EB 0.8.6.7.5.3.0.9 Release Date

**Krusader** · October 28, 2006, 05:36 AM

Dear EB fans,

One of the dilemmas that face mod teams is the never-ending question of when to release? Today, we would like your help in answering this question.

To date we have completely redone our building and recruitment systems, so the past months have been filled with a great deal of frustration, but are now paying off for us as we see it all come together. What this means for you though is that as we put together 0.8 we have not yet had time for in-depth testing. There will be gaps, but we do have a working mod on the RTW 1.5 platform and there is a good amount of new content along with this.

So, the question is - do we give you a working version next month? If we do, we have a greater potential for bugs, the campaign and battle balance may be somewhat off, and there will likely be gaps in translation, text editing, and things such as unit cards. Our scripting may not be where we want it to be. Our new factions will not be very well fleshed out.

What you will have is the port to 1.5, a new recruitment system that is more complete, all new music, at least one, possibly two new voice mods, new graphical content such as culture-specific GUIs, three new factions, resource and city icons, new grass, and other aesthetic improvements, and about 100 new units.

There are of course more improvements that go along with the move to 1.5, but there is of course more potential for bugs that are new, including CTDs, and without a good deal of playtesting time they will likely exist.

On the other hand the building and recruitment system is what we will be sticking with through 1.0. Because of this there will be no long delay for the next release, as there was for the last two major releases. There will be no back-to-the-drawing board disappointments like there were in the past. As you know the releases after 0.7.2 came hot and heavy, and we would expect the same to happen when we release 0.8.

So the question is:

A) Release next month? (with all the potential for gaps and bugs)

Or:

B) Release when 0.8 is polished? (likely to be several months down the road, at least)

Disclaimer: Complaints regarding a buggy release and/or gaps should you choose A) will be directed to our special circular file.

**Turkeys!** · October 28, 2006, 05:41 AM

i voted B id rather have a bugfree game then one with ctds left and right.

**Greek Fire 19** · October 28, 2006, 05:52 AM

it depends on the kind of bugs. I have no problems with missing unit cards, incomplete descriptions and the odd non-recurring CTD. In fact, im pretty ok with anything except that it really sucked when a persistant CTD cropped up and you had to abandon a campaign so if you could stop that happening I'd be happy with a release.

To be honest, I remember having loads of fun on the very first EB release back last Xmas, I mean there were bugs and stuff, but it was good, so if it's not gonna be worse than that in terms of bugs/glitches/unfinished bits then I vote for an early release.

On the other hand, MTWII wont work on my laptop (damn pixel shaders

)so you have to promise to ultimately finish off and polish 0.8 before you all rush off to make an MTWII mod.

**mike^_^** · October 28, 2006, 05:49 AM

i vote A.

while there may be bugs, on the other hand you will have the advantage of a massive playtesting audience

plus it's been so long, it would be really nice to see a release

**Cha0sMarin3** · October 28, 2006, 06:03 AM

Voted B. With the first version of EB (wich included some crash bugs) 2 of my savegames arent working anymore due to inevitable ctd's. I rather have a bugfree game and wait a few month than a rushed/buggy version.

**The White Knight** · October 28, 2006, 06:18 AM

C) This is your choice, dammit!

But by lack of option C I chose B: take whatever time you need to get as close to excellence as possible.

**Angmar_nite** · October 28, 2006, 06:27 AM

A, playtesting audience but maybe you should specify what kind of bugs.

**Sammur-amat** · October 28, 2006, 06:50 AM

bug free?...yeah right..

**Anarion** · October 28, 2006, 10:54 AM

I believe a massive feedback is the best thing a mod can have, even when you risk crucial bugs.

so A)

**wipeout140** · October 28, 2006, 11:00 AM

A) As there will always going to be bugs. And bigger audience will help find bugs

**The White Knight** · October 28, 2006, 11:04 AM

Aïe, A is winning! Think about it ...

Our scripting may not be where we want it to be. Our new factions will not be very well fleshed out.

**Zenith Darksea** · October 28, 2006, 11:09 AM

I definitely vote A, without a shadow of a doubt.

Originally Posted by Krusader

As you know the releases after 0.7.2 came hot and heavy, and we would expect the same to happen when we release 0.8.

Are we talking about the same mod here?

**Khelvan** · October 28, 2006, 11:42 AM

Originally Posted by Zenith Darksea

Are we talking about the same mod here?

Three new versions in two months was hot and heavy for us

Regarding bugs - the thing is, people always have the choice. If we release it and it has bugs, perhaps more than 0.7.4, you as the player don't have to play the new version. You can always play the older version. If we don't release it, those who don't care about running into such a bug will not be able to play it.

So if we are quite clear about the problems you might face, and we have been, and you guys choose option A), and you are one of those folks who don't want to play a version that might possibly CTD on you, you only have yourself to blame if you download it before those who are playing it say "I finished two whole campaigns without a single CTD!!"

**Sammur-amat** · October 28, 2006, 12:39 PM

Originally Posted by Khelvan

So if we are quite clear about the problems you might face, and we have been, and you guys choose option A), and you are one of those folks who don't want to play a version that might possibly CTD on you, you only have yourself to blame if you download it before those who are playing it say "I finished two whole campaigns without a single CTD!!"

The Poll is out,so lobbyin' for one of the poll options is not desirable.

If you don't won't to release, you don't have to, the mod is yours and its up to you, if and when will it be released.
If you however just wanted the public confirmation of option B, then the poll is meaningless .

**Foot** · October 28, 2006, 12:49 PM

Originally Posted by Sammur-amat

The Poll is out,so lobbyin' for one of the poll options is not desirable.

If you don't won't to release, you don't have to, the mod is yours and its up to you, if and when will it be released.
If you however just wanted the public confirmation of option B, then the poll is meaningless .

What he wants, and what the whole team wants is that we don't get this reputation as only handing out buggy builds to our fans. It has been quite worrisome that many people still think that 0.7.4 is unplayable. We just wish to point out that by releasing it early we will still have some issues to deal with, but the idea that an early 0.8 will be as buggy as 0.7.2 or so buggy that it is unplayable is not only harmful to EB's image (yes we do care) but also painful to watch. We don't mind if people don't like EB because they prefer the gameplay of other mods, or they think that our battle gameplay is too mediocre, but we do mind it when people are put off EB because of exaggarated rumours of game crashing bugs.

Basically this is a warning to our fans that releasing it early will leave some things unfinished, but please, please look to all the things we have finished and judge that, yes it may be unplayable to some, but we will fix that as fast as possible, all we ask is that we don't get given the unwarranted image of a game that is unplayable.

Foot

**Khelvan** · October 28, 2006, 01:38 PM

Originally Posted by Sammur-amat

The Poll is out,so lobbyin' for one of the poll options is not desirable.

If you don't won't to release, you don't have to, the mod is yours and its up to you, if and when will it be released.
If you however just wanted the public confirmation of option B, then the poll is meaningless .

Damn, someone should have told me it was "Make Wild Assumptions that are Completely Without Basis or Veracity" Day! These are fun days.

Edit: Thanks, Foot, but actually that wasn't my point. My point was simply that if A) is chosen no one has the right to complain about playing a buggy mod. If they don't want to play something with bugs they need to wait to download the fixes.

**Khelvan** · October 28, 2006, 05:08 PM

Nothing personal, but we don't allow editting other people's quotes. If you want to insult me, please do it without misquoting me or your post will be deleted (I do this for other people as well, so don't think it was because you misquoted me personally). Or better yet, take the joke for what it was, an attempt to turn your complete misinterpretation of what I was saying into something light-hearted.

**Sosobra** · October 28, 2006, 11:09 AM

I say A , there more people that play the more feedback you will have.

**Spartan19** · October 28, 2006, 11:25 AM

Later, please wait until later. There is nothing more frustrating then finally having enough money to build a big army, or recruit mercs, face off in a huge battle, barely win that battle, then have it CTD. That is the most frustrating thing in the world!!
If it wont be quite as stable as 7.4 I say later, even though I cant wait, and dont even have anything else to play on PC right now.