Why *I* Think Mod 9 is late

[mhorn]

Back in 1998 (I dont remember the exact year) I was working on Top Gun - Hornets Nest
http://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/top-gun-hornets-nest/credits
(Michael "Na****e" Horn is me)

There was an EXTREME push to get the Gold Master (the gold disc that is sent to the publisher for mass production) out before Halloween, so that it could be on store shelves for Thanksgiving. We worked 36-48 hour days on this push. We met our Halloween deadline and moved on to the next project. We all (the developers) were waiting (impatiently, I might add) to head to the stores and see our work on the shelves. When it finally showed up, we bought like 10 copies each. OK *I* bought 10 copies. I went home and installed the game only to find out that the publisher only wrote the soundtrack tracks to the disc and not the game data. Basically, back then, I don't know about now, "Red Book Audio" was the soundtracks in game. They were CD compatible so you could put the game dics in your CD player and listen to the game soundtrack. The data, the actual game, was on the last track.

So essentially, we missed the 1998 Christmas season because the publisher forgot to put the game data on the game CD.

So, what *I* think happened was that Turbine had intended to release Mod 9 in a retail SKU, but the publisher forgot to put on the game track. Now, there are millions of useless "CD Pigions" out there and we are waiting on the second pressing or Mod 9.

FWIW, YMMV

[captain1z]

Back in 1998 (I dont remember the exact year) I was working on Top Gun - Hornets Nest
http://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/top-gun-hornets-nest/credits
(Michael "Na****e" Horn is me)

There was an EXTREME push to get the Gold Master (the gold disc that is sent to the publisher for mass production) out before Halloween, so that it could be on store shelves for Thanksgiving. We worked 36-48 hour days on this push. We met our Halloween deadline and moved on to the next project. We all (the developers) were waiting (impatiently, I might add) to head to the stores and see our work on the shelves. When it finally showed up, we bought like 10 copies each. OK *I* bought 10 copies. I went home and installed the game only to find out that the publisher only wrote the soundtrack tracks to the disc and not the game data. Basically, back then, I don't know about now, "Red Book Audio" was the soundtracks in game. They were CD compatible so you could put the game dics in your CD player and listen to the game soundtrack. The data, the actual game, was on the last track.

So essentially, we missed the 1998 Christmas season because the publisher forgot to put the game data on the game CD.

So, what *I* think happened was that Turbine had intended to release Mod 9 in a retail SKU, but the publisher forgot to put on the game track. Now, there are millions of useless "CD Pigions" out there and we are waiting on the second pressing or Mod 9.

FWIW, YMMV


highly doubt it.

[Sirea]

D'oh!

[Dark_Helmet]

So, the electronically downloadable game is missing a track?

Really, they haven't put out new boxes with each mod - you get your updates online.

...I think someone is off track.

[mhorn]

Has Turbine *EVER* distributed DDO in boxes?
Has Turbine *EVER* distributed DDO in boxes when they have ported it to a console app?

Just some things to make you go hmmm.....

[Quanefel]

So, the electronically downloadable game is missing a track?

Really, they haven't put out new boxes with each mod - you get your updates online.

...I think someone is off track.

I think he is referring to DDO being on disk in stores as a revamped marketing push. Not really the online download version.

[mhorn]

I think he is referring to DDO being on disk in stores as a revamped marketing push. Not really the online download version.

Yes, that is what I was *JOKINGLY* referring to.

Thank you, now go back to your FF ring runs.

[Quanefel]

Yes, that is what I was *JOKINGLY* referring to.

Thank you, now go back to your FF ring runs.

FF ring runs, what?

[xberto]

Has Turbine *EVER* distributed DDO in boxes?


Yes. Mine came in a box, along with instructions and a quick reference card that included a simple map and keyboard hotkey reference.

[SimVerg]

Back in 1998 (I dont remember the exact year) I was working on Top Gun - Hornets Nest
http://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/top-gun-hornets-nest/credits
(Michael "Na****e" Horn is me)

There was an EXTREME push to get the Gold Master (the gold disc that is sent to the publisher for mass production) out before Halloween, so that it could be on store shelves for Thanksgiving. We worked 36-48 hour days on this push. We met our Halloween deadline and moved on to the next project. We all (the developers) were waiting (impatiently, I might add) to head to the stores and see our work on the shelves. When it finally showed up, we bought like 10 copies each. OK *I* bought 10 copies. I went home and installed the game only to find out that the publisher only wrote the soundtrack tracks to the disc and not the game data. Basically, back then, I don't know about now, "Red Book Audio" was the soundtracks in game. They were CD compatible so you could put the game dics in your CD player and listen to the game soundtrack. The data, the actual game, was on the last track.

So essentially, we missed the 1998 Christmas season because the publisher forgot to put the game data on the game CD.

So, what *I* think happened was that Turbine had intended to release Mod 9 in a retail SKU, but the publisher forgot to put on the game track. Now, there are millions of useless "CD Pigions" out there and we are waiting on the second pressing or Mod 9.

FWIW, YMMV

Wait, no one did an install + critical path run on the gold master?

[dameron]

Back in 1998 (I dont remember the exact year) I was working on Top Gun - Hornets Nest
http://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/top-gun-hornets-nest/credits
(Michael "Na****e" Horn is me)

There was an EXTREME push to get the Gold Master (the gold disc that is sent to the publisher for mass production) out before Halloween, so that it could be on store shelves for Thanksgiving. We worked 36-48 hour days on this push. We met our Halloween deadline and moved on to the next project. We all (the developers) were waiting (impatiently, I might add) to head to the stores and see our work on the shelves. When it finally showed up, we bought like 10 copies each. OK *I* bought 10 copies. I went home and installed the game only to find out that the publisher only wrote the soundtrack tracks to the disc and not the game data. Basically, back then, I don't know about now, "Red Book Audio" was the soundtracks in game. They were CD compatible so you could put the game dics in your CD player and listen to the game soundtrack. The data, the actual game, was on the last track.

So essentially, we missed the 1998 Christmas season because the publisher forgot to put the game data on the game CD.

So, what *I* think happened was that Turbine had intended to release Mod 9 in a retail SKU, but the publisher forgot to put on the game track. Now, there are millions of useless "CD Pigions" out there and we are waiting on the second pressing or Mod 9.

FWIW, YMMV

I prefer my theory that there's a dispute with the old data center about who actually caused the lag/downtime.

[Arkat]

I prefer my theory that there's a dispute with the old data center about who actually caused the lag/downtime.

That theory holds no water.

1. Lag wasn't the issue (we had it before that data center move and we have it now). The issue was the unexpected downtime most likely due to poor power routing/supply to the servers. This is easily proved to be the data center's fault due to records kept in the power supply monitoring software that is installed in the proper server owned by the data center. It could also be kept track of by similar software installed on Turbine's servers. (APC Powerchute software is VERY common)

2. Liquidated Damages/Early Contract Termination provisions are standard in pretty much ALL service contracts. I'm positive Turbine and the data center would have insisted these provisions be included in the contract. What these provisions do is provide a way for either party to get out of the contract such that Turbine or the data center can cancel with no further obligation (an example would be an ISP may allow a customer to terminate their contract without paying any fees if the customer has submitted 6 legitimate tickets for poor service within a 6 month time-frame) or, here's the important part, if there is a dispute, the damages for early termination are determined in advance in the contract so it's simple matter to just pay them and be done with it.

[MetaSyn]

eh! w-t-f are u talking about?