Patch 1.2 Release/Delay Discussion

[Lusted]

The patch has been delayed; here's the official statement ~sapi

Hi all.

Well, what an interesting 12 hours we've had!

You've seen threads and word is spreading that there is something going on with the patch. So, here's the official word.

We've been testing the life out of this patch for days and days and at the eleventh hour some bugs have come up that we simply cannot fix in the time allowed.

After extensive testing of the patch, the Sega QA department discovered late last night that there may still be some unresolved issues in the final build of the patch. Specifically we are focussing on the Battle AI causing us concern under certain conditions. They are also investigating a potential crash bug that may have crept into the code, that is as yet, unverified. QA have requested extra time to verify this with the CA team in Australia; so we can fully regress the bugs in tandem with their QA department and rectify any issues with the code.

Given the level of chat and comments that you guys are good enough to send us, we are aware of the anticipation you guys have but we would consider it unforgiveable if we were to release a patch knowing that there are a number of potential issues with it.. Therefore, given the choice of two evils, we've taken the one that we hope will at least indicate some sensitivity to you guys and your expectations.

In conjunction with this we've also seen that a version of the patch is doing the rounds. This is a good old fashioned leak - we've tried to plug all gaps but owing to a less than secure url being held by one of our file mirrors, some of you guys have been clever enough to find a backdoor and grab the patch.

Kudos to you for your ingenuity, but be aware that this is not the release patch and CA and SEGA are not supporting this. This is not an official release and it is the very same patch that has the bugs mentioned above.

We're wise enough to know that this file is being distributed and how futile it would be to try and stop it. Canute couldn't stop the sea and we can't stop the internet, so we're not silly enough to think that we can stop it's spread.

So, well done to those who found it but please recognise that we think there are problems and we cannot support it.

If you feel inclined to grab this file, it's up to you and if you have feedback we'd be silly not to listen - but keep in mind that we think it's flawed so make your own decision.

We want to apologise - we've been wiping egg off our faces all morning and so we throw ourselves at the mercy of you guys in the hope that you'll understand. We understand your disappointment - we're disappointed too - so stay with us while we try and fix things.

We can confirm that Update 2 will be available for download on Thursday April 5. The update is currently in the final stages of testing at SEGA and we're not anticipating any further issues that will delay its release. Between now and Thursday , SEGA will be working to secure as many mirrors as possible in order to ease the downloading process.

Regarding the content of the update - we've had some issues with the implementation of some of our intended plans for the hotseat mode and these were continuing to delay the release of this update. So, rather than delay any further, we've decided to continue our work on this and include a fully implemented version of this mode in the recently announced Kingdoms expansion.

Once again, many thanks for your continued patience whilst awaiting this update. We all hope you have a great time with your updated version of Medieval II over the Easter break.

http://shoguntotalwar.yuku.com/topic...ease-Date.html

[Hollerbach]

arrghh! It has to come out the day I go away for a week

Still, nice that the date is finally locked in. I wonder if this will invalidate the problem fixer mods? hmm might have to re-install.

[Odin]

Still, nice that the date is finally locked in. I wonder if this will invalidate the problem fixer mods? hmm might have to re-install.

Im wondering the same thing, unless there is something extrodinary that effects SP, I am going to stick with LTC mod. It fixes just about everything, and I am to far into a campaign to trash it now.

I'll be anxious to see a readme/details on what the patch does to see if there is more in there then the fixes we all already know about.

[sapi]

I for one will be grabbing this ASAP, regardless

[Odin]

I for one will be grabbing this ASAP, regardless

I'm definately going to download it as well, but if I cant continue my current campaign on it then Im holding off on install Ive got a real good hungarian campaign going and just hate to end it with a reinstall.

Im glad the patch is coming soon though, it will make a lot of people happy, and will certainly spur additional modding.

[Lusted]

With my mod you can paly both as it doesn't affect any of the vanilla files. So just use the LTC icon to play LTC, and the M2Tw icon to play 1.2. Im hopefuly going to have a 1.2 version of 2.1 out soon after the patch once i've done enough balance testing.

[Lord_hazard]

I for one will be grabbing this ASAP, regardless

Me too. And with all due respect to the modders that did an fantastic job at making the game more playable, the mods were nothing more then quick fixes/alterations. Ive always been waiting for this baby.

[Midnight]

Excellent news - I look forward to getting a new campaign going with all the major bugs ironed out and some improved AI behaviour.

[econ21]

If anyone gets hard information about whether the game is savegame compatible, please post. We have 16 PBM players with something of an interest in that issue.

[Lusted]

Im not sure it will be given the VnV fixes, and other things. But it might be.

[FactionHeir]

Im not sure it will be given the VnV fixes, and other things. But it might be.

Other things might be an issue, but I wouldn't expect vnv to have an impact on compatibility. Will check that out though.

[Lusted]

Well i know that messing with VnV's could mess things up in RTW, but that might just have been from adding new traits.

[FactionHeir]

Well i know that messing with VnV's could mess things up in RTW, but that might just have been from adding new traits.

Yup, new vnvs would cause issues as the patch does not include your own vnvs by default and loading the game will thus cause issues.

I'll probably compare my vnv files with the new CA ones and pick out differences firstly.

[dual939]

Greetings from a M2 Guild noobee.
Since this forum recommended I make my first post a introduction, but I couldnt figure out where, I went here. Since this is where my heart is at...right now: awaiting the 1.2 M2.

I am interested in getting started doing some modding. Any help which can point me to something more specific than twcenter, which has lots of info but gives no clue as to where to start. I would be greatful.

[I]These q's are where I am at:
How to 'unpack"
what to unpack
why unpack
is there a manual or general guide to modding M2?[/I]
Thanks. Greg.

PS If this intro post s/b somewhere's else, please chastise me as required, and provide corrective guidance.

[TinCow]

Greetings from a M2 Guild noobee.
Since this forum recommended I make my first post a introduction, but I couldnt figure out where, I went here. Since this is where my heart is at...right now: awaiting the 1.2 M2.

I am interested in getting started doing some modding. Any help which can point me to something more specific than twcenter, which has lots of info but gives no clue as to where to start. I would be greatful.

[I]These q's are where I am at:
How to 'unpack"
what to unpack
why unpack
is there a manual or general guide to modding M2?[/I]
Thanks. Greg.

PS If this intro post s/b somewhere's else, please chastise me as required, and provide corrective guidance.

We have a pretty decent modding forum for each of the TW games. If you're just getting started, I suggest you explore the Learn to Mod subforum.

[RoadKill]

Got a question for some of the modders. Just to make sure after i download 1.2 do i start the game with the LTC icon, or do i start the game wit hthe original icon?

[Callahan9119]

lol i moved on to civ4, i may give m2 a go after the patch but i have lost any faith, i was beyond annoyed that they announced the expansion before the HUGE bugs in the current version were fixed

fool me once, shame on you. fool me twice...

with a heavy heart i may say goodbye to my beloved franchise, with whom i have been a loyal consumer since 2000

i really miss those battles from tw when playing civ4...but i guess one must choose his poison

[Odin]

lol i moved on to civ4, i may give m2 a go after the patch but i have lost any faith, i was beyond annoyed that they announced the expansion before the HUGE bugs in the current version were fixed

fool me once, shame on you. fool me twice...

with a heavy heart i may say goodbye to my beloved franchise, with whom i have been a loyal consumer since 2000

Let me be the first to bid you a fond farewell !

[zstajerski]

Considering the expansion:

I realy hope that no one here will buy it... cause thats the only way we can influence Sega and CA!!!
We must demand, that if we pay good € fro a game it must meet the standards!!!
We deserve it!!

Bojkot CA and Sega!!!!

[Bijo]

Considering the expansion:

I realy hope that no one here will buy it... cause thats the only way we can influence Sega and CA!!!
We must demand, that if we pay good € fro a game it must meet the standards!!!
We deserve it!!

Bojkot CA and Sega!!!!

But what are the standards? More particular: what are the standards of today?

[TB666]

Considering the expansion:

I realy hope that no one here will buy it... cause thats the only way we can influence Sega and CA!!!
We must demand, that if we pay good € fro a game it must meet the standards!!!
We deserve it!!

Bojkot CA and Sega!!!!

After trying the new patch I say to hell with that.
I got my money's worth before the patch and with the patch, it is even better.
The expansion will only improve and no way can I turn down a chance to improve a already excellent game.

Anyway, a report from 1.2

First I would like to show this pic.


3 units of Norse Axemen against 2 feudal knights from Scotland.
The results are clear as you can see.
The charges are just murder and even worse now that the AI actually uses it's cavalry properly.
But once the charge is gone, the axemen goes to work and they make short work out of the heavy cav.

Well on to the campaign.
I tried a polish campaign and so far I'm loving it.
The first shock came when a hungarian princess came for a visit at Krakow(sp??).
She offered trade rights and I accepted.
I noticed that I could arrange a marriage with her and my faction heir.
Now in 1.0 and 1.1 the AI always accepted a marriage however not this time.
Instead she got insulted by the offer and not only that, she hit me with a counter-proposal.
Their proposal was that our princess marry their heir and have to pay a huge tribute each turn to them as well or else they will attack me.
I turned down this insulting offer and she ran off.
So my relations with Hungary is cold to say the least. No attack yet but I'm keeping my eyes open but I doubt they will attack.
They probably just wanted to show that they can insult people too.

Anyway, I built a army and attacked the rebel province west of Krakow(sp??).
Still no CTD so that's good and once again the AI tried to flank my archers when they got in range of the square.
Luckily I got melee troops close by so I could counter this flanking attempt.
And it seems the shield fix has made combat longer. And when my spear militia with silver armor attacked the archers and got in close-combat with them, they took no casualties at all.
The fight on the square was a bit of a tough one since my men got attacked from all sides(well except from behind but that would be a long pointless journey since they would have to run all the way around the town).
But I won nicely.
Also infantry aren't as spread out as they used to be.

After taking the city I attacked a rebel army just outside Krakow.
Once again a nice surprise. The AI didn't just stand there, they moved to attacked me. Here they used some nice strategy. They used woodsmen to try to keep me busy while their cavalry hit me on the flanks.
Luckily my polish nobles cavarly could sway off the cavalry charge with their throwing spears.

[NagatsukaShumi]

Considering the expansion:

I realy hope that no one here will buy it... cause thats the only way we can influence Sega and CA!!!
We must demand, that if we pay good € fro a game it must meet the standards!!!
We deserve it!!

Bojkot CA and Sega!!!!

Why do that? Do you know if Kingdoms will be buggy, or are you presuming Kingdoms will be buggy? Please read about the leaked patch, it fixes alot of problems and as TB666 has said, it is actually pretty damn good, if a leaked patch is "all that" I am sure the final patch will be just as good.

Yes it would be nice if games were released without problems, fact is it won't ever happen, budget and just general human nature will dictate otherwise.

Some interesting facts, I have spoken to people who work in the games industry on feedback weeks at my University (I am doing a Games Design course....oh how I look forward to community relations ) and there are some reasons as to why they don't get involved in the community at times.

1) They just don't have time, they are very busy, usually looking at ironing out problems.

2) They don't want to get involved in a flame war, they don't like to be targeted purely because they were nice enough to offer an explanation and work for the company. They are still human after all!

I respect that its annoying as a gamer to recieve games that aren't perfect or near perfect, but its just the same as being a football fan, its very annoying to get a team thats not good enough etc etc. Windows has had problems, I know plenty of people who still use it though. I doubt we will ever see a time where we get flawless games in our lifetime.

I understand the frustration, but maybe people need to understand that CA are indeed just people and there is no need to flame them as SOME people have done, thankfully most have being engaging their brain before typing.