When it become available for download?

[Mt5_Roie]

No, not friday. I'm going to be on vacation :/

 

If you call now you can still get your money back!

[BRooDJeRo]

To be honest im quite a non pre-order person. Maybe because im less sensative for marketing.

Still id like to see and maybe even try something working before spending any money on something. When you go buy or order a car you make a testdrive at least. When you buy tomatoes you check the quality. You get my drift.

Since a few years theres a trend of buying something first before it is even available or even in production. The software market makes use of this concept alot, although im kind of scepticle if the endproduct will be as qualitative then when its fully tested and major bugs ironed out before presented and being a 'paid-for-product'.

Battlefield is undergoing the same process. Its a prepaid product with the final product actualy being a beta-fase piece of software and by the time everything is fixed, the next series are on its way.

 

Now we have combined arms. Id love to order the prepaid, but in order for me to get that far is to at least get an exact date and something that could meet release version state instead of beta. Dont feel too much offended. Im still from the era when you didnt have to pay to become a betatester. :smilewink:

As being a sceptic i also look at other promises made. Like Nevada. Sometimes its totaly out of your hands or plans change when things dont go as promised. I dont have to go into details about this because i dont to to wake sleeping dogs nor start a forumriot, but it sort of creates a reason not to pre-pay.

Ive also invested in expensive hardware to play DCS. (yadda yadda whine whine)

Theres alot more people thinking like me and those are the ones that might have left already.

 

My question actualy is, is this being discused and is there any plans on the table to get the 'glue' to do its job?

[EtherealN]

Dont feel too much offended. Im still from the era when you didnt have to pay to become a betatester. :smilewink:

 

You don't. I've not paid to be a beta-tester.

 

You are looking at that from the wrong angle: you are offered the opportunity to pre-order, and if you do so, you get a beta code as a "thankyou" to enjoy until the release is made. There is no pressure to follow a testing regimen. Just play it.

 

The automobile example doesn't quite follow though - automobiles cost considerably more than a computer game. ;)

 

A more apt example: when you go to the cinema, do you get to see the movie before you pay? :)

 

Like Nevada. Sometimes its totaly out of your hands or plans change when things dont go as promised. I dont have to go into details about this because i dont to to wake sleeping dogs nor start a forumriot, but it sort of creates a reason not to pre-pay.

 

If there hadn't been such a program you wouldn't even have known about it. ;)

And remember, the "promised" Nevada was a 3rd party effort that fell through and ED took over development of it. So in fact, you're getting more than you were ever promised. :)

 

My question actualy is, is this being discused and is there any plans on the table to get the 'glue' to do its job?

 

I don't understand this question. Clarify?

[Weltensegler]

You don't. I've not paid to be a beta-tester.

 

You are looking at that from the wrong angle: you are offered the opportunity to pre-order, and if you do so, you get a beta code as a "thankyou" to enjoy until the release is made. There is no pressure to follow a testing regimen. Just play it.

 

The automobile example doesn't quite follow though - automobiles cost considerably more than a computer game. ;)

 

A more apt example: when you go to the cinema, do you get to see the movie before you pay? :)

 

 

If there hadn't been such a program you wouldn't even have known about it. ;)

And remember, the "promised" Nevada was a 3rd party effort that fell through and ED took over development of it. So in fact, you're getting more than you were ever promised. :)

 

I couldn't agree more! think it through again and be thankful!

Or wait until release :)

[EtherealN]

One thing I'll add that might perhaps help explain the "open beta" practice: there are certain things that simply cannot be tested until the public has it's hands on it. The PC is an extremely heterogenous platform (as opposed to a homogenous platform, like a console, where the hardware is known and there is little to no variation in what the customer will be running the software on). Consider that on the PC, we're asking the exact same piece of software to work on several operating systems, each with several subversions, on the most eclectic and varied combinations of hardware the world can throw at it. Take a look here:

 

http://komplett.nl/Komplett/catalog/zkb_01com/15_mobo/02_int1155/default.aspx

 

That is ONLY what this specific store has, and only Socket 1155. Then there's all kinds of other things that can vary. Graphics cards are available in about 5 billion variants. And then you have a library of different driver versions each of these cards might be running on. Etcetera etcetera.

 

Testing this "in house" is pretty much impossible, this requires a huge testing lab with deep connections in the relevant hardware industry, and this is things only big corporations like Microsoft, Electronic Arts, Ubisoft etcetera can afford - specifically because they can utilize it for a huge amount of products; and are often even able to ask nVidia and AMD to write specific optimizations to drivers for their games.

 

So open beta is not something that replaces internal testing. It complements internal testing towards something that would otherwise be impossible to even contemplate until after "release".

[BRooDJeRo]

Thank you for your reaction this quickly.

 

Dont feel too much offended my friend. As i said im just a scepticle kind of person that has been around since when the A-10C came out.

I havent been reading up on every followups made or seen pieces of true information and communication regarding projects.

Still keep in mind that even when a developer is concidered a 3rd party on paper, its still being concidered by the majority as a part of the 2nd party, because that is what i see as customer in the endproduct. And thats something to be pround of when it comestogether like this.

 

Ofcourse its nice to receive a 'thank you' for making an investment and totaly at its place.

As a customer im at the receiving end and the experience blundly is that you slip you card for something that you want. Not?

It is for fact that it is a way of looking at it. I just belong to a group of persons that doesnt listen to the whole story around, but what is presented in fact.

 

"The automobile example doesn't quite follow though - automobiles cost considerably more than a computer game."

- Yes it does. Youre right on that the amount you pay is diffent, however its about how the choice is made.

The older a person gets, in most cases people teach themselves an order of steps before a purchase is made to prevent the tears afterwards.

 

"A more apt example: when you go to the cinema, do you get to see the movie before you pay? "

- The product you will see is the full endproduct, not the B-roll/uncut version. You get 'testdrives' in the form of 'spoilers'.

 

"My question actualy is, is this being discused and is there any plans on the table to get the 'glue' to do its job?"

"I don't understand this question. Clarify?"

- Well, nobody is the same in the world, although related to what you do in this world you can still belong to a certain group.

I belong to the sceptical group in this case.

When you have an active marketing department then its most likely known that they have these groups to satisfy in order to keep their attention directed to your product.

When i look at the multiplayer availability, i can presume that what there is playing at the moment 'the steady core' of customers. Its a sign that the 'floating' customer is 'floating' elsewhere. :)

 

But dont feel to offended too much my friend. Dont answer if it doesnt feel right to answer.

I still think that you make awesome software for criticts like me. :thumbup:

[rss0900]

I like the idea of open beta pre release. 99% of games are being released way to early now and patched later. Games are not usually playable for months sometimes a year after patching. I think this will be the route more and more devs take going forward. ED is ahead of the curve in this and I like the way they do business.

 

I'd suggest making people sign a pre-download waiver though upon downloading beta that they understand this is pre-release and beta testing. A bug free product should not be expected and it's possible this beta may not initially run on your machine specs. This should help to cut down on the ignorant people who buy, pre-download, play with the expectation of a finished bug free game and then complain about the state of the software.

[metalnwood]

I understand that you're not going to buy something this way on principal.

 

There are a few things I don't do on principal as well but I must say I don't quite understand why you have this approach here?

 

I had more fun with the a10 at it's price during the beta period than I have had with a lot of games that cost more over their entire life - which is often short for most games these days.

 

My view is if you like something why not do it? The word beta is a fairly insignificant thing to get principals involved when you know you would be enjoying it.

 

I would think most people here know they will be buying the product so getting it early is a bonus and will do it. If DCS is just a game in your library of many that is played infrequently and you would be just as happy not loading it up in favor of battlefield then I get your perspective completely.

 

You just have to remember most people here would rather be on DCS and thats their perspective.

 

 

To be honest im quite a non pre-order person. Maybe because im less sensative for marketing.

Still id like to see and maybe even try something working before spending any money on something. When you go buy or order a car you make a testdrive at least. When you buy tomatoes you check the quality. You get my drift.

Since a few years theres a trend of buying something first before it is even available or even in production. The software market makes use of this concept alot, although im kind of scepticle if the endproduct will be as qualitative then when its fully tested and major bugs ironed out before presented and being a 'paid-for-product'.

Battlefield is undergoing the same process. Its a prepaid product with the final product actualy being a beta-fase piece of software and by the time everything is fixed, the next series are on its way.

 

Now we have combined arms. Id love to order the prepaid, but in order for me to get that far is to at least get an exact date and something that could meet release version state instead of beta. Dont feel too much offended. Im still from the era when you didnt have to pay to become a betatester. :smilewink:

As being a sceptic i also look at other promises made. Like Nevada. Sometimes its totaly out of your hands or plans change when things dont go as promised. I dont have to go into details about this because i dont to to wake sleeping dogs nor start a forumriot, but it sort of creates a reason not to pre-pay.

Ive also invested in expensive hardware to play DCS. (yadda yadda whine whine)

Theres alot more people thinking like me and those are the ones that might have left already.

 

My question actualy is, is this being discused and is there any plans on the table to get the 'glue' to do its job?

[metalnwood]

In fact BRooDJeRo, this scheme works out perfectly for you.

 

You dont have to purchase it but through the forums you will get the best reviews from lots of members all through the beta process so that you can decide for yourself. As someone who wont buy early you dont often get that opportunity to look in from the sidelines before it goes gold.

[BRooDJeRo]

In fact BRooDJeRo, this scheme works out perfectly for you.

 

You dont have to purchase it but through the forums you will get the best reviews from lots of members all through the beta process so that you can decide for yourself. As someone who wont buy early you dont often get that opportunity to look in from the sidelines before it goes gold.

 

That also another way of looking at it. :) I guess im still stuck in the old world where an amount of money is paid before 'end-status' of a product is considered an 'investment' which entitles you to a certain agreed upon percentage of the profit. :megalol:

[metalnwood]

That also another way of looking at it. :) I guess im still stuck in the old world where an amount of money is paid before 'end-status' of a product is considered an 'investment' which entitles you to a certain agreed upon percentage of the profit. :megalol:

 

Yes but the word profit does not have to mean financial gain, to profit can be to benefit in a number of ways which I suspect most early buyers will.

 

At the end of the day we don't fork over this money for a tool to get us from A to B like a car or a device like a electric drill which must last us a couple of years. We buy it for the entertainment and in this case ED has shown in the past that we can get a lot of entertainment from their products whether in beta form or not. So I say we are getting our money's worth.

 

If you don't feel you cant gain any entertainment from the beta product then I find that strange but understandable why you would not want to pay.

[EtherealN]

That also another way of looking at it. :) I guess im still stuck in the old world where an amount of money is paid before 'end-status' of a product is considered an 'investment' which entitles you to a certain agreed upon percentage of the profit. :megalol:

 

You are confusing this with purchasing stocks, bonds or interest-carrying obligations or convertibles. Though only the bonds, some types of obligations, and the convertibles actually pay an "agreed upon" percentage. Stock generally do not have any such arrangement; rather, the board will recommend to the shareholders a given dividend depending on the performance of the company. Some companies doesn't do this at all; this year was the first time since 1995 that Apple paid dividends. ;)

 

That's different from paying in advance for a product; I bought my first magazine subscription a very long time ago. I paid a year in advance. They did not pay me dividends. Did same thing a few years ago with the yearly sub of Asimov magazine; I pay in advance and over the next year they send me magazines. :)

 

Anyhow, I understand your perspective (though I still don't understand that last question you asked - as in, I don't mean not understanding why you'd ask it, I mean I literally didn't understand what you were saying, making it hard for me to answer that question ;) ), but for the reasons I have explained I don't share it. To each their own. But isn't it nice that those that DO like this are given the option? Nothing is taken away from YOU after all - in fact, you are greatly helped by it, for the hardware exposure reasons I explained earlier.

Edited June 19, 2012 by EtherealN

[EtherealN]

"A more apt example: when you go to the cinema, do you get to see the movie before you pay? "

- The product you will see is the full endproduct, not the B-roll/uncut version. You get 'testdrives' in the form of 'spoilers'.

 

As an aside, btw - a "spoiler" is not what you are thinking about. A "spoiler" is when someone tells you the ending to a book or movie before you saw it, making the book not fun to read for you.

 

You are thinking about a "trailer". :)

 

Regarding full end product, I don't agree that that is what you get at the cinema. Consider the movie Terminator 2: Judgement Day, with Arnold Schwarzenegger.

 

First you have the cinema release.

Then comes VHS and DVD releases.

Then comes "director's cut".

Then comes "remastered".

Then comes "director's cut remastered"...

 

... and they're still going strong. :P

(Personally I think all versions are fine, as long as there are ebil killer machines I'm happy. :D )

[metalnwood]

Trailers are about the most misleading. How many times have you been to a movie based on a trailer and thought that every funny scene in the movie was in the trailer - and then there was just another one hour twenty minutes..

[BRooDJeRo]

Damn, i love those movies. Its funny you mention them, ive just been watching them this week for the 1.000.000 time. :music_whistling:

[NineLine]

Damn, i love those movies. Its funny you mention them, ive just been watching them this week for the 1.000.000 time. :music_whistling:

 

 

And Arnie has signed on for 2 more... so I guess the newest model of Terminator will be disguised as an aging 64 year old body builder... of course he is probably still in better shape than me :D

[komemiute]

Trailers are about the most misleading. How many times have you been to a movie based on a trailer and thought that every funny scene in the movie was in the trailer - and then there was just another one hour twenty minutes..

 

 

So true...

3 words...

 

Charlie's

Angels

2

[kokoweems]

I bet on the last day of June

[HiJack]

If ED does not get finished before the end of june its fine. It will be ready when its ready :D In the mean time go out and do some biking or other stuff ;)

 

(HJ)

[Nate--IRL--]

I don't remember it being stated that it was June of this particular year....

 

Nate

 

 

:P

 

[cichlidfan]

I don't remember it being stated that it was June of this particular year....

 

Nate

 

 

:P

DUXFORD, UK, May 31st 2012 – The Fighter Collection and Eagle Dynamics will offer DCS: Combined Arms as a digital download pre-purchase for $29.99 in June 2012. Pre-purchase also provides access to pre-release Beta versions of the title.

 

:P

[Nate--IRL--]

Damn - I was hoping for at least one or two to blow their top :)

 

Nate

[G-Lock91]

Damn - I was hoping for at least one or two to blow their top :)

 

Nate

 

Eggin us on... :helpsmilie: expect a red letter spanking to follow.. (eh panzer) :thumbup:

[gunterlund21]

My bet is on June 29th. Then they dont have to field calls over the weekend.

[RglsPhoto]

3-4 weeks:D