Patch?

[jomni]

Will the game still be patched?

[wdolson]

Yes.

Bill

[Bondo16]

Really??!! Any specifics?

[jomni]

ORIGINAL: wdolson

Yes.

Bill

Wow! That's was an unexpected answer.

[tocaff]

We've know for a long time that a patch was down the line.  It'll be a spinoff of AE, but what it'll address is anybody's guess as of now.

[flaggelant]

i though standard WITP would be a closed down game, like the dos version?

but i'd say improvement is allways a good thing!! [8D]

[tocaff]

This is what makes Matrix different, support and more support down the road.

[wdolson]

Don't expect a whole lot in a WitP patch, but there has been talk of one.

Bill

[jwilkerson]

Yes there was talk of one. As the guy who was actually working on that patch. Never say never - but currently there is no work being done on a WITP patch - I can say that with certainty.

Other than a few minor bug fixes - all the "enhancements" that might have been done for WITP were done for AE - in fact the original idea for AE was that it would simply be an "enhancement pack" for WITP. The energy of the team pushed this idea way beyond the limits and AE was the result - any future enhancements would thus certainly be done on the AE base - not the WITP base. So there is actually little case for a WITP patch at this point.

I still play WITP myself - just because it is "easier" - like sometimes I would drop back a CIV version and play - just for FUN. But things like way points - and naval support - port limits - certainly make AE both more complex and more accurate.

WITP is still very moddable and some of the mods we've seen even include EXE file changes - probably done with hex editors. One serious problem with WITP is that the save file format is much easier to crack than AE and this limits WITP value as a PBEM platform - but making this change for WITP would feel like turning WITP into AE and we've already done that - so don't need to do it again!

Those are my reasons for abandoning the plan we had to do a WITP patch - so I would say - at this point - there is no such plan.

[jomni]

Aw. (T_T) Too bad.  WITP AE is nice but I do not appreciate the added detail. 
 

[jwilkerson]

Not surprised that at least some feel that way ...

I like WPO as well ... it is refreshing to play a true naval game without all those silly aeroplanes!

[Local Yokel]

I am deeply disappointed to hear that there will be no patch for WitP.

My only PBEM game having just ended (NikMod CHS scenario), I am considering whether to start another grand campaign involving the war against Japan. No doubt I am in a minority, but I regard AE as being inferior to the CHS version of WitP. Consequently, I am reluctant to embark upon a GC match in AE.

That leaves me with the alternative of starting another CHS GC. A major disincentive is the continued existence of the pilot bug. I certainly do not want to waste a significant part of my precious spare time by devoting it to a match in which my best pilots are liable to disappear in droves three years into the war, due to nothing other than a flaw in the game.

I was always under the impression that AE was intended to complement WitP as a variant aimed at the ultra-grognard. Originally, purchase of AE was to be conditional upon prior purchase of WitP. The rationale for this was that only those familiar with the complexities of the original game could be confident that the increased complexity of AE was for them. The implication was that WitP in original form would continue to be regarded by Matrix as one of its mainstream games. Now, it seems, a decision has been made by the developers to reduce WitP to remainder-ware status.

If such a decision has been taken then, with the pilot bug unresolved, it is one that I deplore. Hard to see where to go from here as a person interested in playing a Japanese war game. [:(]

[rominet]

ORIGINAL: Local Yokel

I am deeply disappointed to hear that there will be no patch for WitP.

My only PBEM game having just ended (NikMod CHS scenario), I am considering whether to start another grand campaign involving the war against Japan. No doubt I am in a minority, but I regard AE as being inferior to the CHS version of WitP. Consequently, I am reluctant to embark upon a GC match in AE.

That leaves me with the alternative of starting another CHS GC. A major disincentive is the continued existence of the pilot bug. I certainly do not want to waste a significant part of my precious spare time by devoting it to a match in which my best pilots are liable to disappear in droves three years into the war, due to nothing other than a flaw in the game.

I was always under the impression that AE was intended to complement WitP as a variant aimed at the ultra-grognard. Originally, purchase of AE was to be conditional upon prior purchase of WitP. The rationale for this was that only those familiar with the complexities of the original game could be confident that the increased complexity of AE was for them. The implication was that WitP in original form would continue to be regarded by Matrix as one of its mainstream games. Now, it seems, a decision has been made by the developers to reduce WitP to remainder-ware status.

If such a decision has been taken then, with the pilot bug unresolved, it is one that I deplore. Hard to see where to go from here as a person interested in playing a Japanese war game. [:(]

I agree but this decision (no other patch) was sadly quite predictable.[:(]
Except with short scenarii, AE is very complicated to play. I remain a WitP fan.

[tocaff]

Damn!  I was looking forward to the possibility of the pilot bug being squashed.  [:(]

[jomni]

I think there are more fans of AE than WITP stragglers like us.  So there's no hope of any patch (at least a fix for the Pilot bug and a better AI).
AE fans are a gutton for detail. Nitpicking every single routine of the game (search arc, pilot raining, radar,etc.).  Sigh.
 

[n01487477]

ORIGINAL: jwilkerson
Yes there was talk of one. As the guy who was actually working on that patch. Never say never - but currently there is no work being done on a WITP patch - I can say that with certainty.

Other than a few minor bug fixes - all the "enhancements" that might have been done for WITP were done for AE - in fact the original idea for AE was that it would simply be an "enhancement pack" for WITP. The energy of the team pushed this idea way beyond the limits and AE was the result - any future enhancements would thus certainly be done on the AE base - not the WITP base. So there is actually little case for a WITP patch at this point.

I still play WITP myself - just because it is "easier" - like sometimes I would drop back a CIV version and play - just for FUN. But things like way points - and naval support - port limits - certainly make AE both more complex and more accurate.

WITP is still very moddable and some of the mods we've seen even include EXE file changes - probably done with hex editors. One serious problem with WITP is that the save file format is much easier to crack than AE and this limits WITP value as a PBEM platform - but making this change for WITP would feel like turning WITP into AE and we've already done that - so don't need to do it again!

Those are my reasons for abandoning the plan we had to do a WITP patch - so I would say - at this point - there is no such plan.

This is unfortunate but necessary I guess... but I don't think most witp players are asking for AE enhancements or more PBEM security; just a few bugs fixes (pilot bug the most notable) and then we'd be satisfied. It was promised around the time of AE's release that there would be at least one more witp patch.

This is still a great game, more enjoyable than AE in a number of ways as you've stated ... but arguing that additional patches would be mini-AE patches and PBEM security is an issue when most of us are not into cheating & when all is needed & asked for is one or two bug fixes - is not as logical as you usually are ... and not what was promised IIRC.

Now I know that Matrix support it great (WITP Release July 8, 2004 -> last patch 24 MAY 2007). More than most games would ever do ... I know you never said never ... but leaving witp with one game breaking bug does do its legacy a disservice.

I'll even do it for free & I'm sure some other programmers here would do the same (but I doubt even with NDA's we'll be allowed)

[rtrapasso]

Actually, MATRIX doesn't support the games except in the form of the forum... almost all (all?) of the support for the last several years has come from the forum users, some of whom organized to rewrite the game into AE.

So, i think we users might think about taking things into our own hands...

They way i understand it, if i company announces they no longer support a product it can be considered abandonware, but i don't know what the legal position of all of this since there still is a forum, that might be considered to be support.

We can ask the AE devs (who know the code) about this. Also, we can ask 2x3 Games people, who did the original code. After all, if the product is still supported, they might continue to get sales, and make a bit of $...

But we users have to make a bit of noise and be willing to do the work.

i am not a programmer type (though i have done some in my time), however, i was the WITP support guy so i know a bit about the game and its problems. i would be willing to help (though not full time! [:)] )

[Arstavidios]

Well I suppose the pilot bug should be fixed. Otherwise the game does not need new features. there's AE for that.
Just a matter a fixing the few remaining bugs that may still remain.

[htuna]

Would be nice if it could do the same Screen Resolution Tweak as AE

[tocaff]

4 bug fixes for me and I'd be really happy:

Pilot bug

Static LCUs moving and not being able to be moved back (work  around set allow replacements for each individual unit at the base)

Sub set to mine laying switching to combat patrol

TF set to bombard changing to normal combat and not being able to be changed back again (work around disband and reform TF)