Has anyone been to totalwar.com recently

**player1** · 03-19-2005, 10:29

It would be just sad not to get 1.21 patch as hotfix for worst problems, if there are no big plans.

Anyway, isn't fixing bugs, in fact, already working in expansion?

Of course, exempt if they already work on unannounced expansion, so it's impractical to patch old code for vanilla game (just speculating).

**Browning** · 03-20-2005, 14:27

The expansion, as a new software version, is designed to include new features. E.g. a new feature would be an ability to (re)name your military units. Or to summon a vampire.

Bugfixes are something different. But usually bugs that are detected (and confirmed as bugs) should be fixed in the new software version. If there will be another, minor software release intended to fixes alone (aka patch), is another story. This is a somehow bigger organisation effort, but no increase software development effort to do so. And from what I read from the CA guys, there will be a patch.

I also understand why they choose to be so little specific. One possible reason is they discovered additional bugs in between and don't want to open a can of worms - complains - now.

**player1** · 03-20-2005, 14:43

There are two types of games then have expansions.

Those that use same basic executable for both expanded and original version of the game.
Exmples: Neverwinter Nights, Warcraft3

The benefit of such development is that code changes benefit both expanded and original version of the game. So if you fix bug in expansion, you fixed it basic version too. Such games also tend to have, after expansion is released, patches for both expanded and original version of the code simultaneously.

The other type of the games use different executables for expansion compared to original.
Example: Civilization3

Expansions exe is built from the basics of the original. Such games tend not to have patches for original after expansion is relased. Since original verion code is, in effect, "obsolete" it's not cost effective to patch both original and expansion. Also such games tend not to have patches relased after work on expansion has reached its peak, when significant amount of code it already changed.

Otherwise it would mean tracking two different codes, and that can be very difficult and bug-prone.

**demon rob** · 03-21-2005, 06:53

two CA emails - good to see! What happened to the plan of sticking the CA icon on threads where CA have emailed?

A pity we still havent got any answers we want, Sidekick really just reiterated what Alex has said, except from a CA perspective. We know they will continue, we know they have future plans, and we know they love the game. Its just the questions of the patch and the game direction we really want to know.

ps: totalwar.com, isn't it just there as a filter and here and twc are the real forums. Good to visit for some idle entertainment.

**mxlm** · 03-21-2005, 09:41

Sheesh. Kiddies, take a deep breath, step back, and calm down.

If RTW is really that disappointing to you folks, why on earth are you still browsing these forums? Take a few months off, forget about Rome, come back when you see the expansion on the shelves. Or just forget about Rome indefinitely. Seems as though you'd be saving yourselves a lot of heartache over a game that way. But hey, what do I know?

(No, this isn't a "omgdon'tcomplainun00bs" post)