IMPORTANT: State of the Game and Future Plans as of March, 2014

[Ostwindflak]

waltero, you can always buy the board game version of WiF. That has a functional multiplayer if you can find some opponents. [;)]

[AlbertN]

To meet face to face has quite some issue for most people, not to speak of the space required!
I am not sure which of the two would be most difficult!

[76mm]

ORIGINAL: bo
...I know the beta testers and myself cannot figure what you are complaining about, it just does not happen when we play, there are a few bugs that's for sure but none in the area your talking about, you mentioned windows 7 home and that might be a problem well I have windows 7 home also and have none of these problems.

I realize you're trying to help and appreciate it, but when someone is asking about the state of the game I think it is only fair to mention that not everyone is having a flawless experience with this game. I specifically mentioned in my post that others don't seem to be having any problems, but I can assure you that I'm not making any of this up.

I don't know how many beta testers there are, but I doubt that you cover the universe in terms of hardware/OS, etc. Maybe some things are user error on my party, but I don't think that I'm doing anything very unusual. I also don't think that running Windows 7 Home is particularly strange, and have never heard of a specific flavor/language of an OS as being a game issue before.

I'm using 1.2.1.5 of MWIF.

[bo]

ORIGINAL: 76mm

ORIGINAL: bo
...I know the beta testers and myself cannot figure what you are complaining about, it just does not happen when we play, there are a few bugs that's for sure but none in the area your talking about, you mentioned windows 7 home and that might be a problem well I have windows 7 home also and have none of these problems.

I realize you're trying to help and appreciate it, but when someone is asking about the state of the game I think it is only fair to mention that not everyone is having a flawless experience with this game. I specifically mentioned in my post that others don't seem to be having any problems, but I can assure you that I'm not making any of this up.

I don't know how many beta testers there are, but I doubt that you cover the universe in terms of hardware/OS, etc. Maybe some things are user error on my party, but I don't think that I'm doing anything very unusual. I also don't think that running Windows 7 Home is particularly strange, and have never heard of a specific flavor/language of an OS as being a game issue before.

I'm using 1.2.1.5 of MWIF.

There is about 7 of us from time to time, only a few are computer savvy, I know I am not, I get along all right, but OS systems are a bane to a lot of us, I cringe when something goes wrong on my computer, and I know nothing about specific flavor/language being anything. I turn on the computer and if the game plays without problems I am a happy camper.

But IMHO something has to be seriously wrong with your computer or the way the game is installed, and certainly no one here in the beta section is blaming you for your troubles, or that your making something up, that goes without saying.

I do not like to see any player unhappy with the game, not you or anyone else. We here would like to see your game running well.

Bo

[76mm]

I haven't re-installed yet, but will probably try that if the problems re-appear, although I'll be out of pocket for about a month.

While I appreciate the beta tester's efforts, it sounds like a fairly small base and I wouldn't be surprised if some things had slipped through the cracks.

[GARY L]

Eric

Can we get a State of the Game and Future Plans for March 2015?

Gary

[Joseignacio]

ORIGINAL: Ostwindflak

waltero, you can always buy the board game version of WiF. That has a functional multiplayer if you can find some opponents. [;)]

Which is usually almost impossible. So, it's about the same.

[Cataphract88]

ORIGINAL: GARY L

Eric

Can we get a State of the Game and Future Plans for March 2015?

Gary

+1

[Centuur]

At this moment, Steve is still fixing naval combat bugs and Netplay bugs. The bug list after those are fixed contains a lot of other things too. My estimation is that bug hunting will continue for several months, before anything else will be targeted. That seems to be the most logical way to proceed, I believe.

But I agree that there should be something of an "order of battle" made public the moment Netplay is really working as it should. That's not being discussed now, since it is a little to early to do so, I believe.

[rapidfire2013]

ORIGINAL: GARY L

Eric

Can we get a State of the Game and Future Plans for March 2015?

Gary

+1

[Erik Rutins]

Hi guys,

I will post a new "State of the Game" in the next few weeks, thank you for the reminder.

Regards,

- Erik

[Smokey2]

ORIGINAL: Erik Rutins

Hi guys,

I will post a new "State of the Game" in the next few weeks, thank you for the reminder.

Regards,

- Erik

Any update on a new "State of the Game".

Thanks
Smokey

[joshuamnave]

ORIGINAL: Erik Rutins

Hi guys,

I will post a new "State of the Game" in the next few weeks, thank you for the reminder.

Regards,

- Erik

And a month goes by. It's pretty easy to see where we are on the list of things Matrix gives a *bleep* about.

[Centuur]

ORIGINAL: Zartacla

ORIGINAL: Erik Rutins

Hi guys,

I will post a new "State of the Game" in the next few weeks, thank you for the reminder.

Regards,

- Erik

And a month goes by. It's pretty easy to see where we are on the list of things Matrix gives a *bleep* about.

This is what Steve has written in his monthly reports:

After fixing a few more bugs in Supply (mostly having to do with when to recalculate supply after units move) I will be giving NetPlay more testing in its two player version in May. I’ll also whittle away at some of the older bugs on my task list. That’s in preparation for beginning work with a fresh slate on the missing optional rules.

This information seems to be enough, doesn't it?

[joshuamnave]

No. If it was, I wouldn't have posted anything. Steve posts a status report every month. That tells us what he's doing, what he's working on, and for those who are interested in details about his health and hobbies, gives some interesting tidbits about his life. Erik Rutins posted a long status update from Matrix' point of view over a year ago. Since Steve is not an employee of Matrix, the two are not identical. A little over a month ago, Erik promised to give us a new state of the game within a few weeks. That was the last time he's posted to the boards. So I stand by my previous statement - there is no indication that Matrix cares at all about this hobby project now that they've collected our money.

[NielsJuel]

On principle I have to agree. When you make a promise, keep it or don´t make it. But it is just another broken promise, and I can´t say I am surprised.

[tacfire]

For once I agree with Zartacla entirely

[Smokey2]

Seems to be dead or at best dying - not even able to give us an update of the plan going forward. I'll come back in six months to a year and see if anything is happening in terms on a functional AI.

Smokey

[YohanTM]

I would really like to see the focus on fixing what is currently broken not working on missing optional rules.

[AlbertN]

I somehow agree Matrix has not a deep interest in M-WiF, the game being very of niche and they got the cash already.
Meanwhile I've a few titles of Matrix Games anyhow they are hardly producing new WW2 games of my interest (War in the West I've carefully avoided after the War in the East experience I had.); and the other titles churned out on WW2 Grand Strategy that resemble tabletops are pratically Strategic Command remakes in different form but same concept (Time of Fury, and company). I dare say the only worthy one around here by Matrix Games is the pretty old Gary Grigsby World at War. (Yes, I like production and grand strategy, more than the tactical details of a scenario I can go through all over.)

On the other hand I believe Mr. Shannon has made the project something personal, as someone defined it - a hobby. Which probably as long as he can, he can keep working on. Because a hobby is a passion.

I believe Matrix has bigger hopes for this, I think somewhere I've seen the label "World in Flames product one" in fact - that suggested if the sales went well Matrix could have invested in a deeper effort and possibly to try to get more cash later on with expansions (America Aflame, etcetera). Marketing results probably not warranted the effort in a larger project being desiderable from a Company standpoint.

In general the issue is "how much" a game is immediate, and the customers can get a grip of it and play (Just imagine the comparison across DOS-OS, Windows and Unix. Most of "players" use Windows. DOS is old. Unix is more demanding in terms of knowledge). So a Company go for what people wants - a game to play easily, at immediate hand (read, Panzer General clones for example, which by now we've in all sauces, from Panzers of WW2, to Space Marines of WH40k, and so forth). WiF is not that kind of game.

Therefore I'd suggest to all the players who bought MWiF, enjoy it as it is. Arrange your games with others via Skype / Teamviewer; play solo; shelve the game and wait if you prefer ... but the wait will be long due to the "resources" committed to this project.
I know I've spend 100~ euros about for a game - paying for manuals I am not really needing (the PDFs are more than enough); so I best get my fun out of it. And that is what I suggest everyone, the game is playable, with some house rule and maybe adjustments of fair play. Seek out someone from your timezone, and arrange some weekly session for it, the juice of strategy games is to play against another opponent, a human one.

My analysis, my advice.

Matrix's free to prove me wrong obviously, and maybe in a month announce America or Patton in Flames, who knows.