It is unfortunate that Matrix and Lock 'n Load are bungling the PR of this project as badly as they are. Lock 'n Load locked out their forum once again to non-members and isn't allowing any new subscribers (another wonderful PR move!), so I cannot trace when this game was first announced and provide more quotes. However looking back at this particular thread, I found several worth mentioning.
1.) Back on 2/2/2006, markhwalker posted that "with luck [Heroes of Stalingrad] will be out this year, but I'm not promising a release date."
(Note, that was two and a half years ago.)
2.) Back on 5/4/2006, markhwalker said "I doubt it will be out this summer."
(Not that "it won't be", but "I doubt it will be".)
3.) Back on 7/6/2007, Marc von Martial said "In fact Mark, Tom and me did some work on HOS here at the Origins Convention and Mark is demoing the game to the press and attendends." And later that day, Marc von Martial responded to Punisher's inquiry about what date they would be giving for a release of the demo/game by saying "Can't give one, that would be up to the Mark with a "K". I would say he can tell more after Origins. One thing is for sure, it will take some more time since Mark came up with a pretty nice idea that will take more time to implement though. He also plans for more scenarios then formerly planned, which is a good thing."
4.) Back on 11/28/2007, Marc replied to an inquiry if the game would be released by Christmas by saying "No it is not going to be Christmas".
Seven months ago, Marc von Martial, took offense to this game being called "vaporware". I personally do not believe this game is vaporware; however I do think it is fair in retrospect to say that Matrix and Lock 'n Load have been somewhat disingenuous in their responses by, at times, explicitly vastly underestimating the release date of the game and by, at times, implicitly not saying the release is as far off as they must have recognized at the time. It is understandable for setbacks to occur, however Mark set expectations back in February of 2006 that the game might be released in 2006. I do not recall ever seeing a significant post suggesting the project had a major setback that would forestall it for another year or two. As such, over the last two years, expectations have been set and have continued to be set that the game could be released within a few months time.
The game looks fantastic and the people venting frustation, including myself, will likely purchase it nonetheless. However it creates a fair amount of unnecessary ill will to intentionally or unintentionally string your fanbase along rather than provide us with a reasonable expectation of when the game is likely to be released and then keep us informed of updates and/or setbacks. We appreciate the efforts you are making on this game - the concepts for the game and what we have seen of it look fantastic. We just request a realistic expectation of when this will be released and better feedback on the progress and setbacks along the way.
Thank you and best regards,
Bill
ORIGINAL: Marc von Martial
Okay, sorry if anybody got offended by the "Jesus" quote. It is not a swear word / phrase in my book but I understand that different folks have different opinions and fellings on that. So sorry again it was not intentional.
I think his remark may show what kind of responses we will get if and when this game would be released if we find bugs or problems that need to be resolved!
I'm sorry but I think you are pushing this a bit to the extreme. Again I'm sorry if I offended anybody. You all know, especially if you are long time forum members and customers that Matrix Games, and that includes everybody of this company, is a very helpfull and responsive company. I think our record for supporting games and especially supporting games over a long time is unmatched in this industry. So please don't get upset and twist our record by one single remark that upset you.
We talk open here, so please also grant us developers the right to talk open, we swallow down a lot of flak and uncalled responses also from the customer and client side, but we do not flip out about them in 99.99% of the cases.
However, in this particular case, Mark (the Walker one) and I have repeatably stated that we are working hard on the game and updates will come. People tend to quickly come up with the vaporware comment when they do not see new screenshots or updates every month. And I can tell you, there is nothing more insulting to a developer then this stupid "vaporware" comments when all he is doing is working hard on it.
Updates will come when we feel we have something new and nice to show apart from the already released screenshots.
If you feel that another pack of screenshots will put back your faith that this game is alive and kicking then I can certainly check if Mark wants to put out a new batch right now.
On a sidenote, you can always hop over to Mark Walkers website (
www.locknloadgame.com ) and drop a note in his forums too. It is recommended to stop by anyway as he has a lot of very interesting games up there.
. i mean i remember the USA being a country that was actually giving a big damn about customer
service, and i mean that in all other areas of biz as well (guess that was in the late 1970's and up to the mid 1980's...i know i am old)
. anyhow i know i am writing to blind eyes here, but i will never let that go through without plenty of comments where ever i can...just like my motto reads: "Tell it like you think it is!" 
