Just for fun--Maximum Football Release Date?

[QuikSand]

Double or nothing it's not released tomorrow.

[SFL Cat]

I believe Maximum Football will be released at some point. However, once the flood of complaints begin about bugs and gameplay issues, I have a feeling any future "Patches" for this thing would more than likely fall into the category of "vapor ware."

[ahbrady]

Originally Posted by SFL Cat

I believe Maximum Football will be released at some point. However, once the flood of complaints begin about bugs and gameplay issues, I have a feeling any future "Patches" for this thing would more than likely fall into the category of "vapor ware."

Surely you don't think this great piece of software will need any patches. I'm positive it will be perfect on release. And if it does need a patch, I'm sure it will be released in a timely manner. I mean it's only taken this guy a year to complete the box art.

[QuikSand]

Originally Posted by QuikSand

Double or nothing it's not released tomorrow.

Fish in a damned barrel.

[Mustang]

Originally Posted by QuikSand

Fish in a damned barrel.

Pushed for OS issues..

Guess they just realized that Windows XP was in use and not 3.1

[rkmsuf]

It wil be released just in time to capitalize on the nfl draft coverage.

Whoops, no draft in maximum football.

[Toddzilla]

You need to realize that a lot of things have changed in professional football since development on this game started, so cut the poor guys some slack. Stuff like:

Expansion
Free Agency
The Salary Cap
The AFL-NFL Merger
The goal posts were moved back
The hash marks were moved in
Helmets became mandatory
Canada was incorporated
Man invented leather

[DeftRevisited]

Wow, I am really impressed by all of the quick wit and constructive comments.

[SFL Cat]

I think they'll want to cash-in when football interest is at its highest.

My Prediction for New Release Date: August 2006. Of course, I don't want to pressure the developer, so 2007 would be just fine too!!!

[JeeberD]

Originally Posted by DeftRevisited

Wow, I am really impressed by all of the quick wit and constructive comments.

Frisco...

[Toddzilla]

Originally Posted by DeftRevisited

Wow, I am really impressed by all of the quick wit and constructive comments.

Don't forget cocky.

[DeftRevisited]

Originally Posted by JeeberD

Frisco...

I don't live in a Texas Tudor McMansion, just an old school ranch on acreage.

[JeeberD]

OK, you're somewhat redeemed in my eyes...

[kcchief19]

Originally Posted by kcchief19

So ... it went gold on Wednesday, and often will go out for distribution in a few days if there aren't any changes (which would seem to go against the concept of a gold master, but who wants to get picky), so the game should be available on Monday night ... unless it becomes Tuesday.

When I posted this, I had an extended version that ran like this:

The game should definitely be released Monday night, if everything goes well. If we run into problems, we might have to push the release back to Tuesday, but no later than Wednesday. I can't see this game not being out by Thursday, so it should definitely be out by Thursday. Digital River is closed on the weekend, so this game will be out no later than next Monday.

But I thought that might be over the top. I was wrong.

[KWhit]

It wasn't over the top. It was optimistic.

[kcchief19]

Originally Posted by SFL Cat

I think they'll want to cash-in when football interest is at its highest.

My Prediction for New Release Date: August 2006. Of course, I don't want to pressure the developer, so 2007 would be just fine too!!!

No, no ... for "football synchronicity," the ideal release date is apprently Monday night in the middle of February.

It's wrong to question the marketing genius and savvy of the braintrust behind the most customizable imaginary football sim on the market.

[QuikSand]

Originally Posted by DeftRevisited

Wow, I am really impressed by all of the quick wit and constructive comments.

This topic wouldn't be nearly a much fun if it weren't for the strident apologists. It adds a lot.

[KWhit]

Originally Posted by QuikSand

This topic wouldn't be nearly a much fun if it weren't for the strident apologists. It adds a lot.

Too bad there aren't more of them.

[SFL Cat]

Originally Posted by QuikSand

This topic wouldn't be nearly a much fun if it weren't for the strident apologists. It adds a lot.

"BRILLIANT!"

[Solecismic]

Ultimately, a delay of a few days doesn't matter in the slightest. No one will remember or care.

As a programmer, OS-specific bugs are a nightmare to fix and the hardest to detect and diagnose. I'd rather have ten stack faults (which can be very time consuming) than one OS problem. There was one right at the end with FOF 2004 that forced me to remove the code that remembered window positioning from your last gaming session - a feature that's always been high on the request list.

[Ben E Lou]

Originally Posted by Solecismic

There was one right at the end with FOF 2004 that forced me to remove the code that remembered window positioning from your last gaming session

...and yet another reason to keep feature lists close to the vest prior to release, I would think.

[Ben E Lou]

From last night...

RE: Release Info - 2/23/2006 6:22:30 PM
Erik Rutins Administrator Posts: 6719 Joined: 3/28/2000 From: Vermont, USA Status: offline	Well, we are closer but we still have some work to do after today's build, so it's back to the conference call and more work for tonight for us and David. I think it's likely that we will play it safe and give ourselves the weekend to make sure things are solid if tomorrow's build looks like "the one". After this additional delay, we want to make sure we have it right. As I said before, with each build the probability of it being the final one goes up, so I'm hoping tomorrow's will do it. Rather than posting again later tonight, I will post tomorrow once I've given the next build a test. Regards, - Erik _____________________________ Erik Rutins Director of Product Development and Business Relations (in reply to Lions)
Report | Post #: 45

[Ben E Lou]

So, here's a summary of the "official" word on the release since shortly before this thread was started.

Originally Posted by February 12th

That makes a release by Wednesday (15th) likely. If there's a final snag of some kind, I still couldn't see this pushed back beyond next Monday or Tuesday (20th/21st). So, like I said - a release in February is certain, mid-February is likely.

Originally Posted by February 14th

At this point I think we're likely to schedule the release date for Monday the 20th to make sure nothing slips through trying to rush for Wednesday.

Originally Posted by February 17th

We are planning for a Monday night {2/20} release at present. That would turn into Tuesday if there's a problem with the process of getting the store updated.

Originally Posted by February 19th

So, the release date will be Tuesday, February 21st.

[quote=February 21st, 10:32pm]I was hoping to have better news, so I put off posting for a while, apologies for that. We are working overtime to sort something out here. Those of you who need sleep or have jobs in the morning, I would suggest that you go to bed and check in the morning for more info. We will post something official on the timing in the forum later tonight, sorry I don't have more specific info at the moment. Keep cool until the official post please. [/qoute]

Originally Posted by February 22nd, 12:01am

Ok, I just got off a conference call with David Heath and David Winter. We are going to play this by ear at the moment as we hope that the delay we are dealing with here will be minimal. We are planning for Thursday {2/23} now

Originally Posted by February 22nd (Wed.), 6:40pm

There have been no new serious or critical issues that would cause additional delays, the day's work was very much a net positive, it's just a matter of resolving what we are already working on.

Originally Posted by Feburary 23rd (Thur.), 1:18pm

We're basically looking at each build and testing it to see if it's "the one". As soon as we're sure of that, we'll plan on a release the next day. Yesterday's build was a big step forward but needed a bit more work, so right now the earliest release would be Friday if today's build checks out. We may decide to play it safe even if today's build looks good and plan on a Monday release so that we can give it extra testing time over the weekend. So, day by day, but with each day the probability of that build being final increases.

Originally Posted by February 23rd (Thur.), 6:22pm

Well, we are closer but we still have some work to do after today's build, so it's back to the conference call and more work for tonight for us and David. I think it's likely that we will play it safe and give ourselves the weekend to make sure things are solid if tomorrow's build looks like "the one"

To boil it down to even more basics...

• a release in February is certain, mid-February is likely
• We are planning for a Monday night {2/20} release at present
• So, the release date will be Tuesday, February 21st
• We are planning for Thursday {2/23} now
• I think it's likely that we will play it safe and give ourselves the weekend to make sure things are solid if tomorrow's build looks like "the one"

Will the "certain" February release happen? Stay tuned, fellas.

[KeyserSoze]

Are you talking of the "Chinese Democracy" of Guns and Roses??

[IwasHere]

I know they have already used this excuse once, but with the weekend comming up why not blame Digital River for another delay?


Also, SkyDog you should really put the year (Feb 23rd, 2006) just to be safe. Some here might of thought you were talking about their 2004 release plans.

[tucker rocky]

I'll be released on Feb. 31, 2006

[tucker rocky]

dola,

I think the moon and stars will be lined up right on that day.

[IwasHere]

Originally Posted by tucker rocky

I'll be released on Feb. 31, 2006

No, it should read the first February 29th available. They are just having leap year problems.

[tucker rocky]

Originally Posted by IwasHere

No, it should read the first February 29th available. They are just having leap year problems.

Make that 2008, 2012, 2016, etc.

Whichever they decide on.

[Ben E Lou]

Originally Posted by SkyDog

To boil it down to even more basics...

• a release in February is certain, mid-February is likely
• We are planning for a Monday night {2/20} release at present
• So, the release date will be Tuesday, February 21st
• We are planning for Thursday {2/23} now
• I think it's likely that we will play it safe and give ourselves the weekend to make sure things are solid if tomorrow's build looks like "the one"

Will the "certain" February release happen? Stay tuned, fellas.

That "certain" February release appears to be in jeopardy.

RE: Release Info - 2/27/2006 3:36:37 PM
Erik Rutins Administrator Posts: 6799 Joined: 3/28/2000 From: Vermont, USA Status: online	As I said yesterday, based on experience I was not predicting a release without more testing. With any software, it's difficult in this kind of iterative process to be sure you've found everything with each build until some reasonable testing time has passed. After yesterday's and this morning's testing, we have one issue left on the list. I spoke with David and we feel that this will not be a difficult one to address tonight. I'll post more info tomorrow. I'll also take a look at what's been posted below regarding the video and see if I can see what's going on. Regards, - Erik _____________________________ Erik Rutins Director of Product Development and Business Relations (in reply to Maliki)
Post #: 107

[QuikSand]

You know... the "never" crowd is just looking better and better in all this. It's really amazing.

[QuikSand]

Originally Posted by SkyDog

That "certain" February release appears to be in jeopardy.

Well, there IS a February every year...

[Toddzilla]

"I'll also take a look at what's been posted below regarding the video and see if I can see what's going on.
Regards,
- Erik"

Looks like the transient first-down-marker that cthomer5000 pointed out may get some attention after all.

[Bee]

I wonder if they'll look into the use of the Ga Tech logo as well...

edit: I mean if he has to replace the logo, that could take months considering how long the box art took!

[Anthony]

Solecismic:

do you think there's any redeemable quality about this game that could perhaps be implemented into something better, or is the whole thing a lost cause? actually, let me rephrase that, since you might not want to go down the Winter route and bash another developer - do you think the genre has evolved past where MF is, or are there certain elements to the game that can be or should be ported over into something else?

[IwasHere]

If you release a game and nobody downloads or buys it; Did you release a anything at all?


With no Demo or Trial period why?

[rkmsuf]

Originally Posted by IwasHere

If you release a game and nobody downloads or buys it; Did you release a anything at all?


With no Demo or Trial period why?

Demo, what is there to demo? We've already established that you can put the beer tent wherever you want. That's all the info I need.

[KWhit]

Originally Posted by Hell Atlantic

Solecismic:

do you think there's any redeemable quality about this game that could perhaps be implemented into something better, or is the whole thing a lost cause? actually, let me rephrase that, since you might not want to go down the Winter route and bash another developer - do you think the genre has evolved past where MF is, or are there certain elements to the game that can be or should be ported over into something else?

Here's the thing: MF appears to be a poor-man's Madden. It appears that the game engine of MF produces results that are no better than the current gen Madden games. The graphics of Madden are much better. The career mode of Madden is better. The only thing that MF has is the ability to design your own plays (I don't think Madden lets you do that, right?). That and the ability to customize some aspects of the rules are the only differentiators that MF has. In all other ways it is an inferior game to Madden.

We all know the things that make FOF stand apart from Madden and these features (game engine, career mode, etc.) appeal to us. I just don't see the unique features of MF as being enough to make it stand out from Madden which is obviously a much better, more polished product.

[kcchief19]

After yesterday's and this morning's testing, we have one issue left on the list.

Is there any chance that the one issue left on the list is "The entire design of the game?"

[Bee]

Originally Posted by kcchief19

Is there any chance that the one issue left on the list is "The entire design of the game?"

My money's on the box art.

[Ben E Lou]

The Minister Of Information strikes again...



http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/fb.asp?m=1059856

RE: Week of 2/13 - 2/12/2006 8:04:51 PM

Erik Rutins Administrator Posts: 6831 Joined: 3/28/2000 From: Vermont, USA Status: online

I think most gamers are used to the schedules followed by the mainstream publishers, which are aimed at retail distribution. Based on those schedules, the gap between gold master and retail shelf can be 4-6 weeks due to physical production times and distribution snags. However, that pretty much means that 4-6 weeks before release, someone can say "this game is going to be out in a month". In our case, that gap is much smaller. We don't see any reason to keep you all waiting an additional 4-6 weeks, so we often have only a few days between gold master and release. In a few cases, it's been as little as a day if previous release candidates were well tested and stable. To make a long story short, I've been working on finishing the GM this week and weekend. It looks likely that I'll have it finished and ready for final checks by tonight. That makes a release by Wednesday (15th) likely. If there's a final snag of some kind, I still couldn't see this pushed back beyond next Monday or Tuesday (20th/21st). So, like I said - a release in February is certain, mid-February is likely. Believe me when I say we have no reason to want to hold release info back, we're just waiting to be sure before giving out the exact date - we're not sitting on the finished gold master and throwing darts at a calendar... Regards, - Erik _____________________________ Erik Rutins Director of Product Development and Business Relations

but then today...
http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/fb.asp?m=1073537

RE: Release Info - 2/28/2006 1:29:36 PM
Erik Rutins Administrator Posts: 6831 Joined: 3/28/2000 From: Vermont, USA Status: online	We are still working on the last issue on the list, no release today, sorry folks. Regards, - Erik _____________________________ Erik Rutins Director of Product Development and Business Relations

[SFL Cat]

I'm starting to wonder which will happen first...

Maximum Football is released or...

Everyone from the FOFC forum is banned.

[QuikSand]

Double or nothing it's not released tomorrow.

[wade moore]

Originally Posted by SFL Cat

I'm starting to wonder which will happen first...

Maximum Football is released or...

Everyone from the FOFC forum is banned.

I know where my money is...

[JeeberD]

Originally Posted by SFL Cat

I'm starting to wonder which will happen first...

Maximum Football is released or...

Everyone from the FOFC forum is banned.

Dude, with as much of a dictator as SD is that's not even in doubt!

Oh, wait, I think I misunderstood your question...

[SFL Cat]

lol

[albionmoonlight]

Originally Posted by QuikSand

Double or nothing it's not released tomorrow.

You seem like a careful kind of gambler who likes to examine the odds and look for value bets. So I ask you seriously--what kinds of odds would there have to be on a March release for you to lay down $500 on it?

I assume at some point, the number could be made big enough. Maybe I am wrong, though.

[Bee]

Originally Posted by QuikSand

Double or nothing it's not released tomorrow.

Quiksand wins again!

I've got a feeling it's going to come out tomorrow though. I'm really excited.