Scenario League dying?

[Stefan Härtel]

quote: Stefan, when is that preview of your new scn going to be up?

Following the present course, never . I have lost all HP files and my FTP-data, though that may be saved somewhere. I will do my best to reestablish my site, but don't lay much hope on it. I will do some new artwork for the scenario, but at the present state, anybody can already pick it up via eMail: Stefan.Haertel@t-online.de
It can be regarded as "finished" since the playtester reports have seemed to stated that, but any additional comments are appreciated.

quote: I didn't say I was giving up the game, Stefan. I don't care for the 'designer knows best' attitude of the league. Without the players, the scenarios are just so many bits of programing floating around cyber-space. But others don't think that way. Well, they can have it. I have other fish to fry.

I hope you don't think that way about me.

[Chris 62]

quote: Originally posted by Stefan Härtel on 03-24-2001 06:36 PM I hope you don't think that way about me.

Not at all, Stefan. If you want to do more with SOH or the other things we talked about, say the word.


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All knowledge begins with the phrase: I don't know.

[VietMinh]

That's a real bummer Stefan, you're a great scn designer and to this to happen to you, it's a blow not only to yourself but to the whole civ2 community.

[Bergman]

Exile: Are crazy!!!!!????????? alddfsjkldfjökldafsjköl wtf one of the worlds best game makers is on that project!!!!!!!!!! SID MEIER!!!!!! GODDAMN HE OWNS!!!! He will make that game the best game ever made!!! dont be so goddamn gloomy.

[Exile]

Bergman; My gloomy expectations haven't anything to do with Meier, they have to do with Firaxis, a fly-by-night firm if ever I've seen one. I am not kidding nor exaggerating when I say that no game I've ever purchased of theirs works. Buy it, bring it home, install it, then zip. None have ever functioned the way they're supposed to do. Bugs are one thing, and we all have come to expect them, and the patches that fix them, but Firaxis programs fail--over and over again. Yes, I've certainly enjoyed the other games mentioned above, many created by Sid himself, including some I didn't mention; Colonization and RR Tycoon.

But Firaxis is a ripoff company and their flat refusal to do anything to correct or ameliorate the shoddy products that they release on the market for sale sets a terrible precedent for us all. Other companies, seeking to beat the timetables set by the quick release dates of their competition, also have started releasing unworkable and non-functioning games. No games that I have purchased in the past 8 months have worked when I got them home. That's a fact--I now have a pile of useless CDs sitting here that have games on them, (or so the advertising blurb on the box says), but they simply will not work after installation. Want a list?

My grievance here isn't with anyone in the ACS community--it's with the gaming companies that are apparently so desperate to release product before it is obsoleted by new processing upgrades that they fail to properly test their products. They get paid. The retailers make their money. But we are the ones who give our hard-earned cash and then have NOTHING to show for it.

I DON'T like being RIPPED OFF. I sure AM going to say something about it.

I would LOVE to hear from Firaxis on this. I'll bet any amount of money I won't.

Salutations,
Exile

[Hendrik the Great]

The only reason that I was not very active in the last weeks was that I had to write my final exams, that I made my Vikings scenario ready for playtesting, that I have to prepare 3 school papers and that I still have to write ordinary exams in all my courses.

Once that is all done I will certainly become more active.

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Mathias' Civ II Page
http://members.nbci.com/thalys

[PolarisGL]

I'm still around. Thing is, I'm at work for most of my day, so I can't post that often. That's why I love Sundays.

The Mars Project is taking me forever with all these different files I need to add.

[Leonidas]

Exile: What games by Firaxis don't work? I have Gettysburg! and SMAC and they play just fine. Firaxis has released 4 patches for SMAC - that isn't support?! The game still has the odd quirk or bug - but in a game that complex there is bound to be. And I don't think a company should have to keep supporting a game forever. SMAC with the patches plays great.

I am just not sure what you are referring to. Puzzling. In comparison with most gaming companies, Firaxis has an excellent customer support record. Your comments are the first negative ones I have seen about Firaxis.

Did the company burn you in some way? Did you offer them suggestions for games and/or scenarios that they ignored or didn't reply back to you?

[Captain Nemo]

With this level of response it appears that there are still many people visiting the Scenario League each day... That's great news!

cpoulos: I am not sure who or what you refer to as "Nobody gives a rat's a.. about your opinion" I think most designers read threads, opinions and feedback continuously to improve their work (I do for one)

I have received E-mails from testplayers telling me that they were dissappointed that I didn't respond directly to their comments but that is difficult when I 20 5-page E-mails back... However every comment is given careful consideration as I continue to improve a scenario and your comments would be given that same consideration.

[Exile]

Leonidas; I have Gettysburg and it kind of works, but it fails to display the entire screen on my monitor. It's as if the image that goes to my monitor is sized for a 17" screen, but my monitor is a 14". The result is that I simply cannot see important portions of the visible screen. I emailed their support about this and got back zero replies. (Imperialism 2 by SSI does the same thing). I can play the game, but it crashes inexplicably much too often. Stupidly, I purchased the Civil War Collection that included the Antietam and South Mountain scenarios, but that CD, after installation, won't even run; no response, nothing. I put it in the drive, it makes noise for about 20 seconds, then zip, nothing, nada. I have contacted Firaxis about this almost every day for the last 2 weeks and they twice sent the same identical form letter requiring me to perform a host of tasks for which I am ill-prepared. I am not a programmer. I didn't have to do this when I bought Civ2, or Axis and Allies, or Total Annihilation. If a game doesn't work, it is not my fault and what really makes me angry about this is that we, as users, seem to be coming to an accomodation whereby it's ok by us for companies to release bug-laden, unworkable products, and we still continue to buy them!

I have quit purchasing games. period.

But I'm glad things work for others. I just wish that the games I've purchased would function for me.

Salutations,
Exile

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Lost in America
"a freaking mastermind." --Stefu
"or a very good liar." --Stefu
[This message has been edited by Exile (edited March 25, 2001).]

[BeBMan]

I hope the SLeague is not dead, I just submitted a review for Rick Westera´s Rome scn.

cpoulos, I think every comment is helpful for us designers as well as for for the players.



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Civ2000 hosted by CivII Universum

[Squonk]

Dying?
Requiescat in PICE!

[Cam]

Blimey,... turn your back for three days and look what happens! ("Civil Disorder in Scenario League forum! Mayor flees in panic!")


I have a plethora of views on the comments above which won't be verbalised here (at least for now), however please note that the League may receive a new direction once WarVoid and Stefan assume editorial control.

[St Leo]

Exile, I think the problem is with your system rather than the games themselves.

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St. Leo
http://www.sidgames.com/hosted/ziggurat/
http://www.sidgames.com/forums/

[Exile]

St. Leo, I sure do wish you were right about that. Is there a way to determine that? All the old programs I own work just fine. No new ones have worked in months.

Exile