High Frequency of CMO Updates destroying user scenarios

[JohnWise]

Mike - Famous for his Cold War turns hot 'Third World War in 1987' Blog published a Rant last night that will no doubt chime with a number of CMO editor scenario developers who've had their finely tuned CMO scenario obliterated because their user scenario is no longer compatible with the new CMO database & no doubt Mike's not the only one who's work has been
uprooted, overturned & no doubt been forced to go back to the drawing board, due to the latest CMO update from Matrix Games.

Therefore can Matrix Games seriously consider maintaining 2 CMO's - the first CMO being one that's rarely updated or only
updated when absolutely necessary; in order for CMO scenario developers to run their 'pride & joy' without it being obliterated by the sheer number of CMO updates that the regular CMO endures; this also being very welcome for the players
who run these user scenario's without any glitches that can occur when the user scenario is no longer in-sync with CMO due to some previous or recent CMO updates.

That way Matrix Games can continue with the other or what I call the regular CMO ( which has many times been dubbed the Work-in-Progress CMO ) that does incur the regular and sometimes trifeling CMO updates that are suitable with small ( rather than large ) CMO scenarios that can be easily modified to take account of the new or latest CMO update by the scenario author.

Mikes - Third World War in 1987 blog - CMO updates criticism

[Fido81]

I'm a big fan of Mike's work. If you're reading this, Mike, I want to say thank you for writing that blog - it's fun, it's readable, and your updates were an exciting part of life during the COVID-19 lockdowns!

Therefore can Matrix Games seriously consider maintaining 2 CMO's...

Alternatively, CMO players who do not want new features or bugfixes could just not install updates, and develop scenarios for their preferred version of the product.

Personally, I'm interested enough in Mike's way of thinking about what WWIII might have looked like that I'd revert my install to play one of his scenarios and then re-update it.

[JohnWise]

I'm a big fan of Mike's work. If you're reading this, Mike, I want to say thank you for writing that blog - it's fun, it's readable, and your updates were an exciting part of life during the COVID-19 lockdowns!

Therefore can Matrix Games seriously consider maintaining 2 CMO's...

Personally, I'm interested enough in Mike's way of thinking about what WWIII might have looked like that I'd revert my install to play one of his scenarios and then re-update it.

Yes Mikes WW3 in 1987 blog is phenomenal - but rather than individuals reverse ( or revert ) their CMO to whatever version one CMO scenario author or authors say that their CMO scenario would run happily on. I'd rather see Matrix Games call time on a CMO version ( that medium to large size CMO authors can use ) without fear of updates ( unless absolutely necessary ) & then all other CMO scenario authors can set the standard of their CMO scenario editor - to that in-situ CMO version.

The normal ( or what I've called the Work-in-Progress ) CMO can continue receiving updates as usual meaning Matrix Games would be supporting 2 CMO's instead of one.

[Nikel]

Mike - Famous for his Cold War turns hot 'Third World War in 1987' Blog ...

Mikes - Third World War in 1987 blog - CMO updates criticism

Thanks for the link, I did not know that blog, nice content indeed

[HalfLifeExpert]

Aren't the older DBs still in Command? You can still run scenarios not on the latest DB.

Honestly, other than Boost-Coasting missiles (which are not new at this stage), I don't recall any overt non-optional features that could break existing scenarios if they are left alone.

The DB and such haven't been updated as frequently as they were in the past, and we just had a major update so we are still in the latter parts of a transition period.

As for what Mike said about the CMANO-CMO transition, I disagree. The Command player base HAS to be more intelligent than your average gamer, and could NOT have missed the very clearly explained differences between CMANO and CMO. Besides, a 50% discount was offered to existing CMANO owners for a couple months right after CMO's release.

Honestly, if you genuinely looked at the information and payed attention, and are still not sure why you should upgrade to CMO, then it's just your own fault, plain and simple.

CMO is an order of magnitude better than CMANO. Short of definitively not being able to afford it at full price (then wait for a sale), there is ZERO reason for sticking to the old version. Sorry, but that's the way it is.

[JohnWise]

The DB and such haven't been updated as frequently as they were in the past, and we just had a major update so we are still in the latter parts of a transition period.

CMO is an order of magnitude better than CMANO. Short of definitively not being able to afford it at full price (then wait for a sale), there is ZERO reason for sticking to the old version. Sorry, but that's the way it is.

I agree with you that CMO is far better than CMANO. Although I hear the same moans about CMO from other gamers about the updates as Mike's been ranting on about. Of course many gamers get lazy about updating when CMO is but another wargaming App on their Desktop or Laptop & they only get around to using or playing CMO once in a while or once a month.

[thewood1]

That is one of the craziest posts I have seen on this forum.

[JohnWise]

Heres the second part of Mike's ( WWIII in 1987 blog ) rant about CMO !!!

Mikes - Third World War in 1987 blog - Second part of his criticism of CMO

[Nikel]

Well, regarding 1 and 2.

1. I do not think he knows how many copies of CPE Warfare Sims and Matrix have sold.

2. The editor is there to create whatever scenarios or even campaigns you want to. But that is not everybody's cup of tea, I would say most prefer to play scenarios to create them, how many really understand that lua thing? And the community pack is given and maintained for free. So no need to buy any DLC if you do not want.

Other thing would be that no editor is provided and they tried to sell all the stuff, but that is not the case!

[HalfLifeExpert]

(from Rant Part 2) Erm....

Pre-Built, Fully Functional Airbases– Building bases in CMO is a chore. A time-consuming, labor extensive one. Please, for the love of all things holy, include a pre-built fully functional airbase in the Facilities category to allow air-minded players to slap ready bases down at the correct Lat/Long points and conduct heavy OCA and Interdiction air strikes over a long period of time?

There's already easy ways to do this?

Single Unit Airbases long pre-date CMO, going all the way back to the beginnings of CMANO. They don't work as targets for the opposing side, but they work for when it's not anticipated to be a target in a scenario.

Hundreds of Airbase templates are in the game also! Now it can be difficult to move a placed airbase template if you wanted to (all the sub units), but they are placed at their real-world locations.

I honestly don't see alot of real basis behind these criticisms, especially the above and his rant in part 2 about DLC.
The only time not buying a DLC limited gameplay features was the original Chains of War release for CMANO over 6 years ago. The features limited to that DLC have long since been made standard.

All the DLCs are is completely optional scenarios, which I for one am completely happy to pay for. As he says in his own rant, there's plenty of free scenarios out there and one can build there own!. What is he complaining about?!

And I do not see why he has such a problem with real world militaries embracing the Command platform, I think it's awesome!

CMO was hardly a 'disappointing' release. I don't say this lightly, but I think we may be witnessing Son of Herman.

2. The editor is there to create whatever scenarios or even campaigns you want to. But that is not everybody's cup of tea, I would say most prefer to play scenarios to create them, how many really understand that lua thing? And the community pack is given and maintained for free. So no need to buy any DLC if you do not want.

Other thing would be that no editor is provided and they tried to sell all the stuff, but that is not the case!

And I'm one of them. I have made a handful of small scenarios, a couple of which made it into the CSP, and a couple more are on the Steam Workshop, but I've found that my own bad habits about making something from scratch, this detail oriented, just don't turn out well. I have a bad habit of getting too excited as I'm building and end up cutting corners. I still have a number of ideas that may not ever see the light of day.
I'm primarily a player, not a scenario builder.

[tylerblakebrandon]

(from Rant Part 2) Erm....

Pre-Built, Fully Functional Airbases– Building bases in CMO is a chore. A time-consuming, labor extensive one. Please, for the love of all things holy, include a pre-built fully functional airbase in the Facilities category to allow air-minded players to slap ready bases down at the correct Lat/Long points and conduct heavy OCA and Interdiction air strikes over a long period of time?

There's already easy ways to do this?

Single Unit Airbases long pre-date CMO, going all the way back to the beginnings of CMANO. They don't work as targets for the opposing side, but they work for when it's not anticipated to be a target in a scenario.

Hundreds of Airbase templates are in the game also! Now it can be difficult to move a placed airbase template if you wanted to (all the sub units), but they are placed at their real-world locations.

I honestly don't see alot of real basis behind these criticisms, especially the above and his rant in part 2 about DLC.
The only time not buying a DLC limited gameplay features was the original Chains of War release for CMANO over 6 years ago. The features limited to that DLC have long since been made standard.

All the DLCs are is completely optional scenarios, which I for one am completely happy to pay for. As he says in his own rant, there's plenty of free scenarios out there and one can build there own!. What is he complaining about?!

And I do not see why he has such a problem with real world militaries embracing the Command platform, I think it's awesome!

CMO was hardly a 'disappointing' release. I don't say this lightly, but I think we may be witnessing Son of Herman.

2. The editor is there to create whatever scenarios or even campaigns you want to. But that is not everybody's cup of tea, I would say most prefer to play scenarios to create them, how many really understand that lua thing? And the community pack is given and maintained for free. So no need to buy any DLC if you do not want.

Other thing would be that no editor is provided and they tried to sell all the stuff, but that is not the case!

And I'm one of them. I have made a handful of small scenarios, a couple of which made it into the CSP, and a couple more are on the Steam Workshop, but I've found that my own bad habits about making something from scratch, this detail oriented, just don't turn out well. I have a bad habit of getting too excited as I'm building and end up cutting corners. I still have a number of ideas that may not ever see the light of day.
I'm primarily a player, not a scenario builder.

Came here to say this. Ditto.

[thewood1]

This is someone speaking out of complete ignorance and almost comes across as not having played the game in 8 or 9 years. And for someone to advance him as a validation point that scenarios are broken with the issues he is raising is at best just click-baiting or at worst just try to troll. I'm kind of embarrassed for the article author.

[JohnWise]

This is someone speaking out of complete ignorance and almost comes across as not having played the game in 8 or 9 years. And for someone to advance him as a validation point that scenarios are broken with the issues he is raising is at best just click-baiting or at worst just try to troll. I'm kind of embarrassed for the article author.

Having followed Mikes WW3 in 1987 - Cold War turns hot blog since 2017, I have a lot of respect for this guy, I don't think he's ranting for a laugh or to troll. Mike also runs his WW3 sim on supercomputers like the Cray. Everyones entitled to an
opinion or point of view on CMO both good or bad, just like you would consider reviewers opinions in a wargames magazine both good & bad, plusses and minuses !!!

[thewood1]

My point is he doesn't know CMO well at all. Anyone can review anything on the internet. But they aren't immune from being called out on being ignorant and unknowledgeable of what they are reviewing. He should stick to something he knows for credibility.

[Parel803]

Good afternoon,

Each his or her own opinion. I'm always looking forward to new updates with new features, tweaks and errors solved. Great work by the devs to keep it updated and new, IMHO. I think, at least most new features, can be set on/off. Realizing it is a pity and a pain if your scenario crashes due to it, I haven't run into yet.
I agree with the tutorials remark. Not important just my opinion.

regards GJ

[rvseydlitz]

I enjoy the updates. I'm hoping one comes tomorrow with the new DLC.

I haven't seen any "broken" scenarios unless you actually turn on an (optional) feature such as terrain or, in the past, ac damage.

I think the fact the devs care enough to always be working on improvements is a good thing...many times developers sell all they can then abandon it and move to the next, and that is how games die.

Lastly, updates are not a Matrix thing...Matrix is a "store"...the creators use the store to sell their product.

[Blast33]

Amen!

I love all the new updates!
Yes it takes time to understand and to practice but that keeps your grey cells on top in good condition

Keep em coming!