General Message #2: Jim Trunzo

[Jim Trunzo]

Hello all,

1. Thank you for the kind words. I know the game is not perfect and that there is room for improvement. When the first patch comes out early next week, I believe the game will be 10-15% better immediately.

2. And this I really mean - the suggestions are excellent and many of them are doable. Please keep them coming. Even if it is a seemingly major addition or change, let us know. We (obviously ) can't think of everything and everyone has slightly different tastes. So all your ideas are being compiled and as many as possible will be implemented.

3. Our upcoming agenda: (a) fix the immediate problems that are affecting game play - installation and setup problems; (b) address all minor problems and add missing data and fighters to database and fix the Rankings system; (c) begin making the website usefull by doing articles, posting downloads, etc.; (d) start implementing some of YOUR ideas; (e) begin work in earnest on adding the role-playing elements.

Now, some of these (at least up to "c" will be addressed by the first patch. And the website work will begin next week. Suggestions that are easily added will be done and available throughout the months to come. The role-playing game is targeted for a year from now.

Finally, we would greatly appreciate any help you can give us on promoting the game. Word of mouth, positive feedback on gaming sites, etc. can help tremendously. Initial sells are encouraging but also misleading. They can drop off fast. On our end we will start a media blitz next week.

And again, thank you. It's been a long haul and we are just beginning to see the fruits of our labor - and by that I mean both you, the customer, and we, the creators.

[BasicGuy]

Jim Trunzo I know your planing on going by how many sales this game has before deciding If Its even worth to continue to develop this game and make the the RPG part of the game.

I just want you to relize there Is some of us out there that are going to wait for the RPG.(After reading over the features thats game I want more) I'm not sure how many people out there are also waiting or vice-versa just want the game you released and not the rpg element. But It does give you a idea that there Is some customers waiting for your later project.

[Rob Fenix]

Jim, I'm fairly new to the community and boxing in general ( yeah I know). When you say

(e) begin work in earnest on adding the role-playing elements.

, what exactly does this entail? A while back I downloaded a game out of curiosity called WCBM, (I believe you guys were involved with that?) which allowed you to create your own stable of guys and train them up for fights. If this is the type of role-playing you're talking about, I can't wait. I'm already enjoying this great game, but something like that would be a wonderful addition.

[yabanci]

Jim, the problem I'm having is there are a lot of very good questions on this board, but no one from the company is taking time to answer them. It's starting to get frustrating.

[GDE]

Yabanci,

Small company that is working on patching instead of answering every question.

Today is only day 3 for the game and we have had a lot of responses to questions and suggestions.

Also, depending on where you live Andreas could be between 6-9 hours ahead of you.

[Xury]

Is there anyone else out there that is giving us as good as a product? Not that i've seen.

My hope is that the game continues to be developed, as well as our ideas, regardless of the sales level.

For a small company, they sure are big time...

[GDE]

I love the game.

I was trying to explain IMNSHO why they aren't able to spend all day checking the boards.

[yabanci]

okay Mr. fanboy, let's just quote Jim:

"Jim and Tom Trunzo are available at various times throughout the day, morning to early evening - 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m EST (usually).... Monday evening, December 8th will see part-time support by all those involved. It's been an exhausting last two days. Tuesday, we will return to full-time support."

So don't give me this, well they are a small company and too busy trying to fix the game after the release to take a few minutes to answer important questions. They said just three days ago that they would be here and available to give support, which except for Andreas is not happening.

[GDE]

Yabanci,

I'm no fanboy. Please read my posts from Monday and Tuesday where I couldn't get the game to work on my computer.

Just to let ya know, I'm over you and thebadguy. You guys just don't get it and I won't lower myself to converse with you two again.

[yabanci]

good, thanks GDE. We appreciate the silence coming from you.

[MiddleGA]

Jim -- would you comment on when a working demo is expected to be available?

Among other things, that would sure help with the effectiveness of any word of mouth efforts.

Thanks,
Jon

[yabanci]

Originally posted by MiddleGA
Jim -- would you comment on when a working demo is expected to be available?

Among other things, that would sure help with the effectiveness of any word of mouth efforts.

the demo is built in. Anybody can download the actual program and run it free for 7 days or 25 times, whichever comes first.

[couriers]

Actually, the demo was taken out of the most previous download. They have stated that the demo will become available shortly after the first patch is released.

[Cap]

So, Couriers. Are you in the game yet? Hope you found a way around your problem.

Cap

[couriers]

Unfortunately not as of yet. However, I am working on the issues and will hopefully have them resolved soon for the benefit of anyone else having similar problems. Andreas has been a big help behind the scenes via PM. Anyone who claims that the developers don't care or don't help enough are clearly mislead.

Thanks for asking though.

[Jim Trunzo]

Yabanci, I hope you notice that I am once again becoming a more visable presence on the board. No tirades coming or anything other than, I posted about my absence due to my shoulder problem and tried to get on as soon as I possibly could. I've also posted that I AM NOT A PROGRAMMER. The vast majority of the questions and problems have been technical in nature. My answer would have been . . .hmm, don't know . . . hmm, don't know . . . hmm, I'll ask Andreas to get back to you.

Once again: Andreas handles technical questions and anything to do with Viatech. Aurelio and Andreas handle graphics questions. Tom and I handle straight design questions, rules, concepts, ratings, etc.

I am trying to catch up on the posts, but I am also re-editing the database, re-designing the rankings system, and preparing articles for the website. I'm sure, that in time, it will all become more manageable and I'll do a better job.

[vistaman44]

Jim;
Appreciate the efforts of the entire team. Bugs notwithstanding, it's still one of the best sports sims I've played.

[couriers]

Cheers to everyone on the development team for a job well done. There is definitely a sense of accomplishment and progression that is well deserved. The attempts at helping others with technical issues as well acknowledging good ideas and attempting to implement them into patches are commendable. Job well done and keep up the good work.

[David Myers]

I second the emotions of Vistaman and Couriers. It was especially gratifying to find the boxers included whom I had explicitly asked you for. Thanks and thanks again!

Hey, Jim: How about a separate forum for boxers not included in the original game, created and rated by game players?

[vistaman44]

I like that idea, David, and jrmorgan has talked about posting user-created fighters on his bareknuckle boxing site when he has talked it through with Andreas and the bugs are worked out for importing from TF2001. The 3,700-plus boxers in the game are way more than anybody could have expected, but all of us have favorites we'd like to see included. A string or forum where those could be compiled and their ratings discussed would be great!