no more patches?

**parcelt** · 10-13-2005, 18:16

Well, I find this a really surprising statement by MikeB, apparently it's not even certain yet whether there will even be any patches for BI:

http://p223.ezboard.com/fshoguntotal...ID=30621.topic

I thought the 2-patch limit was bad enough, but now they're saying there may be no patches at all?

I think with the history that RTW has (and indeed Medieval already had this) of new major bugs and glitches poppin' up with every expansion/major patch, some advance commitment to continuing support of the game is required at least until all the major bugs are fixed. I kinda bought BI on the assumption that at least the 2-patch-policy would apply again (even though I hate the 2-patch policy and, in all honesty, would probably have bought BI anyway... damn Shogun, I'll end up buying anything that says 'TW' for at least another decade because of it!). I am not blaming CA for the bugs, that's what other threads are for and anyway I don't really mind them as long as they get the attention they deserve (=patches). I think we all have to recognize as well how complex a game this really is and just accept that great games come with big bugs, precisely because they are great games.

I also realize it may very well turn out not so bad as a patch may eventually be released, but I would like an explicit commitment in advance on that. I am just getting somewhat nervous.... the good thing about the 2-patch-policy was that at least you knew there would be 2.

Now, I've said it before and I will say it again: I love BI. But frankly, the amount and seriousness of the new bugs it contains is a bit much..... or at least should be sufficient for CA / Sega or whomever may be deciding on this, to make that decision and start work on patch 1.4.

Mmmh, never thought I would actually be wanting to go back to that two-patch-policy....

**econ21** · 10-13-2005, 19:50

Have a look at the sticky on the release of the patch. Captain Fishpants says they are reviewing the issue of whether there will be another patch. They want to see how many bugs are found by players.

**Bob the Insane** · 10-13-2005, 21:25

Well looking at the size of the "BI Bug Repository" on the totalwar.com forums I would hope there would be at least one...

http://p223.ezboard.com/fshoguntotalwarfrm54

**A.Saturnus** · 10-13-2005, 21:34

Since it is not yet decided whether there will be another patch, this speculation is rather pointless.

**Kraxis** · 10-13-2005, 22:13

Originally Posted by Simon Appleton

Have a look at the sticky on the release of the patch. Captain Fishpants says they are reviewing the issue of whether there will be another patch. They want to see how many bugs are found by players.

Which means... BRING 'EM ON!!!!
But so far I think the list has two important bugs, the rest is less important. But that doesn't mean those two don't need fixing, they need it bad!

Oh, btw Captain Fishpants = MikeB.

**Sin Qua Non** · 10-13-2005, 22:29

I wouldn't be overly worried. From experience I think it's safe to say there will be at least (if only) one patch for BI. This topic always seems to sprout up right after a new release, with many people fearing that some evil no-patch policy will leave the release tainted. Although there probably won't be as many patches as most people will want, I'm sure 1.1 will happen, especially with the bug list already growing. It's franchise suicide to not patch, and nearly as bad to hold a patch for months on end. That may be more likely, and hopefully it won't happen.

BTW a patch limit can also be a good thing (even if it's unintentionally good). Raven Shield is a game that was patched all the way up to 1.6 mostly for multiplayer stuff, and it was a pain to install all those patches before Ubi finally got a comprehensive patch. Even worse since Athena Sword didn't use the same version numbers, making it all the more frustrating. There are other examples, but that one readily comes to mind.

**ShellShock** · 10-13-2005, 23:01

CA has been caught out before by not identifying important bugs in time for a patch and they are obviously concerned that the same thing does not happen again. There was the secondary fire bug, which was spotted by the community in time to get into 1.2 (by the skin of its teeth); unfortunately the same could not be said for the load/save bug.

It is passing sad that the load/save bug was not truly recognised until after the 1.2 patch had been released. Knowledge of this bug took the enjoyment out of the game for me, which is strange as I had been playing quite happily (as I suspect like most other people) until I found out about it - ignorance is bliss. It is one thing to think you are doing well in your campaign because you are a direct descendant of Julius Caesar, quite another thing when you realise the AI is being cut off at the knees every time you reload.

The saddest aspect is that this cruel twist of fate resulted in a rift between some members of the community and CA. BI has restored my faith again.

**Veresov** · 10-14-2005, 17:21

I have been disillusioned by CA's patch support since the uproar over the load/save bug. On the COM forums and on this site many people were censored for complaining about the bug and subsequently organizing a boycott. Only TWCenter had the courage to stand up to CA. This boycott is why 1.3 patch was issued as far as I believe.

CA has done some good damage control and regained some integrity at least in my eyes for doing the 1.3 patch. I hope they don't ruin it by closing their eyes and ears to the community again.