Change in Command

[Siberian HEAT]

Hey All,

In the face of various personal commitments, I am handing over the reigns of the development team to Jamiam. He will have much more time to work with Ralph (programmer) and interface with the beta test team. I have done my best to date...and as we enter this slow period around the holidays it gives me a chance to step away and hand off command without interrupting or delaying the game. For my part, I'll be hanging around to help James settle in so that we don't miss a beat in getting the first release out the door.

And, for the record, the first release won't be out before Christmas 2005. THAT much I can say! [:D]

Please take a moment to welcome James!

[JJKettunen]

Welcome James. [:'(]

[JAMiAM]

Thank you Brian for all your work thus far. You've assembled a good team, and got the ball rolling with regard to the initial release's main feature list. I will strive to not let down your trust in me.

Now, with that said, I would like to announce my first official act as The Operational Art of War: The Matrix Edition's Project Lead. I will be going on vacation! Yes, it's true. I had already scheduled a brief Christmas vacation at the inlaws from the 25th through the 28th, and so I will be incommunicado during that period.

But seriously, I would like to take this chance to explain some of the delays that have prevented all of you from being able to unwrap your shiny new TOAW on Christmas Day. I know that many of you had high hopes for a holiday release, but given the timing, and untested status, of the patchwork that was performed by Norm, we have been unable to get to you a product that Matrix Games would be proud to release, and you, happy to own. We are working on adding several new features to the game for its initial release, and tightening some code issues. Our new programmer, Ralph Trickey, has discovered some bugs that crept into the code, and the members of our Beta Test team have discovered others. Ralph has quickly displayed a competence and enthusiasm for the project that bodes well for quickly squashing these varmints, and we are making progress.

Other sources of delay, thus far, have been family and personal illnesses among the team, technical difficulties (computer meltdowns) and of course, the ever present familial commitments of the holiday season. Most of this has already been put behind us, and with the New Year, we will assault this task with renewed vigor, and purpose. We do currently have in mind an initial release by the end of Q1 2006. The exact change and feature list, as well as the release date will have to remain somewhat flexible, dependent upon our progress and possible discovery of new problems. However, I will endeavor to keep the community informed, as best I can, as to the general state of the project.

I thank all of you, in advance, for your continuing support.

[stauffenberg]

First off, a major vote of thanks to Brian for a job well done in getting us through a very difficult period.

Congrats James: "may you live in interesting times"... confirmed I think. Great replacement choice.

Daniel

[*Lava*]

Hi!

I'd like to thank ALL of you guys, from project lead to programmers, scenario designers and testers. I am sure you will do Matrix proud.

Once again, thanks for your hard work, and, like many, am looking forward to the fruits of your labor and dedication.

Ray (alias Lava)