Being a programmer myself, I am fully aware of the amount of effort required to put together a complete software package. It requires many man hours of research, design and code. Once completed, implementing changes also requires the same kind of effort. Rarely, if ever, is a change as simple as flipping a parameter value, or re-writing a single line of code. Almost always, changes are required to many objects, thus impacting the entire codebase. These changes must then be tested in order to see how they co-exist with the current code. Repeat this process until such time that you feel your product is ready for release.
It is at this point of release that the cacophony of voices from the customer base is heard. Occasionally one voice stands out above the others and notices the white paper instead of the dot. However, most voices are exactly what beet1e describes. "Howcome I died?" and "Why did my plane blow up for no reason?" and "That shrub caused my tank to flip over and explode!" ad nauseum.
What these voices do address, however, are the results of the myriad of tests performed by the customer base. The team at HTC cannot possibly perform every single test in every single situation. They don't have the manpower to do so. By having these concerns addressed by the customer base, especially multiple times, and in multiple ways, the staff at HTC can say, "Perhaps we should re-evaluate the object collision code for ground vehicles to see if something can be done."
Again the cycle of researching, designing, coding and testing repeats. Things will not always work out as planned along the way. A seeminly simple change may produce widespread effects that could not be forseen. It is a good company that takes advantage of these mistakes, and makes it a point to correct them. HTC is one such company. They analyze the needs of the customers, and make the decision to implement the most pertinent of the changes.
Imagine how many of us would still be here if HTC ignored our requests. Imagine how many would care about Aces High, if it were evident that the staff that produced the game did not. We are a lucky group. We are able to play the most complete massive multiplayer World War II vehicular combat simulation available. We have a great community of people, who are exceptionally knowledgable. In short, how many guys and girls would any of you have met, and been enriched by, were it not for this game?
HTC to a job exceptionally done.
