AATF: The Manual...

[Jarhead0331]

Hey there...

I'm seriously not trying to be a pain in the a$$, but how reliable is the information contained in the manual? It is filled with a surprising amount of typographical errors and incorrect descriptions/details (ie. the mini-map is not located at the top left of the screen).

Obviously, the actual software is more important than the manual, and so far AATF is proving to be a unique simulation of modern air assault operations, but the manual is still an important tool, especially to those of us who are new to the ATF engine...

Thanks, and sorry if I came across as a whiner...

[Patrick Proctor]

Sorry for the mistakes. If you send any glaring errors (like the mini-map) to us at:

techsupport@prosimco.com

I will ensure that errata is published and corrections are made for the next edition of the game.

[Jarhead0331]

Well, I'll help out where and when I can but I bought the sim to play it, and not to edit the manual!

The mistakes are glaring and start at page 1...If the simulation is going to be marketed as a commercially available military grade simulation (as I think it should be), then it should have the appearance of one in-game and from cover-to-cover in the manual!

I would assume that this is definitely one of the draw backs of having a small development team...there is only so much time in a day and just so damn much to do! Some items end up being rushed, or saved for the end...better to be the supporting documentation than the software itself...

EDIT: But remember...image, presentation and first impressions are half the battle!

[Curt Pangracs]

I would ask that you also keep in mind that each member of the team has a full-time job and family - they do it for the love of it, definitely NOT the money!

The president of the company will be in Iraq for the next few months - should give you some idea of all of the CFT (Copious Free Time) they all have.

[Jarhead0331]

No doubt...

And I was certain to acknowledge your point in my above post...

I've been there, done that, got the t-shirt to prove it...I'm a staff writer for a major wargaming/strategy website. I do it for free because of my love for the hobby...I do it for the fans! Its always difficult to manage consistent, thorough, well researched, quality content articles with my real life responsibilities (ie. commercial litigation attorney and family) I've also been deployed so I know how that can "occupy" one's free time...

Anyway...the point has been made. The manual should be edited when time permits and I'll still try to help out as time permits, but you've got to credit me in the next manual version!

Stay safe and don't forget to duck and cover while you're over in Iraq, Patrick

[Patrick Proctor]

Jarhead.

I do appreciate the input. It is very hard to proofread your own work, as you seem to read over the same errors you type over.

I guess what I was asking was that if you find something that is glaringly inaccurate (contradicts actual game play), please drop us a note. I will get it fixed in errata and in the next edition of the game.

[jimrad2383]

Curt Pangracs said:
I would ask that you also keep in mind that each member of the team has a full-time job and family - they do it for the love of it, definitely NOT the money!

The president of the company will be in Iraq for the next few months - should give you some idea of all of the CFT (Copious Free Time) they all have.

Understood but............. Understand that we are not talking about freeware but something people are paying for, so expectations are higher on the quality of the work. I understand where Jarhead is coming from. Presentation is everything when your trying to sell a product irregardless of how many jobs you have or if you do this part time. You can overlook many things when its done without a price, but when you charge people and sell something as a product, a lot of errors dont give a very good impression of the product. Dont get me wrong, the simulation itself is well done. If I have one complaint its the number of scenarios. Granted you can make your own, but not a lot of people have time for that. I would of liked to have seen more scenarios with a product in this price range. Most likely this will be my last ride in the series, I need to find something that gives me a little more bang for my buck so to speak. Ive bought every release of this product all the way back to the BCT days. More gameplay is needed in my opinion.

[Curt Pangracs]

Sorry you feel that way. Thanks for purchasing the other games in the series.

Curt Pangracs
Designer of Raging Tiger and The Star and the Crescent.