First!

[Leopard]

Oh, is it really me to start the first threat in the CM forum?

Well, has somebody taken a look on the new CMx2 forum at battlefront.com?
I have read a lot about the new features, and I think : WOW!

Then I have read that they are not yet sure if they will (be able to) inclute a 'PBEM feature'. Bad news if this should be excluded, since I play 98% PBEM only.

[KG_Cloghaun]

That would be just awful if they didn't have PBEM! All of us here enjoy TCP/IP now and then, but to not have the PBEM option would be stupid.

Plus PBEM would fit so nicely if they finally came up with a true multiplayer function AND campaign system.

[KG_Jag]

Almost all of us have time to get in a PBEM turn in every day or so (if not more frequently). But carving out an hour or two after finding someone who can and wants to play the same game at the same time can be a real challenge, especially for those who aren't equiped with TS and connected to a group of dedicated players like we are here at KG. The lack of PBEM would clearly make it more difficult for people from different parts of the world to play one another. Perhaps most important TCIP is not practical for a game of any size.

[The Purist]

I think I'll simply say, "No thanks" if they leave out PbEM. Surely they realize the vast majority of games are via email. I have rarely even heard of people playing 'live'.

It would be a silly move.

[KG_Panzerschreck]

Did someone say "Please ruin this game just the way Close Combat was ruined with its so called IMPROVEMENTS " , otherwise know to us ex CC players as "Eric Young" syndrome. :damnmate:

[KG_Jag]

Odds are that they will keep it. Steve at Battlefront posted this today:

"Just to restate what has been said in some long and heated threads before...

We want PBEM in. Very much so. We fully understand the importance of it. However, we might (and I stress MIGHT) run into technical issues that nix the feature. We don't think this will happen, but we don't want to promise something that we aren't very sure we can deliver. The whole problem with the previous debates is that people, emotionally, wanted us to promise that no matter what it will be in. And that is something we can not do.

Sometimes a moment of clarity hits me and I can understand why telling lies is so routine in game PR as well as the rest of the world. And when I realize this I am tempted to give into the Dark Side. But I get over it and instead wind up wasting a few days yelling back at people who are yelling at me. Someday I'll get tired of it and lie instead. That day ain't here yet."

[Leopard]

This is the 21st Century. In ancient times we (mankind) brought a man to the moon, using mainframes with less computing speed as my pocket calculator.

To say that an important feature must be cut out 'for technical reason' is as pathetic as to attack a tank battalion with cavalry...

[KG_Soldier]

If they only want to design a game for themselves to play and not to sell, a no pbem CM game is a great idea.

[KG_Cloghaun]

Well, they gave us all the opportunity to pipe in and list 5 things to keep in the new game and 5 things you'd like to see different. Nows the time!

http://www.battlefront.com/index.htm

It only takes 5 minutes guys. So far only 3 KG members have posted in their thread. Let's have some KG representation!!

Go to forums>CMX>To kick things off... a poll of sorts... (http://www.battlefront.com/discuss/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=52;t=000002)

It's just that simple. :idea:

[KG_Cloghaun]

I've been reading the thread about keeping PBEM and I have to say I'm becoming a little more than worried. It really sounds like BF is trying to shuffle their feat on the subject.

And the most ignorant thing they've said is that solo play vs the AI is more popular than PBEM!! Yep, they said it! Where did they get that idea? They've also gone on to say that BF forums only represents a small percentage of the people who play the game!! Small percentage?@! These are the CORE fan-base of people who play the game. These are the people they should be listening to.Their downplaying the forum membership voice, yet they spend all day answering their questions and trying to sell other aspects of the game. It's like their trying to brainwash us all into thinking PBEM isn't important and we wont miss it. Scipio hit it right on the head over there when he said without PBEM, CMX will become "Total War".

I love their games, but this PBEM business is just driving me crazy! They say if they can't make PBEM work then they wont sacrifice the rest of the game just for that one feature. I'm beginning to think we shouldn't hold our breath.


What's left of my hair is beginning to fall out. I ask you, how can they possibly forsake the PBEM crowd?!

I still see no one has posted in their thread to defend PBEM. C'mon guys!

[KG_Panzerschreck]

Ill be comming in October for some of that special beer that can only be had in that most joyous of beer drinking seasons! Ill have some Lowenbrau and Dinkel Acker please. :beer: :beerglass

[KG_Jag]

Frank you must have missed my post in the PBEM!!! thread.

[KG_Cloghaun]

I posted this at the SZO forums after keeling over when I went to the PBEM debate thread and finding it locked, yes, that's right, locked by the our friends at BF.

-The thing that sort of angers me doesn't really have anything to do with the importance of the PBEM debate. It's more about the way "we" (meaning all online CM communities) in so many ways are being reduced to this "small fraction of sales", and the perception of how big our voice is along with it. I love being called a "minority slice of the customer base".

Then they go and lock the thread so the minority doesn't embarrassingly turn into, oh, I don't know,..hmmm,... a majority?! Can anyone tell me since when does voicing your opinion in a polite manner on a game mechanic warrants locking a forum thread? I happen to be a forum mod at Kampfgruppe, and I would certainly be suspect for locking a thread in such a manner. There's absolutely no call for it.

It's one thing to say "we don't want to nix PBEM but we might have to because of technical difficulties, we will do our best to keep it". But why keep devaluing us as "you PBEM players are a minority" every time a corner is turned? And then lock the thread in which the "minority" tries to argue for itself. Not once was proof offered that we are infact a minority. Have they factored in sales lost when I can no longer play my buddy in Europe because of the time difference?

And if we are in fact a minority, and do not represent raw sales, who the Hell are they making this game for?

Sorry for the rant, but it's my first here at this forum. I love CM and I appreciate the games BF has given me. But don't invite me into your house and then talk down to me as if I were a child. And then lock a thread,...... http://www.strategyzoneonline.com/forums/images/smilies/mad.gif
__________________

[KG_Panzerschreck]

Amen Brother!

Eric Young is giving lessons over there......

[KG_Cloghaun]

http://www.the-proving-grounds.com/index.html


The Proving grounds have had their ears to the ground and picked up on the great debate over PBEM according to Kerry. So they've decided to create a poll to finally get the facts straight. You don't even have to register at their site to vote on the poll.

Head on over and cast your vote. This one only takes about 15 seconds to do! Let's enlighten Battlefront on who plays what.

Thanks guys,

Frank

[KG_Kharkov]

I cast my vote.

[KG_CrimsonTrooper]

I voted as well.

[KG_AGCent]

me 2 (fooking ten character minimum crap...)

[KG_Swampfox]

Done.........

[KG_Jag]

Put the ballot in the box just before our meeting.

[KG_Soldier]

I voted last night.

[KG_Panzerschreck]

I voted before the meeting, thanks for the heads up Franky.

[KG_Koz]

I also voted prior to our meeting.

[GJK]

Thanks for taking the time to stop by and vote at TPG guys - appreciated.

I like BFC's response to the poll - "what do you expect the results to be at a site like that?" Wtf is that all about? I think it's no big surprise to us that those that have stayed true to the game over the years prefer pbem to anything else. But, instead of catering to us, the faithful, it sounds like BFC is going to bank on the people that buy the game, play it a half dozen times and then forget about it. Those are easy sales - the money is transferred and they likely wont hear from the person again for features requests in the inevitable patch(es).

As I posted at TPG, I'll let the game come out and then get the real scoop on how it is from TPG, SZO and now members here - the true players of the game. If it's a glossy version of CMAK with no pbem, I'll pass.

[KG_Soldier]

Thanks for the response, GJK.

KG_Soldier

[KG_Panzerschreck]

Thanks for taking the time to stop by and vote at TPG guys - appreciated.

I like BFC's response to the poll - "what do you expect the results to be at a site like that?" Wtf is that all about? I think it's no big surprise to us that those that have stayed true to the game over the years prefer pbem to anything else. But, instead of catering to us, the faithful, it sounds like BFC is going to bank on the people that buy the game, play it a half dozen times and then forget about it. Those are easy sales - the money is transferred and they likely wont hear from the person again for features requests in the inevitable patch(es).

As I posted at TPG, I'll let the game come out and then get the real scoop on how it is from TPG, SZO and now members here - the true players of the game. If it's a glossy version of CMAK with no pbem, I'll pass.

Thanks for sounding off. if only we could get those boneheads over there at BFC to listen.... :damnmate: