Re: Up to date beta patch info..
 

On the one hand, those pointing out that most games need patches these days and that MM released the game early "under pressure" from their fans understandably defend MM.

However, you can hardly fault those that paid for the game expecting it to be complete. Saying "we'll fix it later" might, MIGHT be acceptible for hardware compatability issues, but no software product should be released as "gold" when it is not complete. The fact that "everyone else is doing it" is hardly an excuse. Had it been released as an AI-less multiplayer game, or as a pay-to-play beta Version, noone would be complaining, they'd just be whining for an AI or for the final Version respectively. I've done beta testing myself (Europa Universalis is the latest, if anyone cares), and I know about the pressures on developers to get a product to market.

I guess my point is that, as good as SEIV is, it was clearly not really ready for release. Those who are offended by this are quite justified to do some complaining; those who are trying to defend MM in this shouldn't take it personally! Of course, flaming each other is just dumb, no matter what side you are taking -- accomplishes nothing but to feed childlike egos.

Scott

Re: Up to date beta patch info..
 

Does anyone read review or message Boards before ever purchasing things? It took 5 minutes of reading to find out that yes there are things that are still being worked on (Fixes and development). But in the same time I knew this was the game for me to buy.
Easily customizable
A true 4X game without all the glitz
Did I mention no glitz!! Most of the time kills gameplay
A great Fan community
Great support from the Developer
Delphi! nuff said there!
Praying the new patch comes out soon... wanna play with the new changes!

Re: Up to date beta patch info..
 

Don't ya'll think that the release will make the game that much better? Essentially, the game is going through a *huge* beta test right now via the gum chewing public.

I wonder how many people griping about the problems would be griping about another delay in the release.

Geez.

Re: Up to date beta patch info..
 

I couldn't agree more with you, Repro Man.
I have owned and played and enjoyed EVERY Version of SE. They have always succeded in providing an excellent product. By all means, continue to post your concerns and wish lists. I'm sure MM is hard at work trying to meet your collective desires. But I, for one, am kinda sick of coming into the forum to check what's up and having to sift through all the *****'n and moaning. I think some of you have no idea just how much time and effort it takes to design, build, balance and develop a computer game of this sort. Give MM time. I am certain that their efforts are focused on constant and dramatic improvements of the current game.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Repo Man:
Don't ya'll think that the release will make the game that much better? Essentially, the game is going through a *huge* beta test right now via the gum chewing public.

I wonder how many people griping about the problems would be griping about another delay in the release.

Geez. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Re: Up to date beta patch info..
 

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Tenryu:
I think some of you have no idea just how much time and effort it takes to design, build, balance and develop a computer game of this sort. Give MM time<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


Shakes head. Blind......

Jonathan

Re: Up to date beta patch info..
 

Guys please chill out.

The game WAS ready when shipped. Was everything perfect? No. To make a game of this sort perfect would have taken quite awhile. In it's current state I will take it up against ANY other Space based 4X game made in the Last 5 years. In fact it is a compliment that you guys are so pissed because we ahve "raised" the bar so to speak for this sort of game.

The patch should be out on the 19th followed by a break for the testers and MM for the holidays.

Here are the latest fixes as of tonight:

Version 1.17:
1. Fixed - The Amonkrie had their Demeanor and Culture values swapped.
2. Fixed - Combat Replay was only displaying the Last turn of combat.
3. Fixed - Combat Replay is starting with the first move of the first ship
already completed.
4. Fixed - The Xiati Main bitmap was an incorrect size.
5. Fixed - Troops on a planet you own will now increase the happiness of
the populations on that planet.
6. Fixed - Tactical Combat: If you fired weapons from your ship, your
point defense cannons would not always fire at incoming seekers
on that turn.
7. Added - Empire Option for Next/Previous Ship button to skip fleets.
8. Fixed - The Trade disrupted intelligence event should not occur if there
is no real trade between two empires.
9. Fixed - Some game option flags would keep the value from the Last game if
it was from a previous Version of SE4 (most notably "Allow
Intelligence projects").
10. Fixed - Tarrifs that an empire received would be added in even in excess
of the max storage for that empire.
11. Fixed - Right-clicking on the flag for a satellite group would not work.
12. Fixed - Tarrifs were exceeding the points available when payed.
13. Fixed - Using an existing empire would sometimes cause the reproduction
and maintenance cost to be increased from what the empire had
in the Last game.
14. Changed - There is now a limit per game turn in the number of fighters\
satellites\mines that can be launched. There is no limit to
the number of units that can be recovered. The Unit Transfer
window has been modified to display the numbers that can be
launched in a turn per ship.
NOTE: All 3 levels of mine layers, fighter bays, and satellites
bays have been changed to that they can only launch 1
unit per game turn or combat turn. (This was to make it
a little more interesting)
15. Fixed - Sorting by date in the Load\Save dialog should put the most
recent file on top.
16. Fixed - Designs for dead empires were showing up in the combat simulator
list.
17. Fixed - A range check error would occur when a planet was rammed.
18. Fixed - During game creation, sometimes a player's planets would end
up in a nebulae, black hole, or asteroid system. A new flag
had been added to the SystemTypes.txt file which indicates
whether a system type allows an empire to start in it.


Version 1.16:
1. Fixed - Range Check error when using the Maximum Range strategy in
combat.
2. Fixed - Added a check for the Movement Replay to make sure that the
replay file matched up with the current game turn.



------------------
Sarge is coming...

Richard Arnesen
Director of Covert Ops
Shrapnel Games
http://www.shrapnelgames.com

Re: Up to date beta patch info..
 

BTW lay off the personal attacks guys. Everyone has been fairly cool but some of you are getting close to locking this thread down.

Just take it easy http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/ima...ons/icon12.gif.

------------------
Sarge is coming...

Richard Arnesen
Director of Covert Ops
Shrapnel Games
http://www.shrapnelgames.com

Re: Up to date beta patch info..
 

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Richard:
7. Added - Empire Option for Next/Previous Ship button to skip fleets.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

YES!

[This message has been edited by Jubala (edited 14 December 2000).]

Re: Up to date beta patch info..
 

Richard:

Actually, with a few exceptions, I dont think many people are 'pissed' so to speak. I think they are a bit frustrated perhaps. The game is REALLY that good that anything that detracts from the enjoyment is grounds for a lynching! http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif

I think discussions like this one and others on this forum are very good for the game. I've seen many of the bugs and oddities that people complained about here showing up as 'fixed' or 'changed' or in the 'readmes' you've been posting. To me, that shows that input as valuable and being acted upon which is a VERY good thing.

I'd hate to see that type of feedback get locked up due to a few people's overly zealous remarks.

From my experience in these types of forums, if people more or less ignore the worst of the comments the better. Sure, if it looks like someone is genuinely interested in helping out, by all means people should jump in and discuss it but its clear that some people's opinion will not be altered at the present time and its a waste of time and energy for people to rise to the baiting.

Talenn

Re: Up to date beta patch info..
 

Well put.