Dev Update

[norb]

Just to give an update on what we are working on and where we are going.

Currently we are working on a bug patch. We are reading these forums every day and trying to fix all the legitimate problems that people are bringing up. Everyone here has been really helpful in providing the information that we need to fix the issues. We feel that the first beta patch fixed most of the crashes, so people can at least play. We will probably release another beta patch, mostly because everyone has been so helpful in reporting any issues. Once that's all done, we'll release it as an official patch.

Then we'll work on getting the SDK out. We are working on a manual. Wrangler did an amazing manual for tc2m and we are trying to follow in his footsteps. We would like to release it all as one download, so we are going to get everything together. I think we are pretty close, but patch work has slowed the SDK work.

I believe that in the patch we will also release another scenario or two. I know that people want to play Pickett's charge so we've modded Mark's scenario and I'm pretty sure we'll have it ready for the first patch. Mark's scenarios are awesome for using as a starting point for creating a host of new GB scenarios.

Then we'll probably release another feature patch. We have some more MP work that we want to do, and some Cav AI work that we want to get done. We will release one or more maps, and lots of other goodies.

After than we'll probably start working on an expansion.

Another quick note on the DRM. I have heard the concerns that people won't be able to use their game if NSD goes out of business. First NSD has no offices nor any other expenses besides webspace, it has minimal costs. It is the group of us around the world working on games. So I have no idea how it could go out of business. We've been working on this during our free time for years and these games have never made enough money to live off of, so how it could go out of business before I had a chance to remove the DRM I cannot fathom. But... if this did happen somehow, the company that does the activation has been around since the late 80s. All the DRM is done off of their servers. So even without NSD, the activation/deactivation could still occur. We are not their only customer, I know of another company that has been using them for a couple of decades. This is not to try and convince those against any form of DRM, but just to assure our customers that your purchases are safe.

[Amish John]

Thanks for the update. I'm sure many of us are just as interested in keeping up with the development as we are playing the game. Making any progress squashing the sound bug?

When you say "expansion" do you mean more stuff for SOW:GB or do you mean another title?

[norb]

Most of the sound bug seems to be able to be fixed by people updating their drivers. We are looking into the volume of our shipped sounds. VonViper is working on that now.

Expansion would mean major new stuff for SOWGB.

[BOSTON]

I'm all set, just got new ink cartriges and 24 pounds of bright white paper, bring it on! :laugh:

BOSTON

[Amish John]

norb wrote:

Expansion would mean major new stuff for SOWGB.

Excellent!!

[MrSpkr]

norb wrote:

Expansion would mean major new stuff for SOWGB.

Woohoo!

Steve

[GShock]

Thanks for the heads up, Norb.

[Kip]

Hi,

Sounds very good to me... great in fact....

BTW... the fact that you have to produce SOWG almost as a type of hobby does show just how niche the market is for truly high quality wargames.... as opposed to PC or console games that just happen to be in war setting.

Only TC/SOW and Combat Mission reach the required quality for me...

Keep up the great work....

All the best,
Kip.

[ORourke]

.... you guys did this game on your EXTRA time!!?? Lordy.... wonder what you'all could do if you devote a little time to it...

[norb]

I wish. But in all reality I've been coding on side projects since I graduated college. Always been working on something. I make sure the computer is in the TV room so that I can at least be in the same room as the rest of the family in the evenings.