Patch 1.2 Release/Delay Discussion

[frogbeastegg]

From the .com:

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.

[sapi]

You just beat me to it

A pity, but at least there's been an official response.

Originally posted here

[frogbeastegg]

Sapi, how did you get the url for the link? The only address I ever get on those new forums is http://www.totalwarforums.com/. That's with Firefox and IE, and no matter where I go inside the forums. It's impossible for me to link to a topic.

[alpaca]

Sapi, how did you get the url for the link? The only address I ever get on those new forums is http://www.totalwarforums.com/. That's with Firefox and IE, and no matter where I go inside the forums. It's impossible for me to link to a topic.

There's a tiny "[url]" button on the top right hand side of the post that'll generate the URL for you.

[sapi]

@frog - I just copied the url from the address bar

[frogbeastegg]

@frog - I just copied the url from the address bar

Hmm, really? Odd. The address is permanently the same for me. That's probably why I keep being dumped back at the main page each time I try to refresh.

here's a tiny "[url]" button on the top right hand side of the post that'll generate the URL for you.

That works, thanks.


I was hoping to install M2TW on my shiny new PC and get playing again. Thanks to my old desktop slowly dying, and then the time necessary to replace it, I have barely touched the game since before the last patch! Curses!

Oh well. Better a working patch than a broken one.


EDIT: Thanks, Stig. Seems a bit of an odd set up.

[frogbeastegg]

(trying out the link thing. Sorry for the double post; it's marginally easier this way)

Alex on the timeline for getting the patch out

Hi Chaps,

As for new launch dates, our QA team here are laising with the QA team in OZ to gauge what we can fix and how long this will take. Hopefully I will have a timeline for you soon, but until I hear from the QA guys I just can't say and I don't want to get it wrong!

EDIT: Another quote people may like to see:

Agree completely. We should have known about the issues sooner. It was a moment last night where I reached for my spare pants as I had no idea about this. Hopefully in future we can make sure we are 100% before we go. I suppose this oprves a few things to you though. We keenly felt the pressure from the community to deliver, your voices are heard. Secondly, the decision to pull was not tkane lightely and not until myself and Snesei had been consulted. This is also a big plus considering we are in charge of the community at CA/SEGA. This means that senior figures asks our opinion of what you guys would think, that is a big step in understanding how important you guys are. We may not always be on here for every reply, we could never do that, but you are of vital importance to us and we know that.

(Link)

[Stig]

Sapi, how did you get the url for the link? The only address I ever get on those new forums is http://www.totalwarforums.com/. That's with Firefox and IE, and no matter where I go inside the forums. It's impossible for me to link to a topic.

That's because you use the link on http://www.totalwar.com to get into the forums

The official Ezboard link was: p223.ezboard.com/bshoguntotalwar and when you use that you get to the forums as well, but you can link to every thread.
Since dotcommie is on Yuku now you can also use: shoguntotalwar.yuku.com

[Odin]

thanks frogbeastegg, its to bad it went down like this for them, but given thier choices im glad they wont be releasing the patch if it causes problems.

This is one of the problems when you give dates to people you raise thier expectations, CA/Sega made this problem with a drop dead release date, I hope they learn from this and never again post a definate date for a patch.

[FactionHeir]

*wonders how many crusades/jihads will now be called against CA headquarters* :D

Oh well, better than having us as beta testers again (i.e. as it was with the initial release)

[TB666]

This is one of the problems when you give dates to people you raise thier expectations, CA/Sega made this problem with a drop dead release date, I hope they learn from this and never again post a definate date for a patch.

Well the date was to calm people down.
As I said on TWC, I'm happy that they pulled the patch instead of releasing it.
Atleast that is a refreshing thing to see since most companies seem to have no trouble releasing a buggy patch.

[Odin]

Well the date was to calm people down.

Maybe thats true, but it was a disaster because they made a promise they couldnt keep, bad business really. Never put a drop dead date on a patch in the PC world, because if you cant make it it kills your credablity going forward.

[_Tristan_]

the good news is I cazn on Esater break without taking my PC...


But nevertheless I want to

[fenir]

CA + SEGA



Ok i could/am.......very upset by this development.


But all credit to CA, atleast they are giving us an honest reason, telling us what happened and why.

If i can wait 6 months for a patch to fix a game that probably shouldn't have been released in it's orginal capicity, then i can surely wait another 7 days for the patch to fix the long list.

PS: as long as you put more units in game, and gave the Romans musketeers

So thank you CA.




DAMNIT.......4 day weekend............and i have no patch!!!!!


but i'm ok............


DAMNIT


* happy thoughts*..............* happy thoughts*......................* happy thoughts*..............* happy thoughts*......................* happy thoughts*..............* happy thoughts*......................* happy thoughts*..............* happy thoughts*......................

[fenir]

Oh Happy thought!!!!!!!!!!!!



Alex Friend.....that should be fiend? shouldn't it?



might have to look in to that one..



fenir

[Durallan]

I have 4 days that I can't play Med 2 on aswell, like me you will just have to cope and find something else to do :P I'm not entirely fussed but I must say I was looking forward to it. Anyway happy easter all! back to my Denmark campaign.

[Midnight]

No, this is good - given what they found, this is the best response. Thanks to them for keeping us all informed, and it'll be good to have a thorough patch