can buy a movie, complete right on it's release date and know that it works fine (99% of the time), same with my music, why should my computer games be any different?

Please tell me you're trolling or flaming!

If not, I take it you don't write softwaer professionally. "Hello World" or some little console app is not a true representation of commercial development.

A movie just has to be viewed, much like a book just has to be read. Editors try to make sure there are no goofs or spelling errors, and that's all that's needed. And if there's a mistake in spelling, or they mess with the chronology, the human brain can cope with it (if it even notices it).

Software becomes a lot more complex. And unlike a movie, if the software has a small hiccup, the whole thing comes down.

First, there are a almost an infinite number of system-configurations you have to take into account. Hardware, OS, drivers, software running in the background, security setups, older dll's, etc that can combine into a real pain in the ass.

Even during beta tests, it's hard to test everything correctly. Not only do you have to see if the game runs under all of these environments, but if each-part-of-the-game runs under the environment. Maybe there's a memory leak. Maybe the driver won't allow this much dirt to get kicked up. Maybe the environment cannot handle this number of units crossing a bridge.

THEN, to make matters worse, the systems change. People upgrade their drivers, which may or may not be stable. People upgrade / patch their OS because of improvements or security holes. The resulting changes may "update" a dll (think, library) which may break the compatibility with the game.

I'm a software developer that's fortunate enough to have a very small subset of target environments at my company. However, I've run into a situation where a graphing active-x control crashed because of the user's video drivers. Or, a barcoding dll crashed because of the printer drivers.

YES, there are examples of just shitty software. Ultima 9 comes to mind. But to compare a movie and software is like comparing water and iron.

Pentium 4, 2.4GHz w/ 533Mhz FSB
1024MB PC2700 Crucial RAM
ATI Radeon 9800XT
Windows XP Pro
This comment was edited on Jun 24, 16:38.

you are stuck with the units they give you in each mission, and there is no Skirmish mode?

No, you are not stuck with the units they give you.
Yes, there is skirmish mode.

Instead of "building" units, like traditional RTS, you essentially "buy them" by "calling for reinforcements."

Example, you start off with a number of units, a drop-point, and "experience points." You can "buy" moer units with your "experience points," and they are delivered via drop-ship to your selected drop-point.

You earn more experience points for taking over objectives, other drop points, or just kicking the opponents ass.

You can upgrade your dropship. It can only carry a finite amount of cargo (more advanced units take more room), and travels slow, etc. You can supe-up the cargo room, speed, armor, etc of your dropship using experience points to make your game easier.

I think it's alright. It's more watered down than, let's say, StarCraft. I kinda miss building-up multiple bases around resources and defending them. But once you get past that, the games alright.

And yes, there is skirmish mode.



Pentium 4, 2.4GHz w/ 533Mhz FSB
1024MB PC2700 Crucial RAM
ATI Radeon 9800XT
Windows XP Pro
This comment was edited on Jun 24, 16:21.

Man... some of you complain about the dumbest things.

I can buy a movie, complete right on it's release date...

Yeah, you have to wait till it comes out on DVD to see what was removed from the theatre version. And patching a game doesn't mean it wasn't finished.

I utterly despise intro movies in games. Usually I can just delete them or replace them with blanks. How the hell do you delete intro movies from this game?

This comment was edited on Jun 23, 22:22.

you call in reinforcements during the game that arrive by dropship.

there is a skirmish mode.

let me guess, just like the old game:

you are stuck with the units they give you in each mission, and there is no Skirmish mode?

Please tell me they have improved this game over the original

The patch looks like it adds a few bug fixs and new content. I say Nice job getting a quick patch out the door, HEY ATARI TAKE NOTE !!!!!! TOEE SOUND FAMILIAR.

Game requires CD IN DRIVE??

How long before Vivendi lays off the entire development team now the game's finished?

Thought the demo was pretty cool and quite liked the multiplayer demo games I've been playing online, really liked the drop-in mode. Interested to see how the co-op side pans out...

___________________________
http://www.beastieboys.com/

I guess I'm just getting older and have less time for games that have a steep learning curve. I gave this game about 20 minutes into the tutorial of the demo and it was so awkward feeling I gave it up. I'm a lover of RTS, but I just don't have the time to learn a difficult control scheme.

Sigh, I hate it when games are packed into just a few files like this. Really kills editing.

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“The closer you get to being a pro, the closer you can get to the client. The knife, for example, is the last thing you learn. Ok?"

This thing's a blast, not really a huge fan of indepth RTSes, nor have I tried the original GC, but am loving this one. Using real tactics just seem to really have an effect, flanking from the side with an even larger force, using cover like trees and buildings, stuff like that I absolutely love.

Only George Lucas releases patches for movies.

HAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAH. That is so true. I'm sure we'll get another "patched" version of the classic trilogy soon. Sadly, it's been "patched" so many times, you can't call it the "Classic Trilogy" anymore...


Alex
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Spatial Fear
Director/Creative Designer
http://www.planetunreal.com/le/sf/
This comment was edited on Jun 22, 23:22.

Hey I'd rather get my game first and patch it later, so long as the store release is playable.

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“The closer you get to being a pro, the closer you can get to the client. The knife, for example, is the last thing you learn. Ok?"

Only George Lucas releases patches for movies.

Patches are an inevitability of PC games these days - you could blame the industry as a whole. The GC team can at least be credited with delivering one so promptly. There are numerous other games where patches are released well after the game itself is shipped. Your two examples (movies and music) really can't be compared with this situation...bit of sense needed here.
However, take for example the case of PC software - you could complain about the updates being released for virtually every application out there. Given the increased complexity of games these days and the critical need to deliver one on time before it becomes stale, it is not unreasonable to expect the developer to release a few updates - after all, it is for improving the overall gaming experience...
I'm looking forward to Ground Control II - it'll be the first game I've bought in quite a while.


This comment was edited on Jun 22, 22:51.

Another quality release from sierra, here's the game, now download the....14mb patch for it.
What about this....FINISH THE FREAKIN GAME FIRST!!
I can buy a movie, complete right on it's release date and know that it works fine (99% of the time), same with my music, why should my computer games be any different?

Well, I for one am excited about this. As I said before, I enjoyed the first GC and it's expansion and am looking forward to playing the sequal.

I suppose I'll pick it up the same time I get Thief.