So is update 1.05 dead in the water or what?

[rpwood]

AMEN!

I just got finished reading ALL the wish list posts and a recurring theme was Deputy bitching about something and Jason being supportive and helpful. Keep it up Jason! I hope Deputy will lighten up and quit clogging the forum with his tirades.

JTCS is a great game. Plenty of scenarios, essentially well-thought out mechanics. The best tactical IGOUGO game ever.

Considering the lack of manpower, perhaps 1.05 should focus on core functionality.

While many of the suggestions for changes would be cool, the top of my wish list is better graphics capability for larger monitors. I don't care about more detailed icons, terrain, etc. I just want to use the screen real estate more effectively. Is that a difficult issue to solve?

FYI, Matrix provided me a new installer so I could get the game to work on my WINXPSP3 laptop. Much to my surprise, that installer also worked for my WIN8 system! Recommend they replace the old installer.

Cheers

[Crossroads]

Hear hear! That, and a separate supply base for arty would make day as well

[Crossroads]

My day, that is

[berto]

ORIGINAL: berto

Just so you know: The rest of the team and I ["the new programmer"] will continue working diligently on this. The Campaign Series is not dead! We will work as hard as we can, and as much as time permits, to give the CS a new lease on life.

A quick, short update:

Two weeks after

[*]first receiving the CS source code
[*]making hundreds of edits/fixes to that source code
[*]learning how to operate a new (to me) Integrated Development Environment (the Microsoft Visual Studio IDE)
[*]importing the source code into the IDE, and organizing projects
[*]struggling through dozens of attempted builds, all the way: editing/tweaking code, puzzling through many dozens of obscure compiler error messages, researching fixes in book & on-line references, downloading and applying hotfix updates to the IDE, ...

I have successfully built (compiled, linked, etc.) the first simple, test case game .exe, the Organization Editor. (Starting out small. Baby steps initially. After making automated fixes to the entire MCS codebase, I'll attempt building the remaining game .exe's in the next week or so.) The newly built edorg is stable, and appears to mimic operation of the earlier edorg fully and successfully.

You might think building the game .exe(s) to be no big deal. You would be wrong to think so. It is no easy thing, one programmer handing off a project of this size to another.

As the "new programmer," I'm easing into this. Well, maybe not "easing": bulling my way forward, actually. I received the source code just earlier this week. Tons of stuff to learn (~100,000 lines of code over several hundred files), tons of stuff to do, tons of challenges, tons of gotchas too no doubt.

Modernizing legacy code (JT's code, dating back to the late 1990s, when JTCS first came out); ensuring compatibility across so many versions of Windows over the years, and so many evolutions of C++; not to mention: fixing bugs old and new, adding new features (in most cases optional; no breaking of older legacy scenarios), spiffing up the UI ... You have no idea!

It's still too early to begin the promised Developer Diary series. (Coder Diary? More appropriate for Jason & co. to write a Developer Diary, if they so choose? Remember: We are a team, and I am just one though not an insignificant member of that team.)

But for now I can report:

Making good progress! (But don't get too excited. This is not at all to suggest imminent release of MCS, much less the CS 1.05 update. Way too soon for that.)

And once again I can say:

The Campaign Series is not dead!

[scottintacoma]

Berto,

Sounds like you have your hands full. Congrats on the success with the org editor. Good luck on everything. I would like to see a thread of how you are doing/what you are working on, seperate from this one.

And thanks!!!

[Crossroads]

I have successfully built (compiled, linked, etc.) the first simple, test case game .exe, the Organization Editor. (Starting out small. Baby steps initially. After making automated fixes to the entire MCS codebase, I'll attempt building the remaining game .exe's in the next week or so.) The newly built edorg is stable, and appears to mimic operation of the earlier edorg fully and successfully.

You might think building the game .exe(s) to be no big deal. You would be wrong to think so. It is no easy thing, one programmer handing off a project of this size to another.

Berto, that is a huge task in itself, especially if the old exe projects were not created with MS tools!!! [&o]

On the other hand, if you've already imported one exe to MS IDE, that is great news! A significant part completed in itself. Once there, the IDE will start to do things for you [:)]

Best of luck, keep the faith, tally ho, and so forth!!!

[wings7]

Thanks berto, please continue to keep us informed...The Campaign Series is in good hands!

Patrick

[Deputy]

Berto: "This is not at all to suggest imminent release of MCS, much less the CS 1.05 update. Way too soon for that."
Yes, especially since it's been YEARS since the release was actually promised. I admire your efforts, but it makes me wonder WTH Matrix has been doing prior to you taking on the task. Take MCS and toss it on the back burner. Releasing it will just result in more bugs needing fixes and delay the fix of what is already a ridiculous delay with CS.

rpw00d: Since you are a newb, I will go easy on you and give you the facts of life with Matrix. Kissing Jason't butt is a non-productive activity. Him liking you or not liking you isn't going to make him add anything you request. Jason being supportive and helpful doesn't get the game fixed. So save your breath and suggestions. Pretty much ANY suggestion you make has already been made a hundred times. There are whole threads of nothing but suggestions. And they were made YEARS ago. As to scenarios, most everyone by this time have played all the scenarios to death. At least, those who aren't playing ONLY PBEM have. If you want to make a suggestion, make one about the scenario generator. That was a great idea that could have extended playability for a LONG time. But it is very poorly implemented. Graphics improvements, even an update to more resolution, will NOT be happening. That is on the suggestions thread and has been repeated ad nauseum.

Crossroads: You know better than to post suggestions. You are just padding your post count and nothing else.

[CaptainHuge]

I appreciate that there is a voice out there pointing out how much time it is taking for changes to be made to this great game, but Deputy, I am finding your posts a little negative. You have made your point, either accept that what you have is the game and that's it, or wait patiently with the rest of us. Insulting the people who are trying to move the game forward is obviously not working for you. And look at my post count, I am not interested in padding it.

[Deputy]

ORIGINAL: CaptainHuge

I appreciate that there is a voice out there pointing out how much time it is taking for changes to be made to this great game, but Deputy, I am finding your posts a little negative. You have made your point, either accept that what you have is the game and that's it, or wait patiently with the rest of us. Insulting the people who are trying to move the game forward is obviously not working for you. And look at my post count, I am not interested in padding it.

LOL...only a LITTLE negative?!?!??!?![:D] You give me too much credit. I accept that the answer to my question of whether 1.05 is dead in the water is probably yes. As to waiting patiently, I am done with that. We waited patiently for YEARS and still nothing. I am not insulting the people (or maybe it is just "person"?) who is working on this game. But c'mon, YEARS to put out a patch? What were the people before Berto started working on it doing???? Sounds to me like nothing much. Then again, how much motivation would they have if they weren't even being paid for their efforts. Charity and dedication can only go so far before people move on to something where they WILL get compensated for their efforts.

[Crossroads]

You need to seriously lighten up my friend. All those negative waves surely can't be good for you.

[Deputy]

ORIGINAL: Crossroads

You need to seriously lighten up my friend. All those negative waves surely can't be good for you.

Trying to figure how questions about the status and suggestions for improvements can be viewed as "negative posts". I'm still playing the game (with version 1.02B) and enjoying it in spite of the longtime bugs present in it. If I didn't give a dang about the game, I wouldn't be posting here.
We've been "light" with Matrix about improving this game for YEARS and so far....NOTHING. How much "lighter" do you want to be??? Obviously kissing their butts is a waste of time and gets nothing done. Maybe if more people stopped patting Matrix' backsides and started voicing complaints, Matrix wouldn't be so complacent. Right now it's pretty obvious Matrix is taking the users of this game for granted.

[MrRoadrunner]

ORIGINAL: Deputy
Right now it's pretty obvious Matrix is taking the users of this game for granted.

For a law enforcement officer, you cannot see the forest for the trees.
And, in my opinion you are delusional.

Do we all want the game to be free of bugs? Yes.
Do we wish that a paid staff would be developing this game? Yes.

But, that is not the case. Bugs get fixed when they are found. If there is a fix that can be applied.

Some of "us" have been helping, or helped in the past, to let the team know where the bugs are. Others have been making suggestions to improve (though I cringe at those who want to change it) and they have been helping to improve it.
Others have become self taught modders. They have gone far in enhancing the product.

You, on the other hand, have been the little kid in the back seat repeating "are we there yet?". Or, the kid in the back of the class who thinks that throwing spitballs and making negative comments about school and the teacher are going to enhance his "kewl" standing with others.

You think your approach has worked? Maybe you think that, but months of negative posting has gotten you ... where?
And, for many who read your posts expecting something positive are disappointed because ... you are just annoyingly negative. With nothing positive to help out. A user in the highest degree.

Jason and most of the team have gotten many e-mails and posts with the "bugs" and other problems that need to be fixed. Jason (and the others) have all responded in a professional and respectful way. Even with you. But, I am not sure how they do it. I'd have zapped you long ago.

RR

[Deputy]

ORIGINAL: MrRoadrunner

ORIGINAL: Deputy
Right now it's pretty obvious Matrix is taking the users of this game for granted.

For a law enforcement officer, you cannot see the forest for the trees.
And, in my opinion you are delusional.

Do we all want the game to be free of bugs? Yes.
Do we wish that a paid staff would be developing this game? Yes.

But, that is not the case. Bugs get fixed when they are found. If there is a fix that can be applied.

Some of "us" have been helping, or helped in the past, to let the team know where the bugs are. Others have been making suggestions to improve (though I cringe at those who want to change it) and they have been helping to improve it.
Others have become self taught modders. They have gone far in enhancing the product.

You, on the other hand, have been the little kid in the back seat repeating "are we there yet?". Or, the kid in the back of the class who thinks that throwing spitballs and making negative comments about school and the teacher are going to enhance his "kewl" standing with others.

You think your approach has worked? Maybe you think that, but months of negative posting has gotten you ... where?
And, for many who read your posts expecting something positive are disappointed because ... you are just annoyingly negative. With nothing positive to help out. A user in the highest degree.

Jason and most of the team have gotten many e-mails and posts with the "bugs" and other problems that need to be fixed. Jason (and the others) have all responded in a professional and respectful way. Even with you. But, I am not sure how they do it. I'd have zapped you long ago.

RR

Put that Matrix flag down, waving it that much will hurt your arms. [8|]

"Bugs get fixed as they are found". Really? Is there some kind of magical patch drifting through the air that seeps into the game when nobody is looking? Because there are obvious bugs that have existed since Talonsoft owned the game and are STILL there. That being the ridiculous "burn up the movement points" bug that supply and command vehicles use all the time. If I had a nickel for every time someone posted about that, I could discontinue social security.

Are we there yet? Well after YEARS of waiting for another patch, that seems like the LEAST someone should ask. And the asnwer is NO, we aren't there yet and probably won't EVER be there if Matrix continues to do fixes "on the cheap" as they are STILL doing. I couldn't care less about the opinions of others. You DO know what opinions are like? [:D]

Has my approach worked? A better question is has ANY approach worked? The obvious answer is NO. Matrix has deaf ears when it comes to this game. Unless you want to talk about some future spinoff that they can make more money on that will most likely ALSO be full of problems.
And it hasn't been "months of negative posting". If you open your peepers you will see I have TWO threads started this year and only one of them, THIS ONE, is about the vaporware patch. The end of last year I had a question about modifying the start of campaigns. Of course, if you keep going back YEARS, you will find more of my posts, along with others, asking where the heck is the patch.

[TJD]

Looks like it's time to apply the straightjacket and ball gag to ol' Deputy again...

[Deputy]

Again? They never did before. Gagging me would be proof positive that what I have said is exactly right.

[kool_kat]

ORIGINAL: Jason Petho

If I had a nickel for every post of yours that was whining or complaining instead of something useful or productive, I could hire (at the going rates) a full production team and get this product out the door by the end of the month.

Thanks for the TWO things.

Jason Petho

Priceless! +2

[budd]

...................................

[MrRoadrunner]

"Are we there yet?"

RR

[rpwood]

ORIGINAL: scottgibson

Berto,

Sounds like you have your hands full. Congrats on the success with the org editor. Good luck on everything. I would like to see a thread of how you are doing/what you are working on, seperate from this one.

And thanks!!!

Ditto. Not a programmer but would be willing to help with research, historical data, editing/writing scenario/campaign information.