War Room, why was it delayed?

[Zelot # 87]

First off this tread is not for spewing hate or praising anyone.

I was at Templecon when War Room was first announced and like everyone there I was thoroughly excited. I even upgraded to a smartphone so I could use it, as I am sure others may have as well.

I also work in a business where there are deadlines to meet on projects and those deadlines are often given time for potential setbacks. So with PP at the helm for War Room and being able to have any deadline they want I do not understand why they would announce it's release unless they were 100% sure it would be done by then. However it's release has been delayed three times now (I think, I am honestly not sure though) so this leads me to believe that someone was misguided/lied to or it was changed late in the game.

So what I would like to know is why was it repeatedly delayed. Was Tinkerhouse not able to make its deadlines? Was it changed after its announcement because people were upset about the lack of army building at the time? Was PP indecisive on settings/displays?

I and I assume others would like to know why and I think knowing why would help ease some of the anger seen on these boards.

I am eager about War Room and have faith in PP; they have an amazing track record and are known for being open to their customers about issues. I just wish there was more communication on this particular project.

If what I am asking for was previously answered in other threads then a mod can delete this thread.

[AJ the Ronin]

The age of answers is over.
Now in PP Mk.2 you may get a "we don't discuss our bussiness policies" answer and that's it.
When it comes, comes and lets just hope it is worth the wait.

[Dragon2439]

I do remember the latest delay was, according to PP, to ensure that it was fully compatable with the iPad3 and its new iOs. As for the rest we can only guess. My guess it was due to needing more then estimated time for bug fixing, or PP wanted to add or modify features.

[Mustakrakish]

"Because"

Good enough for me.

[PG_Gannon]

I think there was always a bit of aprehension concerning the release of War Room. Things happen, PP has been pretty straight forward as far as company information releases are concerned. We're almost guaranteed to see it this week, so the wait is almost over ladies and gentlemen.

I do believe this program will be worth the wait, and I'm sure THG and PP has used the extra time to exceed our expectations.

You have to think though, how much hype has this built up over a simple little app?

I'm still excited in a positive way and still have money set aside to unlock all the decks to get into some faction building madness!

[sharpe]

Honestly, my only problem with the way it was handled was killing Ibodger with Warroom still in the indefinite future. Had they said "we're gonna do this, but until then you get to keep your toys" I could have waited forever. I'm used to waiting for stuff.

Also, people on the Forums have made an awfully big deal about it. Warroom's absence has not lead to me not playing a single game I would have otherwise played. The sense of entitlement is bloody staggering. There is a whole new thread every day whining about the delay, and the closer we get to release the worse the whining gets.

There's not Warmachine videogame either. What happened to whining about that? Is it ok to announce vapor ware as long as everyone sees it as unrealistic in the first place, but a travesty if you take an extra month making a awesome utility app work properly?

Read a book or something. Maybe the rage will subside if we aren't all checking our respective app stores every fifteen gorram minutes.

[AJ the Ronin]

Post about the lateness of the videogame get deleted. I know because I have a few in the last few months get deleted. That's why you don't see them.

[Outbreak]

"Because"

Good enough for me.

I feel like that attitude might hit a sour note with some of the people around here, although personally I agree. If I thought me being upset would make it release faster then maybe I would be, but since it won't, and there's obviously enough people who are so any party to blame understands a mistake was made, then there's no need for me to be. I got a drink and my paints and a fair share of patience.

I also ask nobody use my post as a reason to start a "who's to blame" discussion, it's already been discussed at length.

To the OP, your post is thought out and civil, opposed to how it could have and has been said considerably more rudely in other places. I cross my fingers and perhaps, just perhaps, somebody might have some usefull info for everyone who's curious about this matter.

[Drzombieface]

I've come to terms with PP's release schedule over the years...

[PG_machine007]

Anytime I think of something getting delayed, I just figure that they are fixing something or making it better.

Either way is a win win.

I got that Blizzard mentality

[haruspex]

I got that Blizzard mentality

I too have the Blizzard mentality.

The major difference here is people are getting antsy (myself included) due to being told one date, then another, NOW ITS GOLD but oh wait it's not out yet because we let Apple dictate our release to ALL channels...

Whereas (with a few exceptions) Blizz say it's ready when it's ready and then SMASH that date to the second with midnight releases etc.

[PG_General Nemo]

It's done when it's done, I guess. I wait eagerly for that day!

[Mustakrakish]

I feel like that attitude might hit a sour note with some of the people around here, although personally I agree. If I thought me being upset would make it release faster then maybe I would be, but since it won't, and there's obviously enough people who are so any party to blame understands a mistake was made, then there's no need for me to be. I got a drink and my paints and a fair share of patience.

I also ask nobody use my post as a reason to start a "who's to blame" discussion, it's already been discussed at length.

To the OP, your post is thought out and civil, opposed to how it could have and has been said considerably more rudely in other places. I cross my fingers and perhaps, just perhaps, somebody might have some usefull info for everyone who's curious about this matter.

I say that because all the other questions the op asked are internal business and would almost never see the light of the public. I've seen the final app in action, its sweet, and I will be getting the $60 bundle when it comes out. I never needed it to play the game, and I still don't.

I loved ibodger, I use it to this day, but things change and I can still do basic math. Also, I LOVE seeing people get all twisted in knots over the silliest things. People taking the Insider as a personal affront was fantastic!

[Lich_Lord_X]

Also, people on the Forums have made an awfully big deal about it. Warroom's absence has not lead to me not playing a single game I would have otherwise played. The sense of entitlement is bloody staggering. There is a whole new thread every day whining about the delay, and the closer we get to release the worse the whining gets.

Consumer entitlement in general is getting ridiculously out of hand everywhere. And not only aree people whining about the "delay" (there was never a solid release date folks, get over it) it's also people complaining about features and stuff that are allegedly missing from the app but no one has used it to no for sure. Also the nonstop whining from people who are vocally against it is aggravating.

[Outbreak]

The problem is there's just as many people whining about the whiners as there are whiners whining. The OP asked the same question everyone's at least curious about, even those who aren't upset. The people who are upset with the release have every right to be, and the people who disagree have the right to as well. The issue is when everyone's upset and starts taking shots at each other, that's how threads get locked.

In the wonderful world of the Internet you're unlikely to change anyone's opinion, and arguing to do so isn't going to have any effect.
I only post cause I'm bored ^_^
*rambling to self* is it effect or affect? I never know...

[PG_ThatRickGuy]

I deal with this every day. I manage a development team for a multi-million dollar software house. I myself have spent over 15 years slinging code.

When it comes down to it, I hear: "I WANT IT NOW!!!" a lot. A whole lot. Pretty much daily. And I tell people the truth:

I can give it to you right now, but it won't work.

You have to ask yourself which is more important, the date, or the functionality.

Do you want War Room on your mobile device now, even though it may not let you build a list, or the interface is nigh unusable, or the damage tracking errors out and loses information, or some other issues? Or do you want it when it works the right way?

Those are your choices. Screaming bloody murder and insulting devs/management/PR won't change that fact. And I'd venture a guess that the vast majority of folks would rather have a program that works later, than a program that doesn't work right now.

So the real issue isn't that there were delays, the issue is in the planning, scheduling, and communication processes. And it's really easy to sit in our chairs and lambast Privateer Press, a company that makes its own molds and spins its own models (for the most part), for messing up a software development project. But lets face it, software companies, that specialize in dealing with the planning, scheduling, and communication software development lifecycles, are screwing up those exact aspects of software projects. It's an incredibly complex field, even for someone who's been doing it the better part of two decades.

So long as PP is learning from this issue, in how to oversee software development projects, and how to manage community expectations, things will only get better

-Rick

[DevonV]

I've come to terms with PP's release schedule over the years...

Try playing Infinity and hoping that your faction gets a model this month. And that it's something new and not a variant or resculpt. ;P

It's Privateer's first app. They probably had an initial specification, got what they asked for, and then realized that it needed more. The developer undoubtedly gave them an estimate, but when the client requests changes, that goes out the window. Shutting down iBodger was a legal issue, with the legal department clearly completing their task well ahead of the app's completion. As much as some may have reason to question the timing, Privateer is very busy, and what seems like carelessness or even malice can be a simple matter of not having time to do it any differently.

[Zelot # 87]

...So long as PP is learning from this issue, in how to oversee software development projects, and how to manage community expectations, things will only get better

-Rick

I feel that this sums up a lot. I know that PP is in new waters here and mistakes happen. I also know that my questions were rhetorical.

Thank you to everyone that has posted and kept things civil.

[WarpedWolf]

Consumer entitlement in general is getting ridiculously out of hand everywhere. And not only aree people whining about the "delay" (there was never a solid release date folks, get over it) it's also people complaining about features and stuff that are allegedly missing from the app but no one has used it to no for sure. Also the nonstop whining from people who are vocally against it is aggravating.

I'll agree with that. We live in a society where people feel increasingly entitled to whatever they want, however they want it, immediately. Ever see the clip of the lady trying to drag the fast food worker out the drive-thru window because she couldn't get chicken nuggets?

[Patryn]

Do you want War Room on your mobile device now, even though it may not let you build a list, or the interface is nigh unusable, or the damage tracking errors out and loses information, or some other issues? Or do you want it when it works the right way?

I agree with you except for the fact that it is ready now, but we're being made to wait for no reason at all.

[Mustakrakish]

I agree with you except for the fact that it is ready now, but we're being made to wait for no reason at all.

There is a reason. Apple needs to approve it. Having a gatekeeper is generally a good thing with this.

[PG_Zeber]

When it comes down to it, I hear: "I WANT IT NOW!!!" a lot. A whole lot. Pretty much daily. And I tell people the truth:

I can give it to you right now, but it won't work.

You have to ask yourself which is more important, the date, or the functionality.

Do you want War Room on your mobile device now, even though it may not let you build a list, or the interface is nigh unusable, or the damage tracking errors out and loses information, or some other issues? Or do you want it when it works the right way?

Those are your choices. Screaming bloody murder and insulting devs/management/PR won't change that fact. And I'd venture a guess that the vast majority of folks would rather have a program that works later, than a program that doesn't work right now.

I wish my bosses would listen to this logic. But sadly in the corporate world i work its "NAO or GTFO!!!!"

Anywho. My annoyance is directed at Apple. Because of a insurmountable number of reasons that make me mad.
And I'm being made to wait because of Apple.

[Lord of ???]

I think that the lesson PP should take away from this, is they really need to manage people's expectation's better.

Keeping people in the dark until it's almost the deadline and then going "Oh, whoops we aren't going to hit that date, Here's a new date"

They needed to have an update page showing how development is going against the milestones.


Giving a date saying "This is when we release it" and then missing that increases annoyance and decreases sales. Putting up "That at current progress this is our estimated time" may frsutrate people at the lack of a firm commitment but it is less than continuously missing deadlines.

[Lich_Lord_X]

I wish my bosses would listen to this logic. But sadly in the corporate world i work its "NAO or GTFO!!!!"

Anywho. My annoyance is directed at Apple. Because of a insurmountable number of reasons that make me mad.
And I'm being made to wait because of Apple.

And Amazon. Again Amazon has yet to approve I'd suggest that everyone wise up to that nugget of info.

[VOLK]

I don't care how long they take, I'm used to their release schedule. I just wish they left iBodger alone.

Although I think they had the app to release when announced, but got a huge amount of negative feedback when they revealed the list calculator wouldn't verify the list/tier bonuses, so now they are trying to get that working.

[Mod_MC]

Speculation on deadlines and why such delays occurred is probably not something that will be openly discussed, nor is it productive to the community.