Patch delay discussion and news

[BIGNEWY]

Stable Version

Current version number: 2.9.5.55918

Next planned update: To be announced 
 

Dear All,

We regret to inform you that additional time is required to thoroughly test the recent fixes, necessitating another delay. We will communicate the new patch date as soon as the tasks are completed.

Thank you for your understanding and continued support.

Eagle Dynamics

[wjmzwx]

oh…………………………… god

[Bingo911]

Can't say this was unexpected lol.

[IanC58]

Lost my support and understanding

[Mav]

Ridiculous lol

[BIGNEWY]

We will share more detail in the newsletter about the delay. 

thank you 

[giullep]

no comment

[Snappy]

Can't make this stuff up. They should stop announcing anything, can't take them seriously anymore anyway at this point.
I get that its software and unexpected things do pop up, but the frequency , not to say consistency with which these busted release dates and last minute patch delays happen with ED seems to point to serious planning/organisational and QA issues.

Edited July 4, 2024 by Snappy

[Hog_driver]

10 minutes ago, IanC58 said:

Lost my support and understanding

Hopefully you still have the passion?

[Dataduffy]

I'm seeing the main website down, and can't access for authentication (offline only). Related?

 

[shrimpy_dikdik]

Don't understand the negative responses to be honest. I'd rather a working patch than one that breaks aspects of the game that was released to satisfy the impatient. 

 

Take your time ED, get it right even if it takes weeks rather than days. I will enjoy flying what I already have in the meantime. 

[Roy35150]

Fully agree with shrimpy,

If they released a broken patch their would be uproar LOL,

Give em time...

[Snappy]

20 hours ago, shrimpy_dikdik said:

Don't understand the negative responses to be honest. I'd rather a working patch than one that breaks aspects of the game that was released to satisfy the impatient. 

 

Yes, most of us would I guess. However more than one thing can be true at the same time.
 

The way this constantly happens with ED with almost everything they announce, whether module EA release,normal patch, Q&A newsletter answers  ,whatever you name it , points to systemic organisational/planning issues.

Which is why people are getting annoyed. Its not because they delayed this one patch. They delay everything and usually more than once and usually at the last minute.  Its not the first rodeo and it seems ED is not really learning from their experience. I totally get why people react negatively. 

Edited July 5, 2024 by Snappy

[Jayhawk1971]

ED should maybe look into re-evaluating their patch policy. Instead of packing everything into one large mega-patch, where one broken item can hold back the whole package, maybe consider splitting patches into smaller, but more frequent, updates, like splitting core updates and fixes from content releases and updates?

Easier to manage, quicker to release, and customers won't have to wait for months for a small fix for a highly annoying bug (like the game crashing every time a missile hits a target in the Zone 5 campaign, due to an internally already fixed glitch).

At least get me going again now with smaller fixes, and wow me later with the big kahuna patch.

For example, I can't see why content such as the "Gamblers" and "MiG Killers" campaigns can not be released now, while the team focuses on those items that need fixing with the core update. 

Just my 2c.

Edited July 4, 2024 by Jayhawk1971

[LieutenantFalcon]

5 minutes ago, shrimpy_dikdik said:

Don't understand the negative responses to be honest. I'd rather a working patch than one that breaks aspects of the game that was released to satisfy the impatient. 

 

Take your time ED, get it right even if it takes weeks rather than days. I will enjoy flying what I already have in the meantime. 

Nobody's ever going to be upset about playing a less buggy patch, but that's not what this is about. This is about ED setting dates a month in advance, and not being able to hit even the simple date which was going to be for a patch. On top of that, when the delay is only 1 day (which they must say for a reason) and for them to go "oh sorry another big bug came up" last-minute signals to the entire community they don't have it in order. That is what people are upset about, constant promises ED cannot deliver upon.
ED desperately need to overhaul how they compile and test patches, and how they subsequently set deadlines. They cannot keep leaving the testing to the last days because time and time again bugs pop up (as happens during testing) and the release dates for even regularly schedules patches gets blown past. They need to get their stuff in order if they want to save any bit of face at this point, the excuses have worn out.

[Badger1-1]

The thing is, they delayed already one day, fine.

 

but now its delayed indefinite....so Im asking what must go wrong to not be able to see this coming? and why not delay another day or two but indefinite?

[JoeFirefox]

I'm just extremely disappointed!
....please don't give out any more appointments if you can't keep them. Delays, now and then - no problem! But several times shortly before the announced release
- that doesn't seem professional. 
Just my 2 cents!

Edited July 4, 2024 by JoeFirefox

[Nealius]

3 minutes ago, Jayhawk1971 said:

Instead of packing everything into one large mega-patch, where one broken item can hold back the whole package, maybe consider splitting patches into smaller, but more frequent, updates, like splitting core updates and fixes from content releases and updates?

That's essentially what we already had before shifting to a 6-week patch cycle, which was only practiced for two or three patch cycles before this planned one which was at a 4-week interval. I seem to remember we used to have a bimonthly patch cycle, which then changed to monthly, which then changed to 6-weeks, but my memory on that is fuzzy.

Edited July 4, 2024 by Nealius

[Mav]

Just now, Jayhawk1971 said:

ED should maybe look into re-evaluating their patch policy. Instead of packing everything into one large mega-patch, where one broken item can hold back the whole package, maybe consider splitting patches into smaller, but more frequent, updates, like splitting core updates and fixes from content releases and updates?

Easier to manage, quicker to release, and customers won't have to wait for months for a small but highly annoying fix (like the game crashing every time a missile hits a target in the Zone 5 campaign, due to an internally already fixed glitch).

At least get me going again now with smaller fixes, and wow me later with the big kahuna patch.

For example, I can't see why content such as the "Gamblers" and "MiG Killers" campaigns can not be releases now, while the team focuses on those items that need fixing. 

Just my 2c.

I agree. We all want a fixed and working patch. Hell we all want a fixed and working game. The frustration seems to be aimed at the delegation of resources and focus put into HOW they release patches. The consistent and repetitive delays, especially recently, don't show us much to further support. I will always support ED, that's not the issue, but the logistics needs to be revamped a little for sure. Wouldn't go too far as to say the PR absolutely needs to be worked on as well. Is what it is I guess, but not surprised. 

[LieutenantFalcon]

2 minutes ago, Jayhawk1971 said:

ED should maybe look into re-evaluating their patch policy. Instead of packing everything into one large mega-patch, where one broken item can hold back the whole package, maybe consider splitting patches into smaller, but more frequent, updates, like splitting core updates and fixes from content releases and updates?

Easier to manage, quicker to release, and customers won't have to wait for months for a small fix for a highly annoying bug (like the game crashing every time a missile hits a target in the Zone 5 campaign, due to an internally already fixed glitch).

At least get me going again now with smaller fixes, and wow me later with the big kahuna patch.

For example, I can't see why content such as the "Gamblers" and "MiG Killers" campaigns can not be releases now, while the team focuses on those items that need fixing. 

Just my 2c.

 

This is roughly how things used to be, but even then updates were plagues by delays and ED themselves switched off of this system because it introduced way more bugs than they could test. They should probably stick to the longer time in between patches, but actually optimize the time they have properly so we don't need as many constant hotfixes.

[McVittees]

Man, stop over reacting people.  You know what I'm going to do? Go upstairs and play the game. Crazy huh?  You'd think some DCS players passion is just waiting for patches. 

Edited July 4, 2024 by McVittees

[Tusky]

hace 14 minutos, Snappy dijo:

They should stop announcing anything, can't take them seriously anymore anyway at this point.

This!

They should stop announcing dates and release the patch when it's ready along with the patch notes. Really, nobody would bother. It is more "damaging" to announce a date and not being able to meet it (and this time for three times!) than to simply say nothing and let people wait without expectations. Because once you build an expectation, people will keep you accountable for it.

[SteelPig]

5 minutes ago, Snappy said:

Yes, most of us would I guess. However more than one thing can be true at the same time.
 

The way this constantly happens with ED with almost everything the announce, whether module EA release,normal patch, Q&A newsletter answers  ,whatever you name it , points to systemic organisational/planning issues.

Which is why people are getting annoyed. Its not because they delayed this one patch. They delay everything and usually more than once and usually at the last minute.  Its not the first rodeo and it seems ED is not really learning from their experience. I totally get why people react negatively. 

 

No, it points to the fact that the bussiness they are operating in is software development. The absolute majority of games have a delay from their first announcement date. That's the nature of the beast.  

[Jayhawk1971]

vor 5 Minuten schrieb LieutenantFalcon:

This is roughly how things used to be, but even then updates were plagues by delays and ED themselves switched off of this system because it introduced way more bugs than they could test. They should probably stick to the longer time in between patches, but actually optimize the time they have properly so we don't need as many constant hotfixes.

But why have new modules and content such as campaigns to be bundled with core updates and bug fixes?

Edit: especially campaigns made with the mission editor should have absolutely no impact on DCS's core.

Edited July 4, 2024 by Jayhawk1971

[SEEADLER 111]

It is impossible to think Yours are a serious company.

There have been too many years of suffering. This from today is just one in middle of tausend.

Edited July 4, 2024 by SEEADLER 111