Anthony's end of day 11/11 post

[herald]

Actually what was said that there was a problem, and if they could not correct it, they would put out the patch with a work around. My guess is that the work around didn't solve the problem and hence there is a further delay.

So now we wait. Fight the good fight Anthony!

 

[wanderer9]

WoC - Managing Customers Expectations

No this is not a joke!

I just wondered who out there really, really, really expected the patch to be released on time?

One day Wizards will actually do what they say they are going to do and half their customers will go into shock!

 

[herald]

I did. What of it?

 

[Fast Learner]

Yup, I did too, but wasn't devastated when it didn't work out.

Based on Sr. Valterra's post noting that:

We don't want to put up a patch that is not usuable by a large portion of people who bought the product and that is what we have right now.

I suspect that the patch as it stands won't support those who bought the earlier, non-CD-requiring version of eTools, though obviously it could be something else.

If it's the CD issue then, if the patch was released as-is, Wizards would have an even larger customer service problem as hundreds (thousands?) of users wouldn't be able to use the patch. As I'd guess Wizards doesn't have the budget to send out a bunch of CDs, this becomes a sticky issue.

The options, as I see them, would either be a patch that checked to see which version of eTools you were running and correctly updated everyone's app, or a version that updated everyone's app that changed it to not looking for the CD. The former is more ideal since any form of copy protection will reduce the number of pirated installs, but either one would take the custserv heat away.

Now that Eric the programmer (now an ex-Fluid employee) isn't available to work on it, I wonder if Fluid still has the right person on staff to change the patch.

Maybe I've just worked in the software industry long enough to feel sympathy pains instead of disappointment.

 

[herald]

Eric the programer is not a employee of Fluid? I hadn't heard that. Where did you come by that information Fast learner?

 

[Luke]

Wizards said that the patch would be out today, they deliberatary lied to everyone.

That is *completely* unfair.

I've e-mailed and spoken to Anthony many times, and I *completely* reject the idea that he deliberately lied.

Its one thing to say that they missed a deadline. But *deliberately* lied????

So they *predicted* an 11/11 release, and the patch wasn't quite up to it by that date. Would you prefer if they went ahead anyway, on *your* say-so for the sake of a few days, and completely annoy a huge amount people with a sub-standard release? After all this time, can't you see that this is about getting *quality* into E-Tools, and a few days in the big picture is nothing...

How on earth can you feel justified in calling him a liar? That means you're asserting that Anthony *knew* they woudn't make the date when he announced it. That's a big, big call - even for a level 20 Psionicist.

Buddy, the *community* is extremely lucky to finally have somebody of Anthony's calibre stand up and open the communication channels.

However you feel about Wizards, the *community* doesn't need posts like that to discourage Wizards employees from finally opening up and trying rectify the problems of the past.

By the way, Anthony, congratulations on the release of "D20 Modern" as SRD content! Your team has obviously been working hard on different fronts!

Regards,

 

[Therigwin]

Now that Eric the programmer (now an ex-Fluid employee) isn't available to work on it, I wonder if Fluid still has the right person on staff to change the patch.

I have not heard this before. Can you support it with an official source? If it is true, it would make sense then that Fluid handed over the source code to Wizards.

I hope it is not the case, because it means patches and fixes would probably take longer to reach us.

 

[Darud]

Eric leaf posted about his separation from Fluid at this thread: http://enworld.cyberstreet.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=29360&pagenumber=3

 

[herald]

Well, if he is a ex-employee, maybe wizards should look to get him onboard with them, even if it was just as a sub-contractor.

Just a thought, not really a suggestion. Eric the Programmer had a good presence on the Fluid Boards. I think that he could help us sort the program out.

I was at the "Mastertools/E-tools" presentation at GenCon 2001. Wasn't Eric the Fluid rep on the discussion board with Ryan and Anthony?

On another note: I'm still very glad that Anthony is carring the banner for E-tools. Glad to know that it's moved up the chain instead of being passed down the chain.

 

[herald]

I just read the post.

Well now I see how I missed this bombshell. I was in Russia at the time. Damn!

Well this is a part of the puzzle that I have been missing for months.

I don't know what to make of this personally.