Matrix Games Forums

ORIGINAL: Chris Merchant

PS: That sound you hear is me deleting all of my URL links I have regarding HOS.

Nope, that's the sound of the dummy hitting the floor [:D]

cheers

slime, slime, dribble dribble.....

r u elite guard munchkin pies get any insentives out of ur snatching remarks, like free matrix game purchase points or sumtin like dat?

zum wohl du australische schleimassel,

Himmelstoss [:'(]

sticks and stones Mr Himmelstoss; sticks and stones.

ORIGINAL: Vilhjalmr
The first post in this thread on Matrix' site is dated 1/26/2006. I definitely will remember this experience when I hear of any other games "in development" by either company.

I'd hate to be the one to break this to you, but 3 years of development is actually pretty normal, and I don't mean for Matrix, but in pc wargame production in general and for all publishers.

I'm sorry that the high expectations you were having made you overly optimistic with regard to the release date, but seriously : have you ever seen a pc wargame go from "we've started working on it" to "for sale" in under 18 months ? I haven't.

Most publishers are aware it's pretty hurting to be waiting for a game month after month and they "fix" that by simply not announcing a game until it's released. Example : I'm pretty sure HPS is going to release a new game this coming Friday - and there's not a peep about it yet at their website. I don't like that approach either as fans never know what's coming, but it sure fixes the problem publishers have with fans not realizing how much time it takes to get something out the door.

Greetz,

Eddy Sterckx

ORIGINAL: Chris Merchant


sticks and stones Mr Himmelstoss; sticks and stones.

hmmm...sry, but words actually can do more than just break bones...unfortunately...

truly,

Himmelstoss

I really wonder if this game will ever be released. Having said that, there are plenty of altenatives out there. One is HPS's Squad Battles.

As mentioned above, I may have been the one who wound Marcs spring calling this thing vaporware. Maybe vaporware was harsh but why does Matrix insist on being
so quiet about this thing? I understand those experts above who speak about development times and such but most companies
don't even mention what they are working on until they prepared to talk about it and handle the fans who will without doubt start asking quesitons.
 
My bottom line is that I will order the day its released because I am a slave to the great products but that doesn't make it any easier to gut
the less-than-desirable treatment of loyal fans by the developer.
 

ORIGINAL: Artillerysarge
.. but most companies don't even mention what they are working on until they prepared to talk about it and handle the fans who will without doubt start asking quesitons.

Basically a publisher has two options :

1) Announce early
Advantage : get some user input, make the design better than it would have been without that input, let gamers know what they're working on, build some steam before the release
Disadvantage : "Are we there yet, mum"

2) Announce when ready
Advantage : no-one complaining about long development times
Disadvantage : no user input, no word-of-mouth before the game is out

Now, from a publisher's pov option 2 is the easy road to follow, but if they go option 1 the end result is a better game, so from a gamer's pov it's better that they take option 1 and are able and willing to take some flak on the timing issue.

As a small example of why I prefer the "announce early" option : a couple of hours ago a new beta was released to the Battles from the Bulge testing team which *specifically* dealt with a remark made by a gamer in the BFTB forum. The Powers That Be considered it a good point, hence incorporated it in the design. This is maybe not communicated often enough - probably because upon later consideration it might be removed again, so developers hate it when they have to commit to features too early, but be assured that announce early == get user-input before release == better game.

Greetz,

Eddy Sterckx

ORIGINAL: sterckxe
but be assured that announce early == get user-input before release == better game.

Greetz,

Eddy Sterckx

My point exactly. Announce early is a great option... IF YOU TALK TO YOUR FANBASE.

ORIGINAL: Artillerysarge

ORIGINAL: sterckxe
but be assured that announce early == get user-input before release == better game.

Greetz,

Eddy Sterckx

My point exactly. Announce early is a great option... IF YOU TALK TO YOUR FANBASE.

+1. Compare the LnL approach to that of the Battles of the Bulge developers. They participate in the forum, solicit input, answer questions, and there is no rancor about release delays. LnL Games appears to ignore their fanbase, for some bizarre reason....

I haven't been following this one but, one would think any game that's listed under the coming soon forum, is somewhere in late stages of beta of testing. Let's hope this one makes it before the end of the year.
 

ORIGINAL: bink

ORIGINAL: Artillerysarge

ORIGINAL: sterckxe
but be assured that announce early == get user-input before release == better game.

My point exactly. Announce early is a great option... IF YOU TALK TO YOUR FANBASE.

+1. Compare the LnL approach to that of the Battles of the Bulge developers. They participate in the forum, solicit input, answer questions, and there is no rancor about release delays. LnL Games appears to ignore their fanbase, for some bizarre reason....

Well, from a publisher's pov : Matrix is giving the devs the tools and means to talk to their fanbase, but can hardly be blamed if said devs aren't communicating all that well. Scratch that - they are communicating with their fanbase, but not in this forum, but only on their own

http://www.locknloadgame.com/forum1/top ... PIC_ID=822

You need a userid & password to even be able to read it - they got hacked recently and are plugging the security holes.

Greetz,

Eddy Sterckx

oh...hmmmm....you mean the devs response to the fanbase on the lockandload forums like this?:

markhwalker
Medic


1461 Posts Posted - September 18 2008 :  15:23:36                

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[blockquote]quote:

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Any news on a possible release date for this game?

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[/blockquote]

As soon as possible.

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A Craving for Blood... the best military adventure you haven't read.
http://www.booklocker.com/books/2650.html

If they are selling their games here, then they should be communicating here as well. Now, you can't even communicate with them at their own web site because you can't read or sign-up to their own forums, a little tuft on new customers! [:(]

ORIGINAL: sterckxe

ORIGINAL: bink

ORIGINAL: Artillerysarge

My point exactly. Announce early is a great option... IF YOU TALK TO YOUR FANBASE.

+1. Compare the LnL approach to that of the Battles of the Bulge developers. They participate in the forum, solicit input, answer questions, and there is no rancor about release delays. LnL Games appears to ignore their fanbase, for some bizarre reason....

Well, from a publisher's pov : Matrix is giving the devs the tools and means to talk to their fanbase, but can hardly be blamed if said devs aren't communicating all that well. Scratch that - they are communicating with their fanbase, but not in this forum, but only on their own

http://www.locknloadgame.com/forum1/top ... PIC_ID=822

You need a userid & password to even be able to read it - they got hacked recently and are plugging the security holes.

Greetz,

Eddy Sterckx

sterckxe,

You're too funny! [:D]

LNL has three pages of posts in a little over 2 years. Yeah they are REeeeeally chatting it up with thier fans. BTW I am TWTHOMAS
on that forum. Lost my password when I moved and changed ISP's so had to change my name to Artillerysarge on here.

I hope thay really don't start yammering away. They might have to use like a whole megabyte of server space for thier BBS.

The point is, surely, that that forum hasn't accepted any new members for months (I think I first tried in March).  The 'plugging' security holes thing just isn't credible; if they were making a serious attempt to do that it would been done ages ago.  If nothing else, as has already been said, its lousy PR and lousy for sales if the game ever does get finished.  You can't establish a 'community' if nobody is allowed to join it!

ORIGINAL: Hertston
The point is, surely, that that forum hasn't accepted any new members for months (I think I first tried in March).  The 'plugging' security holes thing just isn't credible; if they were making a serious attempt to do that it would been done ages ago.  If nothing else, as has already been said, its lousy PR and lousy for sales if the game ever does get finished.  You can't establish a 'community' if nobody is allowed to join it!

I don't disagree - it's just that blaming Matrix for this lack of communication is silly. What can they do ? Force Mark Walker at gunpoint to give updates in here ? He's been given the means to talk to his fanbase (this forum), he's the one who decides to make use of this or not.

Do you complain at the website of publisher of a book when an author is late in handing over the manuscript ?

Greetz,

Eddy Sterckx

I think it's certainly fair to say that we underestimated the development time for this release. That happens, even despite experience, you can still be surprised. However, the title is certainly not vaporware, it's just taking longer than expected. I realize that looking from the outside in, there's no way to know that, but be assured that this is a real title that has had a lot of development and design time already invested in it and will really be released.

Mark Walker is also someone who always has several projects going at once, so I'm not surprised that he can't spend too much time updating everyone on progress, but I agree that in an ideal world we should be keeping you all more up to date. I'll see if we can get an update from the team here in the near future to let folks know how things are going.

Regards,

- Erik

much obliged, Erik, much obliged!

information exchange and your tireless efforts to make sure your customers where informed about PCK was certainly one of the reasons i bought and enjoy it still.

so thx again for your intervention and hopefully we hear some news soon.

regards,

himmelstoss


ps: btw you still owe me a pbem [;)] j/k

here i guess a lil bone form the l&l forums:





bonkie
Private

Belgium
5 Posts Posted - September 29 2008 :  10:29:20            

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As soon as possible? Meaning? I do not want to sound as an impatient kid, but I've been following the development of this game for quit a while and therefore I am quite curious to get any news of this game. Therefore, is it possible to elaborate on 'as soon as possible'? Thanks bonkie
Private

Belgium
5 Posts Posted - October 03 2008 :  14:10:52            

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????? madDdog67
Private

USA
43 Posts Posted - October 04 2008 :  11:08:18            

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Maybe this one is doable: Will it be released before or after Xmas? JonathanStrange
Private


USA
2 Posts Posted - October 13 2008 :  17:16:43          

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I'll be buying it Day Two!! Lucky I'm patient! markhwalker
Medic


1468 Posts Posted - October 13 2008 :  21:14:30                

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[blockquote]quote:

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As soon as possible? Meaning?

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[/blockquote]

Meaning just that. It is EXTREMELY difficult to estimate these things. I'll post a new screen or two before the end of next week.

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A Craving for Blood... the best military adventure you haven't read.
http://www.booklocker.com/books/2650.html bonkie
Private

Belgium
5 Posts Posted - October 15 2008 :  15:49:36            

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thanks!

Great just great. No other developer pissed me off so quickly.