Soldat release cycle, we must change it.

[Sauron]

We were talking about this in "Soldat is dying" topic, but I think that is better to start new about this problem.

My opinion is that Soldat need new release cycle system, currently we have to wait for new version long time. During this time we are forced to play with bugs even if those bugs can be fixed couple days after release. For example Soldat 1.5, most annoying bugs: unworkable demos, deathmatch player stats list problem. Nothing hard to fix, but we will get it fixed months later, yes we have to play with it long time because developer want add new features.

Players are asking me if I know about some demo player for soldat 1.5 cuz their demos doesn`t work. I have you tell him that it`s Soldat bug not demo player bug. They are annoyed because they have big issues when they want make frag movie and record their matches. Fraps is detected by BE and demos are bugged, good combination.

Back to release cycle, to avoid problems I will explain my example how it can work.

Release cycle:
1)New version released
2) Bugfix released (fixing most of the bugs from previous version, bugfix is released as soon as possible, no new feautures)
3) New version released (with new features and maybe some bugfixes what were not fixed in bugfix)
4) Bugfix version
and again...

Post your opinions.

[Veritas]

Really, the important thing is this: after a major new release, the first priority should be a bugfix release. That's how it was with new version numbers, and that's how it should be with 1.5.

The rest of the cycle doesn't matter.

[gedazz]

I agree.
But first I'd like to know how much time do the developer(s) dedicate to working on Soldat (daily/weekly/monthly/...yearly!?).
Maybe he's/she's/they're just not working on the game and that's why we do not get any updates or at least any news about them.

[~Niko~]

what about if we burn 1.5 and start over from 1.4.2? None of the stuff in 1.5 was really useful or that good anyways

[zakath]

I agree.
But first I'd like to know how much time do the developer(s) dedicate to working on Soldat (daily/weekly/monthly/...yearly!?).
Maybe he's/she's/they're just not working on the game and that's why we do not get any updates or at least any news about them.

Checkout: http://twitter.com/EnEsCe

[LtKillroy]

Of course we would like a bugfix patch. No idea why one wasn't released.

[blackdevil0742]

I agree.
But first I'd like to know how much time do the developer(s) dedicate to working on Soldat (daily/weekly/monthly/...yearly!?).
Maybe he's/she's/they're just not working on the game and that's why we do not get any updates or at least any news about them.

Checkout: http://twitter.com/EnEsCe

OMG twitter what a joke.

As for the bugs. Yeah I too don't understand why the bugs 1.5 has aren't fixed.

[Squakingcow]

Bugs aren't being fixed because apparently spending 6 months making a complete new version with more bugs and features no one wants is better than spending 2 weeks improving the current version making it more stable and enjoyable...

[xurich]

None of the stuff in 1.5 was really useful or that good anyways

I disagree! Feature wise, the only one that I thought was really important was separating caps from kills, but 1.5 also had a couple or so important bug fixes, like the random weapon/flag drop bug.

In any event, I agree with you guys that 1.5.1 should be primarily, if not solely, a bug fix version. I'll be disappointed if 1.5.1 takes longer than another month or two to complete, especially if it's loaded with new features which I'll assume will have taken the most time to implement.

Two weeks is probably cutting it way too short though. Most previous bug fix versions weren't released in that amount of time, and it can't be expected that this one would be either, even if bug fixing was the only focus. We've been waiting a little over three months for 1.5.1, whereas 1.3 -> 1.3.1 took over four months, and 1.2 -> 1.2.1 (which didn't fix many bugs) took nine.

I'd like to see something similar to 1.1.5, where one day after the version was released, a bug fix version ("1.1.5 fix") was made available. It didn't fix every bug (or even the vast majority of bugs), but it did address the very critical ones. It would have been nice to have had a small 1.5 fix to address things like the Deathmatch name bug and the demo problems, with the less critical bugs being fixed in a later 1.5.1 release.

[Squakingcow]

While I agree that 1.5 fixed bugs from 1.4.2 and added new features it also added more bugs than it got rid of (there's now the rejoin bug, demos no longer working, spawning reloading, death match bug and possibly others, last version the only bug that really stood out was the weapon drop bug, and the rejoin bug is arguably more annoying since it can result in a returned flag directly).

Things such as the bouncy polys in nuubia that plagued 1.4.2 for 2 years could have been fixed within a matter of hours (since all that was required was a simple copy and paste of nuubia from previous versions).

While I agree that features such as separating caps/kills were worthwhile features (along with the reduction of bullet push), features such as lobby chat which quite probably took a lot of coding time up ended up being essentially useless (and at the time when it was first said that lobby chat would be added a large amount of the community said that it wasn't going to be a worthwhile addition, and yet they got ignored).

Now for the next version EnEsCe is already talking about adding a login system (which again reduces the accessability of a free online game taking more time just to actually get into soldat and play) and prioritising that above  doing what is needed most, fixing the bugs that vastly degrade the experience when playing soldat.

[-Major-]

None of the stuff in 1.5 was really useful or that good anyways

I disagree! Feature wise, the only one that I thought was really important was separating caps from kills, but 1.5 also had a couple or so important bug fixes, like the random weapon/flag drop bug.

I rather have working demos than these things. the random flag drop bug was really really rare anyway. don't we still have the random rejoin now? (or was it fixed?)

[CurryWurst]

Now for the next version EnEsCe is already talking about adding a login system (which again reduces the accessability of a free online game taking more time just to actually get into soldat and play) and prioritising that above  doing what is needed most, fixing the bugs that vastly degrade the experience when playing soldat.

I spoke to EnEsCe about the twitter entry and he clearly pointed out that the login system is not for soldat.

To come back to topic, I definitely agree to shorter release cycles and that critical bugs should receive higher priority instead of new features. But I doubt EnEsCe is going to realize that.
In my opinion it would be the best, if there are more Soldat developers to increase the work flow and make shorter release cycles possible. This topic has been discussed frequently over the last few months and unfortunately EnEsCe is not willing to give in.

[Centurion]

Flag/ Weapon drop bug isn't fixed completely. It still occurs you know -.-

The only useful things in 1.5 are ActionSnap and that caps aree removed from frags.

I strongly agree with this.
Get bugs fixed first and then add new features.

 

[Dusty]

It was the same thing with ctf_Nuubia years ago. It was supposed to be fixed right away but what happened? Jah this is shit.

[scarface09]

I'm not sure if EnEsCe will be able to comprehend with this situation here. Your opinions do mean something to us but I'm not sure if it will mean anything to him. So it might happen but probably overtime.

[L[0ne]R]

I'm not sure if EnEsCe will be able to comprehend with this situation here. Your opinions do mean something to us but I'm not sure if it will mean anything to him. So it might happen but probably overtime.

AFAIK, he hasn't even been on forums since beginning of July. People begged for more bugfixes since 1.4.2, but no use. And I honestly doubt that this thread will make any difference.
But what about 1.5.1? Isn't this supposed to be a bug fix?

[Sauron]

But what about 1.5.1? Isn't this supposed to be a bug fix?

Not at all, he is already adding new features to 1.5.1. It`s reason why we have to wait so long time.

EnEsCe is living in his small world "I am soldat dev, only me!" and he doesn`t care about community.
He is ignoring forum, his website and twitter are outdated.
This is disaster for Soldat, you can say that he has his real life so he has no time for Soldat, OK, if he has no time then we need more developers.

[gedazz]

1.5.1 could be a bug fix version and then EnEsCe could do whatever he wants with 1.5.2 or 1.6, or whatever. Nevertheless, I really want developers to inform community about what is being fixed, added or changed in the game and what should we expect in the next version, whenever and if it comes out.

[jrgp]

I hope you're all aware that MM/eC are likely to not give a rats ass about this thread or your hopes/wishes/plans.

[Dusty]

I'm pretty sure neither one of them cares a shit about the community's opinion.