Up to date beta patch info..

[gbraley]

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