Release First, Patch Later Gripe

wargasm23 · October 31, 2002, 12:13

This is a dark place to gripe about the errors, frustration, and bugs of modern gaming.

Sadly enough many game software companies are going for the release first, patch later scam.

every since the initial release of civ3 vetrans and newbs alike have posted to death suggestions for immediate improvement. Firaxis not only came out with a crappy expansion, but is already working on ANOTHER patch, which proves there are many bugs and problems with the expansion.

hold onto your money, master of orion 3 comes out in november.

looking forward to your response.

ducki · October 31, 2002, 12:33

So, they had a month between when the code went gold and the time they patched.

Seems like a good idea to me.

You don't really think they just took a vacation for that month, do you?

Add to that, they probably actually had a good 6 weeks from the time they submitted the Release Candidate to Infogrames and the time that Candidate was released.

6 weeks is a long time, developmentally, so the fact that there's a patch the same day it's released is not really a big surprise.

And if you are just now hopping on the anti-patch wagon, you should check out the message boards for just about every game released in the last 10 years.

Personally, I'm glad they patch.
I'm really glad they patched on release day.

I'm not glad that publishers are so fixated on the bottom line that they somewhat force developers to release before they really want to, but that's the way the software industry works.

The best solution, if patches bother you, is to wait at least 6 months after release of any software you plan to buy.

Let me guess, you plan to buy MOO3 when it releases?
You might want to save a copy of this post so you can reuse it when you get upset about the MOO3 patch/release-bugs.

wargasm23 · October 31, 2002, 12:43

haha i am sure you are right.

well i guess patches, does allow developers to release FAR earlier than expected.

had it not been for patches civ3 would have been released around this time hehe

tell me what yout think

asleepathewheel · October 31, 2002, 12:59

Quote:

Originally posted by wargasm23
haha i am sure you are right.

well i guess patches, does allow developers to release FAR earlier than expected.

had it not been for patches civ3 would have been released around this time hehe

tell me what yout think

Excuse me while I jump in

I know that I personally can live with a few bugs, as long as the game is playable, which none of the problems affected my ability to play on the initial release. I can live with broken air superiority and spelling errors.

and I am certainly happy that I've had a year to play the game. more important to me than getting a flawless release.

Jaybe · October 31, 2002, 15:12

And it was the public PLAYING the game that brought about many of the changes. A few thousand checking out and reporting on the game instead of a few dozen playtesters.

And yes, it HAS been a good year playing Civ3.
Did everyone notice that PtW "availability" date (10/30) was the same as for Civ3?

MarkG · October 31, 2002, 15:24

Quote:

Firaxis not only came out with a crappy expansion

where is your review of the game?

i'll wait for it, before re-opening this thread....