Whats Matrix release plans for 2012?

[vonRocko]

ORIGINAL: wodin

I for one JD like your around, though I know you wont get this as you've green buttoned me!

Conflict of Heroes is a typical example. This game has been in BETA for months, and I mean months, yet we still have no forum or even a hint of what it will be like. For me it's the biggest release news Matrix has had in ages, infact not since the collapse of Combat leader have I been more eager with regards to one of your releases.

Yet we have zero news. However we do have forums for Combine Arms and Lock n Load which no matter what anyone from Matrix can now say are classed as Vapourware and if they ever do arrive it won't be in the next two+ years.

I couldn't agree more wodin. I can't believe the silence for this game. It might be a good thing, I won't set false high expectations for it.
JD, I like you around!

[JudgeDredd]

It was tongue in cheek guys - I know everyone likes me around [;)] - who doesn't feel secure with the law around [:D]

[wodin]

JD funny enough it was due to wanting to chat to you in someway I made a mess of things over at Wargamer! Though it wasn't because I wanted to chat you up as a woman;) You where right that was done to throw the scent off.

[IainMcNeil]

Last year saw some very major personal issues with the Matrix team which took a number of them out of action for significant periods of time so forums monitoring was less active than usual, despite the fact we have more people. The other issues is the volume of spam has gone through the roof taking a lot more time to deal with. We also have more games releasing so generally more work to do. We've also had some pretty major changes such as leaving DR and moving to Plimus and a new store, most of which is fairly transparent. We have moved servers, we have taken on a new team to help with web development. The Christmas sale was pretty huge and the volume of feedback from customers has temporarily overwhelmed the tech support team and we are still catching up. Key titles like Panzer Corps being such a success are great but also put an extra load on our systems and staff that we;re having to scale up to deal with. All of these things are causing pain as they get set up but you'll see the benefits in the mid to long term. I guess its the transition that is a bit painful. Please bear with us as we go through these growing pains!

[wodin]

Thanks Iain. I have a feeling Matrix games have benefited more from the Slitherine merger than the other way round. Seems they have been keeping the ship running plus no doubt with contracts with the BBC and TV they have the finacial clout aswell.

Big salute to Slitherine!

[JudgeDredd]

Iain - I do feel the need to say this though - lack of information is probably one of the major factors with customers feeling discontent and a feeling of disconnection between customers and businesses then breeds.

I wouldn't dare tell you how to run a business - it's something that never appealed to me and I applaud anyone who has the balls to give it a go...but your customers are absolutely paramount. Getting money in is key - but if your customers have gone walkabout because they think they're not being listened to, then the money will not come in.

Seriously - quite often it's a case of a simple word or nod in the right direction and the customer is satisfied. I've seen countless surveys where the no1 complaint customers have is the feeling of being unheard.

Take a look at the group who complained about Combat Command. That thread has now turned funny and is likely to last - as long as there's feedback. It takes a small post now and again to inform customers that they are being listened to and their thoughts/questions/requests for help are not falling on deaf ears. The same with Command Ops and the patch - regular updates kept the whining to a minimum...if Dave had not come out with the updates he did, then the sh!t really could have hit the fan. As is, with regular updates (even when it's bad news), the uprising was squashed.

Even if the news isn't good news at that particular moment in time - regular updates are what's required by your customers.

That's all I'm saying on the matter.

[JudgeDredd]

And your customers WILL bear with you - they just need contact.

[IainMcNeil]

I completely agree - we really do need to work on it. It simply is a question of finding the time

One of the issues is that only certain people know how to do some aspects and these people are the ones who have been out of action. E.g. setting up new Matrix forums, editing web pages etc.