ORIGINAL: Canoerebel
WitE looks like a beautiful, well-designed game that will do very, very well.
I doubt it will have the legs that WitP:AE has, though. A two dimensional (land/air) campaign just doesn't have the grip that a three deminsional (land/air/se) camapaign has.
Frankly, I'm surprised that WitE, a new game, only has a 3:2 lead on AE, which has been out for 1.5 years. In two years, I'll bet you AE will have a 3:1 lead over WitE.
I own and play both WitP:AE and the new WitE. As a wargamer, I cut my teeth on Eastern Front Operational games, bottom line, I love Eastern Front games.....BUT, WitP:AE is the best wargame ever made (IMO) because it is so immersive, I simple love it. Before WiTP came out, I never liked or cared about the Pacific Theater, and it took a friend several months of bagering me to try it, before I did. WitE looks good, is easier to get started, and in general is the best of it's kind.....but it does not have the immersion factors that WitP:AE has. There is no prodution management, no pilot management, and is pretty much land only, as the air model is questionable from reading the forums, (I never bother with the air in WitE). Now if the WitE system grows into a WiE (War in Europe), where there is production, naval, and a better air model, then it could have very long legs, but just comparing the two in the longevity department, I agree with Canoerebel, WitP:AE will out last WitE.