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Very "Smart Soapbox"


Rosko
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hehe. great soap box SC, it's really cool to see a glimpse of the "behind the scenes workings" of software development, it really is amazing how easily people criticize games when they (read as "we") have absolutely no clue in what's involved.

by the way, how about;

The Smart Choice

or

%$#@&%!!

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[A very interesting soapbox, SC. Hmmm, and the autobiography sounds good, too. Do you know what the title's going to be yet? ]

I just can't resist.

Let's start a countdown til the autobiography is published.

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I wish I knew you were looking for a writer to do the manual. I know at least three people up here in Canada who do it for a living, love games, and would have done a bang up professional job.

Matter of fact, I would have done it if you'd asked. For half of what you'd paid him. And it would have been a labour of love.

(And yes, I can write. Well, there are those who disagree. At least that's how I pay the mortgage.)

Really ticks me off that you were screwed like that over the manual. Really wish I'd known you were looking.

[ 11-09-2001: Message edited by: Kush ]

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quote:


Originally posted by Kush:

I wish I knew you were looking for a writer to do the manual. I know at least three people up here in Canada who do it for a living, love games, and would have done a bang up professional job.

Matter of fact, I would have done it if you'd asked. For half of what you'd paid him. And it would have been a labour of love.

(And yes, I can write. Well, there are those who disagree. At least that's how I pay the mortgage.)

Really ticks me off that you were screwed like that over the manual. Really wish I'd known you were looking.

[ 11-09-2001: Message edited by: Kush ]


It happens. The fact is, he came to me and offered to do it. It wasn't like I was looking around for someone. After all, I did the last manual. I just decided to have someone else do it so that I could continue working on the game - which was already late. I knew that I'd have to give the manual some touches of course, but I never knew that I'd end up writing the whole thing myself.

Denis Greene did a strat guide for SFC and so I figured that he had the experience to do the BCM manual. Anyway, my thoughts are contained in this email response to email some clueless fool sent me shortly after.

quote:


Derek, You are such an idiot. Dennis Greene is a well published author of game guides for Star Fleet Command II, Star Fleet Command Orion Pirates and many others. He also did most of the work on the SFC manuals. He did excellent work. He was your best bet for actually getting a real manual for BC. You needed a good manual for once.

Derek, can you for once take credit for your own failures and stop blaming others. You sir are the reason the game is not out yet. It is you who are responsible for the project not meeting its objectives. Had you managed each step of the project better and not been so arrogant you might have a product with a good manual on store shelves now. It's funny even people who were gun shy about your latest version of BC were on the band wagon to get it. The media was behind you and the hype was building. Even I was starting to look at it again and was interested. But now you shoot yourself in the foot again. The game is not on the shelves and you pick on Dennis Greene. Man was that stupid or what? I guess you can depend on your small coven of followers to buy the game but you have alienated the community again. This one will be in the bargain bin again before you know it.

Will I buy your product or any future products? Hell no.

TC

TC

1. I didn't say Dennis wasn't qualified, he couldn't get it DONE. So, I let him go.

And I don't know what 'many others' is because I am only aware of the SFC manual

which he did.

I don't give a toss about his accomplishments. There are a LOT of people

with accomplishments who still SCREW UP on occassion. After ONE MONTH I didn't

see ANYTHING resembling A MANUAL - and both my attorney and I have ALL the

emails that went back and forth right up to the time where it all came apart

over him returning the money since he hadn't delivered ANYTHING.

And as I said, even if I don't get my $1,000 back, I'll make sure he spends that

much, if not more, on attorney fees because I DO plan on filing a complaint here

in Florida as I know that I can.

I didn't even KNOW who the hell Dennis Greene was until HE approached ME when I

posted something completely unrelated, on the Taldren boards. So, here was a TOTAL

stranger who had my $1,000 and after almost a month, hadn't delivered ANYTHING even

closely resembling A MANUAL. You think I'm some company with money to throw around

just for the heck of it?

2. You must be a complete and total idiot to even gleam from my soapbox article that

the production delay had ANYTHING to do with Dennis. What the hell is the matter

with you? In fact, I'm going to bcc him on this.

3. And you haven't even SEEN my manual to make any judgement call that Dennis would

have done a better job. Thats just a laughable piss take.

4. Go **** yourself and don't send me any more email unless you have a clue about

wtf you're talking about, jackass. I can't even be bothered to reply to the rest

of your rubbish. I have better things to do with my time even if you don't.

Have a nice life and welcome to my kill filter


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Thats nuthin'. Check this out

quote:


(cc: and Bcc: EBWorld publishing department representative)

Dear Derek Smart,

I've always supported you, even after the BC3K v1 fiasco, which obviously

wasn't your fault. But, unfortunately, I can't support you after this

week's assault on me and my friends.

The message on your website comes off as a rant against your loyal fans.

And I can't believe you risked alienating your PRE-ORDERING fans... that's

pissing away money in the bank. I'm sure your publishers would agree.

A quote from your diatribe: "Your $50 is miniscule compared to the amount of

time, recourse [sic], energy and MONEY I have invested in this product and

the process of production." As a fan and consumer, I also appreciated the

"its not about you" line as well. You kept on mentioning that you "don't

owe [us] anything" The real gem, of course, was "...I don't owe any of you

whining babies a damned thing" An apology seems inevitable.

What would cause you to trash your fans that way in a public forum? Am I

supposed to recommend this game to my friends now? I'm not going to take

the time to spit on your game, let alone drop 50 bucks on it.

I've taken the liberty of posting a link to your soapbox on several web

community sites as well, since I think the rest of the gaming community

would like to see how you feel about them.

You should consider switching careers; you're much more suited to coding

databases in an office somewhere, than dealing with actual people. Of

course, then you couldn't get away with slapping the people who give you

your paycheck.

Running out the door to cancel the preorder,

Adam

Adam,

Well, thats nice of you to write. If it means that I don't have to look forward to

rubbish like this in my inbox - then fair enough, don't buy my game. My soapbox, like

so many, was directed at a specific group of people - obviously you fit that

group. Which, funny enough, made the whole thing worthwhile.

I don't know you. I don't care to know you. I have a close knit community and

I am ONE of few developers who can boast that I know most of the people who

buy my games. So, some anonymous person from the Internet, writing that they've

supported me and all that crap - is just that. Crap. Your time would be best

spent on someone who gives a damn what YOU think. I don't.

So far, yours is the **ONLY** email I have received that has this kind of

response to my soapbox. As they say, who the cap fits.

Here, let me leave you with some emails from people (so far I have 111 where those came

from) who actually buy and play my game. If nothing else, it just proves one thing, you

just wasted your time on this pointless diatribe. Me? I do this for a living. I'm

used to dealing with detractors, degenerates and any fool with access to the

Internet - and who things that because they spent $50 on a game, it gives them Carte

Blanche to behave badly online, put developers under siege (which is why most don't

even DEAL with the community at large) and carry out personal attacks from behind

the confines of annonymity. Cowards.

As a rebelious industry insider with absolutely ZERO tolerance for industry nonsense, my

soapbox articles are published and widely read. You obviously have not seen my articles

in other mags (including print). All my articles spark controversy. So, if you

think for ONE minute that I'm going to lose ANY sleep over your diatribe, then

you TRULY don't know who Derek Smart is - contrary to what you wrote.

You cc'ed [email protected]. Oh dear, I can't imagine why you'd do that. In fact, I'm

only responding for the benefit of that poor hapless person at the other end of

that [email protected] email address who is subjected to receiving your diatribe. I

suggest you pick up the phone, do your homework and find the CEO of EB. Then

complain all you want. I'm sure it'll do a lot for your karma and disposition,

if nothing else. You really should've read the disclaimer at the top of my

soapbox. You know the good thing about this country (you're probably not even

in the US), the power that is Freedom Of Speech, protects us from crap like this.

Even without it, most would be hard pressed to even *think* of engaging me without

a solid plan or at the very least, an escape chute. Only a COMPLETE IDIOT or the

persons it was directed at, would mistake it for what it is. A rant.

You are the reason mag writers have dead zone email addresses. Me? I don't need

one. I type almost as fast as I think and cranking out replies like this, when I see

fit, is nothing compared to the time, energy and effort you put into your uselessly

pointless diatribe. To each his own.

Finally, you know why people don't mess with me? Instead they attack me from the confines

of anonymity and libel? Its because, simply put, to go up against me, you HAVE to WANT to

win. Most don't know want to put in the fight it takes to win. I do - no matter the odds. Most

aren't me. I fight to win. Or I don't fight at all. My soapbox is MY private arena. Take it

for what it is. And if you feel offended by it - well then, go have a good cry.

Goodbye and welcome to my email kill file.

From: "Mark Tyrrell"

To:

Subject: Development Feedback

Date: Thu, 8 Nov 2001 04:09:12 -0000

Hi I have been following your saga for a while now, and just like to put to

you my thoughts on how you have handled things. First off, I think its the

mark of a good developer that they stick to their own ideals, which you

have. You haven't let your vision be diluted by Marketers and Accountants.

Though you have listened to the people that matter and therefore you have

kept your fan base loyal and been loyal to your fans.

Through speaking your mind on the forums and your soapbox, and keeping us up

to date with your news flashes and diaries, I thank you. It has been a

breath of fresh air much needed within this age of faceless corporate

developers who don't create out of the love of an idea. You and people like

you are the ones that will truly bring change to an unimaginative stagnant

industry. And this single mindedness will no doubt be indicative of an

excellent game.

Congratulations and Thanks, I look forward to playing BCM.

Mark Tyrrell

===========

From: "Marc Henshaw"

Subject: Soapbox

Date: Wed, 07 Nov 2001 23:30:49 -0500

Derek,

I have to admit I was one of the people who bought the origional Battle

Cruiser, and hated it. I never blamed you. I blamed the publisher, like I

always blame the publisher. A good example would be Hasbro over the past few

years. Never have I ever saw a company who enjoyed shooting themselves in

the foot as much as they do. B-17 Flying Fortress II was beautiful, complex,

half baked, unfinished, and it was sad. Sad because Wayward Design had a

baby, one that perhaps would allow people to experience history. Hasbro

would have experience history in a different way. The history of giving our

hard earned money away, the history of *****ing and moaning and returning

the game to the store. Greed is a terrible thing, unless your putting out

high quality products.

I have faith the 3000ad is doing this, and for some gamers its a matter

of watching release dates and getting bent out of shape when a game doesn't

arrive. These people Derek aren't real gamers. Real gamers realize the time

and effort, we realize that an unfinished product makes us angry and say

were never buying from this or that company. Let's face it, true gamers are

addicts. Games are drugs. They are because they cause a chemical reaction in

our brains, calming, or excitement, highs and lows. We play games for hours

at a time, wasting away in a fantasy world where we for alliances, kill,

steal, destroy, and do what we want, all without the need for retribution

from society or the guilt. We can participate in war without ever having to

fear from shellshock or death. Real gamers would go through the same

symptoms of a drug addict in withdrawl.

Real gamers know that we cannot make our own games to satisfy the need.

We know we never will. When we look at the screen and see a world created

for us, if it works our hearts bare a smile and we can lose ourselves.

I think you pulled this off Derek, no matter what, the real gamers are

all you have to worry about, because we're the ones who come back for that

much needed fix, always wanting more, always searching for a new "high". You

know this yourself, or else why would keep improving BCM? Why not have

simply stuck to 1.0? Because you're addicted too.

Good luck with the launch, sir. I hear the training was rough, but the

ride's a blast!

===============

Date: Thu, 8 Nov 2001 07:12:40 -0800 (PST)

From: John Moo

Subject: Soap something.

Heya,

I just read the november soapbox thing, and I found some elements which were in "your lifestory" as

it is in the PDF file that came with BC3k. All I wanted to say is that I love Battlecruiser 3000;

and I hope you feel that it IS worth all the shit you've been through. I hope to buy BC

Millenium when it releases, given my capital permits it.

What I wanted to say too is that the gaming industry isnt looking too well. A lot of good companies

have shut down recently, and the new ones don't sound promising yet. So I'll try to do everything

to help you get the due credit for this enterprise. (IE buying the thing instead of just downloading

it somewhere, like a lot of people do nowadays.) I wish you luck and godspeed, and I hope the corporations

don't mess with you anymore!

G.

===============

From: "Chris Tucker"

To:

Subject: Soapbox

Date: Thu, 8 Nov 2001 14:42:08 -0600

Well said!!!

I'm anxiously awaiting YOUR game and really don't give a $*it when it hits the shelves. I'll buy it when it gets there. Had I not seen the

link to your Soapbox in a forum, I wouldn't have known what went on "behind-the-scenes". I'm in the printing business and understand

the crap you had to go through (well, kinda).

Good luck with everything and hopefully this game will give you enough $$$ to hire some High School kid to help you on your next!

*PS, no, you don't OWE me anything. I've bought many a crappy games in the past. All I ask is that you put together something YOU

would like to play.

Chris Tucker

===============

From: "Carrie Webster"

To:

Subject: BCM Info

Date: Fri, 9 Nov 2001 04:25:42 -0600

DL'ing the demo now, just wanted to say I like you...well, I like your attitude anyways. Almost as bad as me... I think I'm a little more stubborn

rude blunt and "opinionated" (thats what people call me when they're trying to be nice). Never really played any of the other games, hell never

even heard of them (downside to being a niche game as you call it) but someone recommended it on a msg board I go to, so I read up and it

sounds good. You sound like the type who will go through with the MP patch like you say, but as you know, every company says "oh yeah we'll

support it" then doesn't ::cough activision cough:: (what company says "oh heeeeelll no we ain't going to support that damn game" anyways?) I

just really hope you do come through with it. I am DYING for a GOOD co-op game. Man, maybe I'm looking in the wrong places, but I haven't seen

a good co-op game in years. From what I gleaned off the few interviews I felt like reading, the MP will be 1P, but with multiple people being in it...so

uh, that mean's it will be co-op right? The no mission persey thing sounds interesting. I like knowing life goes on even if my character dies or sleeps

or whatever. Now, for something I haven't seen in any interviews: will we be "characters" that you can see, and if so, will they gain any sort of exp or

skills or anything?

DOAM - who has applied for MSG board validation.

==============

From: "John Mitchell"

To:

Subject: Soapbox

Date: Fri, 9 Nov 2001 10:40:43 -0700

Of course you have seen what a rush job to get to market can do to the sales of a product. I for one would rather have to wait for everything to be 99%

correct and working before I saw it hit the shelf.

What people don't seem to realize that this is not your run of the mill shootem up type game that last 2 weeks before they get bored with it.

I've been on the list for a mail order copy since it was first announced. I can wait and I hope the othters can too!

Keep up the good work young man!

Respects

John Mitchell

===============


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quote:


Originally posted by buckthesystem:

those e-mails (from the fans) must make all the shit worth it.


Not really. It just means that I'm doing something right.

The primary reason I don't do soapbox articles as much as I'd like to, is because they generate a ton of emails - 99.999% positive. Its the other .1% that truly stretches my tolerance levels.

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quote:


Originally posted by Urza:

Uh, those percentages don't add up. Shouldn't it be "it's the other .001% that truly stretches my tolerance levels"?

[ 11-11-2001: Message edited by: Urza ]


You think so huh? I never said anything about the percentage I just ignore, did I?

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