Who Should Download the Last Patches

David Heath · Post by **David Heath** » Wed Dec 04, 2002 11:30 am

Hello Everyone

Uncommon Valor v2.11 is now available for downloading. Before you go to get the patch please read the rest of this post.

Its been said you can not please all the people all of the time and it would seem with some you can not please them any of the time. We want all of our customers happy, yes I know this impossible but we do try.

When we started this project we had stated that we wanted to keep developing and expanding the game as we went along. We truly wanted to get the gamers input. We also wanted to use Uncommon Valor as a starting point for War in the Pacific. I been reading posts that a few gamers are upset that sometimes bugs new bugs are introduced with these patches. Matrix never promised bug free patches and we do our best not to release any bugs in our patches. What we did say we would do is to listen to our customers and fix as many bugs as quickly as possible while adding enchanments. If we found 4 bugs that players were really unhappy with we would fix and post a patch as soon as possible. If we had to do that once a week for month we would. We do not feel you should wait around for 2-3 months to get a big patch (which still could introduce a bug). We also stated that if any major bug was either introduced or found we would fix it as fast as possible and NOT make you wait months.

Since the release of Uncommon Valor back in May we have released 8 patches in seven months fixing 70+ bugs (less then 5 we introduced) and adding 200+ new features or enchancements. This is not even counting the updating to the Order of Battles.

Many of these features came directory from you the gamers and we feel that is how it should be. The publisher and developer listening and trying to give you want we can. These patches are not rushed out the door they are tested and tested again but with such a detail game there is SO much ground to cover.

I heard some gamers stated how a patch wreaked a PBEM or a old Save game. If any knows how long it takes to complete this game its the staff. The best way to go about this is to take some steps to protect your games. If you are playing a PBEM or into a long campaign wait before you update, watch the forums, backup your save files and remember the install will backup your current EXE when its install the patch. You can find it in the main Uncommon Valor directory with a .bak at the end.

We hope all of you are enjoying UV and are enjoying the process in helping us developed the game.

David

pasternakski · Post by **pasternakski** » Wed Dec 04, 2002 11:34 am

Standing "O" David. Thank you.

Skyfire7631 · Post by **Skyfire7631** » Wed Dec 04, 2002 1:40 pm

Well, all I can say is thanks a lot for supporting this game so well

And don't forget that, IMHO, the silent majority is perfectly happy with the game, so of course, when some complain about a bug, it can sound harsh, while it is not really ...

Regards.

Von Rom · Post by **Von Rom** » Wed Dec 04, 2002 9:00 pm

Great support.

All above and beyond the call of duty. . .

This is a very rare thing in today's game market, and I look forward to WiTP. Where does the line-up start?

Cheers!

Inigo Montoya · Post by **Inigo Montoya** » Thu Dec 05, 2002 12:53 am

Even though you can't please all of the people all of the time, you are pleasing tons of us! Keep up the good work. This is a tough crowd comprised of some very knowledgeable and demanding grognards. Don't be discouraged by the few "bad apples." You guys are fantastic!

8 )

Admiral Scott · Post by **Admiral Scott** » Thu Dec 05, 2002 1:07 am

I have always prefered many frequent smaller patches for games than waiting a long time for fewer but larger patches.
I think you guys are doing a great job, dont change because of a few customers disagree. Keep the patches coming as fast as you can I say.(Must be the perfectionist in me)

XPav · Post by **XPav** » Thu Dec 05, 2002 2:16 am

I'm one of the people that is a little wary of all these patches. I don't think I'm a "bad apple" -- I still think Matrix is doing a good job, I still love the game. Please, lets not turn this into some sort of forum where constructive criticism and legitimate gripes are shouted down.

David's got some good points about what to do if they accidently break something vital. Have backups of the save games. Let someone else upgrade first, use the old EXEs to play with other folks that don't want to upgrade. I'll remember all those, and these points should be emphasized for all releases.

I know software can't be bug free, heck, I do software, and my software ain't bug free. Doesn't mean I don't get irritated whenever I have find one of my own bugs.

Fred98 · Post by **Fred98** » Thu Dec 05, 2002 2:21 am

I am considering uninstalling the game, then re-install together with the 2.0 patch. I am wondering if the game would run more smoothly or whether it makes no difference.

I am also hoping that the 2 latest patches might be incorporated into a patch named 3.0. My logic is simply that I want to back up all patches for the day that the computer dies and the fewer patches the better.

XPav · Post by **XPav** » Thu Dec 05, 2002 4:17 am

The only difference between every 2.x patch is the EXE. The art changed in 1.4->2.0.

panda124c · Post by **panda124c** » Thu Dec 05, 2002 5:25 am

David I consider Matrix's support of their games to be the best anywhere bar none.
People should understand that a program is not a simple thing that can be fixed like a car. Every part of it effects all the other parts. The people at Matrix are doing the best job of trying to meet our request for new features while fixing things that are a problem and at the same time trying to not introduce any other problem.
You guys are doing the greatest job. Keep up the good work. And all this from a Hardware geek (I don't do software!).

P.S. (my best Godfather impersonation) You got a problem with some people let me know I got some guys who'll take care of it for you.

FirstPappy · Post by **FirstPappy** » Thu Dec 05, 2002 7:24 am

Let me also say thanks for the great job. It's much appreciated.

Ross Moorhouse · Post by **Ross Moorhouse** » Thu Dec 05, 2002 7:53 am

2.11 has some new wav files in it too. The EXE is coded to pick these up.

Inigo Montoya · Post by **Inigo Montoya** » Thu Dec 05, 2002 12:55 pm

XPav, just wanted to clarify that I don't consider you to be a bad apple. I also don't discourage legitimate gripes or constructive criticism. Please note my comments from a prior post:
"Kudos to Pasternakski!!!

So many people complained and threw stones at the patch, but he set out to improve it! Great work noticing the bug and saving the file, and a special thanks to the great guys at Matrix for being so responsive!"

Constructive criticism is all I've ever seen from you, XPav. An example of a bad apple is posting that one is "putting the game back on the shelf." That is in no way constructive and I feel it creates a negative environment.

Recon_slith · Post by **Recon_slith** » Thu Dec 05, 2002 1:58 pm

I'm more than just happy - I'm

Very impressive.

Bax · Post by **Bax** » Fri Dec 06, 2002 2:57 am

An example of a bad apple is posting that one is "putting the game back on the shelf." That is in no way constructive and I feel it creates a negative environment.

Amen, Inigo! I couldn't agree more. I'm sure everyone at Matrix appreciates consructive criticism. It helps make for a better game for the future. Nobody, rightly so, appreciates the "You porked the game and now it sucks!" type of posts. Those are not helpful at all.

My hat is off to all the people at Matrix. I do software testing for a large, blue computer company, and I can vouch for how difficult it is to be able to find every little bug in testing. There are simply too many hardware and software configurations out there to be able to test them all, even if you had a whole regiment of testers!

Cheers Matrix, you guys are the kings of customer support. I have the feeling Santa is going to leave you lots of good things in your stockings this Christmas. Anyway, I've sent him a letter asking him to do so!

HardTimes · Post by **HardTimes** » Fri Dec 06, 2002 3:00 am

you guys are doing a great job.....ignore the asses of the world

Inigo Montoya · Post by **Inigo Montoya** » Fri Dec 06, 2002 12:14 pm

Nice, Bax. You are in Rochester working for a large, blue computer company, eh? I was in that town going to medical school from '91-'95. Do you know a guy named Bill Sawyer? I might have his last name spelled wrong, but he's a guy who is also interested in WWII wargames who works in your company there in Rochester. You might want to look him up.

Bax · Post by **Bax** » Fri Dec 06, 2002 10:48 pm

LOL, small world, Inigo. Sounds like you did your training in the only other big business in town. That well-known medical institution that has a name that matches an oft-used sandwich condiment!

I don't know Bill, but when I just looked him up, I see that he has transferred to the Raleigh plant. What a shame, it would be nice to find a WW2 gaming enthusiast locally.

Inigo Montoya · Post by **Inigo Montoya** » Sun Dec 08, 2002 2:45 am

Yeah, Bax. That sucks he's moved. He was the only guy I could track down in that town in the early 90's.

If you are new, keep me in mind for PBEM. I'm only starting my first human opponent game, so I'm a newb. Write me at neifert@t-online.de

8 )

Cap Mandrake · Post by **Cap Mandrake** » Tue Dec 10, 2002 8:32 am

If you ask me..and nobody did...this is GREAT customer service!! I paid some 40+ $ for this FANTASTIC game. Had it ended there with just solo play...I got my investment back with spectacular returns. Look, I paid $8 for a ticket to see "Titanic", and after 20 minutes I was rooting for the iceburg. I paid like $2000 for a vet to do install a plate in my dog's leg after she got hit by a car..and her paw still points out to the side.

Matrix is the Nordstom's of wargame publishers bar none! (for foreign readers, Nordstrom's is a retailer known for therir superb customer service)

It is my humble hope that my meager purchase will, in some small way, contribute to the eventual release of War in the Pacific

<prostrates himself and begins chanting as a lowly supplicant on the altar of the ultimate wargame....ohhhmm....>