anyone from Shrapnel...?

[Saber Cherry]

Originally posted by Richard:
And your asking about it every day isn't going to make it happen any quicker.

Duh. That's why they're not just asking every day, but many times per day, every day

[Tim Brooks]

Now I'm thoroughly confused! On the one hand the game has gone gold, and on the other it hasn't? Or just hasn't been announced? (why wouldn't you announce that?)

Becuase we are not gold. Who told you the game has gone gold?

GOLD: The sending of ALL production pieces to duplication.

We have to have final cd and manual cover art, the final manual with editing and proofreading, game code in CD production format, additions for Shrapnel tie ins to CD and manual, paper buys/ CD buys completed, shrinkwrapping purchased and scheduled, and probably a few more things I don't even know about... Then this all has to go on its merry way to 3 different vendors. Once they receive the pieces they schedule production (cd is one vendor, manual is three vendors in and of itself: cover, guts, and binding - and then the shrinkwrapper, of course) and give us 'completed by' dates. We then determine how to have this shipped back to shrinkwrapping for assembly and wrapping (ground, overnight, etc). Then the final product comes to us, is inventoried, coded, and sent to fulfillment. Here it is shelved, and entered into inventory. Now we are ready to ship...

As you can see it is a process. On a positive note, we received the gold candidate cd yesterday, it will be tested and made ready for stamping today. And should head out to the duplicator tomorrow, barring any troubles. However, the manaul we don't have yet but should have it today, and it still has to go through proofing, editing and additions. Sometimes this takes a day or two and sometimes a week. Once the manual ships, we announce gold as all pieces are in place for production.

[ October 22, 2003, 08:58: Message edited by: Tim Brooks ]

[Mortifer]

Originally posted by cpbeller:
ok....sorry....

I wasn't trying to "frustrate" anyone....

I was just wanting some info on the release date of the full retail Version, and the demo was only really in reference to that....as far as a schedule goes.

I won't ask any more questions concerning it....once I have it, I have it

Now you understand at least that why did I made that post.

[MythicalMino]

Originally posted by Mortifer:

quote:

---

Originally posted by cpbeller:
ok....sorry....

I wasn't trying to "frustrate" anyone....

I was just wanting some info on the release date of the full retail Version, and the demo was only really in reference to that....as far as a schedule goes.

I won't ask any more questions concerning it....once I have it, I have it

Now you understand at least that why did I made that post.

---

Actually, no, i don't really understand why you made that post...

All I was truly concerned with is the release Version still viable for the projected date of the 30th....

After hearing different "rumors" of yes, the game is gold, no, we have no manual, the game is gold, but the demo still needs testing, we have the demo, but we need the game to go gold first, and then the manual needs still some editing...ect ect ect....

I am concerned with knowing more about the full release date of the 30th. I actually couldn't care less about the demo's release, since I have pre-ordered the game. If the demo came out 3 months after the shipment date, that would be find with me, I am just asking about the shipment date.

Now, after saying that, this goes to Tim Brooks, or anyone in the know....

Approximately how long does it take for all the pieces to come together? I understand that there could be delays here and there, causing delays in shipment...

But, is this normal, that you don't have "all the pieces" with barely a week left till the projected shipping date?

My experience with "going gold" and release dates, are there is generally a month between the announcing of gold status and release, as it seems to take about a month for all the duplicating process.

Again, I really don't care about the demo release...I only ask about that in reference to the shipment date of the full release. And I am only asking about that so I can have SOME info on it.

Also, this is the only game I have ever Pre-Ordered, next to Civ3 (and what a burn that was....). Generally, i stay away from Pre-Orders, but, my experience with shrapnel has been good....nothing to be wary about, just would like to know a bit more than silence of the threads....I just have a feeling that the game will be delayed, and we (the folks who bought it) won't know until the 30th or after...

Mortifer, THAT is my concern....

[ October 22, 2003, 12:02: Message edited by: cpbeller ]

[Mortifer]

Posted by cpbeller:


October 21, 2003 18:45
ok, enough complaining now....

October 21, 2003 12:31
well, could today be the day?????

Probably not....



October 20, 2003 17:40
i could swear that i read somewhere that the demo was expected on the 17th, but sadly, the 17th has come and gone....

October 20, 2003 16:55
....IF they release it anytime soon

Sorry but I reckon that this is complaining and whining.
Btw even you admitted that you complained too much.

[MStavros]

Ah well...
It is very funny, because I am never asking the same question all day.

[Tim Brooks]

Approximately how long does it take for all the pieces to come together? I understand that there could be delays here and there, causing delays in shipment...

Fair question, but the answer is I won't know until the vendors schedule everything, and then we still miss about 60% of the time. Why, well our Last three misses were:

1. CD's were shipped to Washington DC by UPS - we are in North Carolina. It then took UPS three days to get them from DC to us - a 7 hour trip by car.

2. The printing press broke down in the middle of the cover run. This caused a one day delay in getting the manual to the binder. The binder had us scheduled of course, but that one day miss meant the binder couldn't do the job for 3 more days.

3. The CD duplicator pushed our job back two days to do a 2,000,000 CD run for WalMart.

So, when we get everything to the vendors the schedule will be set and we will let you know our "projected" ship date. Which has about a 60% chance of sliding.

Is Oct 30th out of the question? No. But it is looking less and less likely. Alot depends on when we get the manual and how much work is invloved in getting it ready to print.

And now to make everyone's day, we are moving into the Christmas season, for CD's and printing this usually pushes delivery times out by 3 - a one week turn around becomes a 3 week turnaround, etc.

[st.patrik]

Originally posted by Tim Brooks:

quote:

---

Now I'm thoroughly confused! On the one hand the game has gone gold, and on the other it hasn't? Or just hasn't been announced? (why wouldn't you announce that?)

Becuase we are not gold. Who told you the game has gone gold?

GOLD: The sending of ALL production pieces to duplication.

We have to have final cd and manual cover art, the final manual with editing and proofreading, game code in CD production format, additions for Shrapnel tie ins to CD and manual, paper buys/ CD buys completed, shrinkwrapping purchased and scheduled, and probably a few more things I don't even know about... Then this all has to go on its merry way to 3 different vendors. Once they receive the pieces they schedule production (cd is one vendor, manual is three vendors in and of itself: cover, guts, and binding - and then the shrinkwrapper, of course) and give us 'completed by' dates. We then determine how to have this shipped back to shrinkwrapping for assembly and wrapping (ground, overnight, etc). Then the final product comes to us, is inventoried, coded, and sent to fulfillment. Here it is shelved, and entered into inventory. Now we are ready to ship...

As you can see it is a process. On a positive note, we received the gold candidate cd yesterday, it will be tested and made ready for stamping today. And should head out to the duplicator tomorrow, barring any troubles. However, the manaul we don't have yet but should have it today, and it still has to go through proofing, editing and additions. Sometimes this takes a day or two and sometimes a week. Once the manual ships, we announce gold as all pieces are in place for production.

---

Tim - thanks for this most informative message - I feel like I understand where things are at much better now. So, many thanks.

As to the snide comments of other posters - please lay off. If you read over this thread and the "Golden Demos and such..." thread you will see who is whining and who is asking questions [there IS a distinction]. Anyways, let enough be enough, please.

[ October 22, 2003, 14:13: Message edited by: st.patrik ]

[Richard]

As an update we received the finished manual this morning, but it still needs to be formatted for printing.

That doesn't mean the demo is coming out tomorrow, but I wanted to drop you guys an update.

[MythicalMino]

and thanks for the update