Why do companies do this?

[Foot]

By this, I mean release a product, even though it's glaringly obvious it needs fixing.

Why? My theory is the internet. It lets them put out patches to fix problems that should have been corrected before the game was released. And even then, many problems aren't fixed, and they will later fix those problems, call it an expansion pack, and charge you 30 bucks for it.

Anyone remember before the internet was so widely used, when companies actually tried to make a game that was playable out of the box?

[Worthingtons]

You have it partly, If they realase an unfinished product they can then make an Expansion pack.

The thing, Civ III needed to be out for the Christmas Buying Period, I have to admit myself that i got the game as a Christmas Present, I was an ex-civ II fan and my parents spotted Civ III out - otherwise i woudnt own the game.

Companies exist to make profit... Had they finished the game, released it in January, they would have sold far less copies, then thier shareholders woudnt have been happy at all.

There is absolutly nothing we can do about it, except hope that sometime soon and expansion pack does come out - I like the guy , and will buy the pack whether or not i agree with what they are doing.


God Save the Queen

[ColdWizard]

money money money

more money now, more money with expansion, more money with "gold" edition.

[ACooper]

What "glaringly obvious" flaws need fixing? How is it "not playable out of the box"?



BTW, I thought you were leaving.

[The Andy-Man]

#'Anyone remember before the internet was so widely used'


ah, the good old days when children played outside together, when sad fat geeks, instead of being at a PC looking at porn all day, went out side and stood with other geeks getting threats from bullies.

the days when people spoke on a phone instead of 'texting', when ppl had fun and drank beer, instead of standing at the back of the bar drinking coke waiting to get home and speak to there net buddy

the days when paedophiles had a harder time getting child porn

the days when life outside the house ment something.


yes i remember.

[Dauphin]

Tape decks anyone?

By this, I mean release a product, even though it's glaringly obvious it needs fixing.

I remember when you could fix problems/bugs/crashes yourself. You would load the game, press Esc, type "List" and then amend the appropriate line of code. Even a 8 year old could do it - in fact I was an 8 year old who could do it - Oh for the days of the 64k computer.

[Willem]

Re: Tape decks anyone?

Originally posted by Sagacious Dolphin

By this, I mean release a product, even though it's glaringly obvious it needs fixing.

I remember when you could fix problems/bugs/crashes yourself. You would load the game, press Esc, type "List" and then amend the appropriate line of code. Even a 8 year old could do it - in fact I was an 8 year old who could do it - Oh for the days of the 64k computer.

Hey those are still around, only these days they call them wrist watches and calculators.

[H Tower]

Re: money money money

Originally posted by ColdWizard
more money now, more money with expansion, more money with "gold" edition.

you forgot the second expansion pack and the ToT edition

[HisMajestyBOB]

I blame developers who are impatient andwant the game out ASAP, regardless of the state its in. After all, EUII was forced out by Nov. even though it needed more work. Thankfully, the Paradox team really makes sure there games rock.

[Willem]

Originally posted by HisMajestyBOB
I blame developers who are impatient andwant the game out ASAP, regardless of the state its in. After all, EUII was forced out by Nov. even though it needed more work. Thankfully, the Paradox team really makes sure there games rock.

Yeah well I know it sucks, but there's such a thing as economics. You don't just blow off the biggest time of year for game sales. If I understand correctly, Civ III was in the works for 2 1/2 years, so I suspect that thier budget was looking a bit thin at that point.

And it certainly didn't help much having the head programmer, and a few others as well, suddenly walk out and form his own company. That probably set them back months while the new team went over all the work that had already been done and got familiar with the project.

[klesh]

Yes, the economic reasons are self explanitory. However, I would think that perhaps a better product would be more of an investment, and with universally good (player) reviews, more sales would come. I know that everyone who has asked me about CivIII, has recieved a review that wont make them buy it... but had it been a good thing, my one sale could've equalled six, seven eight more sales. Seems that this companies has a very short-term view of 'profitability'.



-FMK.

[Willem]

Originally posted by Field Marshal Klesh
Yes, the economic reasons are self explanitory. However, I would think that perhaps a better product would be more of an investment, and with universally good (player) reviews, more sales would come. I know that everyone who has asked me about CivIII, has recieved a review that wont make them buy it... but had it been a good thing, my one sale could've equalled six, seven eight more sales. Seems that this companies has a very short-term view of 'profitability'.



-FMK.

Well not all businessmen are wise. They quite often get blinded by that gleam of gold they're reaching for. In fact they're well known for not being able to see the forest for the trees. And like I said, there were some extenuating circumstances. I suspect that Infogrames didn't leave much of an option as far as allowing the new team to hammer out all the fine details. I'm sure they will in time though.

[ravagon]

Re: Re: money money money

Originally posted by H Tower

you forgot the second expansion pack and the ToT edition

Hey! Don't knock ToT!
Some people (myself among them) are rather pleased with that one.

I think expansion packs, originally, were designed to prolong the lifetime and to give those that stuck with something more of the "extra" experience. ie: a high value-adder out of proportion to the original cost of the game.
Its just unfortunate that, of late, the term "expansion pack" has in many cases become more of a monicker for "patch without which product is basically unplayable and a total waste of time".

[ravagon]

Originally posted by Field Marshal Klesh
I know that everyone who has asked me about CivIII, has recieved a review that wont make them buy it... but had it been a good thing, my one sale could've equalled six, seven eight more sales. Seems that this companies has a very short-term view of 'profitability'.



-FMK.

Many of us thank you for this. Had you/techumseh and a few others not let us know about the complete lack of any form of scenario capability, I for one would have grabbed it as soon as it hit the shelves - relying on what was (falsely) proclaimed on the box as a guide to what was inside.

Gracias FMK

[chiefpaco]

distinction

Releasing a software product is a business decision and is made by the decisionmakers of the company (VPs, department heads, project managers, etc), NOT THE DEVELOPERS. The developers make the program, given deadlines. They probably wouldn't mind more time to fix & perfect their product. Don't blame them. It's a small team.

Products get released on their deadline if they at least basically work. It's necessary because projects have budgets. Getting your product "out the door" and releasing it "first of its kind" or "in time for Christmas" is way more important to any company than making it perfect. After all, it's so easy to patch things now.

No software product is perfect, ever. But a responsible support team that fixes problems is all we can hope for. And they have been pretty good with a couple patches already.

Please lay off them.