kk.
21-03-2008, 07:54 PM
Very Long and detailed explanation as to why. Read before posting please
Important: Client Update http://www.images.clubtropica.com/rss.png (http://www.clubtropica.com/rss/news)
By James - 21st March 2008
ClubTropica Users,
ClubTropica to date has had a great response from the majority of users and we are very pleased to have all the interest we have today. This news article is the one you have been waiting for and I have been asked to produce this to give you an update on the client.
ClubTropica was discovered last November, and after rumors and word of mouth spurred it out of control, people had mixed views on when or whether we would launch or not. The consequence of this heightened excitement suddenly put the team under a major amount of pressure to get the client out as soon as possible for two reasons, firstly to make you the users happy, and secondly we wanted to play it like everyone else as well.
Unfortunately, trying to keep you interested meant we had to launch features such as Username Reservation, etc. We initially stated that we would launch by the end of November, however we decided that after looking at two different versions of graphics, that using a 3D version visually was the best way. We then concentrated all our resources and time on this version until the beginning of January, after a month of internal testing, we found huge performance issues, so much so we decided it would not be a good idea to launch it to BETA as this may taint our name before we could prove ourselves.
A decision was made last month that we would revert back to an Isometric 2.5D client with Vector graphics that look more matured than some sites out there, and keep the look and feel of a 3D site (Just without the panning and rotating). The effect of this was another delay of approximately 3 months, similar to the delay between November to February for the 3D version, however all the backend coding for the client, the server, and the database is all ready to go. We will be launching ClubTropica, however we want it to be the ultimate best product out there, we wouldn't want to disappoint you lot!
You may ask, well why don't you show us it so far so that we can decide? Well, if we did this, with the knowledge it is not up to the standard we require, you will be very disappointed and so will we, especially knowing that we can build a product a lot better than this. We want our first version to the the best version, not something we have rushed up just to get it out there for you (even with the pressure you lot are putting upon us!).
I've also been asked if ClubTropica will ever launch and sent comments that it is a big "flop". I stress to you this is NOT the case and the whole team here are striving as hard as they can to get the client developed and released. With everything else ready to go, we will be looking at a launch any time before the beginning half of the Summer. If we had launched a product that performed badly, that would be seen as a bigger "flop".
A number of other users have asked why did we launch the website without the client? Because we wanted users to get involved with the start of the ClubTropica community before the client is launched so that you can give us input during the development of the website and client and make ClubTropica your Island. You lot currently signed up were involved with ClubTropica before anyone else when the Client is launched and when we actually start to advertise and market the site. Feeling special eh?
We understand 3 months is a long wait, however we will be keeping you entertained via Competitions, Updates on Developments, and of course profiling. It will definately be worth the wait! With a massive 10,000 users logged in our database, it is easy to find great and fascinating people; Why not give it a try and click Search (http://www.clubtropica.com/search/home) at the top of the page.
In the mean time, I will strive to keep you updated with the progress of the Client development and in addition over these coming months, we will be disclosing some of the many features available in our product that can't be found in any others. It will be worth the wait, and if you don't think you can wait this long, Don't worry! Just keep popping on to see the updates, provide input in the development, and we promise to send you an email on launch; you will welcomed back at any time.
Thanks for reading and I am sure ClubTropica will become the number one Island to surf to (Excuse the pun :P)... with your support of course!
James
IT Director
ClubTropica UK Ltd
Closed by Neil (Forum Moderator): Closed due to bump
Important: Client Update http://www.images.clubtropica.com/rss.png (http://www.clubtropica.com/rss/news)
By James - 21st March 2008
ClubTropica Users,
ClubTropica to date has had a great response from the majority of users and we are very pleased to have all the interest we have today. This news article is the one you have been waiting for and I have been asked to produce this to give you an update on the client.
ClubTropica was discovered last November, and after rumors and word of mouth spurred it out of control, people had mixed views on when or whether we would launch or not. The consequence of this heightened excitement suddenly put the team under a major amount of pressure to get the client out as soon as possible for two reasons, firstly to make you the users happy, and secondly we wanted to play it like everyone else as well.
Unfortunately, trying to keep you interested meant we had to launch features such as Username Reservation, etc. We initially stated that we would launch by the end of November, however we decided that after looking at two different versions of graphics, that using a 3D version visually was the best way. We then concentrated all our resources and time on this version until the beginning of January, after a month of internal testing, we found huge performance issues, so much so we decided it would not be a good idea to launch it to BETA as this may taint our name before we could prove ourselves.
A decision was made last month that we would revert back to an Isometric 2.5D client with Vector graphics that look more matured than some sites out there, and keep the look and feel of a 3D site (Just without the panning and rotating). The effect of this was another delay of approximately 3 months, similar to the delay between November to February for the 3D version, however all the backend coding for the client, the server, and the database is all ready to go. We will be launching ClubTropica, however we want it to be the ultimate best product out there, we wouldn't want to disappoint you lot!
You may ask, well why don't you show us it so far so that we can decide? Well, if we did this, with the knowledge it is not up to the standard we require, you will be very disappointed and so will we, especially knowing that we can build a product a lot better than this. We want our first version to the the best version, not something we have rushed up just to get it out there for you (even with the pressure you lot are putting upon us!).
I've also been asked if ClubTropica will ever launch and sent comments that it is a big "flop". I stress to you this is NOT the case and the whole team here are striving as hard as they can to get the client developed and released. With everything else ready to go, we will be looking at a launch any time before the beginning half of the Summer. If we had launched a product that performed badly, that would be seen as a bigger "flop".
A number of other users have asked why did we launch the website without the client? Because we wanted users to get involved with the start of the ClubTropica community before the client is launched so that you can give us input during the development of the website and client and make ClubTropica your Island. You lot currently signed up were involved with ClubTropica before anyone else when the Client is launched and when we actually start to advertise and market the site. Feeling special eh?
We understand 3 months is a long wait, however we will be keeping you entertained via Competitions, Updates on Developments, and of course profiling. It will definately be worth the wait! With a massive 10,000 users logged in our database, it is easy to find great and fascinating people; Why not give it a try and click Search (http://www.clubtropica.com/search/home) at the top of the page.
In the mean time, I will strive to keep you updated with the progress of the Client development and in addition over these coming months, we will be disclosing some of the many features available in our product that can't be found in any others. It will be worth the wait, and if you don't think you can wait this long, Don't worry! Just keep popping on to see the updates, provide input in the development, and we promise to send you an email on launch; you will welcomed back at any time.
Thanks for reading and I am sure ClubTropica will become the number one Island to surf to (Excuse the pun :P)... with your support of course!
James
IT Director
ClubTropica UK Ltd
Closed by Neil (Forum Moderator): Closed due to bump