings)
Post #: 10
RE: 6/18 Development Status Report - 6/19/2004 3:09:08 AM   
brisd


Posts: 614
Joined: 5/20/2000
From: San Diego, CA
Status: offline 		Wonderful news, thanks for the update Joel!

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"I propose to fight it out on this line if it takes all summer."-Note sent with Congressman Washburne from Spotsylvania, May 11, 1864, to General Halleck. - General Ulysses S. Grant

(in reply to Ironman664)
Post #: 11
RE: 6/18 Development Status Report - 6/19/2004 3:55:35 AM   
captskillet


Posts: 2493
Joined: 3/1/2003
From: Louisiana & the 2007 Nat Champ LSU Fightin' Tigers
Status: offline 		Those who are about to die salute you

(in reply to Joel Billings)
Post #: 12
RE: 6/18 Development Status Report - 6/19/2004 7:58:12 AM   
joliverlay

 

Posts: 635
Joined: 1/28/2003
Status: offline 		Those who are about to BUY salute you!

(in reply to captskillet)
Post #: 13
RE: 6/18 Development Status Report - 6/19/2004 8:04:39 AM   
Platoonist


Posts: 1342
Joined: 5/11/2003
From: Kila Hana
Status: offline 		Heeheehee ! I'll drink to that.

(in reply to joliverlay)
Post #: 14
RE: 6/18 Development Status Report - 6/19/2004 10:31:36 AM   
Apollo11


Posts: 24082
Joined: 6/7/2001
From: Zagreb, Croatia
Status: offline 		Hi all,

Thanks for info Joel!

Great work Matrix/2By3!!!


Leo "Apollo11"

(in reply to Joel Billings)
Post #: 15
RE: 6/18 Development Status Report - 6/19/2004 1:11:03 PM   
Sonny

 

Posts: 2008
Joined: 4/3/2002
Status: offline 		It better be ready by Origins. I'm making the trip just to purchase it there.

(also I want to see if you guys are as ugly as I've heard).

_____________________________

Quote from Snigbert -

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"I'll say it again for Sonny's sake: If you mess with historical accuracy, you're going to have
ahistorical outcomes. "

(in reply to Apollo11)
Post #: 16
RE: 6/18 Development Status Report - 6/19/2004 4:43:42 PM   
byron13


Posts: 1589
Joined: 7/27/2001
Status: offline 		220 pages?

(in reply to Sonny)
Post #: 17
RE: 6/18 Development Status Report - 6/19/2004 10:41:43 PM   
Caltone


Posts: 651
Joined: 9/5/2001
From: Raleigh, NC USA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Sonny

It better be ready by Origins. I'm making the trip just to purchase it there.

(also I want to see if you guys are as ugly as I've heard).



That goes double, I'm hoping Sonny can pick up a copy for me too. Good work all around guys, can't wait to get my hands on this one.

(in reply to Sonny)
Post #: 18
RE: 6/18 Development Status Report - 6/19/2004 10:43:28 PM   
Mr.Frag


Posts: 13410
Joined: 12/18/2002
From: Purgatory
Status: offline
quote:

220 pages?


Don't worry, you only need to read it a couple of times.

Whoever you end up playing will be quite happy to remind you of whatever you forgot

(in reply to byron13)
Post #: 19
RE: 6/18 Development Status Report - 6/20/2004 1:32:34 AM   
olivier_slith


Posts: 187
Joined: 5/7/2000
From: USA
Status: offline 		Is the maual going to be printed or is it another trip to Kinkos?

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Post #: 20
RE: 6/18 Development Status Report - 6/20/2004 1:37:18 AM   
Mr.Frag


Posts: 13410
Joined: 12/18/2002
From: Purgatory
Status: offline
quote:

Is the maual going to be printed or is it another trip to Kinkos?


Trip somewhere. It's over 300 pages.

(in reply to olivier_slith)
Post #: 21
RE: 6/18 Development Status Report - 6/20/2004 7:00:26 AM   
bradfordkay

 

Posts: 8683
Joined: 3/24/2002
From: Olympia, WA
Status: offline
quote:

Is the maual going to be printed or is it another trip to Kinkos?


I'm assuming that the Kinko's Document Center will have it, like the one for UV and Korsun Pocket. When UV was orignally released,there wasn't this agreement with Matrix and my local Kinko's quoted me something to the tume of $100 to print it in color and give it a three ring binder. Now I can get a spiral bound one for less than $15, I believe. You may want to wait until you see the manual listed on Matrix's Kinko's Doc Center page.

_____________________________

fair winds,
Brad

(in reply to olivier_slith)
Post #: 22
RE: 6/18 Development Status Report - 6/20/2004 10:31:23 AM   
tigercub


Posts: 2004
Joined: 2/3/2003
From: brisbane oz
Status: offline 		release the hounds!! or even the game.......mabe if i get a few beers into me i willnot think about it...bullsh**....quick get the beer anyway. looking for a good player ta face aswell..takers?

_____________________________


You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life

(in reply to Joel Billings)
Post #: 23
RE: 6/18 Development Status Report - 6/20/2004 8:34:14 PM   
52nd Lowland


Posts: 244
Joined: 6/16/2004
Status: offline 		Notice that Kinkos has a website for Britain...wonder how much it would cost to get the manual printed out over here.What exactly is done with this service if any one has used it before ?

(in reply to tigercub)
Post #: 24
RE: 6/18 Development Status Report - 6/21/2004 4:54:53 AM   
Fallschirmjager


Posts: 6793
Joined: 3/18/2002
From: Chattanooga, Tennessee
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: 52nd Lowland

Notice that Kinkos has a website for Britain...wonder how much it would cost to get the manual printed out over here.What exactly is done with this service if any one has used it before ?


I got my UV manual printed out and sent to me. I went through the doc stroe and picked the crush resistent binder that can lay flat. They sent me a B&W manual with clear plastic over the front page and black plastic for the back cover.
It was very well done and the price was fair.
I hope they offer both WiTP manuals with that method. I would indeed buy them.

_____________________________


(in reply to 52nd Lowland)
Post #: 25
RE: 6/18 Development Status Report - 6/21/2004 6:56:38 AM   
stubby331


Posts: 268
Joined: 10/24/2001
From: Perth, Western Australia
Status: offline 		I reckon you guys are going to have one hell of a party once this monster's released huh...


(in reply to Joel Billings)
Post #: 26
RE: 6/18 Development Status Report - 6/21/2004 7:38:57 AM   
Damien Thorn

 

Posts: 1107
Joined: 7/24/2003
Status: offline 		One concern: Will the new thing you did to the sound files make if impossible for us to substitute our own? Is it some sort of propriatary compression you are using now?

(in reply to stubby331)
Post #: 27
RE: 6/18 Development Status Report - 6/21/2004 7:55:10 AM   
shoevarek

 

Posts: 141
Joined: 5/2/2004
Status: offline
quote:

One concern: Will the new thing you did to the sound files make if impossible for us to substitute our own? Is it some sort of propriatary compression you are using now?


I think in one of the threads Mike Wood said they switched all music to mp3. Nothing should stop you from replacing the music files.

(in reply to Joel Billings)
Post #: 28
RE: 6/18 Development Status Report - 6/21/2004 8:13:53 AM   
afspret


Posts: 851
Joined: 2/19/2004
From: Hanahan, SC
Status: offline 		Great, but for those of us who can't make it to Origins and are stuck with the ancient dial-up connections, when can we expect it to be in stores, or available for purchase from Matrix?

(in reply to Joel Billings)
Post #: 29
RE: 6/18 Development Status Report - 6/21/2004 1:50:16 PM   
GBirkn


Posts: 249
Joined: 5/6/2004
From: the briny deep
Status: offline 		If I remember correctly: It's not going to be in stores. They'll have mail order available "a few days" after Origins.

_____________________________

"War is the remedy our enemies have chosen, and I say let's give them all they want." -- Gen. W. T. Sherman

(in reply to afspret)
Post #: 30
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