Will AE make WITP obsolete?

[ddodger@telus.net]

I am somewhat confused/concerned about what effect the release of AE will have on the future of WITP? From my understanding, AE seems to be more of a new and improved verson of WITP, more of a successor than an expansion. Will Matrix continue to support WITP with further patches or will all future developments of the WITP system be directed towards AE?

[bradfordkay]

The last I heard is that there are plans to release at least one more patch to WITP - after AE has been released. After that, no promises have been made...
 
Note: this is not an official post, just an old WITPer working from a questionable memory!

[JeffroK]

I assume they would have to keep WITP viable to keep AE running.

[bradfordkay]

Not really... AE doesn't depend upon the version of WITP that you have, it only requires that you have WITP.

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: bradfordkay

Not really... AE doesn't depend upon the version of WITP that you have, it only requires that you have WITP.

What?! You mean I have to keep a game on my computer that I'll probably never play (after my last PBEM ends) just to play AE? That's ridiculous.

[Nikademus]

AE won't be for everyone since it essentially adds more levels of detail to an already very large wargame. This could turn off some players who are content with the workload as it is now. There are after all, still players who prefer and play UV over WitP in part because it's less gargantuin in scale and detail level.

[rhohltjr]

ORIGINAL: bradfordkay

Not really... AE doesn't depend upon the version of WITP that you have, it only requires that you have WITP.

bradfordkay is correct. I just had a similar discussion about which version of Witp is needed for AE and the answer is just that you have Witp installed. Right Terminus?
[:)] I predict : Terminus one word answer 'Yes'

[Dili]

hat?! You mean I have to keep a game on my computer that I'll probably never play (after my last PBEM ends) just to play AE? That's ridiculous.

Yeah that doesnt make sense at all.

[Nikademus]

Yes.


[:)]



AE will be a seperate install.

[Mike Solli]

So does that mean AE will look for WitP and will start if it sees it and won't start if it doesn't?  Really ridiculous.  As much as I love WitP and am looking forward to AE, that sounds like a scam.

[wworld7]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

So does that mean AE will look for WitP and will start if it sees it and won't start if it doesn't?  Really ridiculous.  As much as I love WitP and am looking forward to AE, that sounds like a scam.

Implying it is a "scam" is a bit harsh, IMHO.

AE, has since its announcement been marketed as an expansion product of WITP, and NOT as a stand alone product.

To me, that would mean I need WITP on my computer to play AE..

Which is exactly what has been told to us by Matrix. And this very issue was just covered recently in another thread.

[Terminus]

And bungled thoroughly by yours truly. At least one person seems to have gotten it, though...

[Mike Solli]

I'm really curious to know what AE "needs" from WitP that can't be in AEs program.

[wworld7]

ORIGINAL: Terminus

And bungled thoroughly by yours truly. At least one person seems to have gotten it, though...

I am thinking of the BBQ again....[:D]

[Mike Solli]

Flipper, don't get me wrong, I can't wait for AE.  I'd pay for it now if they would let me.  I'm just curious (as an ignorant non-computer type) to know why AE needs WitP to function.

[Charbroiled]

per Eric:

Seems like we had some confusion here. Let me reiterate what was in the press release to clear things up.

1. WITP AE will require WITP to be installed in order to install and play, but it does not require that the installation of WITP be updated, you could be running stock WITP v1.00 and that would be fine.
2. WITP AE will install in a separate location, so that you can still play the original WITP as well as the new WITP AE, once installed they will effectively function as separate games.

Regards,

- Erik

[wworld7]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

Flipper, don't get me wrong, I can't wait for AE.  I'd pay for it now if they would let me.  I'm just curious (as an ignorant non-computer type) to know why AE needs WitP to function.

Mike,

I could guess at an answer, but perhaps you could direct your question to Matrix (NOTE: not the AE team) and perhaps get an informed answer.

The reality is WITP-AE will require WITP.

And I also look forward to it, and someday a WITP-2 if we are lucky.

[Gem35]

It's just like games out in the mainstream markets today.
Take Sid Meir's Civilization series.
I own Civ III and there is several expansion packs for that game such as "play the world"( an online version of the game) and "conquests".

Each expansion was marketed and sold individually but you cannot play "play the world" or "conquests" without first having original vanilla Civ III installed.
It happens ALOT with PC games, you have a great game/idea and then because it is so popular for so long, add-ons are made for it and we all enjoy it more.

There are other games that have expansions that are "stand alone" such as Disciples II, I think there are at least 3 flavors of that game and each is a stand alone game(priced accordingly I might add).
My answer to the OP's question would be yes, WitP would be obsolete if adding on AE, I would never go and play original vanilla Civ III ever again since I now have 2 expansions for it that make it a "complete" game.

The additions/features from the expansions raise the fun-level of the game to the effect that while knowing they are in place and available would cause me to not like playing without those additions and game features.

[sanch]

Think about it from the company's point of view.
 
First, they depend upon sales to recoup the up-front cost of developing the game. And, if they're smart, they will have enough money to fund some number of patches.
 
But, after a while, it is no longer viable to fund more patches (bug fixes and/or new features). WitP has been for 4 years now, and I suspect they have hit this point.
 
So the solution is an expansion pack. Fix the bugs, throw in some more features, and get some money to pay for it. I see this trend with several other games/companies as well. It's all about how to finance on-going fixes and features.
 
And of course, there's also that old adage: When you install a new version, you are simply trading in a set of known bugs for a set of unknown bugs.
 

[Big B]

ORIGINAL: ddodger@telus.net

I am somewhat confused/concerned about what effect the release of AE will have on the future of WITP? From my understanding, AE seems to be more of a new and improved verson of WITP, more of a successor than an expansion.

Yep

ORIGINAL: ddodger@telus.net
Will AE make WITP obsolete?

YEP

ORIGINAL: ddodger@telus.net
... Will Matrix continue to support WITP with further patches?

Not a clue - but probably - yes