Are You Joking ?

Atila_Boss · Post by **Atila_Boss** » Thu Dec 21, 2000 8:39 pm

W@W 4.5 is out, but this release has one big drawback. As usually, saved games are incompatible between new and older versions. A lot of players has games in progress, PBEM misions or even campaigns. Some campaigns could take a months, so it is rather stupid that MG have released twice in a month non-compatible versions. Another problem is that I must synchronise version switching with all of my PBEM patners. Is it so hard to keep save formats for two or three version similar ?

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Dusan Bolek

Kharan · Post by **Kharan** » Thu Dec 21, 2000 8:48 pm

And someone is forcing you to use the patch before you have completed your previous campaigns?

Warhorse · Post by **Warhorse** » Thu Dec 21, 2000 8:53 pm

Huh!!?? I've not had any problem, with the exception of course from 2.3 -4.0. I'm still running my campaign from the early 4 series, no problems, so what's up? I will admit my altered exe. for my custom icons is throwing the steel.prf file out of whack, just have to delete this before I start each time, no biggee, but that's only because it's been modified. Serious no problems, although for PBEM you will both need the same files.

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Mike Amos
Meine Ehre Heisst Treue

WW2'er · Post by **WW2'er** » Thu Dec 21, 2000 8:55 pm

Atila_Boss,

I will try my best to be nice, because that is the true spirit of this forum, but why are you complaining about Matrix improving the game?

Sometimes you just can't have it all. Matrix can't continue to improve the game and let you have 3 months to finish each campaign or PBEM game you start. No one is forcing you or your PBEM partners to download and install the 4.5 version. If you want to finish your games, do so and then upgrade. If you want to enjoy the bug fixes and more finely tuned OOB's then upgrade and start new campaigns and PBEM games. The choice is yours. So to call the Matrix folks "stupid" for wanting to improve the game quickly and fix bugs that many of us have been talking about is pretty wrong to me.

I don't know all the technical points, but I believe the biggest reason you can't upgrade and stay compatible with the previous versions is the OOB files. There's no way to keep separate versions and tell your game which ones to use. (Not that I know of anyway.)

I can partially understand your frustration, but as many have said before, what have you paid for this game? How many hours of enjoyment have you and your friends received from it?

I think you should count your blessings, my friend.

WW2'er

Originally posted by Atila_Boss:
W@W 4.5 is out, but this release has one big drawback. As usually, saved games are incompatible between new and older versions. A lot of players has games in progress, PBEM misions or even campaigns. Some campaigns could take a months, so it is rather stupid that MG have released twice in a month non-compatible versions. Another problem is that I must synchronise version switching with all of my PBEM patners. Is it so hard to keep save formats for two or three version similar ?

Charles22 · Post by **Charles22** » Thu Dec 21, 2000 9:21 pm

warhorse: Here's a weird one, but then maybe you wouldn't know, since you seem to be on 4.0. I don't think it's hurting anything, but when I was fixing to install v4.4, there was no steel.prf fiel to delete, and yet while playing the prior version the preferences were being saved. Now, when going from v4.4 to v4.5, I didn't find a steel.prf either. Is steel.prf no longer used or has it been renamed? I did a pretty good check through all the directories (not thorough) and I didn't find it, but I haven't had time yet to play v4.5 to see if it starts acting weird.

Kharan · Post by **Kharan** » Thu Dec 21, 2000 9:23 pm

Originally posted by Charles22:
Now, when going from v4.4 to v4.5, I didn't find a steel.prf either. Is steel.prf no longer used or has it been renamed?

The install program automatically deletes the prf file.

Charles22 · Post by **Charles22** » Thu Dec 21, 2000 9:48 pm

Thanks Kharen, I was hoping that was the deal.

Warhorse · Post by **Warhorse** » Thu Dec 21, 2000 10:50 pm

Charles22, no I AM using 4.5, and no problems with saves at all!! I started the campaign many versions ago, and still going

That is a disclaimer so we don't have complaints if someone does have a problem with a save or something. Happy gaming!!

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Mike Amos
Meine Ehre Heisst Treue

David Heath · Post by **David Heath** » Thu Dec 21, 2000 11:16 pm

Hi Atila_Boss

I am sorry that the updates can not be used on other versions of SPWAW. We are always working and trying to improve the game for us and our fans. This non-stop working effort was some draw backs as you are seeing. I have heard gamers say "well did you pay for the game" but to everyone this is not I feel a fair answer. Matrix dedication to our games and the gamers will not stop once you pay for a product. We will always be looking for ways to improve the games and making updates. We are a game company but we are gamers first. So Atila Boss we are not stupid just very hard working, so when you do get a chance to play I hope you enjoy it as do the others

Have a Blessed Christmas.

David

[This message has been edited by David Heath (edited December 21, 2000).]

Wild Bill · Post by **Wild Bill** » Thu Dec 21, 2000 11:45 pm

Atila, I can understand your frustration. We are very sorry for this difficulty you have encountered.

Your complaint is duly noted. I am quite sure if you are having or have had a problem it is due to the OOBs changing.

My suggestion in the future is not to install a newer version of the game until you have finished your PBEM games.

And if you can take comfort in the others who have shared your pain, I have had to completely redo or throw away dozens of scenarios I have designed during the course of development of this game, each representing 20 hours of work or more.

I remember quite vividly when we went from one format in the game to another and I had to delete ten completed and tested scenarios. That still hurts to even think about it.

Wild Bill
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In Arduis Fidelis
Coordinator, Scenario Design
Matrix Games

[This message has been edited by Wild Bill (edited December 21, 2000).]

Fuerte · Post by **Fuerte** » Fri Dec 22, 2000 2:26 am

I suggested once that secure PBEM should have an option to disable EXE and/or OOB checking. That would solve this problem. Better yet, it should ask if you accept that the other player has a different EXE/OOB.

Atila_Boss · Post by **Atila_Boss** » Fri Dec 22, 2000 2:18 pm

As first thing I must admit, that SP:W@W is a great game. If I don't like W@W then no post from me has arrived here, because there is so much game forums that don't has any post from me just because I didn't bothered to played that games. It is great, that Matrix developers work hard to improve this game. Problem is only with incompatibility of saves. SSI released five or more patches to original SP I and I hadn't any problems with my caimpaings. All patches changed OOBs and game just started using new values.
I'm still using 4.4 version, when I tried to install 4.5 update I've got a message that all saves from 4.4 will be unusable. Is this true or not ? Some replies to my topic says that I can use my older saves.

P.S. ... and stop working on new versions for now, we have a Christmas time. No working permitted till New year.

After few hours I'll be laying in my bed, because I've got some flu, and playing SP:W@W. It sounds like great hollidays to me.

Happy Christmas and great New Year.

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Dusan Bolek

skukko · Post by **skukko** » Fri Dec 22, 2000 2:51 pm

Attila the Hun; he who burns the ground so that even grass don't grow anymore after his footsteps, he who conquered half of a continent and because he didn't now what the boat is he couln't conquer other continents...

I've installed spwaw three times in same machine, differend versions and all the games works just fine. Why don't you install your 4.5 to another folder and get benefits of it? It's clean installation with no corrupted file allocations , no scenarios that you've downloaded and then noticed you didn't like them. Cut the whineys away, speak when you have positive attitude on it. I'm sorry that I say this in here, but these nice men here don't want to do it. Jump to microsofts site and yell there about compability problems. They get paid for what they do.

sorry, mosh

Fuerte2 · Post by **Fuerte2** » Fri Dec 22, 2000 3:42 pm

Originally posted by Atila_Boss:
I'm still using 4.4 version, when I tried to install 4.5 update I've got a message that all saves from 4.4 will be unusable. Is this true or not ? Some replies to my topic says that I can use my older saves.

Yes, you can use your old saves. The only thing that will not work is secure PBEM.

Panzer Capta · Post by **Panzer Capta** » Fri Dec 22, 2000 6:01 pm

Atila, there is a wise old statement about a "Gift Horse".

Just think about the "Gift Horse" you have been given.

Paul Vebber · Post by **Paul Vebber** » Fri Dec 22, 2000 8:22 pm

WHile we appreciate the support, lets not "pile on" the gent! All opinions are welcome here! We are hard at work on several new games and there should not be a worry about another SP:WAW patch for a while