We Have Liftoff!

[jeffd]

We have liftoff on Battle of the Bulge. Short pause while it propagates through Apple's servers, but then we are LIVE!

[jeffd]

Still waiting on propagation. We're all as excited and tense as you are.

[jeffd]

Here's a worldwide link. For whatever reason the search function seems to be indexing the app slowly, but you can use that link to get it in the App Store.

[Arezt]

The link is not worldwide...at least in Germany it doesn't work...

[Gerryo03]

The link worked for me. Installing now. Thanks

[finkfankfunk]

I cannae wait for it to propogate
Unless my boarding is late
I wish i could play
All night and all day
Oh no, they've just called my gate

[jam]

Link worked for me, (USA east Coast). Hope you guys do well with it.

I am so glad this game has been developed and it looks great. THANKS!

[jeffd]

The link is not worldwide...at least in Germany it doesn't work...

Ack, sorry to hear that. It's supposed to be worldwide, but we're rapidly learning here that the App Store moves in mysterious ways.

Weird as it might seem, I'd wait a bit and then try again, even if it's not showing up. What we've learned is that there are two stages: first the app makes it onto the App Store, and later it's indexed by their search engine and findable by typing in the title. We've gotten multiple reports of the link not working in Germany, so it's possible that while most of the world is waiting for Stage 2 you guys are still on Stage 1.

Otherwise, it's possible that the link just doesn't work in Germany. We'll look at it, but if that's the case you'll probably have to wait for Stage 2. Sorry.

[Arezt]

Otherwise, it's possible that the link just doesn't work in Germany. We'll look at it, but if that's the case you'll probably have to wait for Stage 2. Sorry.

Thanks for the fast answer!
As long as ist will be available over here soon ( in a few hours or so) everything's fine!

[damstabongo]

Hello,

It works fine in France, i bought one. This game looks great... Congratulation to the developpers for this first real wargame on the iPad world. I'll surrely buy all the next episode.

Bongo

[jeffd]

It's definitely up there, and will definitely get there with time. We're currently witnessing a demonstration in the pitfalls of cloud computing.

[finkfankfunk]

Link does NOT work for Switzerland either...

[damstabongo]

Wahoo,

After a quick test of things in this game, i had just to say "great job" folks. This is what i dreamed for game when i purchase my iPad. Sure, the other "Risk-like" games improperly called "wargames" on the Apple store can be forgotten. This is real, real good job. Thanks.

Maitre Bongo

[jeffd]

Okay. Be patient, folks. In retrospect the countdown to release, while fun, probably wasn't the best idea. All I can say in our defense is that it's the first time we've done an App Store release, and we didn't understand just how long the lag would be. Sincere apologies to anyone disappointed, and we are working the problem.

[Junior junior]

awesome- works fine in New York-

[s_nheather]

Unimpressed.

The link works fine for me but I'm still waiting for a code. Have to wait until the ones in the USA are completed.

Before you ask, yes I did get the email checking my server and email address were correct - they are.

So basically someone who hasn't invested in Kickstarter can buy the game and play it now.

As a Kickstarter investor I have to wait.

There isn't any price advantage either as non-kickstarters are bing offered it at the price I paid all those months ago.

So basically I'm penalised for investing in the project - I shall think twice about using Kickstarter in the future.

I don't mind not getting A price advantage, but I do expect to get the game before the public do.

The purchase codes should all have been distributed before the game was released.

Cheers,

Nigel

[jeffd]

Nigel,

First of all, I'm deeply sorry that we've disappointed you. The game couldn't have made it to market in anything like its current form without our Kickstarter backers, and I hate knowing we've disappointed even one of you. Unfortunately, this particular situation was not within our control.

When Battle of the Bulge was approved on the App Store we were given 50 promo codes allowing a free download of the app. Of those some had to be reserved for review copies to various outlets. The remaining codes are going to Kickstarter backers, in countries where we had no contacts that could help us connect with their national App Store. Problem is, we had over a thousand Kickstarter backers, and Apple is absolutely firm on not giving out any more promo codes- which are the only way to give out the app before it's released. Since we couldn't give all our Backers early access, we decided not to give out any promo codes early in the interests of fairness.

The only other alternative was to gift Bulge to our supporters, either through regular App Store gifting or the Bulk Purchase Program. Unfortunately, neither of those options are available until the app is actually released for sale. So as nice as it would have been to let our supporters have an early crack at the game, Apple's policies and the structure of the App Store do not permit this. We are working to get the codes out as quickly as possible, but despite doing some trial runs in advance of the actual release that's been a lot slower than we hoped. Some of that is related to the slow propagation discussed elsewhere in the forum and some to a rather cranky mail merge program that seemed to be working fine 24 hours ago, but we're all working as fast as possible to get them out.

All I can do at this point is ask for your patience, give you my word that we did and are continuing to do everything possible to get you the app as fast as we can, and to apologize again for letting you down.

Best,

Jeff D.

[s_nheather]

I understand the problems and I have no fear that my code won't turn up - all my details are correct.

My issue isn't about early access, it's about LATE access.

Basically as a backer I get the game later than those that didn't back - that is poor.

I have invested to make the game happen. I have taken the risk that the game might not have happened, might have been poor etc.

I never asked or expected bonuses, cheaper prices, early access.

But I did expect to be able to play it when it became available to the general public.

Anyway, hopefully, it should turn up sometime on the 14th for me.

Cheers,

Nigel

[mikus42]

We have liftoff on Battle of the Bulge. Short pause while it propagates through Apple's servers, but then we are LIVE!

Got the game today and am already playing two gamecenter games. Now, it helps I was a beta tester....

[tucbuster]

Great to have the game.just checking out the tutorial.looks fantastic
Hopefully this will be the start of many great games from Shenan studios
Been waiting for a REAL war game for the iPad