Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!timbuk!cs.umn.edu!msi.umn.edu!src.honeywell.com!uwm.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!turnkey!orchard.la.locus.com!fafnir.la.locus.com!snap.la.locus.com!dlt From: dlt@locus.com (Dan Taylor) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.games Subject: Re: 688 Attack Sub: Why not modem support? Message-ID: Date: 26 Oct 90 21:04:02 GMT References: <3403.271f81b6@cc.helsinki.fi> <1990Oct21.214110.713@agate.berkeley.edu> Organization: Locus Computing Corporation, Los Angeles, California Lines: 53 I have seen postings questioning the integrity/competence of Electronic Arts for releasing the Amiga version of "688 Attack Sub" without functional modem support. It's much worse than that!! EA has shown complete contempt for Amiga owners. Those who have tried to be the "Alfa" commander have noticed that the indicators on several control panels don't work. EA KNEW THIS BEFORE THE RELEASE! They put a "cute" note that the "Central Committee" had been notified in the Amiga add-on instruction card. This is completely unprofessional. But, for the first time, I happened to try the game on a completely unexpanded machine. There are sounds that I have never heard before. Nice sounds that would add enjoyment, if I could get them on my machine. The (alleged) programmers forgot to specify CHIP RAM for the sound samples. So, on a machine with only 512k of CHIP RAM, but any expansion RAM, you never hear them. And the game is so busy loading overlay pictures, etc, that, after a while, it loses the sounds. I know that I could run NOFASTMEM, or some such kludge, but I would have to reboot, and this game is SUPPOSED to be hard disk compatible. On top of which, the overlay loading takes so long, that control is hampered. I would have expected reviewers to mention these types of deficiencies, but that's a different problem. The marketing dweeb who probably made the decision to ship this seriously defective "product" should be fired, never to work again. Probably got a raise. I sincerely hope the "porters" who kludged this thing together never work again, either. If I ever find who they are, I know I'll never buy anything they've been involved in. Their lack of integrity and/or skill scares me too much. And the QA people? should be ashamed of themselves. And, yes, I did call them before writing this. They don't care. No update is planned. This is not the first time EA has dumped on the Amiga community. We all wanted "Star Flight" for ages. Then, when it was released, long after the PC types had solved the puzzle, we got shown a kludge that didn't take any advantage of the Amiga. If all I wanted was STUPID, SLOW, UGLY games, I'd have a PC. I kept my money. I guess I should have known better this time, but I won't be fooled again (apologies, Pete). I'm not ready to suggest a complete EA boycott, since there seem to be different groups, with different standards, within the company. However, I suggest we all think REAL hard before buying an EA game. As long as we buy them broken, unscrupulous companies will sell them that way. Also, make your displeasure known to EA. Call them! -- * Dan Taylor * The opinions expressed are my own, and in no way * * dlt@locus.com * reflect those of Locus Computing Corporation. *