September Update

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September Update - 9/7/2005 3:30:17 AM

Marshall Ellis

Posts: 5630
Joined: 10/2/2001
From: Dallas
Status: offline

Hey guy:

Hope all is well!

Not much news to pass on since I've been away for a while pre-occupied in another project but this was a good needed break from PCEIA.

We're in the last phases of detailed testing. We're looking where to spend more time on and what to release in a patch. Now before you get too excited, we've been in this phase for a while so I'm not sure that we're a whole lot closer than we were last month but the testers are carrying on! Be sure to check out the deviations thread since we are watching it closely.

Thank you

_____________________________

Thank you

Marshall Ellis
Outflank Strategy War Games

Post #: 1

RE: September Update - 9/13/2005 1:01:16 AM

Naomi

Posts: 654
Joined: 6/21/2005
From: Osaka
Status: offline

Thanks. My own Sept update is "waiting for your upcoming monthly updates". ^(~,~)^

(in reply to Marshall Ellis)

Post #: 2

RE: September Update - 9/22/2005 10:34:46 AM

Murat

Posts: 803
Joined: 9/17/2003
From: South Carolina
Status: offline

All I can say after seeing the deviations forum is that I am stunned at your decisions. It's very apparent why you did not get more player input earlier because you decided at some point to backtrack on all the promises you made originally. I really should not be too stunned considering the release date has been pused back over 2 years, but for some reason hope springs eternal in the heart of an EiA fanatic.

If you want real feedback, and are ready for the backlash you are sure to get, then tell us what you actually DID include and what you can get programmed in over what time scale. I can lose the ability to scuttle or demobilize if it will push release date into the 20teens but I would prefer all the basic rules and ALL the optional rules to be implemented before release, you have taken your time so far so why not do it right? ALSO tell us how long it will take to do it right so we are not staring at these forums trying to decipher a release date. Set a time limit for yourselves. Commit to a goal, quit being slack.

(in reply to Naomi)

Post #: 3

RE: September Update - 9/22/2005 4:06:25 PM

Marshall Ellis

Posts: 5630
Joined: 10/2/2001
From: Dallas
Status: offline

Murat:

Sorry you're having a bad day and I wish I could share some of my dev problems with you and wish that I could give you accurate timelines BUT I cannot do it! It is what it is and all that I can say is that I'm doing the best I can. Maybe you had better move on to another forum that won't give you a stroke!

Thank you

_____________________________

Thank you

Marshall Ellis
Outflank Strategy War Games

(in reply to Murat)

Post #: 4

RE: September Update - 9/22/2005 11:57:24 PM

Sonny

Posts: 2008
Joined: 4/3/2002
Status: offline

Geez, no wonder you are so far behind - you are pre-occupied wth another project.

_____________________________

Quote from Snigbert -

"If you mess with the historical accuracy, you're going to have ahistorical outcomes."

"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 Marshall Ellis)

Post #: 5

RE: September Update - 9/27/2005 8:46:31 AM

timewalker03

Posts: 171
Joined: 6/9/2003
From: Omaha, NE
Status: offline

Marshall,

I have stood back for the past two years waiting for this game and have kept quiet on the development of it. But now I must chime in on a couple of things.

1. This is EIA not EIH. The changes you are making to the rules is driving me more to think you are creating a game like Europa Universalis which kept my attention for about 5 days and found it trivial after that. That was a waste of 49.99 and the 5 days I gave it a chance. The more rules from the original game you leave out the less worthwhile it becomes to even bother with the game. I know if I spend the 60.00 that its gonna cost you could care less what I think because you got you money. So I think if those changes are implemented then I'll pass. I'll continue to hope you will change your mind, but it sounds like you are set on putting out a sub par game like most games of the time period. Nothing new.

2. I seams to me that you really don't care what us fans of the game and consumers really want in a game. I would rather the game take 2 more years and get it right than put onto the market what sounds like a different game than what I played on the board. Almost everything you are taking out is what the groups I played with over 15 years loved the most about the game. But as I stated as long as you get your 60 bucks who cares right? You know that people are waiting for this and will buy it even if it is inferior to what you could have done. Oh well. It was a hope wasted. Thanks for the two year ride. I'll check back irregularly now but you wont care.

PS no strokes gonna take place for me over this game. Not gonna stress at all which I haven't to this point. Thats my 60 bucks worth

(in reply to Marshall Ellis)

Post #: 6

RE: September Update - 9/27/2005 10:51:38 AM

Ralegh

Posts: 1557
Joined: 2/1/2005
Status: offline

Guys - Marshall is an EIA lover. Let up on him. Yes, he would like your 60 bucks (or whatever), but it is going to take a whole of those to pay for the huge investment of time he has put into the project - and to be honest, I personally think it is incredibly unlikely that this game will make any money - my company certainly wouldn't invest in it. Feel free to vehemently argue for whatever you think is right, but bear in mind that no one is paying him to work on this. The cash reward (if there ever is any) will come several months after the game ships. And you can bet he would really love the thing to ship - partially so he can play it with ya'll, and partially so he can have his spare time to do things with the family (or whatever).

Part of my role in the testing team (and that a volunteer thing - no money even if it turns out to be hit) - with Marshall's blessing - is to get you guys involved a bit more on what should be done: the deviation list thread was the first of several discussions I hope to cause to help guide the process. I agree that it is shame that some of these things weren't done more openly earlier - but lets move on, shall we?

_____________________________

HTH
Steve/Ralegh

(in reply to timewalker03)

Post #: 7

RE: September Update - 9/28/2005 2:32:58 AM

NeverMan

Posts: 1722
Joined: 2/24/2004
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ralegh

Feel free to vehemently argue for whatever you think is right, but bear in mind that no one is paying him to work on this.

Um, maybe you said this before but I must have missed it. Is this right? You are not getting paid to do this? You are the only one working on this? You did all the code, the design, the production, the testing, the artwork..... and didn't even get paid to do it??? THAT IS CRAZY!!!

Although, I will be stunned if that is ACTUALLY the case.

(in reply to Ralegh)

Post #: 8

RE: September Update - 9/28/2005 4:46:34 AM

Marshall Ellis

Posts: 5630
Joined: 10/2/2001
From: Dallas
Status: offline

Hey guys:

I must confess that Steve / Ralegh is right! I have not received a DOLLAR since I've been developing this project and I will NOT receive a DOLLAR until this thing ships nor do I expect this to put a sports car in my driveway. I love the game and have a lot of fun doing the coding. AND yes, I'm the ONLY coder on this project and this is the way it was and is and will be!

This game started as "The Napoloeonic Wars" with another developer back in 2001. He moved on before it was done. I looked at the project and decided to re-write "The Napoloeonic Wars" BUT at the end of the process (70% done) Matrix secured the rights to the EIA name. We decided to modify and make it EiA with some EiH additions that had already been programmed.

I'm not looking to get rich or make anybody mad from missing a date. In fact, I think we told you guys a little too soon what we were doing. Had we waited a little longer then we could have maximized the anticipation while minimizing the frustration. The worst part of this process is telling you guys that we're not going to make this date or that date etc. We're pissing off customers before they even spend a dollar. Not an enviable position.

Thanks to Steve for the help and thank you guys for your patience.

Thank you

_____________________________

Thank you

Marshall Ellis
Outflank Strategy War Games

(in reply to NeverMan)

Post #: 9

RE: September Update - 9/28/2005 9:07:17 AM

John Umber

Posts: 110
Joined: 7/2/2003
From: Sweden
Status: offline

One programmer...?

I didn't know Matrix was such a small company, but I do like the game to be finished.

Good luck and we will wait .. .. .. and wait .. .. .. and more wait?
A few more months will not hurt me, but I might go and buy Crown of Glory...

_____________________________

John Umber

(in reply to Marshall Ellis)

Post #: 10

RE: September Update - 9/29/2005 5:55:30 AM

NeverMan

Posts: 1722
Joined: 2/24/2004
Status: offline

I can't believe that you are programming this whole game in your spare time. How are you paying your bills?

I don't want you to go broke from not getting paid, so maybe you should can EiA and let some other developing company (one that prefrably PAYS it's developers) develop the game and move onto something that Matrix will actually pay you for. What a crappy company to work for!! Jeez.

(in reply to John Umber)

Post #: 11