Why not release new planes when ready?

[StSanta]

Well, I prefer large, exciting updates to continouos small ones that do very little.

One of the problems with continuous updates is it might be a bit confusing - "this worked yesterday" or "this never happened before!".

Let's face it, we still have pilots who drop drunks below 750.

Could be fixed by RTFM, but again, lots don't, and I can hear the noise on ch1 already. If I squelch it, I might lose out on one or RAM's Pearls Of Wisdown  .

Look at what we get in 1.03. When I think about it, HTC have actually worked quite hard and fast to get it released sometimes this month.

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StSanta
II/JG2

[Wanker]

Whoa! If ya'll would please carefully re-read my initial post, I was talking about just releasing the planes when they're done, not any new features or bug fixes.

Sorrow, I'm sorry bud but I think it's a relavent question. How many people do you think would really complain if they could download a new plane every three weeks or so? Seems to me that a new plane release is cause for celebration, rather than irritation.

I myself am not distressed about the length of time between releases. I was merely thinking out loud about the possibility of not always keeping the planes out of the game until everything else in a planned version are ready, that's all.

[Mark Luper]

Granger,
There is a post by Pyro on the Announcements forum that pretty much covers it all.

banana, I agree, it would be cool to have new planes more often but I also like the idea of the bigger updates that include these new planes and address the other issues too. I think it makes it more exciting to get the update by waiting to release the new planes with it.

Mark

[CavemanJ]

If we got regular updates of new planes say every 2 weeks we would still have the hype of new features coming in big updates.  Let's say the 190A5 and Yak-9U(T) were given to us 2 weeks ago.  We'd still have all the hype and excitement of the coming sunsets, propdrag (FINALLY WOOHOO =), ground effect, etc etc

I think it would be a nice balance, and the flakpanzer would deffinately be a very welcome addition right now.  Time to teach them DweebCs to respect the tanks  

 

[Lizard3]

Download time isn't an issue. You don't have to "re-download" AH everytime thiers an update. I connect at caveman(notJ) speeds and even big updates are completed in a few minutes. Personally. I would prefer getting the new planes asap. The rest is just very rich indeed icing on the oh so skrumshus proverbial cake.

Liz
-who recently applied to the courts for a permanant last name change to...you guessed it...Jones-

[Pyro]

This thread cracks me but it pays us compliments in a warped way.  To answer the original question, there may be times when we release a version that is mainly just new planes.  But it is normally not feasible.  Once we're content that we won't have to do any more updates to a version, the codebase gets torn apart and nothing new can come out until it's done.  Also there's more to producing planes than just the art.  I need to work on them after the shapes are completed and that takes time too.



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Doug "Pyro" Balmos
HiTech Creations

Most plans are just inaccurate predictions.

[Wanker]

Pyro,

If this thread cracks you up, it's probably because of our ignorance about how your code works and how you design the game.

Little tidbits of info like what it takes to make a new piece of art fly, are the things that go a long way in helping us understand the process.

Those of us who don't live and breathe code for AH 24hrs a day like HTC, only have a vague understanding of what it takes to get a new plane from conception to the FTP site. Anything you can add that helps us understand that process will prevent future threads like this one.

[indian]

banana and most of the rest a to get a decent idea of how long it would take to write the code go to a computer store or library and just look into one of the programming books on any of the langagues out now. Its not as simple as if this then that like basic was, I studied C+ years ago it was an enormous program to learn I gave up on.

They are still upgradeing faster then anyone else are they not.

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Tommy (INDIAN) Toon
  1st Aces High Trainer Corps.
Home of The Allied Fighter Wing A.F.W.
A.F.W. Homepage

[HaHa]

Imho c++ was created by "computer scientists" to add complexity/design decisions to their field. Real developers still use C. The ONLY time C++ becomes viable is when you are working on huuuge projects "or" using a huge library. In the case of winxx they created the MFC class, which from what I understand is a pain in the arnold. Every oop language I've seen (Java/C++) have interesting concepts but are a mess to develop in. It's like trying to tell a baby how to walk by tieing two lead bricks to their feet.

[Pyro]

banana, it wasn't your question that I was referring to about cracking me up, just on the sentiment that we take too long on releases.  

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Doug "Pyro" Balmos
HiTech Creations

Most plans are just inaccurate predictions.

[This message has been edited by Pyro (edited 06-11-2000).]

[Dago]

Since I havent mastered every plane and every tactic, I guess I am not in a big hurry for updates.  I like them, and any improvements, but I know they will come in time.  I would rather get them when they are ready and not try to hurry it.

Better done right the first time.

The rest of you can just stop your impatient whining like a bunch of spoiled little kids wanting the newest, latest and greatest Nintendo game.  

Dago

[HaHa]

Before 1.02 HTC said they would be (and are) putting out new releases every two weeks. However, since 1.02 it was changed, saying releases are 1 to 1 1/2 months. The fact is, we are now rolling into 2 months + now with 1.03. Compared to most other companies you are great which is the reason why other companies aren't getting my $$. However, compared to your previous performance the length of release times has increased (albeit with more features).

Like I said I attribute it to the summer/holiday thing - you guys deserve a break. Some of us just hope this isn't a trend (I personally prefer shorter release times - even if it means less features).

[By-Tor]

Well said Dago. Im sure we're not the only 2 that havent mastered every plane yet.Theres still Soooo much to be learned with the current version,I can manage(barely )to hold back my 'need' for the Zeke or Yak or ...

      By-Tor

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"SCREAM'IN PTERODACTYLS"

[RAM]

   

Originally posted by Pyro:
banana, it wasn't your question that I was referring to about cracking me up, just on the sentiment that we take too long on releases.  

I had that feeling before knowing what was included in 1.03. As soon as I aknowledged the enormous improvement it is, the timing seems really great. Maybe people thinks that 2 months is a lot of time to do a new release. I know very little on programation and coding, but I know enough to say that this work,if was done in 4 or 5 months, would have been a very good achievement. 2-3 months is simply awesome.


Anyway, what banana said is true. I didnt understood why, having a 190A5 ended for a (more or less) long time, HTC didnt release it as soon as ready. Now I understand it perfectly.

But well I guess I'm not the one to talk in this thread, nor about any releases, for evident and well known causes.



[This message has been edited by RAM (edited 06-11-2000).]

[cokerr]

I think the releases effecting general game play are timely and in direct response to the input of the AH community.
If the release of an aircraft is done as a stand alone application, the complaints like,
"this AC doesn't turn right" or " this AC doesn't climb right" or "this AC has uber cannon" would delay the really important releases. Like the ones that fix bugs.
I would rather have less planes, and a game that runs smoothly.
IMHO,
coker