Status of TOAW

[shunwick]

Fogger,

It is my understanding that it is the latest version of 3.5 for the development testing team to test. This implies that Ralph is back working on 3.5 development. Good news.

Best wishes,
Steve

[PRUSSIAN TOM]

This seems like a positive development.

TAOW has been around along time, and has an outstanding community. I don't see it as a "nich market" product, but it doesn't have the sales of titles like "Halo" or other major console products or PC games (say, Civilization 1,2,3,4, & 5). Matrix is a business, and exists to make money. Customer support is a part of the equation. They do a better job than most other software companies. This is gaming software, not Microsoft Office.

Companies like Matrix will focus most of their time & money on products with the best prospects: new games, or major overhauls, like the (Matrix) release of TAOW III.

IMO, we get a great bang for our buck, and a reasonable level of support. Keeping one person on tap to support older titles that are still popular is more than most companies do. The guy that was covering TAOW ran into some problems. So what? Most of the real work is done by the community; people like Herr Oberst, Bob Cross, Larry Fulkerson (and a LONG list of others who keep TAOW alive & well).

I hope I am not out of line or just plain misinformed, but, as I understand it, Ralph is the person who modifies the code for the game, which was purchased from Talonsoft, or maybe Norm Koger. Ralph is paid by Matrix to keep and old but popular title current, issuing occasional updates. Other than modifying the program code and overseeing modifications to a title, the real work is done by people from the TAOW community who donate their time because they enjoy the it, and the fellowship.

I'll just wait & see (like I could do anything other than enjoy playing and play-testing scenarios for TAOW anyway). [;)]

[wodin]

You think Ralph is paid??!!!..if so I doubt very much it would be enough for a decent meal at a restaurant.

[PRUSSIAN TOM]

Well if he's not paid, that makes a whole lot more sense [:'(]. Other that maintaining the forum, what is Matrix's part in the process? They issue updates (which I thought Ralph did the code for), post official notices, & occasionally comment or give us a heads up. The tolerate un-official patches, thank God. I understand that guys like Bob Cross, Larry Fulkerson, Oberst Klink, plus a LOT of other people spend a HUGE amount time and effort, for no pay, on our behalf [&o][&o][&o] . I've never seen a game with this level of support for the community.[&o] BEST BANG FOR MY BUCK, HANDS DOWN. How does all the good stuff that has been done for TAOW III get done? [&:] Who does it? [&:]It is my favorite game; I spend far too much time playing it [:D]. I am just starting to learn the nuts & bolts [:'(], and I've owned a copy since TAOW-COW by Talonsoft came out.[:D] It is the most value I have ever got received for a game. (Or most other software).

[josant]

ORIGINAL: Curtis Lemay

ORIGINAL: Numdydar

ORIGINAL: Curtis Lemay

Just for the record, Ralph just posted an update. His first post since 9/2/2012!

Any news about TOAW?

He posted an update: A new 3.5 version for testing.

Excellent news, Ralph is back ...

[PRUSSIAN TOM]

That's great! Can we check out the 3.5. I now it is in the testing stage, but I would love to see it. [&:]

[shunwick]

I think the Slitherine might like to give some thought to charging for updates. The original TOAW III release was in 2006 and Ralph has been providing free updates for it for seven years now and each update was substantial. A paid-for update would not be unreasonable in my opinion.

[CapitanPiluso]

ORIGINAL: shunwick

I think the Slitherine might like to give some thought to charging for updates. The original TOAW III release was in 2006 and Ralph has been providing free updates for it for seven years now and each update was substantial. A paid-for update would not be unreasonable in my opinion.

I do agree.

[golden delicious]

ORIGINAL: PRUSSIAN TOM

Other that maintaining the forum, what is Matrix's part in the process?

They paid for the right to access and modify the code and to publish and distribute the results.

[golden delicious]

ORIGINAL: shunwick

I think the Slitherine might like to give some thought to charging for updates. The original TOAW III release was in 2006 and Ralph has been providing free updates for it for seven years now and each update was substantial. A paid-for update would not be unreasonable in my opinion.

It's an interesting question. I'd like to see a sort of hot-fix patch which resolved some of the clearly agreed bug-not-feature problems with 3.4.

That would then prove Matrix's ability to deliver an unqualified step change from TOAW-CW- and I think the community would be excited about a patch priced around the $10 range which adds more features and options.

However;
a) this may not be practical given the direction of development to date
b) judging from the number of signatures the poll received, I think this would only equate to a few $k for Matrix, which is not really going to turn anyone's head

I also don't know whether Matrix's agreement with TakeTwo would even permit a paid-for patch. Still- any news is good news at this point.

[PRUSSIAN TOM]

I thought somebody got paid.[&:] They maintain the forum, and have issued 4 updates (I think...were on 3.4). That's a lot of value for one game.

I would gladly pop 10 or 20 bucks for 3.5, and the same level of support we have. I'd go higher, but I don't have the money. (Retired=Unemployed)

BUT...I'd like to see the guys that do the real work get a wee bit...or an honorable mention. [&o][&o][&o]

I've been playing this longer than I can remember....way more that any game I ever owned, and it is still fun more fun than anything else I have...Including some other Matrix games that I really like..[:)]

[BigDuke66]

If the closed Beta reaches its final stage I would like to see an open beta before patch release, would have helped us with the last patch and I see other games also benefit from it.

[golden delicious]

ORIGINAL: BigDuke66

If the closed Beta reaches its final stage I would like to see an open beta before patch release, would have helped us with the last patch and I see other games also benefit from it.

The reality is that the whole TOAW community is on the small side for a true open beta. However that doesn't mean that there shouldn't be a pause in development while the inevitable bugs are brought to light.

[Lobster]

ORIGINAL: BigDuke66

If the closed Beta reaches its final stage I would like to see an open beta before patch release, would have helped us with the last patch and I see other games also benefit from it.

3.4 was out as an open beta before final release. The current bugs were not discovered.

[Lobster]

ORIGINAL: shunwick

I think the Slitherine might like to give some thought to charging for updates. The original TOAW III release was in 2006 and Ralph has been providing free updates for it for seven years now and each update was substantial. A paid-for update would not be unreasonable in my opinion.

I would not be adverse to forking out $10 for 3.5 as long as it didn't take another year to get it done. I would be most happy to pay $40 for a brand spanking new TOAW IV as long as it was a clear improvement over the current model. Some input from current players would be very important.

[Falcon1]

I've only owned this game less than a year and I surely would not appreciate having to shell out more cash to get the bugs fixed that were obviously well known at the time of the sale.

[Silvanski]

ORIGINAL: Falcon1

I've only owned this game less than a year and I surely would not appreciate having to shell out more cash to get the bugs fixed that were obviously well known at the time of the sale.

TOAWIII updates have always been free of charge for registered users

[shunwick]

ORIGINAL: Silvanski

ORIGINAL: Falcon1

I've only owned this game less than a year and I surely would not appreciate having to shell out more cash to get the bugs fixed that were obviously well known at the time of the sale.

TOAWIII updates have always been free of charge for registered users

Indeed.

And all the TOAW III upgrades have been much more than just bug fixes. 3.5 will be no different in this respect. Each upgrade has provided substantial new features.

Can we reasonably expect this to continue to be free indefinitely?

TOAW IV, or whatever it can legally be called, is probably the best way forward but I fear it is long way off.

Best wishes,
Steve

[Jeff Norton]

And, updated his FB page- seems his current job postion was, um, eliminated - sad fact these days for many of my tech friends.

Could explain his seclusion.... Maybe he had warning?

[PRUSSIAN TOM]

Speculation; but what (else) can a poor boy do? Join a Rock & Roll band![:'(] It would explain a lot. [X(]

Been there, done that, smoked the t-shirt.[:-]