Ts2010EE on schedule ?

[durhamlass]

I really am struggling to see what all the fuss is about personally. Perhaps someone can explain carefully exactly what I am not seeing?

As am I. As a C++ software developer/publisher myself, I can tell you it is extremely difficult to work to a specific release deadline.

To hit the release date, there can be no last minutes surprises, and everything in the release candidate code has to work as expected when used under real conditions (which are not what even the best developers work under. That's why good testers are so valuable and so expensive).

Even with the best developers, testers and most effective development practices (we use a form of agile we've developed over the past 4 years) this is a very tricky proposition to say the least.

This particular bug sounds like a real edge case - the sort that Murphy's Law dictates you'll only find when it's most inconvenient and will take a fortnight to nail down and fix (memory problems are like that).

Hence I have some sympathy with Auran here. If you want a fixed release date, this is what usually happens. The alternative is no projected date and "we'll ship it when it's ready", which most markets won't accept.

 

[john_goddard]

As am I. As a C++ software developer/publisher myself, I can tell you it is extremely difficult to work to a specific release deadline.

To hit the release date, there can be no last minutes surprises, and everything in the release candidate code has to work as expected when used under real conditions (which are not what even the best developers work under. That's why good testers are so valuable and so expensive).

Even with the best developers, testers and most effective development practices (we use a form of agile we've developed over the past 4 years) this is a very tricky proposition to say the least.

This particular bug sounds like a real edge case - the sort that Murphy's Law dictates you'll only find when it's most inconvenient and will take a fortnight to nail down and fix (memory problems are like that).

Hence I have some sympathy with Auran here. If you want a fixed release date, this is what usually happens. The alternative is no projected date and "we'll ship it when it's ready", which most markets won't accept.

At last a bit of commonsense amidst all the moans and groans!! John.

 

[durhamlass]

At last a bit of commonsense amidst all the moans and groans!! John.

Anytime...I've been in the industry long enough now to have pretty much seen it all and worked out for myself what works and what doesn't! Long enough to see the stuff I've always do routinely appear in books with funky titles like "Refactoring", anyway.

In my day job we don't have fixed public release schedules for the very reason Auran are now bumping into - instead we plan for roughly when we want to release, and put successive internal builds through full testing until we're confident that it's "good enough". Only at that point do we commit to a release date - by which time it is usually imminent.

However, we are in a very different market, and one I suspect that's more accepting of a flexible schedule than the games market Auran are in.

 

[mcguirel]

And people say I complain - WOW

My two cents worth though is why this was not found early in testing?
This is a core issue and should of been realized quickly.

Oh well, I am not the gate keeper nor do I know every little detail. The fact remains, I am greatful to have passed on pre-orderring. Unlikely I will jump on the bandwagon after it is released, as I am afraid once again problems will be seen afterwards I have no desire to deal with and truthfully should of been seen during testing (yet to become reality, just suspicion).

I do agree that release dates are release dates. This is one of very few games that I see a persistant delay.

 

[geoffwilliams]

Re the 64 bit vs 32 bit, it may have been in one of the deleted/removed posts/threads but didn't someone record that certain parts of TS2010 had hit a brick wall in 32 bit, which was then followed by a suggestion if this was the long routes (which have never had a problem running in Trainz before) Auran should consider releasing two versions.

I would still like to know why what is essentially eight year old software suddenly needs a 64 bit O/S to get the best out of it.

Anyhow I have emailed the Helpdesk asking them to cancel the preorder as, regardless of staus on the Account Page, that's what it is until the official release date. If you pre-order a CD or Blu-Ray from Play.com or Amazon you can cancel right up until the release date...

I think it's just a case of Auran shooting themselves in the foot again. Trainz is a 32 bit program, if you have the maximum 4GB memory and Vista it will use more than 2GB of RAM if they have programmed it that way.
I am yet to be convinced that a 64bit operating system will make the slightest bit of difference. Maybe if they write a 64bit version.
They also recommend Vista - so they shot themselves in the other foot as well.
Geoff

 

[sterrett]

Don't worry how long it takes, within reason! I learnt patience as a youngster, and suggest some of the malcontents on the forum do likewise!

 

[amigacooke]

I do agree that release dates are release dates. This is one of very few games that I see a persistant delay.

With the revelation of a new release schedule from Activision-Blizzard this morning, highlighting the publishers autumn/winter line-up, Electronic Theatre can today confirm that the PC version of the highly-anticipated Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 has suffered a delay. Originally due for a simultaneous release with the rest of 2009’s Call of Duty onslaught, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 will now officially be late to the party.

It's been a game we have been waiting to play for a long time and it looks like the wait just got longer...but not by much. Publisher Sega has sent over word that the historical RTS title Empire: Total War, developed by The Creative Assembly, has been pushed back from its planned February 2, 2009 release.

However the delay isn't a huge one. Sega now says the game will ship to store in "early March" so that's only a month's difference, give or take a few days.

Rockstar Games will announce that it will delay the release of its highly-anticipated title Grand Theft Auto IV. Previously slated to hit stores on October 17th, the game will now make its way to gamers some point early next year.

The latest Game Informer reports that Spore has been "delayed indefinitely", but reached for comment today, Electronic Arts says that "Spore has slipped out of fiscal 08 and into fiscal 09". Either way you cut it, it means that the game we've all been waiting to play on our computers isn't coming anytime soon.

It's a well know fact that only Auran delays software.

 

[clam1952]

And people say I complain - WOW

My two cents worth though is why this was not found early in testing?
This is a core issue and should of been realized quickly.

Maybe the testers were using small routes or unlikely but possible they were all on 64 bit OS's. I'm purely guessing here but I can imagine say one of the testers when maybe they thought testing was complete, loading a favourite large route and discovering the problem at the last minute, whoever discovered it has probably done Auran a big favour because imagine what the response on here would be if large routes started crashing the simulator?

Beta testing software, of which I have done a fair bit is not an exact science, there is always the bug that never gets noticed, the hardware or combination of, that no one has, the sequence of events that no one expected, if you follow my drift. During the early stages of most Alpha and Beta tests I participated in, nothing if in fact anything worked as it was supposed to. Trainz wise, I doubt a large route would even be tried at that stage and no I was not involved in 2010 before anyone asks.

To me having to wait for a Trainz with a major late bug, hopefully squashed, is preferable to the Microsoft method of ignore the testers, release it bugs and all and then chuck out dozens of updates to make it work properly as they did with ME, XP and Vista.

Talking of late............ Duke Nukem Forever anyone??

 

[chefbyte]

A bit of bed time reading for you all

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conspiracy_theory

Get over it and wait it out, as it will get released when its ready.

I am off to bed now and will be reading a fine book that I have to finish off.

Night all and thanks for the many laughs today

 

[airtime]

Wheres my Duke Nukem... oh sorry wrong forum:hehe:

I loved Duke Nukem 3D, it was the best... what are you waiting for......christmas

Joe Airtime
Damn...those alien b@st@rds are going to pay for shooting up my ride... happy memories...

 

[builder300544]

To answer some questions.

The orders for DVD versions for Europe now will show as 'processed' because I've now processed them.
Mike.

Nice to see that the distribution of the DVD's is once again in your capable hands Mike. Keep up the good work.

Cheers, John

 

[WindWalkr]

Hi all,

Just an unofficial heads-up:

We now seem to be at the stage where we're happy with stability on Vista 32 as well as the 64-bit OSes. We're still having some memory issues on XP/32 so we're not quite out of the woods yet, but the end is in sight

chris

 

[knight42]

Hi all,

Just an unofficial heads-up:

We now seem to be at the stage where we're happy with stability on Vista 32 as well as the 64-bit OSes. We're still having some memory issues on XP/32 so we're not quite out of the woods yet, but the end is in sight

chris

As someone who can't afford to upgrade to Win7, I say take as long as you like on that last issue...

 

[itareus]

Thanks for the information Chris.

 

[FootplatePhil]

As someone who can't afford to upgrade to Win7, I say take as long as you like on that last issue...

Same sentiment here. And despite some of the impatient howls for immediate gratification expressed in this thread, I'd hazard a guess that Jamie and I aren't the only XP 32 Trainzers that would rather you sort it out properly now. I'd prefer that than waiting for an after Christmas SP1.

Phil

 

[amigacooke]

I'd hazard a guess that Jamie and I aren't the only XP 32 Trainzers that would rather you sort it out properly now.

There is at least one more.

 

[fullsteamahead]

Can anyone tell me if the DVD version of 2010 has been put back and if so what is the eta? While on the same theme why is it called the Engineers Edition?
Andrew

 

[RRSignal]

There are a LOT more XP-32'ers that I know of. Count me in. A good friend of mine only grudgingly bought a computer for taking his photos off his camera and for playing MSTS. I couldn't get him to switch to Vista or 7 if I gave it to him for free and did all the installation.

 

[Vern]

I have had some re-assurances in private correspondence with Auran and have decided to let my order stand. I'm sure there's much to look forward to in the new version including the ECML route and the route building possibilities with the new features.

As I "skipped" 2009 for review purposes on my site I'm also hoping to give 2010 a thorough evaluation and workout!

 

[IsambardKingdomBrunel]

I have had some re-assurances in private correspondence with Auran and have decided to let my order stand. I'm sure there's much to look forward to in the new version including the ECML route and the route building possibilities with the new features.

As I "skipped" 2009 for review purposes on my site I'm also hoping to give 2010 a thorough evaluation and workout!

Back to Railfail tomorrow then Vern.

Saturday it will be MSTS day. :hehe:

regards,
Mike.