So, what do you think of Gleemax?

[D'karr]

If I want a website that's pretty to look at, I'll google Monica Belucci.

Give me something I can USE.

Thanks.

Monica, Yumm!

 

[keterys]

Maybe you can convince the devteam to do some sort of Beta update?

Well, I think it's more of a business decision than a dev decision, but... I do try. Every week I ask about updates and timelines and such.

Anyhow, time for me to go google Monica Belucci, cause I have no idea who that is, and clearly it's important.

 

[smathis]

Well, I think it's more of a business decision than a dev decision, but... I do try. Every week I ask about updates and timelines and such.

Maybe you can just forward them a link to these forums? Sometimes the suits really need to interface with the peeps to get an idea of how they're being perceived outside of the boardroom.

Or heck forward WotC this thread. Gleemax is just as representative of their DI as it is of Gleemax -- as other posters have pointed out. And, if I were payin' da bills in Renton, Gleemax would be having a very hard time of it.

Not only is Gleemax losing potential customers with the alpha that never ends but I'd warrant that DDI is too. IMO, Gleemax is to the point that even pushing out a buggy Beta is better than what they have.

In short, maybe the public alpha was premature? In any case, it's out there and it needs a-fixin'.

But definitely familiarize yourself with Ms. Belucci. Maybe she can help you escape the clutches of inter-office politics.



EDIT: Forgot the most important part. Thanks for hanging in there and trying your best with Gleemax. I saw in your sig that you were doing this on a volunteer basis, so double thanks for that. I think we all realize what a great tool Gleemax could be but it's a little frustrating at this point. I'm sure no one understands this better than you.

So, thanks. And keep on keepin' on.

 

[Brown Jenkin]

I attended a seminar at the GAMA Trade show that covered Gleemax. Not that this will be a surprise but the release date has been pushed back again and they were saying at the GTS that they now expect Gleemax to be fully up at the end of the year. So much for Gleemax being up by June 6. This date was only in regards to Gleemax and not to the DDI. Personally I don't see the DDI being ready by June 6 either, but WotC has not commented on that as far as I know.

 

[keterys]

An example of stuff actually happening behind the scenes, but not on the visible part (the blogs):

Gleemax Games Portal is now live for free testing. While it doesn't have 4E running on it, it's at least pertinent for whether WotC can get an online game going and follow through on DDI. Course 'for testing' does mean that, and I wouldn't count on how well it handles being completely hammered.

But I just played a bunch of games and it was a ton of fun, so that's something

 

[Zulithe]

Thanks keterys. If WotC found the developer time to finish all these games (well, nearly finish, aka Alpha ) then i certainly hope there won't be any delays with the D&DI tools launching on June 6th (or sooner, in a preview form!) Since that is the only aspect of gleemax that appeals to me.

 

[lutecius]

I just checked: still ugly, still a pain to navigate, especially the blogs.


On a side note, reading this thread made me wonder... are there really people in the US still on dial-up?
I don't mean to sound condescending or derail the thread, this is genuine curiosity.

 

[Khairn]

I just checked: still ugly, still a pain to navigate, especially the blogs.


On a side note, reading this thread made me wonder... are there really people in the US still on dial-up?
I don't mean to sound condescending or derail the thread, this is genuine curiosity.

There sure are. Especially outside the major metropolitan area's. I used to live in Columbus Georgia, a city of well over 100,000, that when you add the military base, and neighboring commuter towns had a population of over 200,000. Yet just a short 10 mile drive out of town brought you to an area where your choice for internet connection was satellite or dial-up. Internet dial-up is very much a reality for many people in the US.

 

[Shemeska]

The following was mentioned to me at NC gameday this past weekend, and I find the comment rather convincing: "Gleemax reeks of a group of contractors stretching a paycheck out as long as possible."

It has become a case study in how not to construct, market, or manage a website. I don't see it being up and running (or the full DDI for that matter) by its deadline. And call me cynical but I expect more job offers for coders to pop up after that initial deadline passes and it's not ready and they change development teams. I don't think it'll end up vaporware, but I truly shudder to think of the financial drain it's going to cause if it doesn't pan out and get subscribers for the DI.