Old Customer, New Patch

Steven Clarke · Post by **Steven Clarke** » Tue Apr 01, 2003 2:37 am

My congratulations on the new publisher.

To be direct. What dose this do for those of us that own Airborne Assault?

Will there be a patch for AA as it exists?

Am I stuck with an outdated paper manual and a $60 charge on my credit card for the ESTAB updates and other changes to the existing game?

I have been most pleased with the support for Uncommon Valor and hope that those of us who now own AA will not be left behind.

Thanks
Steven Clarke

boshar · Post by **boshar** » Tue Apr 01, 2003 3:17 am

I guess the publishing deal with CDV runs via Battlefront?

I'm intressted to know if there will be an expanded establishment file for us AA users of the first hour. I can understand the need for you guys to get payed for all your hard work but a full establishment file or an upgrade path to the new version would be appreciated. Talk about a bad time for such a press announcement (April fools day).

Back to my main worry (I bougt AA as is and any patch or free expansion is considered an extra). Will matrix games be able to get the new gfame published in Europe? Battlefront has (through CDV) published CMBA, CMBB and Airborne Assault to the point that it is readly available in mainstream software stores. The only experience I have with Matrix is importing Uncommon Valor and that was very expensive to do (shipping & import costs) I guess in the end it cost me twice as much as buying the Euro releases of the mentioned games. Has Matrix shipping to Europe been improved?

My favourite way of getting software is electronic distribution. I have bought some FS2002 add on's that way and just downloading the software and installing it using a private key is convenient, cheap and fast to use. Please consider this distribution method in future releases.

citizen · Post by **citizen** » Tue Apr 01, 2003 4:05 am

I've been with AA: Red Devils since my preorder. We faithful were told that a patch would be released in Jan/Feb. That didn't happen. Now it's April. Please show us the level of support Panther and Matrix games intends for their customers by following through on your promise of a 3rd patch.

I realize the estabs are probably not done and that you'd prefer to save that for the new Highway game. Fine. But there are actual fixes needed in Red Devils. Panther has admitted that armor rolled up way too close to infantry targets instead of stopping to fire from a distance. Responding to that aspect of the patch, Panther said:

(January 29, 2003):
"We have spent a lot of time on this in Patch 3. Feedback from beta testers is very positive. So it should be fixed with the imminent release of patch 3. Hang on.
--------------------
Dave "Arjuna" O'Connor
dave@panthergames.com"

Matrix and Panther: Please demonstrate that customer service is alive and well with the change of publishers. Show us that you have not been lying to us for the last 4 months about fixing the last remaining problems.

(Feb 6, 2003):
"We are right in the middle of building another Beta.

--------------------
Paul Scobell
Panther Games Pty Ltd
paul@panthergames.com"

Thanks,
citizen

Arjuna · Post by **Arjuna** » Tue Apr 01, 2003 4:15 am

Hi Guys,

While we will continue to provide technical support for AA:RD, we will NOT be releasing any new patches or expansion packs for AA:RD.

However, there is no need to worry. We have not forgotten our loyal customers and we will continue to support you. The Press release was supposed to include the following statement:

"Existing "Airborne Assault: Red Devils over Arnhem" customers will be offered a special Trade-in deal. Details will be provided closer to release date."

We're still working on the details, but it will probably involve sending in your original AA:RD disk and paying a Trade-in fee, which will be significantly less than the full purchase price.

Steven Clarke · Post by **Steven Clarke** » Tue Apr 01, 2003 4:55 am

Originally posted by Arjuna
Hi Guys,

While we will continue to provide technical support for AA:RD, we will NOT be releasing any new patches or expansion packs for AA:RD.

However, there is no need to worry. We have not forgotten our loyal customers and we will continue to support you. The Press release was supposed to include the following statement:

"Existing "Airborne Assault: Red Devils over Arnhem" customers will be offered a special Trade-in deal. Details will be provided closer to release date."

We're still working on the details, but it will probably involve sending in your original AA:RD disk and paying a Trade-in fee, which will be significantly less than the full purchase price.

I am disappointed that there will be no patch 3 for AA as it now exists and am even more troubled that I will be asked to sacrifice that which I have already paid for.

When I purchased AA it was just after patch 2. The support and statements of future patching were what made me a customer.

Matrix has been great about support and Panther has, until most recently, been great also but I do not have a good feeling about the prospects for the investment that I made.

Steven Clarke

Arjuna · Post by **Arjuna** » Tue Apr 01, 2003 5:44 am

Steven ,

Originally posted by Steven Clarke
I am disappointed that there will be no patch 3 for AA as it now exists and am even more troubled that I will be asked to sacrifice that which I have already paid for.

When I purchased AA it was just after patch 2. The support and statements of future patching were what made me a customer.

Matrix has been great about support and Panther has, until most recently, been great also but I do not have a good feeling about the prospects for the investment that I made.

Steven Clarke

I understand your dissappointment. Believe you me this was a big concern for us in these new arrangements. However, we have already poured our lives ( over seven years each for Paul and I alone ) and our hearts into this project. We and our families have sacrificed much to develop this product. The economic realities of providing for our families, of doing our duty, has dictated the new arrangements. We simply could not continue working to develop product that we were giving away for free.

I believe that most people who have purchased and played AA:RD would think they got value for money. It provides hundreds of hours of entertainment. Sure there are things that could be improved. But that is the case with every computer game. That is why developers keep developing and users keep buying the new products.

The new game AA:HTTR ( as opposed to the originally intended Patch 3 ) will have a further six months of engine development, a swag of new maps, scenarios and estabs, an extensively enhanced ScenMaker and a revised MapMaker. The game will boast new enhanced map graphics, heaps of new interface enhancements and new AI features, including Bridge construction and artillery firebases. It will be great value.

Let me assure you that we will continue to put 100% effort into developing our product and supporting our users. I believe the Trade-in offer will be a very fair proposal to all concerned. The new arrangements mean that the product will stay alive, will be developed and enhanced, and will continue to provide users with the entertainment and interest they are seeking.

I hope this enables you to see it a little better from our perspective.

Hub · Post by **Hub** » Tue Apr 01, 2003 6:39 am

A trade sounds like a good compromise to me. I look forward to HTTR.

Golf33 · Post by **Golf33** » Tue Apr 01, 2003 7:42 am

Same here.

If the economics dictate that the choice is either a paid trade-in or no more Panther Games (which would mean no new patch anyway) then I will be more than happy to take advantage of the trade-in.

I hope Panther Games and Airborne Assault have all the success they deserve in this new venture!

Regards
33

jrcar · Post by **jrcar** » Tue Apr 01, 2003 10:54 am

A hard choice Dave, but I think fair overall. This way the engine continues to improve

Steve one of these days I may finally get to a TCP game! How is the little girl going, mine just turned 4 months and is not letting Mum (and therefore me) sleep well.

Cheers

Rob

Golf33 · Post by **Golf33** » Tue Apr 01, 2003 11:24 am

She's very well thanks Rob, teething but still sleeping pretty well (most nights anyway).

She has figured out how to draw her legs & elbow up in preparation for setting off on a good crawl, so any day now we'll have to baby-proof the house

She's also just started to learn consonants, now when she's tired or upset, instead of just 'oooaaaoooaaoo' its 'daadaadaadaa' - she's already figured out who the soft touch is I think!

Four months - yours would be just starting to vocalise a lot & rolling over on her front if I remember right?

Cheers
33

Arjuna · Post by **Arjuna** » Tue Apr 01, 2003 11:28 am

Hey Rob,

Good to hear from you.

Originally posted by jrcar
mine just turned 4 months and is not letting Mum (and therefore me) sleep well.

Comes with the territory mate!:p

Don't worry you'll get a chance to sleep normally again in about 12 months, just in time to welcome the next addition.

jrcar · Post by **jrcar** » Tue Apr 01, 2003 12:49 pm

Ah thanks for the understanding Dave :rollin

Steve she's not rolling yet, I think she plans to miss that stage and go straight to running!

You slacker, the house should be baby proof by now!

Little girls and their dads!

Cheers

Rob

CriticalMass · Post by **CriticalMass** » Tue Apr 01, 2003 1:04 pm

Congratulations Panther!!! No less than you deserve.

I like the sound of a the "trade-in-deal", although what kind of turn around time are we looking at? As a European customer will there be a local "trade-in" location? Or will I need to incur the charge of international postage?

Also - and I may be the first - when? 3-4 weeks?...(just for Golf33

)

David Heath · Post by **David Heath** » Tue Apr 01, 2003 1:36 pm

Hi

We should have the trade in location in the UK and Australia.

David

KNac007 · Post by **KNac007** » Tue Apr 01, 2003 2:23 pm

I agree with all and continue to support the game (even if it's a long time since I played). I also like that you have moved to Matrix (well I really don't care, Battlefront or this I like both), they were the first to introduce me in wargaming with SP:WaW.

I think we all should e-mail, message or whatever to those who posted sometime or were players of AA to come to this new home. Someone with the full ICQ list sould message them all.

See you.

Steven Clarke · Post by **Steven Clarke** » Tue Apr 01, 2003 3:09 pm

Originally posted by Arjuna
Steven ,

I understand your dissappointment. Believe you me this was a big concern for us in these new arrangements. However, we have already poured our lives ( over seven years each for Paul and I alone ) and our hearts into this project. We and our families have sacrificed much to develop this product. The economic realities of providing for our families, of doing our duty, has dictated the new arrangements. We simply could not continue working to develop product that we were giving away for free.

I believe that most people who have purchased and played AA:RD would think they got value for money. It provides hundreds of hours of entertainment. Sure there are things that could be improved. But that is the case with every computer game. That is why developers keep developing and users keep buying the new products.

The new game AA:HTTR ( as opposed to the originally intended Patch 3 ) will have a further six months of engine development, a swag of new maps, scenarios and estabs, an extensively enhanced ScenMaker and a revised MapMaker. The game will boast new enhanced map graphics, heaps of new interface enhancements and new AI features, including Bridge construction and artillery firebases. It will be great value.

Let me assure you that we will continue to put 100% effort into developing our product and supporting our users. I believe the Trade-in offer will be a very fair proposal to all concerned. The new arrangements mean that the product will stay alive, will be developed and enhanced, and will continue to provide users with the entertainment and interest they are seeking.

I hope this enables you to see it a little better from our perspective.

Arjuna,
Thank you for your replies and efforts.

I got great value for my money from AA and I'd do it again. Having followed the old forum I was expecting that the next jump in the system would involve a purchase and I will make that purchase.

Perhaps the title page of the original paper manual can serve as proof of ownership for upgrade purposes. For rational and irrational reasons I would like to keep the original AA disk and game.

Steven Clarke

CriticalMass · Post by **CriticalMass** » Tue Apr 01, 2003 3:20 pm

OOOh, can I second that; but make it the back page

Mjolner · Post by **Mjolner** » Tue Apr 01, 2003 3:44 pm

I just got my copy of AA and I appreciate you creating an upgrade path for those of us who have already bought the game. Finding out that a game is "dead" just after you receive it would have been a real bummer. Keep up the good work.

Yakstock · Post by **Yakstock** » Tue Apr 01, 2003 11:23 pm

I just want to congratulate the Panther guys. They have a great game, have always given customers 110%, and now appear to have found a way to keep this great game engine alive. With all the fun I have had with this game I would pay much more than they are likely to ask us to pay for the next game. This game is worth it and the guys that bring it to us deserve to make a buck on such a great game. Best of luck to you all and you can continue to count on me as a solid supporter!

Yakstock

Kevinugly · Post by **Kevinugly** » Wed Apr 02, 2003 1:26 am

I have to be brutally honest and say I'm disappointed to discover that the 'new' game is actually going to be the 'old' game with some extras 'bolted on'. Not being privy to what Panther has been working on lately I find it difficult to criticise the decision to proceed in this manner - I mean they have their living to make and I fully understand that working 'for nothing' is not an option. Nevertheless, surely the extra items could have been released separately as an 'expansion pack', as is common across the gaming world, with an option to purchase it with the original game 'bundled in'. I hope that the 'trade in' option works but, given previous experience with games such as 'Serious Sam 2' and 'Ground Control - Dark Conspiracy' in the UK, I have to say that I am highly sceptical .

I would like to be wrong, nay, I WANT to be wrong, as AA is a superb game and the support offered by Dave and the rest of the guys at Panther through the forums has been first rate but I fear that the road taken may prove to lead to a monumental dead-end.

Old Customer, New Patch

Old Customer, New Patch

And we Europeans?

Trade sounds OK to me

Great News and Congratulations!