We who reads these forums have, implicitly, a keen interest in the prospects for EiA Napoleonic Wars, else we would not be reading this rather arcane forum. Where there is a keen interest there is almost certainly (lest you be a competitor to Matrix) an earnest desire to see the game release and succeed. Such earnest desire breeds hope, faith, and a degree of patience. These three are all sentiments that bode well for the continued support for this venture by the readers of this forum.
The turning about of such sentiments into scathing commentary about Marshall, Matrix, et alias is not an expected thing. Yet it is understandable. How did this come about from an otherwise hopeful, patient, and faithful following?
I believe that the answer is not found in and amongst the repeated delays of this product. We would all, albeit with some Grognards grumbling, wait patiently were Matrix to insure one thing: Forthright and consistent communication. There is a problem here. For example, we are getting different stories from Marshall and Monadman and, though David Heath had promised on 3 September 2007, to get back to us with the true, forthright communication, we have yet to know the real situation.
And so I say that the issue is not faith and patience or hope or anything of the sort. Matrix has unwittingly engendered a spirit of mistrust in the ranks of this forum. Certainly the revenues from a successful release of EiANW may ameliorate the damage in the short term, but I would venture to say that some of the readers of this forum may be less hopeful, patient, and faithful in the future unless Matrix takes a few proactive measures.
These measures, unsolicited advice but perhaps helpful to your business if you care to listen, are:
(1) Straighten out the current confusion and contradictory statements by Marshall and Monadman.
(2) Ensure that Matrix speaks with only one head and that this head knows the true situation.
(3) Don't make any prognostications, predictions, rose-colored glass statements that you can not hold up to.
(4) If the project -- disregarding sunk costs -- does not look achievable with a profit constraints, then sell off your license and try and recoup some of your investment.
(5) Keep us forthrightly informed. Perhaps this was not necessary at the beginning of the project but I reckon that now, with all the commentary that has preceded this day, it is indeed requisite lest you further engender ill will.
Semper Fidelis,
Mardonius
