Any chance we'll have the patch by tonight for this weekend?

[Philippe]

The following comment is not based on any insider information. I have no connection with either CA or SEGA.

I get the impression (based on casual surfing) that the patch is nearing completion, as opposed to actually being finished. The reason I think this is that the list of fixes in the blog does not seem to be all-inclusive, which suggests that work is continuing. Given the internal complexity of M2TW, I really hope that they take their time about releasing the patch. Especially since it may be a while before we see another. RTW needed half a dozen patches, and I don't see any reason why M2TW would be any different.

So if that is the case, I hope that when they think they've finished the patch they take a few days off, forget about if for a while, and not release it. And then go back and check it all over again with fresh eyes.

Doing that, of course, will probably turn up new issues that need to be fixed, but that's the nature of the beast.

I would also assume that after the patch is actually finished (and I really, really hope they don't rush it out), it will have to be turned over to QA at SEGA. I don't know how it works in this specific case, but at other companies that often means extensive testing to make sure the security of whatever software protection is in place hasn't been compromised. And the legal departments of anybody whose logo is displayed when you first fire up the game will have to be convinced that the patch doesn't undermine their advertising. Nothing to do with the game, but depending on the beaurocracy involved this kind of thing could take weeks.

So I really don't think it would be a good idea to cancel any weekend dates with your girlfriend this month in anticipation of a rumored, imminent release that hasn't been committed to by both companies. Given what's involved you really don't want an early delivery, and she probably needs to spend more quality time with you anyway.

[Lusted]

I get the impression (based on casual surfing) that the patch is nearing completion, as opposed to actually being finished

Wrong, the patch is finished - its in lockdown so no more fixes being added and its in final testing. That's what Caliban has told me so i can only assume its taking them a while to test to make sure all the bugs are fixed. I don't know why the fix list wasn't complete, but it wasn't because the patch isn't finished.