ATTN Firaxis: New patch in the works?

[Smidlee]

I've also seen Mods affected by this. And that blasted MAF issue and the Firaxian lack of communication about it was a serious problem. Take2's customer service even denied the existence of the MAF. A little communication from Firaxis regarding the patches would have saved our CivCom a great deal of delay and frustration.

To be fair even Brad at Galciv2 (as well as other developers) noted that he just understood this problem a few months ago. Windows 32-bit will only allocate 2gb of memory to each program period. (Unless you take from the other 2gb that goes to window's kernel when using a 64-bit OP). So the problem is with the 2gb limit. If I load up ViSa mod with A 18civ Huge map, it's size starts out at 1.6 Gb of memory. Less than 400 mb left until you get MAF. That's twice the size of a normal huge,18 civ game.

 

[King Flevance]

I wouldn't either but threads started to debate the validity of other threads tend to have a master lock on them after only a few posts.

 

[Bhruic]

I'm liking how Valve has been patching their products lately. Silently and frequently. Every few days you get a small patch to TF2 with no warning.

Um, you realize that TF2 is still in beta, right? It's much easier to update a beta product than a commercially released one.

Bh

 

[Duuk]

dont bite the hand that feeds you

and if you do, do it in a pragmatic cute way.

Exactly, Take2 should stop insulting their customers who pay their salaries, get a Community Relations professional, and communicate with their fans.

Firaxis isn't immune to bankruptcy, no matter what they think.

Every Civ-fan over the age of 20 owned at LEAST one SSI game back in the day, and they died a horrible death regardless.

And even Civ itself couldn't save Microprose.

 

[warpstorm]

Um, you realize that TF2 is still in beta, right? It's much easier to update a beta product than a commercially released one.

Yes, I do, and this is how they work on their released titles also (and it will be released officially on Wednesday).

 

[Elandal]

SSI game? Like the AD&D goldbox series (which are buried somewhere in the closet where game boxes end up in)?

Anyway, has anyone here any idea about how WoW forums fare? Yes? No? OK - CFC forums are tame. Of course there's a difference that WoW generates quite a few real (not just egold) coin and there're paid staffers on those forums. Guys who get money for being flamed.. Maybe that's why they can take it.

From my part - I will eventually by Civ 5 as well. I know that already - even without knowing what kind of game it'll be, how many bugs, expansions, when, at what price.. The only question is when I will buy it - pre-order and pay the highest price market can bear? Or wait for eventual gold/platinum/complete/other box that contains all expansions and whatever at pocket change? That's where Firaxis' handling of civ4 era can have an effect. Not on whether I buy it at all.

 

[azzaman333]

Um, you realize that TF2 is still in beta, right? It's much easier to update a beta product than a commercially released one.

Bh

Valve making any patches is a shock in the first place.

 

[Cabay Jet]

If Firaxis is making Civilization V (Which is a 95% probability, what with Revolutions and such.) then I'm not going to buy that game until a year after it has been released. It's what I did with vanilla Civ IV, and I was very satisfied by what I received in return: a relatively flawless game with only a few minor bugs here and there. (This would have been patch 1.62.) That way, it's as if Firaxis had actually stuck the game in development for that extra year like it should have been and I don't get stuck with a disappointing product when I buy it.

Judging from Firaxis' reputation with patching that's what I'll have to do. *sigh*

 

[PieceOfMind]

May I point out there is a considerable amount of resentment in the casual MP community concerning the latest patch. Usually when I see OOS errors in games, one or two of the players are quick to note, "It's because of this (insert expletive) new patch!"

The fact is, even the casual gamers are probably dropping like flies now - not just us fanatics - since this patch has been causing massive MP issues.

Unless Firaxis are sensible enough to fix these issues in a timely fashion, they'll be losing many fans. I'm not trying to be melodramatic - I really believe this.

Undoubtedly all their best employees are working on Revolutions because it's such a lucrative cash cow. What do they have to gain from devoting sufficient resources to BtS at this point? All the reviews are already written, and they can afford to screw up a lot with BtS and suffer very little financial penalty. Yeah, they'll take a reputation hit, but I doubt it will amount to much since they're already ahead of the curve. Of course the actual *people* at Firaxis care, but their hands are tied because, like all corporations, they are ultimately driven by the bottom line. Watch the movie called "The Corporation" if you don't believe me .

Let's just be thankful that we have such a devoted fan base with people like Bhruic and Solver and co. to fix bugs-- and that Firaxis itself made the game moddable enough to allow us to fix their bugs.

(emphasis added by me)

I fear you are right jray. We're all suckers. If only the reviews could be reviewed.

On topic, I still have not seen ANY logical reason for why Firaxis should not divulge whether or not another patch will be in the making. Sometimes it might be clever marketing to keep customers in suspense (actually that's usually potential customers) but it's not a good idea when they're angry.

Many posters on these forums have the courtesy to present very reasonable arguments as for why fixes are necessary and perhaps a bit urgent. Others may take a more insulting approach to demanding fixes. In any case, eventually many of the more patient type will also resort to demands out of desperation. As was pointed out earlier, it's the feeling that requests fall on deaf ears that irritates most of the reasonable posters.

 

[Geon]

I dunno, compared with other games I have played, firaxis has done better post release support than 90% of the ones that don't include a monthly fee to play. And made the closest game to perfection i've seen in my particular gameplay demands. I can understand the discontent from MP people, as I used to MP a lot. Poor support ruined Rise of nations as a MP game(being a RTS ruined its SP game). While I hope you guys get a patch, it's not likely, find a new game : /, and i'll enjoy my SP masterpiece.

 

[gps]

Yes indeed it is. And I think it's not just reasonable, it's a must. The game obviousley has still some major bugs, that NEED to be fixed.
"Civ 3 Rather-not-so-complete" should be a clear indicator for everyone, that there's not that much difference betwenn Firaxis and EA. Sad to see a name like Sid Meier, who always stood for quality, trying to get away as cheap as that. I hope, they learned a bit from that and do a better job for Civ 4/BTS.

 

[Unknown_Enemy]

Guys, I don't want to put salt on a wound but from the fan relation perspective, it would be useful for some people at fireaxis to learn from Stardock (dev and publisher of Galciv2) how to handle patching process. And communication with their fan-base.

It's really a pity because the work gets done. It just seems way more painful that way.

 

[Aquatic]

It is, I should think, entirely reasonable that a company having released a product that is not fully fit for its purpose should give its customers reassurance that it will fix the problem and, with that, to give a rough estimate as to the time this fix will take. It is, perhaps, unreasonable for us to expect the estimated time to be anything other than that - an estimate.

In the meantime SP is OK with Bhruic's patch. Let's hope MP will soon have its equivalent!

 

[Aquatic]

Why is it reasonable to give information about fixing the problems?

1) Courtesy
2) Good customer relations
3) Providing a good service

all of which amount to

4) Good business practice!

Or am I mistaken?

 

[Duuk]

Why is it reasonable to give information about fixing the problems?

1) Courtesy
2) Good customer relations
3) Providing a good service

all of which amount to

4) Good business practice!

Or am I mistaken?

Expecting Firaxis/Take2 to make good business decisions doesn't seem like par for their course.

At the annual meeting on March 29, 2007, Take-Two investors ousted five of six board members, including the chief executive, Paul Eibeler, who was replaced by Ben Feder[1]

Ryan Brant, former chief executive of Take-Two Interactive Software, pleaded guilty in February 2007 to falsifying business records. He faced up to four years in prison but received a lighter sentence in a plea agreement after agreeing to cooperate with prosecutors.[2]

In 2005, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission alleged in a lawsuit that Brant, with the company's former chief financial officers, Larry Muller and James David Jr., and its head of sales, Robert Blau, inflated revenue in fiscal years 2000 and 2001.

 

[Wodan]

I have a problem with the way the poll is worded. Is it "reasonable" for Firaxis to do this? Well, yes. Is it "reasonable for us to expect Firaxis to do this"? Probably not. "Do you want Firaxis to do this"? That's a simple vote.

Which of these does the poll intend to do? Beats me.

Wodan

 

[White Elk]

I asked that question within the following context (from the OP)... "But I also think that most of us think it quite reasonable for there to be an announcement that another patch is in the works, if indeed there is."

I was asking Firaxis for an 'official' announcement, and wanted to back up my assertion (with the poll) that most of us think that such an announcement would be a reasonable thing for them to do.

Wanting an announcement and expecting Firaxis to give it are different than simply thinking it a reasonable thing for them to do. And finding it reasonable for Firaxis to announce it while taking into consideration the events that transpired after 3.13s unofficial announcement is also a very different question.

I just wanted to demonstrate to Firaxis that we the CivCom
think it reasonable for there to be an official patch announcement.

 

[Wodan]

Hmm, well, I think the wording may have gotten some people to vote No. Certainly, right now there are almost 40% naysayers, and I think Firaxis would take that the wrong way if it were presented to them the way you just described.

In any event, 40% is far from a clear majority. Why do something when almost half of a focus group says no?

Anyway... to be constructive... my suggestion would be to make a new poll with different wording.

Wodan

 

[JFLNYC]

Why do something when almost half of a focus group says no?

How does 21.84% (as on this writing) equal "almost half?" 78.16% saying "yes" seems like a pretty overwhelming majority to me.

 

[White Elk]

Your right, and I have a problem wording things and often labor at it for mixed results. But I think they'll get the point if it actually does come to their attention. Though I think it really wasn't necessary. I just hope that things at Firaxis will change and the bond between gamer and developer will strengthen.


But what do you mean 40%?

I see 78.16% for "Yes indeed!" and 21.84% for "Not really".