PBEM Map Problem

[AlvinS]

I am currently playing a PBEM Red Hammer scenario and am up to about turn 5. I just loaded the file, the turn resolution started, and I was not able to scroll the map to watch the action. The map was stuck in the lower left hand corner and the action was up and to the right. I tried clicking on the strategic map and moving the mouse pointer to the edge to scroll and nothing worked. Its a bummer when your unit is getting shot up and you can't even watch.[:(]

[aysi]

hi Alvin
just sent you back the file,got to see all the action...not much really[;)],anyway i tried to scroll during the resolution phase and i dont think you can,the program centres the map on where the action is.Looks like another problem coming up

such a shame as this game is good,just way too many faults for a program that should have been tested to death

[CapnDarwin]

aysi: such a shame as this game is good,just way too many faults for a program that should have been tested to death

I read this this morning and it hit my rant button.

RANT MODE ON

I'm just curious on how you would define "tested to death". These days given the incredible number of combinations of OS's, CPU's, GPU's, drivers, hardware, languages, and stuck with limited programming and test budgets, how would you propose developers cover all the bases? I can't think of one PC title in the past 10 years that has been bug free or included all the features the majority wants. My personal stance would be thanking this Dev team for taking the time post release to listen to us and make fixes and correction and add features. More and more "big" companies are dumping 80% complete games on the market and ignore the customers when they bring up issues. I hate to say I'm a fan of the Madden game from EA, but it has had the same bugs and lame simulation issues for the past 4 years. Hey can't complain too much since we got chearleader jiggle physics, but my DB's are still dumb as stones and game after game goes by without a holding call.

I understand that buying a game and having a broken feature can be frustrating. All I'm saying from the vantage point of both being a consumer and software developer on a game mod sold world wide (there's a ton of fun in that issue too), is give these guys a break. They are working the issues and are committed to the product. Let's be happy with that.

My rant endeth.

RANT MODE OFF

S!

Cap'n D

[IronManBeta]

I'm not quite sure what the original problem here is but I'll have a look. There is a setting somewhere that keeps the current action in view but this can be turned off. If it is on then the map can be scrolled manually but will be jerked back to whatever unit is active when something happens. Be sure to turn off the feature if you don't want this!

I'll put this on the bug list. It has never been reported before so it will be 'fun' to look at.

The game was tested extensively for 18 months by some very thorough people in addition to myself. Yes it has bugs but mainly they are due to the continual addition of features to keep the playtesters happy and motivated. Sort of a catch 22. No game will ever be perfect but at some point you have to bite the bullet and just release it. I will be developing this baby for a long time yet so please don't get too bent out of shape over one particular little problem.

I want to hear bug reports so that I can improve the game. Just please be patient. This sort of thing is far from easy to do!

Cheers, Rob.

[AlvinS]

Rob

I think this game is great. I appreciate all of the hard work that has gone into it. The problem I described has only happened once, but I wanted to mention it. When I loaded the PBEM file and it started the resolution phase, the map did not center on the action. The last turn I received the map centered properly and I was able to scroll by moving my mouse pointer to the edge of the map.

I'll let you know if it crops up again and I will try and save the file. As I said before: this is a great game that will only get better.[8D]

Thanks for your fast reply.

[IronManBeta]

AlvinS, I appreciate your kind words and support. This is a labor of love for me and many others. If we didn't all have to earn a living things would happen a lot more quickly - but things are still moving along.

I care about every aspect of the game. The problem is that it is so darn easy to introduce 3 new errors with each so-called fix that is made. You have to plan carefully, work slowly and test extensively.

Ta, Rob.