It's June! Are we gold yet?

[rroberson]

ORIGINAL: Erik Rutins

Sorry guys, we have tried it both ways. For important releases, if the physical copy is not available at release we get a lot of flak directed at us from the customer base. I realize that most of you posting here just want the download version ASAP. However, from past experience, once you have the download and later start hearing how beautiful the 330 page color manual is, you'll be asking us if there's any way to retroactively "upgrade" your purchase, etc. It adds to our support load and makes for enough unhappy customers that we really prefer the synchronized releases when possible. Besides, AE is not gold (yet) so at this point neither version is ready. Keep in mind also that this does have limits, so we're not going to delay the release indefinitely if the printer keeps exceeding our deadlines.

Regards,

- Erik

Um. That's silly. If you have customers who don't care about the manual at first...(and I'm sure that is a small base) then later they change their mind. And decide "I'd really like that smokin' manual" you sell them the disk with manual. You set a rate for the "upgrade". I'd venture to say that other then our few friends here with dial-up, the bulk of us who are buying this have dsl or cable and will be able to download this straight away. The vast majority of that group will likely pay the extra coin to get the DL and disk (with manual). I cannot think of a single game download where I did that in the past few years where as soon as the release version was ready it wasn't put up for download and I was told specifically that I wouldnt see the package with the disk a couple weeks later. Which was fine since the manual is online (PDF). It's your game and company, but to hold this up for a manual and hard disk when the bulk of your customers would be downloading anyway doesnt seem to make a lot of sense.

[AW1Steve]

ORIGINAL: Erik Rutins

Sorry guys, we have tried it both ways. For important releases, if the physical copy is not available at release we get a lot of flak directed at us from the customer base. I realize that most of you posting here just want the download version ASAP. However, from past experience, once you have the download and later start hearing how beautiful the 330 page color manual is, you'll be asking us if there's any way to retroactively "upgrade" your purchase, etc. It adds to our support load and makes for enough unhappy customers that we really prefer the synchronized releases when possible. Besides, AE is not gold (yet) so at this point neither version is ready. Keep in mind also that this does have limits, so we're not going to delay the release indefinitely if the printer keeps exceeding our deadlines.

Regards,

- Erik

As always Erik, thank you. We know that the Matrix team did their best, but you can control the actions of a contractor. Thanks for all the efforts that you and your team have made, and most of all , thank you for keeping us informed. It's not easy giving bad news, and we appreciate you braving a few unpleasant comments to keep the rest of us in the loop. Many thanks, and Bravo Zulu! [&o][&o][&o]

[Q-Ball]

I work for a company that has a large production print center on Long Island. Maybe next time Erik we can take a crack at that manual, and get it done faster!

PS: Or, I would be happy to get you a competitive bid RIGHT NOW, I'll just need the template to price that out for you. I'll PM you my work e-mail, you can shoot that right over...[:D]

[AW1Steve]

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

I work for a company that has a large production print center on Long Island. Maybe next time Erik we can take a crack at that manual, and get it done faster!

Plus, then I could get my hands on an advanced copy........[:D]

NOW YOU TELL HIM!!!![:D]

[Erik Rutins]

ORIGINAL: rroberson
Um. That's silly. If you have customers who don't care about the manual at first...(and I'm sure that is a small base) then later they change their mind. And decide "I'd really like that smokin' manual" you sell them the disk with manual. You set a rate for the "upgrade".

See, here's the part you missed. We'd love to do that, but our store technology doesn't allow it. Hence, synchronized releases when possible.

We are not currently holding up the release at all, by the way. Once it goes gold, if the manual is still not ready, then we'll have to make that actual decision. I'm just posting projections here to keep you guys posted.

Edit: I should add that "upgrading" previous digital downloads to physical copies has been #1 on our store improvement list for several years now. DR just can't seem to get it done, it's a major hurdle for them in terms of their existing store design.

Regards,

- Erik

[Erik Rutins]

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball
I work for a company that has a large production print center on Long Island. Maybe next time Erik we can take a crack at that manual, and get it done faster!
PS: Or, I would be happy to get you a competitive bid RIGHT NOW, I'll just need the template to price that out for you. I'll PM you my work e-mail, you can shoot that right over...[:D]

I'm always happy to check out more bids, e-mail me at erikr@matrixgames.com. Too late for this release, but who knows for future releases, if your prices are competitive anything is possible.

Regards,

- Erik

[m10bob]

ORIGINAL: Erik Rutins

ORIGINAL: rroberson
Um. That's silly. If you have customers who don't care about the manual at first...(and I'm sure that is a small base) then later they change their mind. And decide "I'd really like that smokin' manual" you sell them the disk with manual. You set a rate for the "upgrade".

See, here's the part you missed. We'd love to do that, but our store technology doesn't allow it. Hence, synchronized releases when possible.

We are not currently holding up the release at all, by the way. Once it goes gold, if the manual is still not ready, then we'll have to make that actual decision. I'm just posting projections here to keep you guys posted.

Edit: I should add that "upgrading" previous digital downloads to physical copies has been #1 on our store improvement list for several years now. DR just can't seem to get it done, it's a major hurdle for them in terms of their existing store design.

Regards,

- Erik

Well....when you are ready, I will pay for the AE and the download.....just send the CD and manual in the case when you have them...(I don't read manuals anyway).[:D]

[Q-Ball]

ORIGINAL: Erik Rutins

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball
I work for a company that has a large production print center on Long Island. Maybe next time Erik we can take a crack at that manual, and get it done faster!
PS: Or, I would be happy to get you a competitive bid RIGHT NOW, I'll just need the template to price that out for you. I'll PM you my work e-mail, you can shoot that right over...[:D]

I'm always happy to check out more bids, e-mail me at erikr@matrixgames.com. Too late for this release, but who knows for future releases, if your prices are competitive anything is possible.

Regards,

- Erik

Great! Just send me that manual and I can ensure you get the best pricing next time. Oh, and downloaded copy, this is necessary for our pricing analysis.[:D]

[Erik Rutins]

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball
Great! Just send me that manual and I can ensure you get the best pricing next time. Oh, and downloaded copy, this is necessary for our pricing analysis.[:D]

Yeah, you know I was wise to your game from the start... [8D]

[Q-Ball]

Seriously, I'll forward that contact to one of our reps out there, but needless to say I would take a personal interest in getting it done quick next time, otherwise I would be persona non grata on this forum if "Q-Ball was the reason why AE didn't come out"

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: Erik Rutins

ORIGINAL: rroberson
Um. That's silly. If you have customers who don't care about the manual at first...(and I'm sure that is a small base) then later they change their mind. And decide "I'd really like that smokin' manual" you sell them the disk with manual. You set a rate for the "upgrade".

See, here's the part you missed. We'd love to do that, but our store technology doesn't allow it. Hence, synchronized releases when possible.

We are not currently holding up the release at all, by the way. Once it goes gold, if the manual is still not ready, then we'll have to make that actual decision. I'm just posting projections here to keep you guys posted.

Edit: I should add that "upgrading" previous digital downloads to physical copies has been #1 on our store improvement list for several years now. DR just can't seem to get it done, it's a major hurdle for them in terms of their existing store design.

Regards,

- Erik

OK, so don't do/can't do an upgrade. The two products will have different SKU numbers in the DR store, right? Put up the digital when it's ready, later put up the boxed when it's ready. If digital customer wants boxed version they pay full boat later, when boxed is ready--a premium for early ownership. Not pay the difference--pay for the game twice. I guarantee there are folks here who would gladly do that to to get the digital a month early.

Just flag the heck out of the order page so only a blind man could miss that the digital product is, and always will be, only a digital download product, with no upgrade path. Problem solved (and more revenue.)

[m10bob]

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball


Seriously, I'll forward that contact to one of our reps out there, but needless to say I would take a personal interest in getting it done quick next time, otherwise I would be persona non grata on this forum if "Q-Ball was the reason why AE didn't come out"

Brad...we gotta blame somebody....Thank for for volunteering!.[:D]
BTW, I learned to fly in a J3 very much like in that pic of your relative.........

[Q-Ball]

ORIGINAL: m10bob

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball


Seriously, I'll forward that contact to one of our reps out there, but needless to say I would take a personal interest in getting it done quick next time, otherwise I would be persona non grata on this forum if "Q-Ball was the reason why AE didn't come out"

Brad...we gotta blame somebody....Thank for for volunteering!.[:D]
BTW, I learned to fly in a J3 very much like in that pic of your relative.........

Thanks! The pic is my grandfather. After the war, he had a share of a J-3 for awhile, to keep his pilot license up. He said it's easy to fly and very forgiving. He considered staying in the Army after the war, but Grandma talked him out of it.

He did stay in the reserves though, but not as a pilot, just an artilleryman.

[rroberson]

ORIGINAL: Erik Rutins

ORIGINAL: rroberson
Um. That's silly. If you have customers who don't care about the manual at first...(and I'm sure that is a small base) then later they change their mind. And decide "I'd really like that smokin' manual" you sell them the disk with manual. You set a rate for the "upgrade".

See, here's the part you missed. We'd love to do that, but our store technology doesn't allow it. Hence, synchronized releases when possible.

We are not currently holding up the release at all, by the way. Once it goes gold, if the manual is still not ready, then we'll have to make that actual decision. I'm just posting projections here to keep you guys posted.

Edit: I should add that "upgrading" previous digital downloads to physical copies has been #1 on our store improvement list for several years now. DR just can't seem to get it done, it's a major hurdle for them in terms of their existing store design.

Regards,

- Erik

Then if I really must have that manual, I guess I need to buy the game again . How hard is it to set a store price for the disk for people who can prove they already have the download (via that license number)? Seems like a book keeping issue more then anything else. I quess I'm quibbling here, but it does seem rather dumb to hold a game up because the printers of a manual which while beautiful won't be read more then once (if that) by most of your customer base. I mean honestly who will really read the manual before firing this up? Raise your hand [:D]

At any rate, since I feel like Im arguing and I don't want to do that and I am perfectly happy with my CHS games (which now will continue for at least two more months [:D]) Back to my corner of the empire.

[Kitakami]

Erik,

Even though you will receive some flak for deciding to go with a sinchronzed release, in the end, we will wait, we will buy, and we will be happy
It's just that in this era of immediate gratification, it is sometimes difficult to wait... but good things come to he who waits...

[wworld7]

ORIGINAL: rroberson

How hard is it to set a store price for the disk for people who can prove they already have the download (via that license number)? Seems like a book keeping issue more then anything else.


I quess I'm quibbling here, but it does seem rather dumb to hold a game up because the printers of a manual which while beautiful won't be read more then once (if that) by most of your customer base.

First, it is probably much more than a book keeping issue depending, and this is key, upon how DR's system was created. Like any other software program often you are stuck with whatever options were originally programmed for. Change is never easy after that without a complete redo (look at WITP-AE as an example).

Second, Erik has stated NOTHING is being delayed yet. WITP-AE is not ready. When it is perhaps they will change the plan. Personally the more time spent testing the better it is for the success of the product (yes, I know not everyone agrees with this view).

[Erik Rutins]

Just to clear one thing up, this is not a similar situation to a year ago, months ago, whatever. We are in the final push to release and delays will not be measured in months, but rather in weeks or days.

[tondern]

Hey Erik,

Thanks for the update, much appreciated.

I know I am disappointed at the delay, but I will wait as patiently as possible.

As has been said by many on this forum, getting this done right is worth the wait.

Johnny

[Tophat1815]

ORIGINAL: Erik Rutins

ORIGINAL: rroberson
Um. That's silly. If you have customers who don't care about the manual at first...(and I'm sure that is a small base) then later they change their mind. And decide "I'd really like that smokin' manual" you sell them the disk with manual. You set a rate for the "upgrade".

See, here's the part you missed. We'd love to do that, but our store technology doesn't allow it. Hence, synchronized releases when possible.

We are not currently holding up the release at all, by the way. Once it goes gold, if the manual is still not ready, then we'll have to make that actual decision. I'm just posting projections here to keep you guys posted.

Edit: I should add that "upgrading" previous digital downloads to physical copies has been #1 on our store improvement list for several years now. DR just can't seem to get it done, it's a major hurdle for them in terms of their existing store design.

Regards,

- Erik

Sure,sure answer him but not me..........mutter,mutter,harrrrummmpfh.[;)]

[rroberson]

ORIGINAL: Erik Rutins

Just to clear one thing up, this is not a similar situation to a year ago, months ago, whatever. We are in the final push to release and delays will not be measured in months, but rather in weeks or days.

And like the lemming I am, Ill be there credit card in hand whenever you guys launch it [:D]