I Don't Understand This Release

[Adam Parker]

Seeing that "Peacemaker" was in my mind the best new strategy game release of 2007 (an indie release too), I was really looking forward to "Democracy" when Erik first announced it.

But surfing the web just now thanks to the heads up of another thread here, I've come up with the official "Democracy" game site http://www.democracygame.com/?gclid=CMX ... agodqH0r2A and it lists both "Democracy 1" and "Democracy 2" for sale - designed by the same company?

Further, "Democracy 1" is called "Sim Game of the Year 2005"!

So is this just another re-release of an old game in the trend Matrix started last year?

Also Democracy 2 looks to be riddled with bugs reported by gamers as recently as this week! So what I also don't understand, is why is the designer working on Democracy 1. when its successor Democracy 2 doesn't work?

This is priced really cheaply making it attractive but I just can't work out what is that I'll be buying and why?

I'm really getting upset by Matrix's game info pages. No where does it suggest that this game is now 3 years old. You can't imagine how pi$$ed I'd be to find that out only after buying. So could someone please fill me in?

Thanks,
Adam.

[LarryP]

Quote from Matrix main page, notice the last sentence:

//=======
Matrix Games (www.matrixgames.com), Tri Synergy, Inc. (www.trisynergy.com), and Positech Games (www.positech.co.uk) are thrilled to announce that Democracy is now available for purchase from Matrix Games! As the first release of the 2008 election year, the fully updated version of this political strategy gem is now available for worldwide download.
//=======

It's the only place I found that says it is a reworked version. By the way, I too would be pi$$ed if I bought it and found out it was several years old. I did that already and now I research my purchases long before slapping down my plastic. [:@] [;)]

[Erik Rutins]

Adam,

As I wrote in another thread:

This is an updated version of the original and was first released in this form in October, 2007. As to why we are releasing it:

1. We regularly add games to our catalog that we find to be good and think our customers may not be aware of, even though they've been out before (i.e. Birth of America, PureSim Baseball, etc.)
2. We have a good partnership with Tri-Synergy and they asked us to do the online release to parallel their retail release earlier this winter
3. It's an election year and we felt we should have a political strategy game in the catalog

2005 is not ancient history. We've actually had our eye on this one for a while, since we think it's a very innovative game. When TriSynergy worked out a deal with them, we were happy to hop on board. Unlike what you would have gotten in 2005, this version is fully updated and bug free. Consider it like "Democracy Gold" if you want, but yes it's still the same game.

If you were not aware of Democracy and by releasing it here we made you aware of it, then we basically accomplished what we set out to do. This is not a huge release for us - it's a budget title and a re-release, but it is still a very fun and timely game.

Folks who already have it don't need this version. If you don't have it, haven't heard of it, haven't played it - I encourage you to get it as this is an excellent little strategy game.

Our "Big, New" releases will continue as always.

Regards,

- Erik

[cdbeck]

See my comments in the Democracy 2 thread.

There is no need to criticise this release, despite the fact that Democracy is "older" and has been available already on Positech's site, it did not have the exposure that a Matrix/Tysynergy release would give it (as I said, it was previously only on Positech's site and a bit "hidden"). It isn't some "rehash" and still a very good game.

I own Democracy 2 and I would hesitate to call it "riddled with bugs." It seems rather stable and the developer is very open to suggestions and always working hard to improve the game. Most of what can be seen on the forum is the very open dialogue of things that can be tweaked and changed (often personal preference).

I'm disappointed in some of the comments here, as it seems a negative backlash against a quality indie developer (Democracy, Kudos and Kudos: Rock Legend have all been praised around the indie sites) that deserves extra exposure. One of Matrix's missions, one that they carry out very well, is to help promote war and strategy game developers that lack the resources for major releases but deserve some time in the limelight. I think of Democracy and Positech like I do Vic and Advanced Tactics - games that will both enhance Matrix's product line and bring innovative indie developers to the forefront.

SoM

[LarryP]

ORIGINAL: Erik Rutins

Unlike what you would have gotten in 2005, this version is fully updated and bug free. Consider it like "Democracy Gold" if you want, but yes it's still the same game.

Regards,

- Erik

I downloaded the Democracy-2 demo and it played great. I downloaded this versions demo you say is bug free and the mouse stuttered all over the screens, changing to windowed mode locked up, and when neither of those happened the screen flickered horribly. I would go back and buy Democracy-2 but it does not have common countries in the mix like Democracy does. So I buy neither.

I have over 30 of Matrix games installed and not one has ever had these problems. I have a total of over 75 games installed and the same with those, no problems and they range from Chessmaster 9k to World In Conflict.

Video card is a GeForce 8800 GTS. LCD 20" monitor at 1600x1200 digital. CPU is a 3.6 gig multithread. 2gigs ram. No firewall running. DirectX 9.0c.

[Erik Rutins]

Larry,

What version was the demo? I'm not sure it's the latest version. We ran into no such problems in our testing on a variety of systems, not to say that it couldn't happen, but my first guess is tha the demo they have posted is an older version.

Regards,

- Erik

[33Vyper]

I have downloaded both demos

I like the game but I have had both crash to desktop with ... god forbid... memory errors????

I run WITP, CIV3, SimCity4 and other memory hogs and have never encountered this.

I am concerned about the games stability.

Anyone bought it yet and had this problem?

[LarryP]

ORIGINAL: Erik Rutins

Larry,

What version was the demo? I'm not sure it's the latest version. We ran into no such problems in our testing on a variety of systems, not to say that it couldn't happen, but my first guess is tha the demo they have posted is an older version.

Regards,

- Erik

Hey Eric, thanks for the reply. The demo is version 1.5.

[LarryP]

ORIGINAL: 33Vyper

I have downloaded both demos

I like the game but I have had both crash to desktop with ... god forbid... memory errors????

I run WITP, CIV3, SimCity4 and other memory hogs and have never encountered this.

I am concerned about the games stability.

Anyone bought it yet and had this problem?

I ran both too and the only one that had any problems was Democracy, not Democracy-2. Democracy-2 ran great and is a very impressive game, except for the stupid selection of countries.

[Erik Rutins]

Larry,

ORIGINAL: LarryP
Hey Eric, thanks for the reply. The demo is version 1.5.

Hm, I think that is the latest version, I'll double check with the developer.

[LarryP]

If it wouldn't have these problems on my system I would buy it. I don't like politics but I like this game in that it reminds me of Capitalism2 and SimCity in many ways.

[Erik Rutins]

ORIGINAL: LarryP
If it wouldn't have these problems on my system I would buy it. I don't like politics but I like this game in that it reminds me of Capitalism2 and SimCity in many ways.

I totally understand, if it has issues on your system I wouldn't expect you to buy it. It was nothing but stable and trouble-free on all our test systems, but I'll inquire with the developer as to whether the demo is the same as our version. You might also want to post on the developer's forum and tell him what issues you had with the demo, since he hosts and maintains that.

Regards,

- Erik

[LarryP]

OK Eric;

I went to the developers site. I must say they come right back with lengthly help. However, I am amazed at the amount of bug reports. I found one similar to mine and applied the fix. It worked! No more flashing, no more mouse skipping. So I proceeded to go through the tutorial and about half way through it locked up. Three finger salute could not budge it. I had to reboot. Bad news. I'm bummed out. [:(] This is a neat game but sorry to say that my opinion is that it has some lingering problems. I will keep my eyes on this but right now, no buy.

Thanks for your replies Eric. [&o]

[Erik Rutins]

ORIGINAL: LarryP
I went to the developers site. I must say they come right back with lengthly help. However, I am amazed at the amount of bug reports. I found one similar to mine and applied the fix. It worked! No more flashing, no more mouse skipping.

Ah, screen flashing PLUS mouse skipping? Actually, I recall that from a pre-release version when you mention both together. The first version they delivered to us had that problem, as far as I know that's fixed in our release, FYI.

So I proceeded to go through the tutorial and about half way through it locked up. Three finger salute could not budge it. I had to reboot. Bad news. I'm bummed out. [:(] This is a neat game but sorry to say that my opinion is that it has some lingering problems. I will keep my eyes on this but right now, no buy.

Bummer, totally understand though. All I can say is it's been solid as a rock for us, so it's disappointing to hear that.

Regards,

- Erik

[Jestre]

Personnally I love the fact that Matrix picks up quality indie games and presents them to its audience.