Patch is not fixing the game for me! How to get a refund?

[06 Maestro]

ORIGINAL: oldspec4



My computer specs are very similar to yours so its a no go for me at this time.

My gaming rig also has a N Vidia 256 graphics board. This is the first time a game has over taxed my system-I knew the day would come. I have 2 Gigs of RAM in the mail from Crucial; I will report on the improvement asap.

ORIGINAL: Additionally, it seems like the game is a lot of work and no fun subject to further patches and an updated manual.

The "work" in this game is figuring out how to play the darn thing. I have made considerable progress, but there is great depth yet to explore. I don't know why developers don't have a standard, "golden rule" to include in the manual a straight forward list of tasks/actions, in order with pertinent details, of a complete turn, from beginning to end. They seem to think everyone should know what is already in their head-I don't, I need them to tell me. I wonder how many players just give up on a game because it is too much trouble to figure out how to play it. Being in a hurry to get it to market is no rational reason for not doing this-one extra hour of development time seems a small price to pay for this "feature".

I have had some fun with this game. I have already have come across several areas that are very interesting. Things that add a healthy dash of realism and things that will make for excellent game play regarding: orders, methods of movement, reserve positioning, and deployments. There are other areas of the game I have hardly looked at because of the current difficulties. When this game is brought up to speed, it could very well be the best mutiplayer strategy game on the market. It is a WEGO type.

ORIGINAL: oldspec4
Agree that GOA has been a very good , trouble-free WW1 gaming experience.

GoA is indeed a very good game. I do not have any problem with the UI other than the map (and scrolling). If that game had a zoom-able map, I would upgrade it from "very good" to "great". I guess you can't have it all.

[Erik Rutins]

ORIGINAL: markwall06
I don't know if this is the right place for this or even if it means anything as I'm not so computer literate but I had another crash today, similar to the screenshot above- EXCEPT my only options were "debug" or "close".  I did manage to find the temporary file that the crash generated and copy it below.  If I've got it wrong then apologies to all

Best thing as far as crash info is to either post it in the tech support sub-forum here or post it at the AGEOD official forums (link is posted in this forum). In the middle of a thread like this it will just get lost.

[PDiFolco]

Prospero
The 4-player GC is still buggy when played solo vs 3AI, AGEOD guys told it one hundred times.  It will be fixed, but for the moment try the 2 pl GC.

Stwa
Unexpectedly the game (patched) just works fine on my Athlon2400/2GB RAM and my Centrno/1GB RAM laptop. Eventually it should also work on your rig (I suppose you're using XP, who will put Vista on a 5-yrs old machine [:D] ?).

[Stwa]

ORIGINAL: ulver

Well, if you like WW1 and you don't have enough computer for this title, have you considered Guns of August?

Good advice. GOA is a discrete little masterpiece.

Deceptively simple but I still play it every week after close to two years. Perhaps the best game I’ve ever bought.

Great support from the designer as well – and the AI will actually give you a fight for the first games – witch makes it an exceptional AI in my estimation.

Only downside is that the documentation kind of sucks

Yes, actually, I have been lurking over there as well. So that maybe the one. Other candidates are AT and CCMT.

But also Erik, I would like to say, sometimes it angers people to have to mess with sending around save files and stuff, especially when people feel like they exactly followed the instructions to install and use the software.

[Stwa]

ORIGINAL: PDiFolco

<snip>

Stwa
Unexpectedly the game (patched) just works fine on my Athlon2400/2GB RAM and my Centrno/1GB RAM laptop. Eventually it should also work on your rig (I suppose you're using XP, who will put Vista on a 5-yrs old machine [:D] ?).

Ok, thanks, I could run BoA and WiA just fine, so I am glad to hear my rig is still in the hunt for this game.

And yes I use XP. What's funny is I really don't want to even think about upgrading to Vista. Everything I need and want works great in XP now.

[ETF]

I should add to this that we are honoring AGEOD's offer, so if you want a refund based on the reported issues, send me an e-mail please.

Regards,

- Erik

I have been trying for two days to get a refund from your telephone chaps but they stated no problem and would call me back. Today they refused the refund. [:(]

I just noticed your email..... Re directly to you. I assumed they were aware of your decision but they stated you do not set policy and could not offer refunds??

Even with the patch after 2 hours of piecing it together today still having problems not to mention the Multiplayer aspect not working. I have emailed you directly as per your instructions sir.

I hope to repurchase the game assuming these error(s) can be rectified.

I hope my email get to you. Thanks so much.

[oldspec4]

ORIGINAL: Stwa

ORIGINAL: PDiFolco

<snip>

Stwa
Unexpectedly the game (patched) just works fine on my Athlon2400/2GB RAM and my Centrno/1GB RAM laptop. Eventually it should also work on your rig (I suppose you're using XP, who will put Vista on a 5-yrs old machine [:D] ?).

Ok, thanks, I could run BoA and WiA just fine, so I am glad to hear my rig is still in the hunt for this game.

And yes I use XP. What's funny is I really don't want to even think about upgrading to Vista. Everything I need and want works great in XP now.

Potentially good news for me too (Athlon 3000 w/ 1 gig and XP OS) but may think about adding another gig of ram. I have to agree re: XP. My limited experience w/ Vista hasn't been bad but I don't want to upgrade until I absolutely have to.

[SlickWilhelm]

Of all games, why did this mess have to happen to a WWI game? It's hard enough generating interest in a WWI game as it is, and this is not going to help.&nbsp;[:(]

[doomtrader]

I'm not completly sure but IIRC we have got some problems with multithreads under VISTA in WW2:RtV after first release. If the WW1 devs would like to, I can try to get some details.

[EUBanana]

I loved GoA and am hungry for more WW1.&nbsp; So I will be a dead cert to buy this - when it works.

[ulver]

ORIGINAL: EUBanana

I loved GoA and am hungry for more WW1. So I will be a dead cert to buy this - when it works.

Pretty much my reaction. Looks like it is going to be a great game – eventually. I can wait while the evil genius beat me up in GOA

[Erik Rutins]

Hi ETF,

ORIGINAL: ETF
I have been trying for two days to get a refund from your telephone chaps but they stated no problem and would call me back. Today they refused the refund. [:(]

The telephone chaps unfortunately aren't us, they are Digital River who we partner with on our store and it's always a challenge to get the right message to all their support people in a timely manner. I got your e-mail and replied.

Regards,

- Erik

[PDiFolco]

ORIGINAL: doomtrader

I'm not completly sure but IIRC we have got some problems with multithreads under VISTA in WW2:RtV after first release. If the WW1 devs would like to, I can try to get some details.

In the case of WW1 problems were with some CPUs, not especially Vista (I had an awfully slow game under XP, speed was x100 after the patch !)

[fvianello]

The game has a lot of potential, but unfortunately it's staying at potential level even after the patch; I'll list some of the problems I've got and heard until now (1.04), maybe someone could help me to stay motivated :-\

1. Some scenario reports the wrong winner (serbia scenario, the reported winner is Ottoman Empire over Great Britain)

2. Tried to understand the map in weather and climate mode; still cannot see any link between the color shown and the area weather / climate (caporetto scenario)

3. Into movie displaying in 4x4 pixels

4. 1gb or more memory requirements for a 2d turn based strategic game ???? This is definitely a new low in memory management capabilities.

5. drag and drop problems everywhere

6. wego mode, 1st combat of caporetto scenario. Tried everything (pause / unpause the AI, drink a coffee and wait, drag units in deployment or whatever, pressed engage, activated the battle assistant, deactivated it, tried to exit the game). Nothing. Task Manager and terminate the application was the only way to get out.

7. Jutland scenario, tried to move both fleets in the same area. first fleet took the direct route to north sea, while the second one decided it has to pass thru holland and france sea minefields to get there. Didn't find a way to avoid it.

There was more, but that's what I remember. I'm a little depressed right now.... [8|]

[06 Maestro]

HanBarca

There is not much to argue against in your post. However, for the Jutland battle, you have to go with the predetermined path for the HSF, otherwise, no battle. After the battle starts, you can maneuver freely.

Using the 104a patch, I was able to come within an inch of November '14. The game ran much smoother, and faster. The siege bug is apparently still ongoing-and it killed my last effort. It was so nice to have it running.

As for the map colors, who knows what they were thinking. Some of the modes just don't offer any help that I can see.

They have made some impressive progress (no where to go but up[:)]). I am more optimist at this point since about the 12th of November. Don't give up the faith.

[fvianello]

Hope is hard to kill....I'll give it another try with 1.04a beta.

[06 Maestro]

ORIGINAL: HanBarca

Hope is hard to kill....I'll give it another try with 1.04a beta.

104a was a very good improvement for me. I just made it part way through Nov/Dec-then the seige thing again. I resumed from October.

There is a country and western tune called, If we make it through Dcember (we'll be fine). If they keep making progress like this, I think we will be in fine shape with this game.

[Marc von Martial]

ORIGINAL: HanBarca
4. 1gb or more memory requirements for a 2d turn based strategic game ???? This is definitely a new low in memory management capabilities.

To be fair, you need to put this in perspective. Windows XP alone needs 512mb to run properly. Vista 1gb to run properly. So recommedinng 1gb as minimum is certainly not a new "low in memory management". Just because a game is 2D does not mean it has to be low on RAM demand.

[Erik Rutins]

I agree - given the amount of graphics some of these games have to manage, 1GB is not that much. We have several 2D strategy games that really prefer 1GB of memory.

[fvianello]

Sorry to bash you guys, but calvinus (the programming team leader) said on the AGEOD forum:
"the map tile for Eastern Mediterranean Sea is 1981 x 2849 pixels"
You can easily check this by looking in in the Data\Graph\Map\Regions directory.

Now, the map is made by areas, and to draw each single area the game must load in memory a bitmap that is up to 16Mb in size. Why in the hell you should need a 1981x2849, 16mb bitmap to display a completely blue area of the map is beyond my capabilities.

That's where memory goes: blue pixels. Come on.