abandoned

[michaelbaldur]

seems like this game is abandoned.

single player full og bugs, and no working AI.

disappointing

[Joseignacio]

And multiplayer with all the single player bugs, plus its own ones.

[RFalvo69]

Is anyone surprised? It is a serious question.

[Joseignacio]

I was, the first years. No longer, tho.

[eouellet]

It looks like it has been abandoned. There were signs that we were heading in that direction already in 2023.

Maybe the AI beta testers know better, but I assume they are under a strict NDA.

In any event, it would be nice to have an update from Matrix as to where the game stands, for real, and without the usual super unrealistic deadlines and schedules.

[juntoalmar]

Not abandoned by players, though.

It's a pitty efforts weren't focused in having a stable single player experience, and then build upon it to add other features. I feel that before the solitary mode was polished, a lot of time was put in multiplayer (and then we had two bugged game modes), and before that was fixed, time was put in AI (and then we end up having three bugged game modes).

But it's just a personal opinion.

[MaximKI]

World in Flames is not abandoned.

We've released several updates over 2024 and are planning more updates for this year. Steve is currently the only active developer working on the game and we're giving him as much time and support to work on these updates. As per multiple communications over the years, we've emphasized that we're moving toward a functional AI, which currently is currently a high priority. However, as bug reports are submitted and time becomes available, Steve does work on singleplayer bug fixing and responds to reports as needed.

[pzgndr]

Steve is currently the only active developer working on the game and we're giving him as much time and support to work on these updates.

Steve's last posting was about two months ago. We stopped getting monthly reports in 2023 but did get an End of Year AI progress report at the end of 2023. It would be helpful to the community if the code developer would share more information, or perhaps Steve could delegate to one of his lead playtesters some authority to provide status updates on his behalf.

I am personally well aware of how complicated code development for a lone developer is and my guesstimates regarding what I might get done by a certain timeframe have been woefully off the mark over the past several years. But I share with the Empires in Arms community what I'm working on and what I'm planning to work on and I release betas and hotfixes as I am able so that players can keep up. I cannot speak for everyone here, but if Steve would do the same then players would have current information and would likely be much more patient as we await updates. We'll still be frustrated with the delays, but we are more frustrated not knowing.

[Zovs]

Steve is currently the only active developer working on the game and we're giving him as much time and support to work on these updates.

Steve's last posting was about two months ago. We stopped getting monthly reports in 2023 but did get an End of Year AI progress report at the end of 2023. It would be helpful to the community if the code developer would share more information, or perhaps Steve could delegate to one of his lead playtesters some authority to provide status updates on his behalf.

I am personally well aware of how complicated code development for a lone developer is and my guesstimates regarding what I might get done by a certain timeframe have been woefully off the mark over the past several years. But I share with the Empires in Arms community what I'm working on and what I'm planning to work on and I release betas and hotfixes as I am able so that players can keep up. I cannot speak for everyone here, but if Steve would do the same then players would have current information and would likely be much more patient as we await updates. We'll still be frustrated with the delays, but we are more frustrated not knowing.

Very well said Bill, and I concur with your thoughts and views.

[AlbertN]

I've moved to Vassal for my World in Flames gaming, especially since the Collector Edition was out - but I vividly suggest to focus on bug squashing and drop any AI velleities for anything beyond the Barbarossa scenario. And not even that if I am to be sincere.
A game such as World in Flames is so massive, and requires planning ahead that no AI (with the allocated resources for a gaming, very niche product) could satisfy.

Players going single player would have a lackluster experience (and I dare say in most strategy games the AI requires rolls / buffs of the sort to somehow perform vs a player) while the bugs would be abundantly there.

Matrix WiF strongpoint are enforced rules, it will teach you a lot of WiF no matter what - and thus it is a very costy, yet amazing huge tutorial on the WiF world.

[michaelbaldur]

World in Flames is not abandoned.

We've released several updates over 2024 and are planning more updates for this year. Steve is currently the only active developer working on the game and we're giving him as much time and support to work on these updates. As per multiple communications over the years, we've emphasized that we're moving toward a functional AI, which currently is currently a high priority. However, as bug reports are submitted and time becomes available, Steve does work on singleplayer bug fixing and responds to reports as needed.

funny, some staff member says that the game is not abandoned, while we have not heard anything from the developer in months.

the last monthly update is 2 years old.. so yes if you want us to believe that the game is not abandoned, show us some progress. prove of life is easy, if it is still alive

[Joseignacio]

The problem is not just that it is abandoned.

If it was developing an AI it would still mean it is abandoned for those of us who bought the game and dont really care about IA but solitary or even worse, the multiplayer, which suffers the lacks and bugs of Solitary but also its own.

Not only that, but there are new bugs in the new versions and others that come back.

E.g.: I recently couldnt send a TRS to a nearby port and load a corps and keep moving, which I should be able to, and it was possible in earlier patches. Even using the most favourable and advised display of the various possible.

And so many others, some posted, some not, because since you cant see any action on reports, plus slowly but steadily new bugs join, you get discouraged and dont thake the effort to document them.

[michaelbaldur]

The problem is not just that it is abandoned.

If it was developing an AI it would still mean it is abandoned for those of us who bought the game and dont really care about IA but solitary or even worse, the multiplayer, which suffers the lacks and bugs of Solitary but also its own.

Not only that, but there are new bugs in the new versions and others that come back.

E.g.: I recently couldnt send a TRS to a nearby port and load a corps and keep moving, which I should be able to, and it was possible in earlier patches. Even using the most favourable and advised display of the various possible.

And so many others, some posted, some not, because since you cant see any action on reports, plus slowly but steadily new bugs join, you get discouraged and dont thake the effort to document them.

I totally agree, I stopped reporting bugs years ago. when he stopped answering them, or recording them.

[Rising-Sun]

Just checking this game, been several years since i last looked at it. Not sure if this game still popular or what, but it is 99.99 USD for the game itself without AI. So if you cant find a player or opponents to play with, feel like being burned out with this software. I guess you can play by yourself, like playing chess solo lol.

I've moved to Vassal for my World in Flames gaming, especially since the Collector Edition was out - but I vividly suggest to focus on bug squashing and drop any AI velleities for anything beyond the Barbarossa scenario. And not even that if I am to be sincere.
A game such as World in Flames is so massive, and requires planning ahead that no AI (with the allocated resources for a gaming, very niche product) could satisfy.

Players going single player would have a lackluster experience (and I dare say in most strategy games the AI requires rolls / buffs of the sort to somehow perform vs a player) while the bugs would be abundantly there.

Matrix WiF strongpoint are enforced rules, it will teach you a lot of WiF no matter what - and thus it is a very costy, yet amazing huge tutorial on the WiF world.

I thinking the same thing as well, they have so many games on that Vassal Official Site.

[CanInf]

I play this game once a week... it is fairly stable ... it was updated last year... and the update is working fine... so I am ok with it... I am looking forward to the AI!

[PaxMondo]

While it may be true that the game is not abandoned, when we do not hear from Steve, that is the natural perception.

Steve last posted in the "Netplay is down" thread almost 6 weeks ago. If you do not read all of the threads, you wouldn't know that and easily think that it has been MONTHS since his last post. Not a perception that I would think positive for the game. Worse, most of us are cognizant of Steve's health issues.

If Steve just posted a quick update/status monthly, it would be SO appreciated. And I mean quick, not like the old ones. And better, if someone else wrote it for Steve and he just posts it. Seriously.

Steve has more than the average amount of OCD, most programmers do. This means, his old monthly update was probably taking a full day (and likely more) to create and publish. We don't want that (we want the info sure, but we don't want his time there, we want it on programming). Have one of the beta-testers write up 4 line summary and have Steve post it. One of those lines should be something about Steve (he sat on his veranda looking at the sunset last night, he had poi for lunch last week, he stubbed his toe and took his vengeance on the transport routine, ... whatever).

Hearing from Steve on a somewhat regular basis will quash this thread. Then we will just have the old threads about what should be prioritized blah blah blah .... Let's get back to those threads and lose this one.

 

[rkr1958]

Have one of the beta-testers write up 4 line summary and have Steve post it.

This assumes that we hear more from Steve than you do.

[ReconPathFinder]

Honestly this was the worst experience Ive had as a customer of matrix games and Ive been there from the start and my catalog should speak for itself. No one should have to wait over a decade for a finished product. People should of been offered a refund or credits in the store because this seems to be going nowhere.

[PaxMondo]

Have one of the beta-testers write up 4 line summary and have Steve post it.

This assumes that we hear more from Steve than you do.

Ronnie, now you are seriously depressing me.

Allow me my fantasies that you Beta's have contact from Steve at least once/month with a new beta to test ....

[rkr1958]

Have one of the beta-testers write up 4 line summary and have Steve post it.

This assumes that we hear more from Steve than you do.

Ronnie, now you are seriously depressing me.

Allow me my fantasies that you Beta's have contact from Steve at least once/month with a new beta to test ....

Denial is not a river in Egypt.