"Friday" Update, April 28, 2012
 

Dear friends,

Yes, we know it's ridiculous. No one is more upset at the situation than us, believe me. You have lives outside flight sims. You have jobs, you have homes. For us, Cliffs of Dover is our life. When we can't get it right, it hurts us. When we are in the constant state of "almost ready", when we break promises week after week, it affects us very deeply.

Unfortunately, even though it looked like we had something releasable this morning, by lunchtime we felt we should work on it more. What we almost released would have been a "DX10 alpha". All the FM changes are there, lots of other great things, FPS and stability improvements, etc.

However, the things that are the current "known issues" are:
· No dynamic low-caliber hit decals showing on aircraft;
· Detached aircraft chunks losing their texture and becoming pitch-black;
· Little particle "dust" that comes out of weapon hits looking like untextured squares;
· Gunsights always white in color;
· No waypoint lines rendered in map or FMB;
· Pilot and Plane models not rendering textures in Options - Pilot and Options - Plane respectively;
· DX9 support not ready for public consumption.

We just felt that this was one known issue too many. The decision was very hard to make. Many team members are unhappy with it, especially those responsible for the parts of the patch that are fully tested and working such as the FM.

I believe however that, rather than presenting ourselves as a team that releases half-finished patches with lots of graphic issues, we should work very hard on building the reputation for making things right, the first time, however long it takes.

We’ll keep providing regular reports.

:( Just :(

thanks for the news

ok, good, thank you, now we know, good luck and let us know how it is going!

Thanks for the info BlackSix. I agree there is one glitch too many for a release. Enjoy your holidays. :cool:

Thanks for the update, Black Six.

Thanks for the info.

Great news to know that its almost done.

I dont mind to wait a little bit more as long as the release is fully functional.
Keep up the good work guys.

Anyway, is there an expected release date?

Bye

Thank you for the update.

I appreciate that these things take time to resolve & estimating WHEN they will be resolved is almost impossibe.

With my IL-2 experience, I have trust in Luthier & his team and as hard as it is, will remain a patient supporter!

Thanx for the update.
As with the majority, silence means content, dont get bothered too much by those trolling post, as it doesnt represent the main meaning I guess, of course i can speak just for me.

However, I am satisfied with whatever there comes, as I believed the game already be dead in late summer 2011.

Keep it up! Take the time it needs to get it running, release it when it´s done and dont mind trolls.

:)

Bad news are also good news...

Thanks for informing us.

Thanks for the update BS.
Personally I'd be happy to deal with those "known" issues in the interim for a few weeks if stability / launcher crash issues were fixed since we have been stuck with it for MANY months now - but hayho!
V

Fair enough, just keep at it lads!

Completly understandable. I would do exactly the same.

Thank you for the update and working very hard on making IL2 CoD better! :)

Thanks for the news and the honesty, Black. Get things right first and only then release it.
I guess this is as much a learning expirience for you guys in regards to patch release communication as it is for us a lesson in patience.

I will be honest that right now I would like a rough estimate on how much time it will take to fix those issues, but I suppose you will only risk backslash if it won't work by then as well. However, I agree that by now I even would do with an unfinished patch if that means the stability issues are solved in Multiplayer, I haven't played for a while for that sole reason, with everything else I can live with currently.

Any news on BoM?

Sounds good, keep it up till the end, thank-you for the informative update with listed issues.

Thanks for the Update! :-)
Perhaps one questions if i may:
Is a new updated version of the sound engine part of the upcoming beta patch?

I don't post in here very often, but i read the update threads regularly.

And let me say, thanks for the effort. I love CloD, and look forward to it being even better.

As for the stress that the negative sentiments on this board are obviously are obviously having on you, well, you said it yourself. This is your life, whereas the comments are coming from people who are gamers. Serving your customers, in my opinion, stops short of putting up with their abuse, much less taking it to heart.

Just keep up the good work. The vast majority of us appreciate it. It's just the vocal few who have nothing better to do than to flame on the internet over a computer game. Their opinion shouldn't matter to anyone.

[Edit] Besides that, any rational person would see the the validity of a decision to wait until something is done right before releasing something that's wrong just to meet a self imposed timeline.

Then there just no holiday and no holidays for you!


ummh ... just kidding

thx for the update

written by JG4_Widukind

Yeah these shortcomings should be eliminated first.

Thanks for the update though. :grin:

Thanks for the news. I had hoped you would release the beta so we at least dident had CTD all the time. In my humble view a beta is a beta and you have a choice to use it or wait.

Please make a revote on that issus in the team and mabye you can get more help for tracking other bugs. :)

The honesty is appreciated, and welcome. :) Most reasonable people, whilst not expecting perfection from what is a Beta patch, would agree that its worth waiting longer for......in light of the issues noted. Carry on, and best of luck sorting the problems out. We are all on the same side really (though it may not seem that way at times lol) and we all want the same things.

What are you reading this for? Some things need a' fixin. Vamoose! :grin:

That seems more than reasonable and understandable, thanks for the info!

Thanks for the update.

Thanks for those honest infos B6. And don´t mind the trolls.

Thanks for the info BlackSix. Can't help but feel bad for you guys.,and Luthier. Hopefully things will fall into place soon,and you'll have a nice stable patch to release. Best of luck team.:),were all pull'n for ya.:!::)

:(
 

I am just waiting for something like this one day:

"Sorry guys, no more funding to develop il2: cliffs of dover. See ya!"

Thanks for the information,it is what people want regardless just to kept informed.

Update very much appreciated.

Hearing what bugs you are working on give context and tend to deflate any conspiracy theory about what could be 'the real reason' why the patch has not yet been released.

Don't beat yourself up too much about the delay. Things like this happen when you are building a complicated project. Most people who are following these developments are doing so because they share your vision and enthusiasm for the end product you are working towards.

Thanks BlackSix...even bad news is news, and makes the wait more tolerable :grin:

I am satisfied with this "update".
Now i know there are enough bugs and you mentioned those. This is an honest answer.

Updates like this are understandable and there is no why not now, where is.....

Thanks and keep your head and the good information up.

S!


Sorry B6, today is Saturday and not Friday!!!!!!!

Those are not minor issues but immersion breaking bugs lol just keep working release the patch when its done.

Two words..

"Damn" & "Thanks"

Thanks for the update. It was a good call not releasing it :)

Update is very appreciated but there is somenthing crazy here. How you can work on a sequel, when you are not able (now) to win your battle with the engine? You feel positive and this is good but we are entering in the 14th month.....

At this point would be better say somenthing like: probably October - November 2012 but not a promise.

This waiting, as you says, is going to be really ridiculous.

Take your time, and give us a break with F5.

S! B6 and Luthier! take your time, get it right, we still have il21946 that keeps me busy all week

Yep, good call, that's even a bit much for a beta. Such is the nature of the beast. If you need any Alpha testers, I'm in. :)

Chin up lads, and carry on!

Black Six,Your honest info on the patch is very much appreciated.I believe you when you say no one feels worse than the team who have worked so hard on it.

And I do agree,The list of bugs is far to great to release without causing a major uproar in the 1C Community.

Maybe some more pics/video of The sequel while we wait? :)

Thank You

Well that is bad news. Thanks for the update and see you in two months.

Im just very sad that the development are having to work so hard, take a few weeks break and start again with fresh minds, nobody here minds waiting for a month or so more.

Thanks very much for your supreme efforts in fixing these "last minute problems" im sure you will overcome them and release the patch when its ready.

when its ready its ready chaps, and not a second before.

Im excited to try the patch with all these improvements.

Black Six- a thought-
First, I commend you and the team for making a difficult decision. I have read many of the posts here, and I believe the majority of the community would rather have a late patch that is perfected, than a rushed patch which is not. So, bravo to you and the team. That fact that you are willing to face the "slings and arrows" of some of those on this board whose sentiments are contrary to the majority shows you truly [I]care[I] about the end result. So do we. Carry on- and keep us informed!
Chris

AMEN

thanks to B6 and the team

Now that's a real update. Honest, we know what the issues are and very sincere. I for one would rather have real info on the sim I'm playing now rather than pics of a sim I might buy in the future. Keep your hands on the plow and get er done!

+1.

Just work harder and release this patch. We are all waiting and bought this alpha build of CloD.

I know that all this problems are not so big and will be solved, but please keep more regular and specific updates like this and we all will be more confident!

We like to be informed with true words like these. Thanks! ;)

Thanks for the news. Good to hear that it is almost done.

Thankyou for your honesty in your Friday update Blacksix.

23 Mar 2012 Luthier post http://forum.1cpublishing.eu/showthread.php?t=30683
<snip> The latest patch that has been “almost ready” for months, and it’s even more almost ready today. The graphics rework is basically done. The average framerate has shot up almost twice. Only one relatively minor issue remains that prevents the gunsight, tracers, and bullet decals from being drawn. Of course, this minor technical issue has a huge impact on gameplay, and that is why we cannot release it to the public in its current state.<snip>

13 April BlackSix post http://forum.1cpublishing.eu/showthread.php?t=31097
We're very glad to announce that the beta patch is largely done. It's going into wide internal testing today, which will last through the weekend and probably a couple of days more. After we make sure nothing is amiss, we'll make the beta patch available to everyone

19 April BlackSix post http://forum.1cpublishing.eu/showthread.php?t=31264
I have to tell you is very bad news - the current beta version of the patch didn't pass internal test and was sent back for revision. We plan to assemble the new version only at the beginning of the next week.

28 April BlackSix post http://forum.1cpublishing.eu/showthread.php?t=31604
<snip>However, the things that are the current "known issues" are:
· No dynamic low-caliber hit decals showing on aircraft;
· Detached aircraft chunks losing their texture and becoming pitch-black;
· Little particle "dust" that comes out of weapon hits looking like untextured squares;
· Gunsights always white in color;
· No waypoint lines rendered in map or FMB;
· Pilot and Plane models not rendering textures in Options - Pilot and Options - Plane respectively;
· DX9 support not ready for public consumption.<snip>

Progress is indeed disappointing. It seems that the problem identified by Luthier on 23 Mar remains unresolved after 5 weeks of work. I do not understand how one remaining issue on 23 March has become 7-8 issues on 28 April ? It feels like the patient is beyond rescuscitation.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DBCGB9tAl3...er+Give+up.jpg
Is this Luthier & the team trying to rescucitate ClOD?

Thanks for the update BS

Issue relativity
 

I'm a manager not a techie but I do manage techies, so if one gives me this list of issues:
"No dynamic low-caliber hit decals showing on aircraft;
· Detached aircraft chunks losing their texture and becoming pitch-black;
· Little particle "dust" that comes out of weapon hits looking like untextured squares;
· Gunsights always white in color;
· No waypoint lines rendered in map or FMB;
· Pilot and Plane models not rendering textures in Options - Pilot and Options - Plane respectively;
· DX9 support not ready for public consumption".
My question would go like this: -- OK what's the relativity here in terms of magnitude, complexity, importance, time to fix and resources needed? Then I know what to do. I'm happy BS gives us an update, but I don't know how to process it.
I know we have guys here who really know this stuff, so can you help me understand if overall this is a big deal, a BIG deal a REALLY BIG DEAL, a You'll Soil Yourself when You See It or ho hum, just a scratch??
:confused: Over.

Thanx for the update Salmo:cool:

Sorta puts BS in perspective..:-P

I do admire BS and the apparent language skills improvement.

A perfect patch would be nice....A good patch sooner, would be nicer.

Good post that can't really be argued with (someone will though!).

However, thanks for this update which even though disappointing is much better than nothing.

It's not unusual to have one thing fixed and something else breaks and since there is a wide variety in PC builds to have one machine run it fine while another similar one have issues, can be simple as Drivers, it is always a tedious process. I appreciate that at least they can tell us what they are working on.

Thx for the update B6,keep at itI'm sure when it's done it will be fantastic.

The new flight models sound great.

Disappointing for us, and undoubtedly frustrating for the dev team.

To the devs - please take encouragement from the generally supportive and mature reaction from the community in this thread and continue to keep us informed of how things are progressing. It makes a difference when we know what the situation is.

Thanks, and have a good holiday.

Thanks Ilya (cause even though B6's English is improving I have a very strong feeling that he did not write this text ;))

Take the holiday off to reload the batteries and let's hope half of the team doesn't gets ill which often happens to me after weeks of constant work when I get some days off to rest :)

/mazex

well some serious DX10 rendering issues and no DX9 support that's quite a big deal :/
hopefully you'll get your life back one day

No worries most of us adults here realize S happens.. Especially in the software world! Just keep up the good work

If you were a professional Software developer, you never would ask this question. :rolleyes:

b6 ok i understand the cod situation but i think the graphic problem are minor problem. Today the cod have a estructural problem. (launcher crash).

Maybe you must think that its better put the alpha patch that wait to finish the patch.

lot people we are so tired that when i´m playing the Fuc_ windows message because normaly launcher crash when you are in the most important momment.

If your can launch the patches and say that is an alpha will be better.

one friendme that he´s 53 sayme that if i can ask you :
Will I see the patch one day?

Thanks

I told you so, I told you so, I told you so, I told you so, I told you so, I told you so, I told you so, I told you so, I told you so, I told you so, I told you so, I told you so, I told you so, I told you so, I told you so, I told you so, I told you so,

Sry, but I had to.


@ Blacksix: Why mess around with DX 9, almost everybody uses windows 7, some use vista, but XP users are the minority, and those do not have the PC power anyway, so pls drop DX 9 support, it's meaningless.

FG28 Kodiak said:

>>If you were a professional Software developer, you never would ask this question. <<

Do you mind if I ask you why? Could you please help explain? Thanks....

And if you do, please take it to PM!

Lets keep this weekly updates clean guys! Thanks!

thanks for the info i'm realy pleased that you guys are working so hard to get it right and strongly believe your course of action not to release it atm, is the only correct course. It takes courage to tell the truth rather then lie about it.

Regards Rowddy.

I work in the aerospace industry. Emphasis on the "space" part. There, schedule should never trump quality.

You are doing exactly the right thing to wait, Blacksix.

Binky9

Funny that is just what we use to say when I worked for TRW (now NGST) back and Space Park! S!

Thanks for the update B6! Looking forward to Battle of Mo...ehr! the patch! I mean looking forward to the patch.:)

The patch is for later and is each Friday a little later... until it interests no one anymore.:rolleyes: A little patience, maybe!:!:

This list of bugs are no small issues.

I wonder under what circumstances you can say it's almost finished?

Thanks for the update Black Six ! I know how the team feels about the pressure to release a patch to get the game at a working condition. I'm a Millwright and sometimes the production departement want his machine running right now but stranges bugs are sometimes hard to figure out and even harder when the bugs are software related. Keep the good work and results will shows soon or later !

thanks for communication, it's a unusual quality for developper.

Thanks for the update, BlackSix. Much appreciated.

This is why you write in unit tests so that you can see what is broken when it's built. I honestly don't know if they put in any unit testing, maybe not, and this can be potentially costly when problems are found late.

+1

It is normal. If everything is working except a few things and those things HAVE to work, there is no other choice than to go back and "break" other things to try to solve the issue, then redo the newly broken things.

It is like walking a maze and realizing that you are almost at the exit point BUT there is a wall in front of you and you have to find another path. Very frustrating. :(

It's a stunning update. Knowing the difficulties in completing The Patch, it seems incredible that 1C:MG were able to get a beautiful and playable game out last year. The CloD Cup is half full and I'm very grateful!

Thanks for the update. Good luck getting the new graphics engine to work.

Thanks for the honest way in which you present your updates. Good luck completing the patch.

truth doesn't hurt

Pity, but ok, better to give to us complet patch than buggy beta mod.

Ok im reinstalling CLOD, i'm not waiting anymore to have some fun with this sim. Patch or no patch i'm taking to the skies. :cool:

+1 Exactly...this appears to be the hardest thing to understand about debugging software.... a fix for one thing can break two or more others. Its a constant struggle of test, rewrite, test, rewrite, until it works. There are no foolproof checklists to get things done in this type of work. The critical factor here is that they appear to have solved the performance, stability issues which were the issues that could easily have killed the series.

Thanks for the update Black Six & the explination of the bugs holding up the patch.

Great update Blacksix, it really helps to keep the speculation at bay.

Many of us do appreciate the complexity of your work and I'm quite prepared to wait for the goodies. Enjoy your break.

That's the spirit! :grin:

Seems like every developer that jumped on the DX10 bandwagon had these same kinds of problems...that is unless your a super huge company. Some of the blame IMO goes to Microsoft , Nvidia and ATI. They won't deal with you unless it's going to be a million selling title. Just little snippets of text I've seen from various developers suggest this.

Hellgate London, Age of Conan, Cliffs of Dover and a few others all come to mind.

Thanks B6, know and understand a greater percentage of people appreciate you and the team!

Thanks for the update.Looks like a few issues too many.

Thanks Black6

Thanks for the heads up, B6... and thanks to the community for their support

Funny that there was once a hit by the developers ...
They released an unfinished simulator that was a total flop so far.

A simulator that would have everything to be the game of the decade and is still growing disappointment in his growing admirers.

I'm hoping that other companies develop similar simulators for the CLOD has the 1C can have choice and competition, so maybe that would work so make something work.

I and many others are very disappointed

Sorry but I had the sincerity to speak up and make some questions and Luthier For Team perguntand that I have been a long time.

Why do not you guys release a DLC expasion Battle of Brithan? The result is that the story is covered start and End . This would include all aircraft that were present and of course all flyable

My point: That way the audience cheer as well as admiring the IL-2 Series vcs could profit a little more and perhaps thereby further enhance the team. I do not see the team's will make their fans be happy thereby maintaining its credibility.

Why do not you have thought this line?

I just can not understand the philosophy of 1C ....

Sry about my english

Carry on, and don't lose heart
 

Gents,

I just want to say that I admire your persistence in adversity, your dedication to perfection, and the courage to go on with reporting to your player-base.

Love the weekly reports: Even when only problems are listed, this increases my appreciation for the complexity of this sim.

Carry on!

So the competition can breathe a sigh of relief at not getting 'crushed' for the next (insert best guess) then ?

A team that gets it right first time......???? Come on, wake up. I appreciate the honesty but it certainly doesn't make it any prettier.

Thanks.

Hey come on people lets no be negative here there gunna fix it soon so be cool. :cool:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3HQMbQAWRc

Not releasing was the right decision. Too bad the good parts could not be released separately but they are probably dependent on other things. Keep working the problems, you'll get there.

I think were already seeing this-dont you think it strange that we keep being fobbed off.???

Thank you Blacksix and 1C Team.

I appreciate the effort it took you to write this and I appreciate to read an honest explanation of the problems that have not been solved (yet) - instead of hearing the "almost ready", "here are some videos of how a tank may drive", etc. etc.

If I am happy, well I am not happy that I do not have a ready, working 100% percent, fantastic game.
But, I am very happy for many other reasons:
- I have a life (and it is not CoD)
- I know that you are working on CoD
- I know that one day CoD will be a ready, working 100% percent, fantastic game.
- I know there will be a sequel later

:)


~S~

Thank you for letting us know the extent of the issues holding back the patch. It should do a lot to keep people calm as they wait, knowing that it's not just a tiny thing that needs doing.

Keep up the work, 1C Maddox! We'll keep flying.

:shock: ridiculous... meanwhile we are back on alpha status! We were really lucky today !

Thanks for the details which really helps understand the current situation. I'd rather wait longer and have a better sim which will in turn will attract more flyers.