Project Management

[Dili]

It is perfectly clear i think for everyone that what is holding the game are AI issues and the way to make the game work well outside PBEM world. It is a noble effort.

[Yamato hugger]

ORIGINAL: Dili

It is perfectly clear i think for everyone that what is holding the game are AI issues and the way to make the game work well outside PBEM world. It is a noble effort.

Well, I wouldnt go that far. I dont play the AI, and Im still finding a fair share of problems [8D]

[DuckofTindalos]

ORIGINAL: Alikchi

Good job calling a lot of work a steaming pile of poo.

Actually, he was complimenting us...

[Zakhal]

My bday isnt until late june so there is still few months to go.

[jwilkerson]

ORIGINAL: Kull

imagine what it felt like to be on the AE team in the months approaching June of 2008 as they slowly and inexorably realized the magnitude of what was required to make this thing work. If they could overcome THAT, we can handle this.

Well, I'd better not peel back the curtain too far - but you've certainly guessed that we had a decision point in here.

Given our "hopes and desires" for much of early 2008 - we kept thinking - "The AI is almost working" - "The AI is almost working". But as tweak after tweak to the embedded scripts seemed to only "move the problem" - we finally realized - "The AI is not working".

I've been doing software - for large systems for many years - and facing a "crisis" like this was nothing new. When confronted with the evidenve, there is nothing to do but "fix the problem". So I wrote up a short 2-page spec for a new processor. James the programmer liked it. Andy the lead script writer liked it. So we "jumped off the cliff". Actually it was an easy decision. We just regret not doing it sooner - but I think we were blinded by our "hopes and desires".
[:)]

[Andy Mac]

Aye it was the 6 months of
 
its almost working we are nearly there
maybe if I throw just one more Division at it the AI will do it
OMG why wont the AI do what its <add expletive of choice> told
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[Dili]

Well, I wouldnt go that far. I dont play the AI, and Im still finding a fair share of problems

I stand corrected [:)]

[Yamato hugger]

ORIGINAL: jwilkerson

When confronted with the evidenve, there is nothing to do but "fix the problem".

Oh sure, when I say "fix it" I get bitched at [:D]

[Admiral Scott]

Why not just give us the game with no AI at all, and release the final version later on with an AI, if you ever get it to work that is?
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In the mean time, we could be playing the game by e-mail, and reporting any bugs along the way.

[Andy Mac]

Well&nbsp;3 reasons being brutally honest
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1. that only works if you could get anyone to work on the AI after the game was released as a PBEM only variant - &nbsp;I am a PBEM junkie so the chances I would devote a fraction of the time I have if it was released and I could actually be playing is pretty low. I would far rather be playing that trying to get the AI working. So if thats my attitude and I am the main AI scripter........
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2. Its never been really ready enough
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3. Matrix want a product for the whole community not just PBEM so its all or nothing - quite rightly

[rroberson]

ORIGINAL: Andy Mac

Well 3 reasons being brutally honest

1. that only works if you could get anyone to work on the AI after the game was released as a PBEM only variant -  I am a PBEM junkie so the chances I would devote a fraction of the time I have if it was released and I could actually be playing is pretty low. I would far rather be playing that trying to get the AI working. So if thats my attitude and I am the main AI scripter........

2. Its never been really ready enough

3. Matrix want a product for the whole community not just PBEM so its all or nothing - quite rightly

Understandable I guess.

I have played the AI for about a week back when it first came out. After that its been all online. Frankly, no AI will ever be worth its salt when compared to a real person on the other end. To me its a shame how many resources you have thrown at it attempting to make the AI work. something the bulk of the regulars here (and I am assuming the target audience of the "advanced version" of WITP) will never use.

My biggest fear is you wont conquer that mountain in the near term and we will be set back another year or more while you chase the AI.

[DuckofTindalos]

That is not, I repeat NOT, going to happen. You can believe that, if you believe nothing else.

[Sardaukar]

ORIGINAL: rroberson

ORIGINAL: Andy Mac

Well 3 reasons being brutally honest

1. that only works if you could get anyone to work on the AI after the game was released as a PBEM only variant -  I am a PBEM junkie so the chances I would devote a fraction of the time I have if it was released and I could actually be playing is pretty low. I would far rather be playing that trying to get the AI working. So if thats my attitude and I am the main AI scripter........

2. Its never been really ready enough

3. Matrix want a product for the whole community not just PBEM so its all or nothing - quite rightly

Understandable I guess.

I have played the AI for about a week back when it first came out. After that its been all online. Frankly, no AI will ever be worth its salt when compared to a real person on the other end. To me its a shame how many resources you have thrown at it attempting to make the AI work. something the bulk of the regulars here (and I am assuming the target audience of the "advanced version" of WITP) will never use.

My biggest fear is you wont conquer that mountain in the near term and we will be set back another year or more while you chase the AI.

You might be surprised how many people play AI-only games, me included. They probably are lot larger group than PBEM-players, despite PBEM-players being lot more active on forums. I'd think quite big majority of players do not have time for PBEM, especially since it requires regular schedule.

Against AI, I can fire up the game anytime I feel like and have time. I can play for example 1 month of gametime, leave the game for 2 months real time and come back to it.

I, for example, would never buy AE if it was PBEM only. I doubt others would buy a game without AI either.

[m10bob]

If this is devolving into a poll of who plays what, I am AI only due to RL time-constraints (and fear of losing to so much talent on these forums).[:D]

[Andrew Brown]

ORIGINAL: m10bob

If this is devolving into a poll of who plays what, I am AI only due to RL time-constraints (and fear of losing to so much talent on these forums).[:D]

Me too, pretty much (and my time constraints are so severe these days that I have a copy for AE on my PC as we speak but I am not playing it! That takes "annoying" to a whole new level).

Andrew

[erstad]

I have bought a *lot* of computer wargames over the years. Maybe 50, depending on how broadly one defines the genre. Witp is the first one I've done PBEM. I played UV against the AI all the time.

None of you had ever heard of me when I played UV. The only reason I ever got on the forums was to find a PBEM partner for Witp. Of course, once I got here you can't shut me up.[:D]

My only point is that there is quite likely a silent majority that is playing the game versus the AI. What we see on the forums is a very unrepresentative sample.

Not trying to argue that either AI or PBEM is "better." To me, that's like arguing about whether Guinness Extra Stout or dark chocolate is better. They are both quite good in different circumstances and it doesn't really matter much which is "better."

[oldspec4]

AI only for me for all the same reasons as previously mentioned..

[Gunner98]

And me. Schedule is far too erratic for PBEM

B

[PeteG662]

Ditto, AI

[Grotius]

To me its a shame how many resources you have thrown at it attempting to make the AI work. something the bulk of the regulars here (and I am assuming the target audience of the "advanced version" of WITP) will never use.

I'm glad the team has devoted these resources. I have played some PBEM, but of late it's been all AI, because my schedule has been erratic.