Matrix Games Forums

Guys,

I think here is something we need to discuss.

There is an inherent risk with using the same server for testing the latest (date limited).
Every software development I´ve been involved in uses a production server for its clients use (i.e. for players playing a game) and test server for testing new Beta/releases.

For ANW there is only one server available (the one that AoA made available).

Games normally take many sessions, I have one running to its 6th session with Silent Hunter now.
The game started with 393, and was upgraded to 394Beta builds 9 and 10. This fixes some issues and I cannot say that I have seen new issues through my game with Silent Hunter.

However I think past evidence is that frequently issues are coming up with new Beta´s (thats why they are Beta).

I would like to request that the Operational servers stay on operational (non Beta) versions on the game.
That means a second server will be needed for testing new Beta versions.

IMO this is the only professional way to run servers and has proven in many SW/development projects to be right.

Freek

Freek,

I agree with you 100%. We are moving ever closer to an official server hosted by Matrix and a beta server hosted by myself. We simply aren't there yet as this takes dedication of resources over time. However, the end result will be what you described.

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Jeronimo (AoA) for hosting a beta MP server and, with Herman, maintaining it. This has led to a lot of good feedback to move towards a more stable MP experience. I'd also like to thank those who continually beta test the latest releases and hope they are enjoying the game when they are not dealing with the beta testing process. Everyone else will enjoy a better game because of their efforts.

Thanks!

ORIGINAL: FreekS

I would like to request that the Operational servers stay on operational (non Beta) versions on the game.
That means a second server will be needed for testing new Beta versions.

It is true that the only operational ANW server is currently being offered by Jeronimo Chiecchio (AoA) and that it is running a Beta release version of the game. It was not the original intent to run with experimental beta edition. However, the state of the official 3.9.3 patch was so poor that it was felt that there would be little to lose by running a beta version. Patch 3.9.3 was released with the bug:

[link=http://tinyurl.com/2r96xj][color=DarkRed][b]Unable to Pause game in MP[/b][/color][/link] Unable to Pause game in MP. Game starts immediately and cannot stop. Also causes problems with ghost sessions on some servers.

For some users, this might seem to be a small problem. However, when faced with this problem as a player, it can make the game virtually unplayable (and certainly unenjoyable) for others. So, the decision was made to run the Beta release even with all of its potential problems and expiration limitations.

As well, the server owner wanted to try and help the development process by volunteering his machine as a test platform. I think that all have recognized the inherent problem with this decision and won't likely be repeating it in the future so long as the operational (non-Beta) versions are basically functional. The official release of 3.7.0 and 3.8.0 were generally acceptable, in this particular regard. However, 3.9.0 introduced this game-killing behaviour.

So long as major problems such as these do not appear in future patch releases, I think it is safe to presume that AoA's server will not be running Beta software. This conditional statement is important because there was almost a patch 3.7.1 that, had it been released officially, would have caused a crash every time an MP session was run. see [Bug Report: CTD when torpedo fired] It would have been folly to run it simply because it was an "operational (non-Beta)" patch.

ORIGINAL: rsharp@advancedgamin

I agree with you 100%. We are moving ever closer to an official server hosted by Matrix and a beta server hosted by myself. We simply aren't there yet as this takes dedication of resources over time. However, the end result will be what you described.

While it is always nice to see additional servers offered for players to use, the fact remains that servers have already been freely offered in the past with very little usage. Tony Eischens, the pioneer of the ANW MP servers, benevolently offered the community several servers hosting the PlayersDB, OriginalDB, ANWDb, HUD3 [Harpoon Users DB], and the Y2kDB for years. Only the PlayersDB was ever used for play.

Matrix and AGSI are right to offer their own servers, but if no one wants to play what is offered on them (for whatever reason), it matters little whether they are running operational (non-Beta) or experimental (Beta) software. It will simply be another exercise in futility and a waste of already scarce resources.

I didn't realize there was an operational version. They're all beta!

ORIGINAL: RedMike

I didn't realize there was an operational version. They're all beta!

Quite right! [&o]

I think that the more proper term would be, "Officially released patch". [;)]



Damned Alaskans. Always spoiling the party...

[8D]