An open letter regarding Mac issues with 10.4.31

[Curtis]

I've tried posting in the 10.4.31 Released thread, Tech Support and contacting PISD Paul by e-mail, and no one seems interested in helping me update my game, so this is just a 'for your information' note.

Unless the CONTINUING* problems with updating/patching Out of the Park are fixed, I see no purpose in buying version 11 when it comes out.

Since the problems seem to revolve around the PISD installer (as near as I can tell), there doesn't seem to be a point in buying any further OOTP Developments products as long as they use PISD to administer the Mac licenses.

Thank you for your attention.

Curtis

*= The problems started when PISD took over the Mac licensing from eSellerate, and while they have not affected every patch, they have persisted through my recent move to a newer computer and two updates of the OS, so the problem doesn't seem to be at my end. That might be more reliably determined if I could convince anyone at either PISD or OOTP Developments to give a damn.

[SteveP]

I posted something about your problem over in Tech. I had intended to do that awhile back, but got distracted at the time, I guess. Hope my answer helps you with your problem.

[kq76]

The Mac vs PC posts have been moved to OT. Please, let's keep the Mac vs PC debates there. Don't make me issue warnings for disrupting the on-topic discussion, aka trolling.

Curtis has a legitimate persistent issue. Let's hope it gets resolved once and for all.

[Curtis]

SteveP has resolved most of my issue. I've lost my first license and am still annoyed with PISD, but the game is installed and looks like it will run.

My heartfelt thanks to the volunteers down in Tech Support.

[Kuttner]

I was going to start a similar thread but saw that Curtis beat me to it. I want to add a couple things.

I was overjoyed when OOTP 2006 was released for the Mac. Veterans of OOTP may not have thought it was the greatest ever, but for someone desperate for Mac baseball sim software, it was a gift from above. I will always be appreciative of the efforts to get the game on Mac.

However, the pisd ("pain in said derriere") relationship has really soured things. Until I saw that Curtis seemingly has had success patching to 10.4.31, I had refrained from doing so. The patch process (delicensing, patching, releasing your licenses, etc) has been a chore. Delicensing? Really? No game that I have ever owned have I had to delicense something to get it to work. Paul at pisd helped me in the past, but all you have to do is take a look at the tech forum from frustrated Mac users to see this is not a pretty picture.

SteveP has been awesome and as far as I'm concerned has nearly single-handedly kept my interest in the Mac version afloat. I think it's safe to say that if these issues were happening to the PC side, there'd be a mutiny.

So it's a tough road to go... I would think if there are too many complaints about the Mac version, which leads to too little sales, the Mac side could be eliminated. And of course I (and I hope everyone else) doesn't want that. On the other hand, I really don't feel like I own this game though I've paid for it and feel like it's walking on eggshells to get help or be critical of the decisions that have gone into the Mac side of things.

I echo Curtis's feeling that these problems weren't there with esellerate. My sale doesn't probably matter much, but unless things drastically improve OOTPX will be my last one.

[SteveP]

Originally Posted by Kuttner

Delicensing? Really? No game that I have ever owned have I had to delicense something to get it to work.

I agree that this is a very questionable and off-putting situation. However, as near as I can tell, PISD is in general not responsible for this. There is a possibility that some of the problems in the most recent patches might be due to technical issues -- so PISD could have some involvement to that extent. That aside, I have said to Markus et al that I think this is a PR mistake. OTOH, it's possible that they feel there is significant enough piracy going on among Mac users to justify it. I admit there was a point during the patch beta testing when I got fed up with it (especially after discovering how easy it was to get both your licenses locked up without the game recognizing either one as valid). But I got over it.

As far as the technical mishaps with installations/licensing are concerned, I have no special insight. It's in the nature of the computer world that everyone ends up pointing fingers -- and never at themselves. But when all is said and done, we've really had virtually no systemic problems with it since the blow-up just after OOTP10 was released.

FWIW

[jetking]

As someone who had early problems with the PISD licensing (but who is also eternally grateful that OOTP made it to the Mac!) I can attest to the angst and anger I was feeling early on. But after having learned to do the PISD un/re license dance I've had no additional troubles with the app.

I feel for the folks who are still having problems, though. It's an awkward situation for everyone and I hope the process can be smoothed out in the future.