Ah well, since people have popcorn and soda ready and you gave me a number of reasons for your stance on 2009, I'll give you some responses Qieubus.
Fury was a different time and place with different objectives. I have admitted in the past that as CEO I was ultimately responsible. Trainz 2009 couldn't be more different to Fury in terms of scale and length of development. Trainz has been "in development" since 2000 and has a large customer base with detailed knowledge of what they'd like improved in their rail simulator of choice.
And getting rid of me is going to be really hard since I happen to be the major shareholder of Auran
I'm not sure what you're referring to, but I believe TS2009 is the version that will give customers everything they want and need. We are building upon a very solid base and will be releasing regular free updates on our way to making Trainz 2010 and beyond.
I totally agree that a few months just isn't enough to build a simulator from scratch. But we've had 3 years since 2006 was released and TS2009 incorporates not just the first 5 years development but alos the last 3 years of Classics features. I'm not sure why you've singled out 2009 as an upgrade to 2004 since it is also an update to Trainz V1, V1.3, UTC, 2006, TC1,2&3. Just like Fifa (the biggest selling franchise of them all) we iterate and improve every year.
Actually $30 + $30 = $60 which is 20% more than $50 not double (all major releases have been $50 since 2001).
With a pre-order discount of 20% on TEE it's basically the same price as one full priced release.
2009 does have all the previously releasd content but it also has features. Are you assuming that TEE has no new content?
We're really only splitting up the release of 2009 into two parts. Once TEE is out everyone is really on the same platform. To get new content you really need the new platform and so that's why we're releasing WBE months before TEE.
The in-game browser has had less than one person for less than half the development cycle. This makes it less than 10% of the development effort. You are right that I do decide what goes in or not, but you're wrong about the customers having no say in the matter. There are many threads involving customer input into the design features and more detailed terrain and texturing was far and away the major feture request.
It doesn't sound like you're prepared to give me a second chance at all. Your mind is made up that 2009 will be a disaster and it is all down to my handling of Fury. I can't figure out that logic at all. It's not like Fury is the first MMO to go down - Hellgate London, made by the team that made Diablo II and with a rumored $25M marketing budget also failed in the same space of time. Does that make their CEO Bill Roper your enemy too?
You don't need to trust my word, but instead become involved in the Beta test, give feedback and see what happens. Instead you choose to have your Beta serial number published on these forums. I can only assume that you know Remilliard (aka Zwabbaraar) who also has some major issues with my "word". Perhaps the two of you need to consider your motivations for staying around these forums.
I also notice that you have never registered a version of Trainz so it's interesting that you have such stong opinions about a product when you have never used the download station or, for as much as we know, purchased a copy of the game.
If you feel you have something constructive to say, then by all means continue. If you wish to question my integrity further then I'm not interesting in listening.
In summary, you feel that because Fury failed and I'm still in charge, TS2009 will fail too. I beg to differ and one of us wil be right
Tony
