this sucks...I cannot play the game!!!

[kserra]

I've been so patient...I love OOTP...played it non-stop since version 2, but with the latest game, I can no longer get the game to work on my computer without crashes...

I've waited patiently, I've been a good trooper, I've been a loyal fanboy, but it's been well over a month since the latest patch came out and my game WILL NOT work...

This problem has been well documented, I've seen it in numerous threads, yet no one has done anything to fix this....

in the past, I know Markus would go out of his way to fix "game-stopper" bugs so that his loyal followers could play the game while the edges were smoothed out...

Using Win 98 (seems to be the only operating system that has this) every time I go to the trade screen and click on another teams roster to view the scouting reports for players I may want to trade for, the game crashes...BOOM...no questions asked...100% chance of crash...a clear bug...

Yet...here I am, patient, a HUGE fan of the series, and not some punk poster who just likes to bitch about things...YET, I have no choice but to post an angry message because I CANNOT play the game as it is, there is no work-around solution, and NO ONE has come forward to fix the problem...

I've hesitated to post the message here, because I know that there are even bigger fanboys here than I, and I don't feel like hearing their assanine responses, but I have no recourse...this game DOES NOT WORK for me...

Please, please, please, tell me there is a solution for this...

Please...

Kevin

[Joshv02]

(imho) This is not an an "assanine" response: do not left click on players in the trade screen. Solution. Not pretty, not perfect, but solution.

btw: I have the same problem, and it hasn't crashed for me in the past 3 weeks or so... and I trade way to frequently (though play way too infrequently, but, that is life).

[kserra]

that's not a great solution...the amount of tedious clicking raises to a point where the enjoyment of the game is lost...

this is clearly broken, there has been no response, other than that the patch will be out when it is out, etc...

what is the deal? considering that OOTP just joined with CM, who are known as THE BEST at responding to peoples concerns, this seems inconsistent...if anything, customer service should be even better than before...

Kevin

[Henry]

this sucks...I cannot play the game!!!

Sigh.... this is exactly what we were talking about in another thread... wording that invokes anger and defense instead of a title that instigates constructive criticism.

To be honest, one month is 4 weeks, 28 days, in a time window that Markus has moved from Germany to England. In addition, Windows 98 is a 6 year old operating system that is tested "last" in terms of priorities.

I am sure this will be addressed, but the type of flaming accusation above simply does not help

[kserra]

Quite honestly Henry, your reply hurts a bit...

This is not a "flame"...

The context of the message is one of a frustrated fan of the series...

If the issue is that Markus has been busy with the big move, fine...I understand that...it's a move that all OOTP fans are excited about...

However, I don't know of any other bugs/problems that crush the true intent of the game like this one...

What I was saying was that I was surprised and dissapointed that Markus could not find a solution for this bug in the midst of everything else...

I know the next patch is intended on smoothing out the rough parts of the current game, but when there is a "near" showstopper, I guess I just expected more of a response and effort to correct the game...

While Win98 may be your last concern, understand that many text-simming lovers specifically love these type of games because you can run them on older machines...we are not fans of fancy graphics that distract from the real meat of the game...so that should NOT be an excuse for a LONG period of inactivity regarding a problem that prevents quite a few of OOTP owners from enjoying the latest version of the game...

Not a flame, don't call it that...a geniune complaint that requires a serious response and not some flippant response....

Kevin

[Raderick]

Originally posted by kserra
While Win98 may be your last concern, understand that many text-simming lovers specifically love these type of games because you can run them on older machines...we are not fans of fancy graphics that distract from the real meat of the game...so that should NOT be an excuse for a LONG period of inactivity regarding a problem that prevents quite a few of OOTP owners from enjoying the latest version of the game...

I pretty much 2nd that. IMO, the priorty should not be just one one operating system, but to make sure that the game can work well with the systems it does work on.

[Joshv02]

In the meantime, a relatively easy (and really not that hard) workaround presents itself, and helps me enjoy the game quite well. I was under the (false?) impression you are looking for a constructive solution now; if so, this is one.

Hope it helps.

[kserra]

Josh, previous postings were not directed towards you...I know I can avoid the crash by not left clicking on the players in the trade screen, but, as I said, this just adds so much more clicking and going back and forth, that the heart of the game, making moves to improve your team, becomes an exercise in creative clicking and writing down vast amounts of info on paper w/pen...

your right, a solution, not a pretty one...and in my opinion not one we should have to accept...

Kevin

[Henry]

At last count, there were about 150 items brought up that could/should be addressed in a patch. Given the 4 week span - if Markus was spending 40 hours a week on this - that would result in about one solution per hour. Even under those circumstances, addressing all 150 issues would be unlikely.

The bigger problem is that every one of the folks that brought up those 150 issues feel the same way you do about the trade screen crash.

I don't know if the next patch will or will not address your issue, but I do know it will be addressed eventually. Version 5 had about 6 patches, so some issues had to wait until the 6th release.

Concerning Windows 98... I didn;t mean to say it was "our least concern" but when you do testing and have a deadline, you address the environemnts most customers have first. The reality is that Win98 is a much smaller market share than Win2k and WinXP - thus even fewer of the beta testers are running under Win98. It's not "our choice" to put it at the end of the list, it's the reality of the fact it's 6 years old.

PS: None of what I say is meant to rile anger, or be argumentative beyond the fact I try to state the situation as close to reality as I can. Try and read my responses in that light

[BigMak]

I have to agree with kserra. I have very few posts and most have been about this problem. That does not mean that I have not been around this game for awhile. OOTP6 is the third version of the product that I own. While it may be the best to date, it is something that I cannot use. As of now, I wasted $35.00 on it. There is a workaround but it takes a lot of enjoyment out of the game. It is a long and tedious workaround. Customer support is something that I remember being one of the company's strong points. Now it does not seem to be. Markus is obviously aware of the problem. I believe he should have made a post regarding this issue. This is not a minor bug or spelling mistake. It is a major bug in the game and should be taken care of immediately.

[Henry]

.... If you've been around for three versions, you know that Markus rarely posts on this board about specific issues. Especially over the past 4 weeks.

Give me a break guys, it's only been a month and I'll bet dollars to donuts most of that time was spent packing, moving, unpacking, getting comfortably integrated with the SI team - and who knows what else ?

I find the recent lack of patience VERY disturbing....

[BigMak]

I don't expect him to post about minor issues. But when there is a crash which many people are experiencing it should be addressed. For all we know, Windows 98 users are out of luck here. One month is not a short time. You make it sound like the game was released last night. A fair number of users have been waiting for a month now to see what is going to happen with this. It doesn't take a long time to simply inform your customer base as to what we should be expecting. I know Steve has tried to let us know but since he is not the developer he cannot really give us the answer we would like to read.

[kingcharlesxii]

It might not be an easy fix guys. I have to imagine he'd be spending quite a bit of time on a bug that makes the game unplayable for a lot of customers. Give him some more time.

[Henry]

I can't conceive of Markus telling the Win98 users "tough luck". He will address this. The issue here is you don't want to take that answer from Steve or I - you want Markus to say "it's going to be fixed Sunday and released Monday". Likely not going to happen.

Steve, me, and the other moderators are here to be the communications link between Markus and his customers. At times, he will post a direct response, but it isn't often. We provide you with what we know is the current status as best we can. If your unwilling to accept that status from us, then all I can say is you'll have to wait until either Markus addresses the issue directly - or the patch containing the fix is released.

As far as whether 4 weeks is a long or short time, I won't get into that argument. Neither of us has any idea what has been involved in Markus move to Engalnd, so we'd be out of line to claim he's "had enough time".

[kserra]

the problem is that we are being told:

1) A problem that causes the game to be UNPLAYABLE is just 1 of 450...I really hope the other 449 aren't as serious as this one...

2) Windows 98 is the last priority of the developers...

3) The fact that the game doesn't work doesn't matter...we are being impatient and unreasonable to expect that a game we paid good money for should be able to run without crashing within 1-2 months of it being released...

4) Your job, as moderator, is to be a go-between for the customers and Markus, yet, in your replies, all we hear is that, you suspect, guess, or are sure, that he's been really busy...

Not trying to be rude, but have you sent these messages to Markus, and has he replied?

I REALLY want to play this game, but IT WON'T WORK...seems like there are others with the same problem...this is not an issue that should be lumped with 449 others...if so, then this game has more issues than I thought...

Kevin

[statfreak]

Actually, the game works and is playable. You choose not to accept the current workaround for an issue a select group of users are having. For all we know, Markus was able to fix the bug, only to have the game crash for everyone else now. But, I suppose, you don't care about that because you are only interested in fixing an annoying bug, not one that actually makes the game unplayable.

I am truly sorry you perceive this bug to make the game unplayable for you, but it has been noted and one would imagine based on prior history is being addressed. Continuing to act out like this will not make the fix come out any sooner and, in my opinion, severely damages your reputation (at least in my eyes, not that you really care what I think).

[Steve Kuffrey]

Markus KNOWS of the issues, he is working on them. Do we have other details? No, has he responded back about issues? No, if he did the patch would likely be out in 2 or 3 more months....I'm content to let him fix the problems and not run to me or anyonelse with this or that issue. Sounds like some would prefer he do that.

-Stating over and over that something or other isn't fixed yet is not speeding the process.
-Addressing topics to Markus isn't getting the problems corrected any faster.
-Posting as many facts as one can(in the troubleshooting forum) about a problem is the best way that we can get things corrected.

NO one wants the patch out and problems corrected more than I, but it is not. Just a cruel fact of life. Thanks for understanding.

[kserra]

Originally posted by statfreak
Actually, the game works and is playable. You choose not to accept the current workaround for an issue a select group of users are having. For all we know, Markus was able to fix the bug, only to have the game crash for everyone else now. But, I suppose, you don't care about that because you are only interested in fixing an annoying bug, not one that actually makes the game unplayable.

I am truly sorry you perceive this bug to make the game unplayable for you, but it has been noted and one would imagine based on prior history is being addressed. Continuing to act out like this will not make the fix come out any sooner and, in my opinion, severely damages your reputation (at least in my eyes, not that you really care what I think).

EDIT--addressed to statfreak prior to Henry's reply--EDIT

A game that crashes when attempting to scout players to trade for is not an annoying bug...

It is a major problem...

I don't believe posting an issue on a message board is "acting out"...I think it is called raising an issue and asking for it to be addressed...so far, it has not been addressed sufficently...

Your insight that the problem "may" have been fixed but caused even greater problems is absurd...if you don't know, why say it?

Is there even a remote reason to speculate such an issue? Have you heard something regarding the correcting of this "annoying bug" that results in massive errors for other users?

Thanks for your concern, but unless you can help on this issue, or provide some new insight, not sure why you'd reply?

Again, this is not a flame-type thread...I'm amazed such words are being used...there is a problem, I'm asking for it to be addressed, and within this thread, I am questioning the steps that have been taken to do so...I am not hijacking other threads, posting multiple subjects, etc...

I just want my OOTP game that I love to work, to be able to take the excitment I have for baseball now that my beloved Tigers are actually decent, and to have a game that provides some outlet for that excitment...

I just want to be loved...is that so wrong?

Kevin

[Steve Kuffrey]

The issue has been stated! Thread closed.

[Henry]

Originally posted by kserra
1) A problem that causes the game to be UNPLAYABLE is just 1 of 450...I really hope the other 449 aren't as serious as this one...

It is one of 150, not 450... and I didn't say it wasn't important, I simply "suggested" that it will be addressed as is everything else.

2) Windows 98 is the last priority of the developers...

The developers have nothing to do with Win98 being last on the list of tests. It has EVERYTHING to do with the fact that Win98 is 6 years old, is no longer supported by Microsoft, and has the smallest user base.

3) The fact that the game doesn't work doesn't matter...we are being impatient and unreasonable to expect that a game we paid good money for should be able to run without crashing within 1-2 months of it being released...

The game does work. Yes, it crashes on a specific screen under Win98. yes, that must be infuriating - but it will be fixed - and the game can be played even with that problem. You are the one that is choosing not to play it. I would suspect most Win98 customers are, in fact, playing the game.

4) Your job, as moderator, is to be a go-between for the customers and Markus, yet, in your replies, all we hear is that, you suspect, guess, or are sure, that he's been really busy...

True. Markus lives in a time zone 6 hours later than EST (it's what, 3AM there now?). Markus does not tell us his daily schedule - nor are we in constant contact with him. So yes, we assume a lot, and you know what? We're usually right.

Not trying to be rude, but have you sent these messages to Markus, and has he replied?

Markus is ALWAYS aware of EVERY issue brought to this board p period.

I REALLY want to play this game, but IT WON'T WORK...seems like there are others with the same problem...this is not an issue that should be lumped with 449 others...if so, then this game has more issues than I thought...

As I said, the game is not unplayable - you have simply chosen not to play it. A workaround exists, although cumbersome, and I think a lot of Win98 customers are doing just that until this can be fixed.