I don't think I like the ETA counter anymore

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Author Topic:   I don't think I like the ETA counter anymore

Jandof posted 11-09-98 01:58 PM ET
When I first saw the little applet on the welcome page counting down to the release moment it seemed to me like a new, fresh idea. Whereas most companies refuse to say anything exact about their release dates until the final moment, Firaxis had the courage to set a precise date very early.
This would have been great if only the promise had been kept. Unfortunately the many postphonements and manipulations have undermined its credibility. Not only is the ETA reading totally unreliable; it now points to a demo release date, the game itself coming possibly much later.
Why keep such counter at all anymore? I mean the basic idea of having it was tremendously good, but the delays should have been handled in a more subtle manner. It could originally have pointed to a date in distant future far after the expected release and then been adjusted downward resulting in much less disappointment. Alternatively one could simply have adjusted its rate of decrease with no change to its actual value thus obscuring the delays.
Don't get me wrong. Though I must admit I'm slightly annoyed by this release day policy, since I liked the idea of having a fixed ETA in the first place, I still believe Firaxis had very good reasons delaying the release. I'm certain no-one of us wants an unfinished product and I have the fullest confidence in their ability to provide us eventually with a great game. I just felt an uncontrollable inner urge to complain a bit.
My best wishes to the developement team. Hopefully we'll be seeing the results of your work sometime soon.
MikeH II posted 11-09-98 02:03 PM ET
I'm just glad FIRAXIS have finally given us a date. They never have before as far as I'm aware all the other dates were speculation (some based on the timer some plucked seemingly out of thin air)
And I have said all along that whilst I want to get my hands on SMAC now I can wait 'till it's finished.
Maybe I'll go and read the FIRAXIS bios again whilst I'm waiting.
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Author	Topic: I don't think I like the ETA counter anymore
Jandof	posted 11-09-98 01:58 PM ET When I first saw the little applet on the welcome page counting down to the release moment it seemed to me like a new, fresh idea. Whereas most companies refuse to say anything exact about their release dates until the final moment, Firaxis had the courage to set a precise date very early. This would have been great if only the promise had been kept. Unfortunately the many postphonements and manipulations have undermined its credibility. Not only is the ETA reading totally unreliable; it now points to a demo release date, the game itself coming possibly much later. Why keep such counter at all anymore? I mean the basic idea of having it was tremendously good, but the delays should have been handled in a more subtle manner. It could originally have pointed to a date in distant future far after the expected release and then been adjusted downward resulting in much less disappointment. Alternatively one could simply have adjusted its rate of decrease with no change to its actual value thus obscuring the delays. Don't get me wrong. Though I must admit I'm slightly annoyed by this release day policy, since I liked the idea of having a fixed ETA in the first place, I still believe Firaxis had very good reasons delaying the release. I'm certain no-one of us wants an unfinished product and I have the fullest confidence in their ability to provide us eventually with a great game. I just felt an uncontrollable inner urge to complain a bit. My best wishes to the developement team. Hopefully we'll be seeing the results of your work sometime soon.
MikeH II	posted 11-09-98 02:03 PM ET I'm just glad FIRAXIS have finally given us a date. They never have before as far as I'm aware all the other dates were speculation (some based on the timer some plucked seemingly out of thin air) And I have said all along that whilst I want to get my hands on SMAC now I can wait 'till it's finished. Maybe I'll go and read the FIRAXIS bios again whilst I'm waiting.