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ORIGINAL: Paper Tiger

ORIGINAL: christof139

Would that be James McBond of the Bermuda, Scottish nationalist McBonds?

Nope, the movie chap, simialr to the MacLeod 'there can be only one' fellow, and maybe McBain, MacKenzie, MacDonald of Clanranald, Macneil of Barra, etc. I didn't see any McBond in my Scottish Clan books.

Chris

I should perhaps explain, as my humour may well be missed by those outside England.
Shaun Connery the James Bond of your avatar is of course a very famous scottish actor, and also well known as a proud Scotsman who is very much in favour of Scottish nationalism and the break up of the United Kingdom. My post is simply poking fun at the fact that this proud and nationalistic Scot is so in love with his country that he chooses to live in... Bermuda. LOL
Hence James McBond of the Bermuda McBonds[:'(]

Bit off thread: We Welsh also have Anthony Hopkins - who advertised for Welsh Tourist Board and is now, I believe a Yank[:-]

I play Take Command, perhaps the Patch comes to christmas!

I have participated in some beta testing for the new patch. It seems that every time you fix one thing, something else shows up. And, as you test it for different scenarios at different levels of difficulty, both local and pbem, and look under the hood to see if the AI is making intelligent decisions, you keep finding things that really should be fixed before a public beta.

The team reads this forum, is acutely aware of the lengthy delay, and is quite eager to get a public beta in everybody's hands as soon as there are not obvious glitches. Western Civ is a small independent developer. Basically, there are only three guys -- Erik, ericbabe, and Gil -- but they are working night and day, literally, to get this out.

In retrospect, they may have tried for too many improvements at the outset, but there is no way to revisit that decision now, and when we see the upgrade, we may be glad they went ahead and made the improvements.

ess1:

Do you mean that Anthony Hopkins is an American citizen ? Great actor. Why would he do this ?? Tax reasons ? If so, I feel that is kinda low.

The above post by General Quarters does not send good vibes.

The patch may do a number of good things. The chances of doing them well in any reasonable(2-3 months)length of time is remote. After working at this for two months and now going to a public beta??? Oh my. Delay. Delay. Delay.

I've waited a long time for a good ACW game and as this game as it sits now is no better than average. I was happy to wait till I heard that it still needs a public beta after two months.

Maybe I'll come back to buy after 3-4 months of a public beta.

I own FOF, and am anxiously awaiting the patch like everyone else. I really don't see how posting negative comments on these forums speeds the process of developing the patch. Give these guys some credit, they are trying to enhance everyone's experience with the game and add new features and fixes. Anybody who as ever developed software knows this can be a painstaking process. I suggest folks just chill out and wait.

The reason for a public beta, which we expect to last a week or two, is to give our customers the chance to have a final say in this large update. Having worked on it for two months, we want to make sure that it passes muster before we declare it official. The simple fact is that there are far more customers than testers (though there are certainly more than three people involved in the internal process, I think GQ meant that the three of us may be the most active, though I'd also include Hard Sarge in that).

The number of improvements and new features necessitates a final shakedown with the public before we can really feel comfortable that this can be called official and made the new official release version.

As far as what it will do for Forge of Freedom, I consider the play experience of the current updated beta version vs. the current public release to be day and night. The improvements are that significant, across the board, from the AI's performance in both the Strategic Map and Detailed Battles, to the balance of Quick Battles, to the new reports and rules and improvements in the Generals' Database, TCP/IP fixes, and on and on. I truly look at this as a 1.5 if not a 2.0 release, rather than a patch and I'm sure you will be happy with the results. The public beta process should not be seen as an indictment of any kind regarding the development, but rather an effort to make sure we involve the community before release.

Regards,

- Erik

I'd add that public beta is essential because this game can be played at something like a dozen different difficulty settings, using something like thirty options, and with three different scenarios to choose from (Standard, July, and "historical"), not to mention the fact that there's playing the Union AI, the CSA AI, PBEM, and TCP/IP. There is simply no way for us to test all of the different ways the game can be played, but by going to public beta we greatly increase the odds of catching glitches we might never have found ourselves.

Bit off thread: We Welsh also have Anthony Hopkins - who advertised for Welsh Tourist Board and is now, I believe a Yank

Yeah, we get stuck with all the nutty nutter immigrants here in the USA, and we have a substantial amount of our own home grown nuts, peanuts and pecans and walnuts and hickory nuts and political nuts and sports nuts etc. Hmmm. [;)]

Chris

ORIGINAL: Gil R.

I'd add that public beta is essential because this game can be played at something like a dozen different difficulty settings, using something like thirty options, and with three different scenarios to choose from (Standard, July, and "historical"), not to mention the fact that there's playing the Union AI, the CSA AI, PBEM, and TCP/IP. There is simply no way for us to test all of the different ways the game can be played, but by going to public beta we greatly increase the odds of catching glitches we might never have found ourselves.

Eagerly waiting and checking every day. I can't remember looking forward to an update\patch as much as this one. Thanks! [&o] [X(]

When are you releasing the beta patch please

ORIGINAL: animaluk

When are you releasing the beta patch please

Are you serious? [:-]

Eric, as a former tester here in the land we love, MAtrixville, I think public beta is mostly goodm, as long as the less patient understand it is not a released patch but a BETA and as such is prone to errors and is produced to help you two get us a great game, already is on its way! imo keep up the good work!

Don't worry -- I'll be making clear in no uncertain terms what people can expect of the beta patch, and what we expect of people who are testing the beta patch.

Not to be too much of a p-rick, but I hope the beta patch does not replicate the precedance of the CoG beta patch that never materialized into a final version.  [>:]

Not that the final patch for CoG won't be fantastic when it arrives, but to say that the product has languished a bit is not a stretch.

Not to be too much of a p-rick, but I hope the beta patch does not replicate the precedance of the CoG beta patch that never materialized into a final version.

Not that the final patch for CoG won't be fantastic when it arrives, but to say that the product has languished a bit is not a stretch.


_____________________________

None of this is my fault.

Watch it. They may accuse you of being a saboteur as they did me. Funny I didn't have anyhting to do with the making of the game, nor made any other comments different than a lot of people, yet I was a supposed saboteur. Sounds like ruffled little egos and paranoia to me. Similar to Stalin's way of thinking I believe. Beats me.[&:]

Chris in Detroit

Johnnie, Like many others before him: tax and life-style. One of the first I believe was Aubrey Smith in black & white days. He organised cricket over there[:D]
 
christof1139,  There are many more I could suggest leave our crouded shores[;)]
 
Back on thread: well done all of you beavering away for our enjoyment. Thanks.

"Beavering" ?? Now there's a new word with potential.

yeah, it means that their spending more time chewing down trees and building dams than working on the patch.
or am I missing something?[8|]

This post from Barrold is what is bothering me. Potential for a "Hanging Chad"(patch).

"Not to be too much of a p-rick, but I hope the beta patch does not replicate the precedance of the CoG beta patch that never materialized into a final version.

Not that the final patch for CoG won't be fantastic when it arrives, but to say that the product has languished a bit is not a stretch."