posted 12-17-98 07:21 PM ET        

However, in this instance I think that some of the accusations being thrown around are just a little bit ridiculous, and also utterly unfounded.

Somebody said that Firaxis probably aren't even reading the boards anymore. Um, well, they have told us on repeated occasions that they do still read the boards occasionally, even if they don't post replies. So, what makes their silence now any different to the silence for the last 6 months? The only difference is that the deom is due out in 3 days or so, and everyone is getting really anxious for it.

So, by another poster, that instantly means that the game going gold must have slipped, and therefore, we are suddenly saying that we won't be getting the demo on Dec 20th. Heck, I've seen a few people who didn't know their facts whinge that it wasn't out on the 15th.

Now I dislike Firaxis' silence as much as the next person, but I can't just sit back and let them be criticised for things they haven't even done, on the mere suspiscions of people who are anxious to get the demo in their little hands as soon as possible.

Personally, I would like to hope that if the demo had slipped, they WOULD let us know. Anyone remember when they changed the timer, and even incorporated it into the story? I tend to _believe_ that they would let us know if there was no chance of the 20th, and I don't see their silence as proof that the demo has slipped. Maybe it has, I really don't know. But I'm sure as hell not going to suddenly read sinister plots into their silence, the very same silence they have been keeping up for the last 6 months or more.

So please, if you want to criticise them, at least do it on something that we have facts about.

Frankly, whenever they get it out is allright by me. IF the demo slips, I will be disappointed, but I sure as hell wont't jump on here and say "Firaxis suck cos they didn't tell us it was going to slip".

IF it does slip, and they don't tell us anything, then maybe we have a valid reason to complain. Until then, just be patient and wait...

posted 12-17-98 07:25 PM ET            

(Firaxis security immediately goes to ban all CWALers from the forum.)

posted 12-17-98 08:30 PM ET            

- brenda :|

posted 12-17-98 08:49 PM ET            

LOL, It is great that you are back. I nominated you for `Lurker of the Year' because I knew you were always out there. It is a shame that some of the newer SMACers haven't seen your Chiron art, humor and fiction.

Good luck with the Japanese. I have forgotten about all the Spanish that I use to know.

posted 12-17-98 08:54 PM ET            

Actually, I had ICQ, but my PC died, and I never got around to re-installing it. As for Brian Reynolds on ICQ, I tend to think he'll be a little annoyed it slipped out, but I doubt he'd have an easy to find address, so it won't really matter, will it?

Speaking of which, got the new PII 400 last night, with the 19" Viewsonic monitor (yeah, was supposed to be ADI, but ADI ran out of stock), and Sound Blaster Live, and I have to say it kicks butt big time. Or at least it would were I more intelligent than a thumb-tack.

posted 12-18-98 01:00 AM ET            

"So, by another poster, that instantly means that the game going gold must have slipped, and therefore, we are suddenly saying that we won't be getting the demo on Dec 20th."

(That would be me.)

and:

"...I can't just sit back and let them be criticised for things they haven't even done, on the mere suspiscions of people who are anxious to get the demo in their little hands as soon as possible."

Criticism? WHAT criticism? All I want is a little tiny bit of information: Did the team meet its predicted milestones that would allow a December 20 demo release; that is, did they complete the game? How is this being critical of Firaxis? Lord God Almighty, from the way you're talking, you'd think I've been calling for the SMAC team to be flogged in the village square!

In the absence of any hard data to the contrary, I still hold by my _opinion_: The demo is going to slip. I'd rather err on the conservative side and resign myself to some extra waiting, than blindly take the December 20 date as an article of faith. If the demo appears at the appointed time, that's great--I'll gladly eat crow even as I start the download.

posted 12-18-98 02:59 AM ET            

And yes, I think you are being unreasonably harsh in your judgment, when you tar me with the same brush that you use to denounce the whiners who expected the demo five days early, or use deliberately sarcastic and mocking phrases like "... their little hands".

Please note that *I* never claimed that Firaxis' silence is "proof" that the demo will slip, or that Firaxis is orchestrating a sinister plot against their fans here; I merely posted my opinion of what I think this silence means--and I stand by that opinion. I'll be the first to admit I was wrong if the demo appears on schedule.

I normally consider myself a man of even temperment, but this thread really angered me. I'm not some rube who doesn't know what he's talking about; I'm a reasonably intelligent guy who bought his first computer over 20 years ago, and has been following the computer game industry since The Olden Days. When I post, I try to take a moderate tone, and when I offer an opinion, I make a conscious effort NOT to represent that opinion as fact. That's why you'll see phrases like "I think", "I believe", "it seems", or "it appears" liberally scattered throughout my posts.

posted 12-18-98 12:45 PM ET            

I think that Firaxis should have been here a little more, just as a marketing point of view, I'm not going to die if the demo only comes out on the 22nd !!!

In fact, it's safe to say noone will die because of a delay !!! (OK ... some of us will have completely chewed off all our nails, but those aren't life threatening injuries !!!)

You're right in saying stop complaining, when I stated they should be here a little more often, it was meant as personal advice to them, not as Firaxis-bashing !!!

People, you have to learn that if you want to be critical, the only way of being effective is to be constructive with your criticism, the world isn't as we want it to be, and it never will if you don't explain instead of complain !!!

Anyways, let's just drop the whole subject, bacause as of early next week, the whole point will be meaningless !!!

posted 12-18-98 01:39 PM ET            

To quote Lee, "That would be me".

First, I was having a bad day yesterday (no excuse, I know).

Secondly, an explanation. My complaint is that Firaxis has done a poor job of managing expectations. I did not ask that they read and replay to every post. Yes, Fallout 2 and Baldur's Gate have people who do read and reply to every post. Yes, for some of us, they have raised the expectations so that when we see a forum sponsered by the game developers/publishers we do expect it to be an interactive venue. I acknowledge that Firaxis is not as large as Interplay and I can understand that they don't have time to read and reply to every post. I actually don't expect them to.

However, their 100% complete lack of any information or recognition is a little dissapointing to say the least.

They have a news section on the front page. Would it really hurt their schedule to post a little note there saying "The game is not gold yet - please be patient" or "Our apologies, the demo will not be out for a few more days, your patience is appreciated more than you can know". Just a simple one liner would be wonders. For starters, you wouldn't have seen the whinging threads if they had posted such a note. (Okay, there probably would have been one thread whining about the delay, but it wouldn't have been a mystery.)

Game development is changing and has changed because of the Internet. If Firaxis doesn't want to be bothered they shouldn't have put up the site. As it is, it's like seeing an advertisement for an All-Star game, showing up at the park and just seeing a couple of bats and gloves scattered about the field with no players. The bleachers are full, but there is no game. Nobody knows if an umpire had a heart attack and so there is a slight delay or if the plane with the players crashed. As the wait draws on and on the rumors and speculation is bound to grow wilder and wilder. All we want is a PA announcement saying "please stay seated, the game will start in 15 minutes".

I didn't mean to badmouth Firaxis and I for one have plenty of stuff to do (read: Shopping) before Christmas so if the demo doesn't come out in the next 5 days I probably won't even notice!

I just didn't want Paolo thinking he was going to get a response. If Firaxis had put a little note in my original "questions" thread saying "good questions, but they'll have to wait until after the demo" I would have been thrilled and wouldn't have said the things which have annoyed you.

Bottom line is that Firaxis (for whatever completely valid reasons) has done absolutely nothing to manage our expectations. So I am not at all surprised to see the current crop of threads because it's just human nature to speculate and try to fill a void when we see one.

Hope that explains things a bit and shows you the other point of view.

(Finally, for the record, I'm a programmer so I do have some understanding of bug-hunting and the "crunch" that Firaxis must be feeling right now.)

posted 12-18-98 03:49 PM ET            

Brian Reynolds wrote 3 hours ago on Usenet:-

Wanted to let everyone know the good news-- Firaxis has "reached Alpha
Centauri". We sent what we hope is the final master off to Origin last
night; we have a week or so to repatch if we discover something
embarrassing which we missed, but barring that we're gold.

Our demo should be up Xmas week; check it out.

Since I'm (ahhhh) no longer in a crunch, I'll also be happy to answer
any questions anyone has about the game.

Brian Reynolds
Alpha Centauri Designer
FIRAXIS Games

posted 12-18-98 04:31 PM ET            

Now...time to SHOP LIKE I'M MASTERING!!!

Does it ever end?

posted 12-18-98 04:55 PM ET            

Yes sportsfans, Alpha Centauri has gone gold! The empty champagne bottles are littered about the office and the demo is right around the corner. We'll definitely be keeping an eye on the forum over the holidays to see your reactions to the demo.

Enjoy the game and have a Happy Holidays,

posted 12-18-98 06:27 PM ET            

Welcome Firaxis people. Please, have a free drink(well cyber) in the I club. Heh, Firaxis is even afraid of these forums!

posted 12-18-98 06:39 PM ET            

(Several random bizarre events happen. I'm too lazy to elaborate, so there.)

Okay, that could be why. But, since htye admit the game is gold, then I'll just have to be wandering into Hunt Valley with a plasma cannon and demanding to see the President of Firaxis.

Fjorxc: What if he refuses to see you?