Any news about the new patch?

Franses · December 22, 2002, 15:10

Not long after the v1.14f patch release, Firaxis Games programmer Patrick Dawson announced in a chat with CivFanatics (CF) yesterday that further optimizations to Civilization III: Play The World`s multiplayer components are presently being explored and refined. As such, another patch is already in the works and is on the near horizon of release at present.

The above was posted on Apolyton on december 7. Has anyone heard any news since? It has been three weeks now and if it was on the "near horizon" one would expect something to happen by now. I am looking forward to mentionedd optimizations since even one of my 1 to 1 games now starts to lag unacceptably.

WarpStorm · December 22, 2002, 17:17

Well, all I can say is that they are working on it (well, I'm guessing that they are taking a break for Christmas this week).

Nikolai · December 22, 2002, 18:34

Didn't they release a patch once a month/every second month after the release of Civ3? I might remember wrong, but nevertheless, I don't think we'll get any new patches before the new year.

WarpStorm · December 22, 2002, 18:38

Like I said, they are on vacation.

Nikolai · December 22, 2002, 18:52

Yeah, just as you said.

I just backed up your view.

BTW, how long is it since last patch? I haven't followed so closely the last weeks.

Willem · December 22, 2002, 19:36

Quote:

Originally posted by Nikolai
Didn't they release a patch once a month/every second month after the release of Civ3? I might remember wrong, but nevertheless, I don't think we'll get any new patches before the new year.

More like once every three to six months IIRC. And dealing with MP is much more complicated than tweaking the normal game.

Franses · December 23, 2002, 04:04

I agree, probably no patch for this year any more. I am patient. As long as it will come! I fear to hear some day that Firaxis decided to stop supporting PTW. It would not be the first time a company decides to do that. Grrrrrrr

WarpStorm · December 23, 2002, 06:44

Well, there is no money in patches. The last thing an employer wants his employees (especially expensive ones like lead programmers) working on is patches. If PTW doesn't sell well enough to warrant another expansion, I wouldn't expect more than one or two more. It would make business sense to move these people onto the 'next big thing'.

On the upside, Firaxis recently patched Gettysburg, Antietam, and SMAC. There probably was no money at all in doing that, so their motivations aren't totally moeny driven.

Franses · December 23, 2002, 06:52

If they do want another expansion they will have to make PTW work. If not, who will want to buy another expansion?

aahz_capone · December 23, 2002, 07:44

I disagree, there is money in patches just not directly.

If a review magazine says it's crap put with the path its excellent than it wont hurt sales that much. If a company is known never to release a patch than no one will by it because everybody knows that PC games need patches nowadays, especially if it's an MP game.

Datajack Franit · December 23, 2002, 09:35

Just as Sierra does

Willem · December 23, 2002, 11:44

Quote:

Originally posted by WarpStorm
If PTW doesn't sell well enough to warrant another expansion, I wouldn't expect more than one or two more. It would make business sense to move these people onto the 'next big thing'.

Judging by the chat recently, PTW is doing well. They were even discussing the possibility of another XP.

mazzz · December 24, 2002, 21:55

i'd spend $50 just for the editor

Panag · December 25, 2002, 12:09

Quote:

Originally posted by Willem

Judging by the chat recently, PTW is doing well. They were even discussing the possibility of another XP.

hi ,

instead of thinking about an XP they should better fix what they have now , ......

have a nice day

WarpStorm · December 25, 2002, 15:28

Like I said earlier, it doesn't make business sense to add features in a patch. Bug fixes, yes. New features, no. Why pay your workers to improve something that isn't selling anymore?

I expect that PTW will have a couple of more patches to get it working well, but I wouldn't expect to see many enhancements in the patches (contrary to Civ3 where there were a lot of enhancements).

Unless....

Unless...they have the front money from another new expansion to continue work on the Civ3 line.

Coracle · December 26, 2002, 02:19

PTW will be in the $9.95 bin by March. Patches? Not a chance.

Hey Firaxis, just get it right FIRST, and then you won't need no stinkin' patches, and we can just ENJOY a game, as we did with Civ 2.

ChaotikVisions · December 26, 2002, 02:42

We? I enjoy Civ3 and bought PtW mostly for sp, and was able to play mp some in the few games I tried. Go complain for something useful Coracle, instead of proving that you're totally devoid of anything better to do then whine at a company you stopped liking how long ago? On a forum for a game which you hate? Pathetic. Really man, get a new hobby.

Panag · December 26, 2002, 09:56

Quote:

Originally posted by WarpStorm
Like I said earlier, it doesn't make business sense to add features in a patch. Bug fixes, yes. New features, no. Why pay your workers to improve something that isn't selling anymore?

I expect that PTW will have a couple of more patches to get it working well, but I wouldn't expect to see many enhancements in the patches (contrary to Civ3 where there were a lot of enhancements).

Unless....

Unless...they have the front money from another new expansion to continue work on the Civ3 line.

hi ,

if they would fix the thing for ones and for all , and dont let infogrames mess things up , they shall have loads of money , ......

have a nice day

Tuberski · December 26, 2002, 22:31

Quote:

Originally posted by ChaotikVisions
We? I enjoy Civ3 and bought PtW mostly for sp, and was able to play mp some in the few games I tried. Go complain for something useful Coracle, instead of proving that you're totally devoid of anything better to do then whine at a company you stopped liking how long ago? On a forum for a game which you hate? Pathetic. Really man, get a new hobby.

Coracle plays the game, he likes the game, but the things he doesn't like, he lets everyone know about. While he may irritate you and others (I used to be one of them), he has the right to say what he thinks, and he isn't TOO far off the path.

Things only get fixed with a lot of whining.

ACK!

Tuberski · December 26, 2002, 22:33

Quote:

Originally posted by WarpStorm
Like I said earlier, it doesn't make business sense to add features in a patch. Bug fixes, yes. New features, no. Why pay your workers to improve something that isn't selling anymore?

I expect that PTW will have a couple of more patches to get it working well, but I wouldn't expect to see many enhancements in the patches (contrary to Civ3 where there were a lot of enhancements).

Unless....

Unless...they have the front money from another new expansion to continue work on the Civ3 line.

Did you know that Blizzard STILL has a programmer working on a patch for Diablo 2? Only one, granted, but from the buzz he is making a LOT of changes to the game and adding new features.

But, then again, Firaxis ain't Blizzard.

ACK!

asleepathewheel · December 27, 2002, 02:56

Quote:

Originally posted by Tuberski

Did you know that Blizzard STILL has a programmer working on a patch for Diablo 2? Only one, granted, but from the buzz he is making a LOT of changes to the game and adding new features.

But, then again, Firaxis ain't Blizzard.

ACK!

Did you know that Firaxis released a patch recently (november IIRC) for SMAX to make improve XP compatibility? How long ago was SMAX released, 3 years? Granted, it didn't change gameplay, but it did help some, including me. So I think Firaxis has a decent track record as far as patches are concerned, even after extended periods of time.

Nubclear · December 27, 2002, 03:03

Firaxis is a company that, unfortunately, was raped by Infogrames.

Also coracle: At "Fun Unlimited" I've seen a few PtWs already for $10.00

notyoueither · December 27, 2002, 06:27

Quote:

Originally posted by Tuberski

Coracle plays the game, he likes the game, but the things he doesn't like, he lets everyone know about. While he may irritate you and others (I used to be one of them), he has the right to say what he thinks, and he isn't TOO far off the path.

Things only get fixed with a lot of whining.

ACK!

Give your head a shake Tuber. Now we have you, a guy who does not own the game, excusing a troll who does not own the game.

Come again when you have a clue wth you are yapping about, or the next time you want to +1. Just don't expect a warm welcome.

WarpStorm · December 27, 2002, 08:54

Firaxis doesn't have anywhere near the money of Blizzard. Blizzard can much more easily afford to dedicate a programmer to patching.

BTW, whiners get put on ignore lists (I have this on very good authority) and their message becomes lost. People who rationally and reasonably discuss flaws with the developers get results. Whiners just get ignored.