6.3a coming. Bang away at 6.3 to find any bugs!

[Guest]

I know some of you don't play any SP, but this might be a good reason to do so for the next week or two. Jim just announced that a bug-fix-only small patch to 6.3 is coming soon, and from his wording, it sounds like it's our last chance to get any remaining bugs squashed any time in the foreseeable future.

http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/...ad.php?t=76260

Hi, everyone.

I need to create a 6.3a. I think the RB catch issue is bothersome, and I'd like default rosters with proper experience (it figures I'd forget something obvious like the need to subtract one from what the NFL reports in-season - I've only been doing this for 11 seasons now, you'd think I'd learn - I was so proud of the ratings, too, really spent a lot of time tweaking them).

This isn't an opportunity to add new features. The game is three years old, and I have to focus on the future. If I keep adding stuff, then you won't be absolutely blown away by a new version down the road. I'd like to pretend (please don't blow it for me) that simply providing a free maintenance update for a three-year-old product actually does blow people away.

I've gotten some questions about the "Vista-izing" changes. As in "why in the hell would you do that?" Well, the problem is that people buying the game run into problems having to allow administrative privileges in the installation folders. And Windows doesn't provide a nice error message that would make that an easy fix.

This makes life tougher for multi-player leagues, I know. The AppData folder is hard to find. There's already a learning curve for commissioners. One of the major features on the list for a next version, if there is one, is going through all of the commissioner actions and seeing what I can do to streamline and automate, eliminate the need for batch files, add an interface for direct import and export through FTP, data dumps for custom stat packages, etc. But maybe you'll find it easier to recruit new people, as this should make the game more appealing to new customers with Vista.

Or maybe not. I've been on Vista for six months now, and I hate it with the passion of 1,000 suns. Almost as much as I hate Dell and the godawful McAfee adware they put on my new computer.

Ben has been very helpful in setting up this item. If you think something needs to be in 6.3a. Bug fixes, not new features, make sure they're either posted here or sent to customer support. Be very specific about anything to do with end-of-half decisions. Sometimes I can't work with a report because I don't know the number of time outs left or the score or the settings for two-minute offense or the wind speed (field goal decisions). Yes, I know the whole hurry-up could use more work, but that's a decent-sized item for the next version as well (the ability to time plays down to a few seconds while deciding on the next play, primarily).

Anyway, this was a huge patch - probably the most work I've ever done on one. I hate that it isn't perfect, but I think it breathes a lot more realism into the game. I'm headed out of town next week. When I return, I'm going to see what's here, put together the patch, and move on to what's next for Solecismic Software (as usual, a state secret not even president Obama knows - for his own protection).

Thanks for your help. Enjoy.

Check the bug thread at FOFC (http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/...ad.php?t=76150), and either post there, or send it via email to support AT solecismic DOT com.