Paradox aquires...AGEOD

[killroyishere]

http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/sho ... 956&page=5

The above thread is one of the more heated ones and just note the tone of the moderator. I've never seen any of the moderators here act that rude like they are gods or gestapo agents. Stonewall the moderator if you read all his posts in orange in that thread is exactly that. Plus note rule #2 of the forum rules. I've never liked that rule as that gives them complete say and once again like a dictator or gestapo agent. Reminds me of how my mom used to be. "Do as I say because I said so boy." Sorry, but, in my world animosity leads to just more animosity. They won't win any customer service awards I bet you.
The problem with finding the ones they didn't delete is their search engine is the suxors. You can't even use the damn thing. I wonder why?[:D] I'd list loads of moderator activity where they were less than cordial and acting like forumites they are complaining about.

This one below would insight anyone to hostilities. He's actually taunting the forum member to do it so he can ban him.

Combined with the five I gave you for insulting me via PM and the two you just got for this post I am quoting, you're one point away from being banned. I leave it to your judgment whether you continue this fight, which you are guaranteed to lose. Based on your past conduct, I have little hope that your judgment will improve, but as always, I hope for the best.

Just so there is no confusion, my remarks are not an invitation for you to respond.

Now I ask you if you could meet that particular moderator in person what would be your reactions?[:D] OR

[killroyishere]

ORIGINAL: bairdlander

ORIGINAL: NefariousKoel

Must be just enough suckers out there still giving them money.

[:(]

Kind of like when Matrix calls Commander Europe at War "new" when i recall a game from 2002 called Strategic Command Europe (www.battlefront.com/products/stratcom/stratcom.html) with exact same map,graphics,sound and interface(sorry the tech screen was different).As well as Close Combat series and ED/BTR[:D][:D]which came out in 1994[:D][:D]

But Commander Europe at War is new and so much better than Strategic Command of any kind from Battlefront. Battlefront has gone downhill since CMSF and appear to be headed to the rts of mainstream instead of wargames of real strategy and tactics. I've given up on them like Paradox and just wait for bargain bin versions just to play around with after they've been patched 13 times.
Close Combat series is new because it works on XP and Vista without hassle.[:D] Plus the Longest Day version now is huge compared to the old version long ago.

[Hard Sarge]

ORIGINAL: bairdlander

ORIGINAL: NefariousKoel

Must be just enough suckers out there still giving them money.

[:(]

Kind of like when Matrix calls Commander Europe at War "new" when i recall a game from 2002 called Strategic Command Europe (www.battlefront.com/products/stratcom/stratcom.html) with exact same map,graphics,sound and interface(sorry the tech screen was different).As well as Close Combat series and ED/BTR[:D][:D]which came out in 1994[:D][:D]
[/quote]

hey, ED/BTR didn't come out in 94

don't know about the first one, but the CC and ED/BTR were never said to be "New" games, but remakes of old games

[Arctic Blast]

ORIGINAL: MikeBrough

ORIGINAL: Arctic Blast
MikeBrough : Why would you go back and play an older version of the game when you have a new one with tweaks and fixes? And yeah, I am planning on grabbed HttT after Christmas is over. I like the new Casus Belli overhaul, I like the improved AI use of diplomacy, I like the Sphere of Influence system and I like the changes to make playing a Merchant Republic more fun. I'd call that stuff pretty significant change.

That's my point - few people will go back and play the original EUIII, or the IN version, or Nappy's Ambition, once they've installed HttT. So, you've paid around £100 for your current game. Do you think it's worth that much?

I have a suspicion that Paradix (think I'll stick with that - thanks, Adam) roll out a beta, ask us to test it and then pay full price for the patches, thinly disguised as expansions. In some ways, it's similar to the proposed model that World in Flames was considering (haven't kept up with that game, so I can't be sure) but I also suspect that WiF won't be charging the early purchasers/beta testers full price for the patches as they come out.

Okay, so if the expansions make such big, sweeping changes that nobody wants to play previous versions...why shouldn't they be sold as expansions? Patches typically add CONTENT, they don't completely change the way parts of the game function.

And if you disagree, there's a simple solution. Don't buy the expansions, or wait for them to drop in price. Nobody is forcing you to upgrade. And by the same token, you as the gamer don't have some intrinsic right to get everything for free.

I do think selling the sprite packs for HoI 3 is a bit cheesy...but you don't need them to play the game, so I don't really get bent out of shape about them (unless it was to turn out that programmers were building sprites instead of making fixes). And while patches and game fixes should always be free, the EU 3 expansions are not paid for game fixes...they're massive changes to the entire game engine.

[06 Maestro]

ORIGINAL: Arctic Blast
I do think selling the sprite packs for HoI 3 is a bit cheesy...but you don't need them to play the game, so I don't really get bent out of shape about them (unless it was to turn out that programmers were building sprites instead of making fixes). And while patches and game fixes should always be free, the EU 3 expansions are not paid for game fixes...they're massive changes to the entire game engine.

This is spot on-especially the second sentence. I think that if someone actually owned and played those games, or HoI2/Armageddon, they would see the difference.

Sometimes it seems people say things about games of which they had never even looked at. I wonder if that is why PI introduced the game registration rules (along with the game symbol with your avatar) to try to minimize game-less trolls.

Perhaps Matrix should look into this "feature" [;)]. It might be a lot of trouble (mostly for Matrix) to do this just to expose a few trolls, but it would fun to watch them squirm for a while.

[06 Maestro]

I don't want to look like a fanboy of PI, but fair is fair. There has been some chatter here about their mods not allowing discourse ([;)]) on the failings of HoI3-this is simply not true. Right now, among the large number of question like posts on the first page, there are 2 threads openly listing problems with the game and various suggestions.

These threads have not been locked or deleted, nor has anyone been banned. The reason is simple; the people posting have legitimate statements/suggestions which are put forward in a reasonable manner. At a glance, it appears that all posters actually have the game and thus presumably have played it. It seems rather clear that PI does not have a problem with negative statements being posted in their forums about their games-as long as those statements are not put forward with slanderous/insulting statements regarding the developer or other members. This is not very different from Matrix Games. (although the mods here are more accessible in an open forum)

It is easy to stick to the facts-assuming one knows them. As mentioned above; if a game is unplayable for an individual, they can get there money back.

Just to make it easy for anyone to see this situation I will post a link to one of the complaint threads that is going strong, but in a constructive way. In time many of the concerns being posted in the referenced thread will be addressed eventually. Why? Because PI needs and wants happy customers.

On a related note I have noticed some long time PI members whom have received a ban, but are back in a short time. There are apparently different levels of banning. I think it is clear that the Moderators can see the difference from someone who is just caught up in a heated exchange and a game-less troll.

http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/sho ... p?t=449675

Addit: Funny, while checking my link to see if it worked properly I notice the OP of this thread is a PI man-actually looking for complaints! ha ha imagine that. Just what a bunch of paranoid banning freaks would do. I rest my case.

[killroyishere]

The case isn't the present posts it is the posts during the early release of the game many months ago. Of course things have died down since then as well as the bannings. There were daily thread(s) deleted and customers banned for rediculous reasons and all on the whims of gestapo moderators like Vulture and Stonewall.

[Fallschirmjager]

I like Paradox games. They are not exactly the most polished of games upon release but the company does patch it's products and most importantly they are willing to take on subject matter and game types that other companies will not touch.

Who else has a real time grand strategic game based on the Victorian period?
All things being relative Paradox is a big time game company in the strategy game market. The current state of the PC marketplace and wargame marketplace needs all the developers and publishers it can get.

[06 Maestro]

ORIGINAL: Fallschirmjager

I like Paradox games. They are not exactly the most polished of games upon release but the company does patch it's products and most importantly they are willing to take on subject matter and game types that other companies will not touch.

Who else has a real time grand strategic game based on the Victorian period?
All things being relative Paradox is a big time game company in the strategy game market. The current state of the PC marketplace and wargame marketplace needs all the developers and publishers it can get.

I agree.

They do have one other little thing for their customers which is nice-providing a server for the MP games. That is a nice touch.

That would be something for Matrix to look into someday. It would come in handy for the PG games and perhaps some flight sims.

I hope that AGEOD will be able to benefit from the Meta server.

[MikeBrough]

ORIGINAL: Arctic Blast
Okay, so if the expansions make such big, sweeping changes that nobody wants to play previous versions...why shouldn't they be sold as expansions? Patches typically add CONTENT, they don't completely change the way parts of the game function.

And if you disagree, there's a simple solution. Don't buy the expansions, or wait for them to drop in price. Nobody is forcing you to upgrade. And by the same token, you as the gamer don't have some intrinsic right to get everything for free.

I do think selling the sprite packs for HoI 3 is a bit cheesy...but you don't need them to play the game, so I don't really get bent out of shape about them (unless it was to turn out that programmers were building sprites instead of making fixes). And while patches and game fixes should always be free, the EU 3 expansions are not paid for game fixes...they're massive changes to the entire game engine.

OK, in hindsight, I've been a bit hard on Paradox. I'm probably guilty of looking at the end-game - £100 for HttT??? - but along the way I've had a good, solid game to play at all times (well, after the 6 months of free beta testing). Sort of like a £20 tune-up every 6 months.

[martok]

If -- and I grant it's a big "if" -- Paradox largely refrains from interfering with AGEOD's development process(es), and sticks mostly to publishing their games and providing support, then I believe this could actually be quite beneficial for them. In my mind, the main question is how much PI ends up meddling in AGEOD's affairs, and we probably won't really know that until at least some months have passed.

In short: I'm cautiously optimistic about how this will turn out, but only time will tell.

[killroyishere]

Here is a more recent thread just closed:

http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/sho ... 270&page=2

Mod uses generic "this thread has gone off topic enough" as an excuse to close yet another negative thread about the game and the problems and issues with it. There is nothing I see agaisnt the rules of the forum here except the moderator just wants to squelch it from others seeing and responding in like kind about the game and it's issues. So don't tell me the mods don't close or delete negative threads on a whim they are still doing it and I'm pretty sure will continue to do it because I'm pretty sure it's for alternative reasons other than OT issues.

[GoodGuy]

http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/sho ... 365&page=2

A recent thread, not closed yet.
Some guy claims on page 2 that he authored the HOI3-review on ArmchairGeneral. Kinda interesting thread.
Some other guy concludes that ParadIx had to release HOI3 in such a terrible state, in order not to go down (ie. to get some bucks).
Heaven knows.

Let's say I'd own ParadIx, I would very well ensure that threads, which just had been created to piss on the bonfire, and which wouldn't be a bit polite/constructive, would be closed. Personally, I would even consider to delete the really rude threads.
Yes, as a customer, I do have rights, and I have the right to complain. But the complaint should be brought forward in a proper way.

[JudgeDredd]

So if they are closing the threads because of negative feedback, as you suggest, why are they not removing said threads? If they are really bothered about negative threads affecting sales and credibility (and I think they know they are past that now) why not remove the thread?

And the last 3 posts on that thread were going the same way other threads go and get closed...slagging off the company and other products instead of dealing with the OPs complaint. It seems to me it was simply closed to stop it sliding into the same damn sewer every other thread goes down over there....and several posts in that thread were shouting fanboy (like someone here actually)...it was heading south and the mod closed it - big deal!

Your seeming personal vendetta against Paradox is getting in the way of common sense. Their is no dark story here, regardless of your personal agenda. Threads are closed, people are banned and debates are more heated over there and for HoI3 than for other games and on other forums and that's simply because of the state of the game. People are banned because they are over stepping the mark and ignoring moderators advice. Debates are heated because people feel burned - and rightly so.

That's it. That's all there is. There's nothing else to see here. Move along.

[killroyishere]

ORIGINAL: GoodGuy

http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/sho ... 365&page=2

A recent thread, not closed yet.
Some guy claims on page 2 that he authored the HOI3-review on ArmchairGeneral. Kinda interesting thread.
Some other guy concludes that ParadIx had to release HOI3 in such a terrible state, in order not to go down (ie. to get some bucks).
Heaven knows.

Let's say I'd own ParadIx, I would very well ensure that threads, which just had been created to piss on the bonfire, and which wouldn't be a bit polite/constructive, would be closed. Personally, I would even consider to delete the really rude threads.
Yes, as a customer, I do have rights, and I have the right to complain. But the complaint should be brought forward in a proper way.

But, that is the big difference between Paradox and Matrixgames. I've never seen Erik or others close a thread because someone became pissy about one of Matrixgames games (which is rare btw). Matrixgames is not afraid of critisism no matter what kind it is whereas Paradox appears to be afraid.
The way I see it if you release a game in pretty decent shape as Matrixgames does you don't have to worry about threads like Paradox gets.

[hermanhum]

ORIGINAL: killroyishere

But, that is the big difference between Paradox and Matrixgames. I've never seen Erik or others close a thread because someone became pissy about one of Matrixgames games (which is rare btw).

You obviously haven't visited the Harpoon ANW sub-forum much. Probably more locked threads in there than in any other Matrix sub-forum.

[06 Maestro]

ORIGINAL: hermanhum

ORIGINAL: killroyishere

But, that is the big difference between Paradox and Matrixgames. I've never seen Erik or others close a thread because someone became pissy about one of Matrixgames games (which is rare btw).

You obviously haven't visited the Harpoon ANW sub-forum much. Probably more locked threads in there than in any other Matrix sub-forum.

Oh no! Now some disgrunteled distractor of Matrix fame can go to the PI OT forum and bad mouth Matrix Mods. That is, of course, if the distractor was not banned from that site.

[Obsolete]

Thanks again for the warnings

Sometimes I fail to understand how such great companies like Sierra and SSI went under, while others who have such botched up releases continue to hash out the same junk and manage to linger around.

[NefariousKoel]

I remember visiting the old Paradox boards fairly often while waiting, and during, the first disappointing HOI.  Soon after 9/11, there were a few idiot posters from europe there who commenced with the America bashing and saying that the US deserved it.   The only person who got banned was some Yanqui pig-dog who decided to raise hell with the afforementioned posters.  The mods deleted his post and left the others there, more than one thread that they were.  I seem to recall at least one of the mods having a difficult time not joining in on the yukfest. 

Between their buggy games, charging for loosely termed sequels, and questionable forum moderation, I try to stay as far away from them as possible.  It took me a couple more purchases before I was done with them altogether.

[jomni]

Noooo!!!
What will happen to Vainglory of Nations?
I was hoping it would be released and be better than Victoria.
Hope Paradox keeps AGEOD independent as they promised and not say "Vainglory is in direct competition to Victoria, you must stop development. Or make it a console game instead."