If CoD doesn't use the full potential of today's hardware..

[recoilfx]

Originally Posted by David Hayward

I have no idea why they didn't test every configuration possible. Wait, yes I do. It isn't possible.

They also got hit with the epilepsy issue late in the process. I think they broke a bunch of things trying to get the game to pass the epilepsy test.

The devs got hit with the epilepsy issue because the development was mismanaged. The team simply didn't have time to sort out everything that's been on Ubisoft's QA list when the chopping time came.

I don't mean that there are no talents in the team, but from a management point of view - they didn't make good decisions as to which features to pursue/refine in a given amount of time and funds.

They've bitten more than they can manage - time and money ran out. The blame lies, unfortunately, on Oleg and Luthier. They were the ultimate decision makers. I just hope that the team has enough cash flow from loyal fans to follow through.

[angrueo]

In this case, my opinion is that it is pretty clear that this game has been a forced release (no matter whether was finished or not). For today, game market stablish two or three profitable release dates over the year. The best date is in christmas, the second early october, and the third is mid-late march.

So, Ubi wanted this game released in the first quarter of fiscal year, on the basis that the main core of the game was done.

[David Hayward]

Originally Posted by recoilfx

The devs got hit with the epilepsy issue because the development was mismanaged. The team simply didn't have time to sort out everything that's been on Ubisoft's QA list when the chopping time came.

I don't mean that there are no talents in the team, but from a management point of view - they didn't make good decisions as to which features to pursue/refine in a given amount of time and funds.

They've bitten more than they can manage - time and money ran out. The blame lies, unfortunately, on Oleg and Luthier. They were the ultimate decision makers. I just hope that the team has enough cash flow from loyal fans to follow through.

Have you got access to internal discussions? If not then you are just guessing, just like everyone else.

[Chivas]

The sim was released atleast a year too early. The epilepsy filter also probably set them back another few months. They are apparently releasing a patch in a few weeks that spreads the workload somewhat more in multiple cores. They are also working on SLI/CF support.

Hopefully while people are working on the optimizations they have others working on the huge amount of bugs, and writing tutorials on engine management, etc.

The early release is a huge publicity debacle, but it was probably the only way to keep Maddox games from folding altogether. Now atleast they have funds to continue development, and with a little patience, the community will have a very substantial sim in time. I've already had at least 30 hours of entertainment, some of it frustrating, but the good hours were alot cheaper than any of my other forms of entertainment.

[Urufu_Shinjiro]

Originally Posted by recoilfx

The devs got hit with the epilepsy issue because the development was mismanaged. The team simply didn't have time to sort out everything that's been on Ubisoft's QA list when the chopping time came.

I don't mean that there are no talents in the team, but from a management point of view - they didn't make good decisions as to which features to pursue/refine in a given amount of time and funds.

They've bitten more than they can manage - time and money ran out. The blame lies, unfortunately, on Oleg and Luthier. They were the ultimate decision makers. I just hope that the team has enough cash flow from loyal fans to follow through.

I think you have it close but a little skewed. I think the game was pretty close to ready, in fact real close to where Oleg and crew wanted it to be for release, then Ubi sprang this epilepsy requirement on them and in any code this complex you're likely to break a whole bunch of stuff if you have to hack a feature in at the last minute. I think they were 100% forced to add this filter/make significant engine changes to meet the epilepsy requirement at the 11th hour and were given zero extra time to make it work. That would certainly explain Olegs youtube remarks about leaving game development, how frustrated would you be if you were nearing the release of all your labors and the result looked pretty damn good, then your contractual partner forced game breaking changes on you with no time to do it right or even make it work before release?

Originally Posted by angrueo

In this case, my opinion is that it is pretty clear that this game has been a forced release (no matter whether was finished or not). For today, game market stablish two or three profitable release dates over the year. The best date is in christmas, the second early october, and the third is mid-late march.

So, Ubi wanted this game released in the first quarter of fiscal year, on the basis that the main core of the game was done.

Yep, that's why Ubi forced Olegs hand regardless of the state of the product after the last minute epilepsy surprise.

[beazil]

Originally Posted by Urufu_Shinjiro

IYep, that's why Ubi forced Olegs hand regardless of the state of the product after the last minute epilepsy surprise.

IF true, that is sad news indeed. That still doesn't explain the lack of multi core or multi card rendering support by a piece of modern software that was engineered from the ground up to utilize modern computers for the purpose of BoB era flight simulation (otherwise why not just release another add on for IL2?).

It wasn't ready for release two weeks ago. It isn't now. I can see where it's going to be an absolutely glorious piece of work when it's finished. I don't even mind paying for the privalege of "beta testing" this monumental piece of work - but I do understand the frustrations of the developer, the customers and even the publisher - who has at some point to say just release it already.

This release has been something of a perfect storm for all involved. Which is a shame - because in the end I think we are going to get something I think we will all really be able to enjoy. S!

[recoilfx]

Originally Posted by David Hayward

Have you got access to internal discussions? If not then you are just guessing, just like everyone else.

Of course we are guessing because we don't have the official story from Maddox. We can only gather conclusions from whatever Oleg and Luthier had said.

Team Maddox is small - that's a fact.

Luthier had invoked him feeling overwhelmed in this interview.

So yes, the team bit more than they could manage, given the sorry state of the release.

I can't find the exact quotes from Oleg or Luthier regarding the money situation. But consider this, given the length of the development (5+ years), any publisher would have to somehow recoup their investments. Do we really have to blame Ubisoft for this?

[David Hayward]

Originally Posted by recoilfx

Do we really have to blame Ubisoft for this?

I don't see any reason to blame anyone.

[recoilfx]

Originally Posted by Urufu_Shinjiro

I think you have it close but a little skewed. I think the game was pretty close to ready, in fact real close to where Oleg and crew wanted it to be for release, then Ubi sprang this epilepsy requirement on them and in any code this complex you're likely to break a whole bunch of stuff if you have to hack a feature in at the last minute. I think they were 100% forced to add this filter/make significant engine changes to meet the epilepsy requirement at the 11th hour and were given zero extra time to make it work. That would certainly explain Olegs youtube remarks about leaving game development, how frustrated would you be if you were nearing the release of all your labors and the result looked pretty damn good, then your contractual partner forced game breaking changes on you with no time to do it right or even make it work before release?


Yep, that's why Ubi forced Olegs hand regardless of the state of the product after the last minute epilepsy surprise.

I don't think Ubisoft is to blame for the Epilepsy issue. This has been a practice with Ubisoft for several years.

If Oleg signed on with a publisher, then it would be the Oleg's fault for not reading these requirements, and subsequently setting the wrong release date - again, a management mistake.

Luthier also had officially said that Ubisoft wasn't at fault.

[recoilfx]

Originally Posted by David Hayward

I don't see any reason to blame anyone.

You may not see any reason to blame some one, but I believe many customers who thought that they paid for a playable game are pretty miffed.