November Update

[NeverMan]

I actually really enjoyed the animated version of "The Lord of the Rings". All three of them. The Fellowship of the Ring and the Two Towers were done by different people than Return of the King (who also did The Hobbit), but I quite enjoyed all of them. Anyway, I thought they rocked. Peace.

Marshall, if you guys dump EiA, don't let it sit on the shelf, if some other publisher shows interest, pass it on.

[McGuire]

ORIGINAL: NeverMan

I actually really enjoyed the animated version of "The Lord of the Rings". All three of them. The Fellowship of the Ring and the Two Towers were done by different people than Return of the King (who also did The Hobbit), but I quite enjoyed all of them. Anyway, I thought they rocked. Peace.

Marshall, if you guys dump EiA, don't let it sit on the shelf, if some other publisher shows interest, pass it on.

Concerning the Lord of the Rings:
I liked tha "animated" movie too. And it had some advantages to the "real" movie!
But the discussion abouth it shouldn't be in this forum, does it?

Concerning EiA:
I actually do not think that computer techniques have to be advanced to realise this game! Actually I don't even think the game is very hard to realise (no offense to Marshal and Matrix).
I don't expect any high-resolution graphics, animated movies, complex animation.....!
I just like to have the board-game on my PC.

An to give the Matix-guys (especially Marshal) the credits I owe them:
I think it's the personificated programming-hell getting the AI not to act too stupid. And all those rules, optional rules.... [&o]

But don't make anything too shiny! If it doesn't work perfect - hey what in the world is? Just get us gamers the possibility to play EiA.

And please keep working until it's done!
PLEASE! PRETTY PLEASE! PRETTY PLEASE WITH SUGAR ON!

[1LTRambo]

In response to Pippin: yes I was referring to the animated version of "Fellowship". I did enjoy "The Hobbit" but that one could also have been improved upon.

In response to ktotwf: I'm sorry for bringing this up but I thought it was an appropriate example.

In response to Neverman: I did not mean any offense.

In response to McGuire: I used the "The Lord of the Rings" as an example to bring home the point that what ever it takes for Matrix and Marshalls design team to develop a quality game they must persue it. Even if it means more time to develop the game. I want, and I believe that I'm not alone in stating this, a quality game that I can enjoy for many years to come as I have with the board game. Having a "perfect" game is purely subjective. We are asking for a game that is 99% bug free and playable. That, will be satisfying

[NeverMan]

Hey man (Rambo), no offense taken at all, I was just stating my opinion that I thought it was a good movie (movies).

Yes, it would be great if Marshall can make the perfect EiA game, but it's not going to happen. At this point, I think we will all be lucky if a crappy EiA game comes out and Matrix continues to support it (as in giving us patches). Personally, I think even if the former is going to happen, the latter probably won't, which makes the former pointless.

[1LTRambo]

Why do you believe that Matrix won't release a quality version of CEiA?[&:] I believe that they have taken alot of flack over the wait for it's release. However, I think that we will be rewarded in the end by them giving us a quality product, even though it is taking longer than we have anticipated.[:(] How long did it take for Michaelangelo to paint the Cistine Chapel? I'm sure he had his critics and those who pushed for him to finish faster. I'm not suggesting Marshall is Michaelangeo, but give his development team and beta testers time to ensure the game works properly before it is released. It's been two full years since since I have been following this forum, ...... I can wait a little longer.

[ktotwf]

I don't mind them taking a long time --- I am just afraid they won't end up releasing it at all...

[1LTRambo]

Good point! The talk in previous threads of shelving the project freaks me out.[X(]

[ktotwf]

ORIGINAL: 1LTRambo

Good point! The talk in previous threads of shelving the project freaks me out.[X(]

That would really be terrible...I have been waiting for the game for a year and a half now, and damnit - I WANT TO PLAY IT! [;)]

[pasternakski]

ORIGINAL: 1LTRambo
How long did it take for Michaelangelo to paint the Cistine Chapel?

Certainly longer than it took those who followed along to paint little diapers over the naughty bits in the Resurrection fresco.

Marshall has an opportunity here, through his work, to make a statement about whether "ports" of cardboard-and-paper games into computer versions is a viable way to go about design. If he fails (and if MWiF does the same), much impetus will be lost, and computer wargames will probably continue to drift in the "one engine fits all," "learn from Imperialism and make games that hide so much, they are playable because you have to guess what's really going on," and "gee, Axis and Allies sold good, let's make it again ... and again ... and again ..." direction.

Matrix has already started down that road by giving development and distribution support to titles like GGWaW and CoG. I hope we have seen the last of those.

[NeverMan]

ORIGINAL: 1LTRambo

Why do you believe that Matrix won't release a quality version of CEiA?[&:] I believe that they have taken alot of flack over the wait for it's release. However, I think that we will be rewarded in the end by them giving us a quality product, even though it is taking longer than we have anticipated.[:(] How long did it take for Michaelangelo to paint the Cistine Chapel? I'm sure he had his critics and those who pushed for him to finish faster. I'm not suggesting Marshall is Michaelangeo, but give his development team and beta testers time to ensure the game works properly before it is released. It's been two full years since since I have been following this forum, ...... I can wait a little longer.

It seems as though Matrix is putting less and less resources into completing this game and with the release of CoG it also seems like they care less and less. For instance, I believe that Marshall is working CEiA in his "off-time" and has been given other projects to work on. All this is pretty obviuos considering the time it is taking to put out this one game. I mean, when you are working on a game for 3 years (and that's since the EiA release so don't give me that "it was actually a different game and the EiA has only been a year" stuff, cuz that's not true) and you can't get it done, eventually you start to think about cutting your losses, which I think is what is happening in Matrix.

From the sound of it, it looks like it is simply up to Marshall to get this thing done and with the little support he is getting from Matrix, I won't blame him if he never finishes it.

I didn't know MatrixGames existed until I heard someone was doing a CEiA. From my experience watching them foul this game up, even if I do buy the CEiA, I will most certainly NEVER buy any other game from this company again. They have lost all credibility, IMO.

[ktotwf]

I dunno...I think in the end it WILL come out. It looks too far along to be cancelled now...who really knows? It could take a month more, three months more, six months more...

MarshallEllis looks like he is committed to finishing it.

[Ursa MAior]

I didn't know MatrixGames existed until I heard someone was doing a CEiA. From my experience watching them foul this game up, even if I do buy the CEiA, I will most certainly NEVER buy any other game from this company again. They have lost all credibility, IMO.

I think it was a bit rude. The lack of information regarding the fate of this game is despressing I admit, but Matrix isnt a fastfood chain, which if you dont like the service you can simply ignore in the future. There is only one (this) company which I am aware of, which makes these kind of strategy games. Even if they mess up EiA, I will probably buy Blackpowder battles, or some of the newly acquired games, of course some time after the release to see the reactions.

[1LTRambo]

What kind of support does Marshall have and what happened to the Beta Testers who are suppose to be playing the game in order to identify the bugs? Is it true that Marshall is the only one working on this project? Is it true that Matrix will pull the plug because this game has been in the works for more than 3 years?[&:]

Marshall, if you are following this thread, can you shed some light on this subject in order to put these fears to rest?

[ktotwf]

It would be nice to hear SOMETHING from Marshall. Some screenshots, and update, anything. I think we all need a morale boost.

[kylenapoleon]

A word from Marshall would be great, but the guys at Matrix could chip something in as well if Marshall is too busy.

[Ursa MAior]

Holeheartedly agree with kylenapoleon and ktotwf.

[ktotwf]

Well, if Marshall is too busy to reply, maybe that is a good thing unto itself...?

[Pippin]

Well I will say this... The AI is still going through some fixes. Changing it from incompetant to dumb is do-able.... Making it smart, is another thing....

There are some interesting traits that can be adjusted such as agressiveness etc, but for a truely smart AI would require thousands of traits, agreed?

[ktotwf]

Good to know progress is being made then.

[jamo262]

Hi Pippin

My opinion is this.

The AI will always be crap until a big team gets to work on it for a long time.

So why not leave it out till EiA II and just release a multi player version with updated uncontrolled major power rules.

Does anyone out there think this?

Should we run a poll?