Well, in my opinion this is a medium sized IT-project, and as such it should not be that hard to estimate a budget frame for it. I've seen a few game projects from rather close distance and they have been using the same methodology as "real" IT projects. They have also been successful in meeting their deadlines even though they have had larger scope than SoW...

When you miss your release date with 3 years in a fast moving world like this, you should be very happy to have your funding left...

Well, my guesses are as bad as anyones, I know, but I consider it a fact that Oleg in the beginning of December wrote that he hoped to have the SoW-site up and running by the end of December. Thus far, the site is not up. And I consider it a fact that he in October 2007 stated that he hoped to come up with regular updates in 2-3 weeks intervals, and he hasn't.

Both of those statements were "hopes" not promises. Personally, I hope to be a millionare within 2 weeks, but that is unlikely to happen. Maybe Olegs hopes are as far fetched as mine. Honestly, I really don't think so.

Skarphol

Lifes not that simple. Just as Oleg finishes giving a statement on the forums.... I can see someone coming into his office and saying. " The Website developer just called and they won't be able to start for a few more months, and by the way, the weather code we thought we had a handle on, well its all f*"ked up, and Ivan the weatherman quit. "

Is that Crazey-Ivan?...I've been wondering what he is up to, long time no see:grin:

Well we all have our own take on what is or is not happening, we were having these very same discussions this time last year and the year before that. The only fact is that very little has happened regarding information/updates which leads me to believe that we are in pretty much the same position has we were last year in 'hoping' that it will be released before Christmas, if it is released before Crimbo then i will eat my shorts and change my name to Susan. In my opinion the true indication that this game is nearing completion is when the marketing kicks in, we have seen nothing yet and are not likely to for some time.

Hey Oleg, if that ain't motivation to get things done I don't know what is. Work man work! I think we all want to watch that one.:mrgreen:

Flyingbullseye

You can hope to be a millionare by winning in a lottery, but planning it is something quite different.

Taking your example, Skarphol, you can plan to win in a lottery. It only has 2 limitations to overcome the random nature of the lotery: Money and time.

As you don't have unlimited money and time, you have to live with the random factor and that may serve you well and win you at least small sums in weeks, but it may also cost you a million years to win.


Same is true for Oleg's situation. If the random factors don't interfere, he meets his plans. If not, he either has to invest more money, which probably does not come from an unlimited source or more time, which p*sses off people like you. Even if the random factor is not equally high as winning a jackpot, the model applies to any project.



And BTW he didn't "miss" the release-date by 3 years. He announced a new product and postponed it in favour of other product. You would be even more p*ssed, if only 100% reliable info was released, because we probably never heared anything from Oleg, possibly not even model-shots, because they might not be 100% sure in the initial release.

Well, I'm not p*ssed at anyone. Quite impatient, but not angry.
Oleg can not have an indefinate source of money, so he have to have a timetable for the progression of his product. He has wisely enough never revealed that timetable.
I, personally, find his statements confusing, as if they are not related to any form of timetable at all. I realize that it is mostly me and perhaps TreeUK who finds this peculiar.

As allways when people disagree with me I'm thinking "Why doesn't everybody agree with me? After all, I'm right!" But those thoughts seldom leads to anything..

Skarphol

I was not refering to you with the excremental language, Skarphol. But there are a lot of people posting here, who praise their own point of view over common sense.

Back to your post: To have a timetable and to have the luxury to meet it are 2 different things, Skarphol. Confusing, yes, but rest asured Oleg not being able to meet his timetable is a *LOT* more confusing (and frustrating) to Oleg than it is to you and me. One more reason to stop bashing him and develop some patience.

I dont think anyone is knocking Oleg's timetable, we are merely questioning why we are given information such as 'hopefully website will up and running by the end of December' and then to hear nothing more of them. Oleg recently stated that he cannot honestly answer when this sim will be finished and then said 'so please dont ask', this tells me that there is no measurable timescale to this project so any info we receive such has '60%' complete is far more speculative than any posts that have been made in this forum.