ROCHESTER, NY: Recently, information brought to us by sources within Ambrosia HQ revelaed that the (url="http://"http://www.AmbrosiaSW.com/news/upcoming/coldstone_betashots.html")Coldstone Game Engine(/url) is indeed nearing completion, and should be released quite soon, possibly even within the next two or three years.

In an interview with true Ambrosia President and Mascot, Ms. Hector D. Byrd, it was revealed that the team both at (url="http://"http://www.AmbrosiaSW.com/news/")Ambrosia(/url) and at (url="http://"http://www.beenox.com/")Beenox(/url) were working feverishly to complete the package, and she confirmed that a release within the next three years was definite, although with a great deal of effor a two year finish is also possible.

"We're really expecting everyone to love the CGE (Coldstone Game Engine) when it is released. Currently we don't have a set release date, but it won't be too much longer, that I can promise you," she said

When asked about the release date postulated by members of the (url="http://"http://www.AmbrosiaSW.com/cgi-bin/ubb/forumdisplay.cgi?action=topics&number;=48")Coldstone Webboard Community(/url) of a possible December release in 2001, Ms Byrd became quite defensive, noting that Ambrosia had never mentioned a December release, and especially not one in the year 2001.

"I think that, being conservative, our best guess at a release will be Q1 2004. However, we will try for a release sometime 2003, possibly even Q3 or Q4 2002 if possible. However, these dates are not definite, so please, don't be disappointed if these estimates are slightly off. All we can tell for sure is that we will definitely be done within three years, and that everybody is going to love the CGE."

Ambrosia Software is a longtime Mac only shareware publisher who is planning to make their debut into the Windows market with the Coldstone Game Engine and it's flagship game, (url="http://"http://www.AmbrosiaSW.com/games/pog/")Pillars of Garendall(/url). Beenox is a small Canadian company, for whom the CGE is their first major product.

Funny?

-Andiyar

------------------
"Any good that I may do here, let me do now, for I may not pass this way again"

lol
Thank you Aniyar, you've brought a smile to my day. I wonder if Dee will reply to this topic. (or Andrew)

------------------
V-16 Twin Bombers: $8,000,000
1 Aircraft Carrier: $4,000,000,000,000
Battlecruiser loaded with marines: $8,000,000,000,000
The look on Bin Ladin's face when we get him: Priceless...

Quote

Originally posted by spitfire:
**lol
Thank you Aniyar, you've brought a smile to my day. I wonder if Dee will reply to this topic. (or Andrew)
**

Watch, one of them will reply, say "F-ck off." and leave quietly!

This was rude and inconsiderate. Beenox and Ambrosia Software really are working their asses off to get the CGE released. Have patience and don't insult them.

--Alexis

------------------
When man finally became dominant over Earth, he looked upwards to the Heavens...One can easily imagine paleolithic man staring space ward, wondering what it would be like to cross that inconceivable distance and bridge the gap between worlds, to what mysteries were held in the grasp of far planets... --Halo Prologue

It was meant as humor, and it came across that way, I believe. I found it humorous, at any rate.

------------------
Fortress of Die Nacht: An upcoming game from Aviary Productions.
(url="http://"http://www.aviaryproductions.f2s.com/downloads.html")Go take a look!(/url) | (url="http://"http://www.aviaryproductions.f2s.com/fortress/progresslog.html")FoDN Progress Log(/url)

Yeah, I find it humorous, but it was a wee bit dissapointing having the big (ANN) sign up with an official sounding topic ending up being a joke...boohoo, I guess I'm just sour

------------------

Quote

Originally posted by Phoenix155:
This was rude and inconsiderate. Beenox and Ambrosia Software really are working their asses off to get the CGE released. Have patience and don't insult them.

Alexis, I have nothing but respect for Beenox and Ambrosia. With Coldstone coming even closer to release, as Dee mentioned here, I only sought to bring a bit of humour into the way that Ambrosia, and indeed many software companies refuse to commit upon release dates for products. I am well aware that Beenox are working very hard to complete and test Coldstone, and I assure you that I will be one of the first to order it as soon as it is released. It was not my intention to seem either rude or insulting, and if that is how you found my post, I apologise. I meant it only in fun.

Quote

Originally posted by theGlueBubble:
It was meant as humor, and it came across that way, I believe. I found it humorous, at any rate.

Exactly. As a matter of fact, I found it humorous as well....

Quote

Originally posted by themage:
Yeah, I find it humorous, but it was a wee bit dissapointing having the big (ANN) sign up with an official sounding topic ending up being a joke...boohoo, I guess I'm just sour

Funny? No. That's just going a bit too far, and is not something I would joke about.

You realize that we've waited pretty long, long after several seemingly realistic guesses as to when it would be released, and for many of us(or at least some of us), patience wears thin. This doesn't help that in the least. Personally, it depresses me to think it would be so much longer until CS is released. The joke might even be right; it could take three more years to finish Coldstone. É Help! Make me stop ranting! É Methinks "soon" is getting far to open-ended. We have been told 'soon', 'a few more weeks' and other such things for several months.

(gets hit in the head from a pot overhead)

Oww... Hmm. I jast had an epifany(sp?). I don't think I'm going to wait for CS any longer.

Actually, there is one more thing. If Coldstone is (supposedly) so close to being released, why don't they release a target release date?
Yes, I know they probably won't get that date, but the keyword is that it is a target release date, not a garunteed release date. If they stop adding new features and stick with just bug fixes, and do a short beta(have testers just test things that had found bugs before, see if they work). The thing is, if/when CS is released, there will be hundreds of people using it, and they are bound to report pretty much all the bugs they run into, basically acting like a few hundred paying beta testers, rather then a select few who get the product for free and have to find bugs and maybe get payed for it.

Anyways, as I said, they should at least release a target release date. I mean, for crying out loud, the previous beta was supposed to be the last, and it ended a while ago. Unless there's a bug that causes severe file corruption merely by opening the application(s), release it.

Quote

Originally posted by -Mouse:
Actually, there is one more thing. If Coldstone is (supposedly) so close to being released, why don't they release a target release date?

The reason that Ambrosia does not announce a release date, target or otherwise, is because if they did not release the product upon or very close to that date, there would be a tremendous amount of whining and complaining, both on this board and by email. Most people don't care about the connotations of the word 'target' but would merely assume that Coldstone would be released upon that date, and as such would take it as their God given right to come online on say, the 50/50/2001 to order their copy of Coldstone. Or else.

Quote

**
Anyways, as I said, they should at least release a target release date. I mean, for crying out loud, the previous beta was supposed to be the last, and it ended a while ago. Unless there's a bug that causes severe file corruption merely by opening the application(s), release it.**

As to releasing Coldstone now, the last beta (Beta 5) was not in fact released to the testers back in May, and Dee mentioned that it has just been re-packaged and released. I assume that this was because Dee and the Beenox team were frantically trying to finish PoG, and as such didn't have the time to work on Coldstone, thus they delayed it's release. Also, if Ambrosia did release Coldstone now, bugs and all, they would still be flooded by complaints about how 'this thingy isn't working" and the presence of bugs would naturally detract from both the appeal of Coldstone to the consumer, and to the ratings of people who would review the engine. And since many people (myself included) tend to pay attention to what reviewers say, bad publicity for Coldstone could cripple it as a viable product, and even if Ambrosia released it, and then released a patch later, people would still be suspicious of the product, and might avoid it.

Quote

Funny? No. That's just going a bit too far, and is not something I would joke about.

You are of course entitled to your own opinion about everything you hear, read and see. However, I don't really believe I went too far with my 'press release,' I was merely trying to inject some humour into an event that to me, at least, was always at least partially funny, i.e: people speculating when Coldstone (and other Ambrosia products) will be released. I was basically saying that no matter what you believe, it will be done when it's done, and I was also poking gently at Dee's comment that it would be 'soon.' I too hope that 'soon' means soon but I personally am content to wait however long it takes (within reasonable limits ;)) for the release of a superior product rather than a buggy, half-finished feeling product.

Anyway, it gives me more time to plan out the various games that I have floating through my head. And of course, Celchu and I do need some time to get things organised.

-Andiyar

------------------
"Any good that I may do here, let me do now, for I may not pass this way again"

(This message has been edited by Tarnćlion Andiyarus (edited 11-12-2001).)

::cups ear::
what's that you say , this topic is about to be locked , ya don't say!! :

------------------
...go fall on something sharp.

Quote

Originally posted by Tarnćlion Andiyarus:
**...there would be a tremendous amount of whining and complaining...
**

And that would be different from now in what way?

Saphfire

------------------

Quote

Originally posted by saphfire:
**And that would be different from now in what way?

Saphfire

**

There'd be more of it. Lots, lots more! And, due to the way that people feel when they believe they are being denied their 'rightful possesions' it will be far more shrill and irritating. The way it is now... well, at least we can say that a date hasn't been announced, and that it will be done when it's ready, rather than having people posting messages such as "Only ten more days until we get Coldstone! YAAAYY!"

Bit, overdone, but you can see my point, I'm sure. Oh, and what did you think of the 'press release'?

-Andiyar

------------------
"Any good that I may do here, let me do now, for I may not pass this way again"

Quote

Originally posted by Tarnćlion Andiyarus:
**Oh, and what did you think of the 'press release'?;)

**

LOL, well, since you asked...I thought it was very nicely done...well thought out and mimiced to perfection. Certainly a post worthy of Moki. It wasn't too out of line, unless tensions and pressure are really high, then it may seem a bit cynical. However, I was kinda disappointed that the headline wasn't factual.

Saphfire

------------------

Quote

Originally posted by chill_rx:
**
::cups ear::
what's that you say , this topic is about to be locked , ya don't say!! :

**

:eek:

Chill with a clean Karma ?????? Are you ill, chum ?

As for that topic, I tought it as kinda fun !

------------------
Greetings, all-powerful archmage!
Finally, you have done it again, as it should have been so many years ago, the archmage powerful enough to gain possession of the ultimate spell. Armageddon is a powerful and frightening spell, as devastating to yourself as to mankind. You will no longer be eligible to receive protection from the council. From now on, you are on your own. Good luck, and may your powers be with you.

Quote

Originally posted by Tarnćlion Andiyarus:
**Oh, and if you look closely, the word imminent is displayed as "Imminent". Get it!

**

I found you press release humorous but I would have really gone over blown if I wrote it like a release date in ten to fifteen years for maximum effect but the 'imminent/Imminent" thing whent completely over my head ( I'm still in the dark, maybe someone could explain it it very small words)

Quote

Originally posted by chill_rx:
**
::cups ear::
what's that you say , this topic is about to be locked , ya don't say!! :

**

not only with clean karma the usually right on target chill_rx may be : wrong

Im out

------------------
The iMac with the shiny Chrome finish.

Quote

Originally posted by straytoaster:
**...not only with clean karma the usually right on target chill_rx may be ::o : wrong...

**

I : doubt it...

This topic clearly has no merit whatsoever besides novel entertainment. Enjoy while it lasts.

Saphfire

------------------

It really wasn't that bad. I found it to be humerous. Just think about this, weather or not he posted the topic, it wouldn't change the fact that Coldstone will come out when it's good and done. We should be glad that we have testers and programmers who care enough to give use all of the features that we need to quench our thirsts and who will take all of the time needed to do just that. We're also lucky to have someone to add some comic releif to the whole board. Would you rather that Coldstone DID come out that late?

------------------

Quote

Originally posted by straytoaster:
**....but the 'imminent/Imminent" thing whent completely over my head ( I'm still in the dark, maybe someone could explain it it very small words)

**

Okay, it wasn't the word itself, but the fact that it is enclosed with speech marks. This is rather hard to explain without visual aid, but just imagine someone saying
"imminent" in a slightly sarcastic tone of voice, whilst doing the speech marks thing with their fingers. See?

Quote

Originally posted by Kireck L:
We're also lucky to have someone to add some comic releif to the whole board.

Thankyou! I've been thinking about doing something like this for a while, but it was Dee's comment in the "Coldstone Construct" thread that pushed me over the line. It just struck me a slightly ironic, and so I wrote this "press release" in that frame of mind.

::bows::

Quote

Just think about this, whether or not he posted the topic, it wouldn't change the fact that Coldstone will come out when it's good and done. We should be glad that we have testers and programmers who care enough to give use all of the features that we need to quench our thirsts and who will take all of the time needed to do just that........ Would you rather that Coldstone DID come out that late?

Exactly. I for one, as I believe I mentioned here somewhere, would much rather they take that little bit of extra time to make sure that everything in Coldstone works just as it should. I also second your opinion of the testers and programmers for taking such care with Coldstone, and I applaud them on their work done so far, as extrapolated from screenshots and guesswork on these boards.

Oh, and as to Coldstone coming out as late as I joked it would..... no, I'd prefer to have it a little earlier than that!

-Andiyar

------------------
"Any good that I may do here, let me do now, for I may not pass this way again"

Whew, I've never been to this messageboard before, but I was curious if they might have some info on the projected release date. I read this and almost wet myself until I relized it was a joke...but it was pretty funny after that.

time heals all karma , i've been mia for about what 2 months or more, here to fore

but i'll just sit around and wait 'til they put the boot on this topic and tow it away

------------------
...go fall on something sharp.