When?

[mavraamides]

ORIGINAL: bfontes

Has it been announced that there will be no AI at release or are people making assumptions? How is it possible? Wow, talk about guaranteeing failure...

Is there any precedent for a PC wargame being released and succeeeding with no single player mode?

Not sure if we can classify it as a success but War in Europe: Computer Edition was released sans AI and I'm pretty sure there are no plans for ever adding one.

[Edfactor]

I dont think that game could be called a success.

[ThufirHawat]

Greetings.

I've been lurking these forums for about 5 years and finally decided to register.

I will not comment on the likelihood of an AI at launch or not. I would like to see an AI, myself, but many factors have to be considered and I trust Steve and Matrix to make the right decision for the game.

I would like to ask about some of the particulars regarding multiplayer though. It is my understanding that PBEM will only support a binary (Axis player vs. Allied player) configuration. Is this still the case? Would it be possible to add specific country/player support in the future? In other words, if I have 5 friends that want to PBEM, can we assign one person to Germany, another person to Italy, one to USSR, etc in the future?

How about the NetPlay? Does that support multiple players playing separate nations?

A computer version of this game would make it so much more enjoyable in some ways. Having the computer referee and keep the rules would be incredible. Keep up the good work.

[Shannon V. OKeets]

ORIGINAL: ThufirHawat

Greetings.

I've been lurking these forums for about 5 years and finally decided to register.

I will not comment on the likelihood of an AI at launch or not. I would like to see an AI, myself, but many factors have to be considered and I trust Steve and Matrix to make the right decision for the game.

I would like to ask about some of the particulars regarding multiplayer though. It is my understanding that PBEM will only support a binary (Axis player vs. Allied player) configuration. Is this still the case? Would it be possible to add specific country/player support in the future? In other words, if I have 5 friends that want to PBEM, can we assign one person to Germany, another person to Italy, one to USSR, etc in the future?

How about the NetPlay? Does that support multiple players playing separate nations?

A computer version of this game would make it so much more enjoyable in some ways. Having the computer referee and keep the rules would be incredible. Keep up the good work.

Welcome to the forum.[:)]

[I always wonder if the lurkers end up with grass stains on their clothes, lurking by the side of the road. I guess at least they don't get run over by the traffic.[;)]]

---

I have trouble envisioning how PBEM would work with more than 2 players. Say you had two players on each side. Then to complete even the simplest of phases would require both players on that side to send emails to the other 3 players. There are possible difficulties with the moves by the two players being impossible in combination (e.g., both Nationalist and Communist Chinese units trying to move to the same hex).

It just seems like it would take too much time. Anyway, to start I want to get the 2 player version working. Then we can see about increasing the complexity by adding more players.

---

The same process is true for NetPlay: first get the 2 player version functioning cleanly and then move on to coding NetPlay for 3-6 players.

I intend (but then I have a lot of good intentions[8|]) to enable players to switch between PBEM and NetPlay. The concept is to let players start a game as PBEM and then switch to NetPlay at any time they desire. For instance, that might occur if there were several intense air-to-air combats to be fought. Adding the ability to switch between PBEM and NetPlay with 4 players in the game strikes me as a daunting task at the moment. Not impossible, but certainly non-trivial.

EDIT: I now have restoring NetPlay games working. This is a boon for testing NetPlay through all the phases. Having to start each debug session at setup was moderately insane.

[Edfactor]

If you want to do more then 2 players, woun't it be possible to just do it by doing part of your turn, saving and emailing it to your partner then he does the same and when you have both finished you email it to the other side?

For instance
Ger/Japan

Germany does movement then emails to Japan who does his movement and emails it back to Germany
Then Germany flies air mission and emails the save to Japan who flies air missions then emails it to the allies
the allies fly interceptions and ground support, and email back to Germany

etc.

[Shannon V. OKeets]

ORIGINAL: Edfactor

If you want to do more then 2 players, woun't it be possible to just do it by doing part of your turn, saving and emailing it to your partner then he does the same and when you have both finished you email it to the other side?

For instance
Ger/Japan

Germany does movement then emails to Japan who does his movement and emails it back to Germany
Then Germany flies air mission and emails the save to Japan who flies air missions then emails it to the allies
the allies fly interceptions and ground support, and email back to Germany

etc.

Yes, that would work. There would be additional delays of course.

[gridley]

ORIGINAL: Shannon V. OKeets

---

The same process is true for NetPlay: first get the 2 player version functioning cleanly and then move on to coding NetPlay for 3-6 players.

Will the coding for 3-6 players be a big undertaking for future releases or do you think it will be in the initial release?

[TemujinOz]

ORIGINAL: GordianKnot

ORIGINAL: bfontes

Has it been announced that there will be no AI at release or are people making assumptions? How is it possible? Wow, talk about guaranteeing failure...

Is there any precedent for a PC wargame being released and succeeeding with no single player mode?

Not sure if we can classify it as a success but War in Europe: Computer Edition was released sans AI and I'm pretty sure there are no plans for ever adding one.

As the developer for WiE, I can offer this perspective - the objective for that project was to deliver a program capable of supporting the existing customer base for the boardgame. Multiplayer was the key focus and AI was never considered crucial.

I'd consider the project a success because we met the targets we aimed for. It was never going to be a 'commercial hit' and a failure to achieve that status was no surprise. Perhaps the next version though

[Shannon V. OKeets]

ORIGINAL: gridley

ORIGINAL: Shannon V. OKeets

---

The same process is true for NetPlay: first get the 2 player version functioning cleanly and then move on to coding NetPlay for 3-6 players.

Will the coding for 3-6 players be a big undertaking for future releases or do you think it will be in the initial release?

It's difficult to see what is on the other side of the hill until you have first climbed the hill.[;)]

[gridley]

ORIGINAL: Shannon V. OKeets

ORIGINAL: gridley

ORIGINAL: Shannon V. OKeets

---

The same process is true for NetPlay: first get the 2 player version functioning cleanly and then move on to coding NetPlay for 3-6 players.

Will the coding for 3-6 players be a big undertaking for future releases or do you think it will be in the initial release?

It's difficult to see what is on the other side of the hill until you have first climbed the hill.[;)]

Here's hoping it is a small hill. This game is not meant to be played by only 2 players. It would be a shame for first time players of WiF to have to play it that way.

[USSLockwood]

ORIGINAL: TemujinOz

ORIGINAL: GordianKnot

ORIGINAL: bfontes

Has it been announced that there will be no AI at release or are people making assumptions? How is it possible? Wow, talk about guaranteeing failure...

Is there any precedent for a PC wargame being released and succeeeding with no single player mode?

Not sure if we can classify it as a success but War in Europe: Computer Edition was released sans AI and I'm pretty sure there are no plans for ever adding one.

As the developer for WiE, I can offer this perspective - the objective for that project was to deliver a program capable of supporting the existing customer base for the boardgame. Multiplayer was the key focus and AI was never considered crucial.

I'd consider the project a success because we met the targets we aimed for. It was never going to be a 'commercial hit' and a failure to achieve that status was no surprise. Perhaps the next version though

I've been tempted to buy WiE several times, but can't pull the trigger...no AI.

[mavraamides]

ORIGINAL: TemujinOz



As the developer for WiE, I can offer this perspective - the objective for that project was to deliver a program capable of supporting the existing customer base for the boardgame. Multiplayer was the key focus and AI was never considered crucial.

I'd consider the project a success because we met the targets we aimed for. It was never going to be a 'commercial hit' and a failure to achieve that status was no surprise. Perhaps the next version though

I know of at least one person that absolutely loves your game. That's how I heard about it.

[ThufirHawat]

ORIGINAL: gridley


Here's hoping it is a small hill. This game is not meant to be played by only 2 players. It would be a shame for first time players of WiF to have to play it that way.

I couldn't agree more. This concern is precisely why I registered and asked about it. This game really shines, in my opinion, when there are 4+ people playing. If I'm being honest, I don't think having 2 player only multiplayer support would be reason enough to merit a purchase.

[TemujinOz]

ORIGINAL: doktor

I've been tempted to buy WiE several times, but can't pull the trigger...no AI.

I can't offer an AI ... but I'll throw in a set of steak knives!

[USSLockwood]

ORIGINAL: TemujinOz

ORIGINAL: doktor

I've been tempted to buy WiE several times, but can't pull the trigger...no AI.

I can't offer an AI ... but I'll throw in a set of steak knives!

Hmmm, tempting...

[Evildan]

ORIGINAL: Shannon V. OKeets

ORIGINAL: Edfactor

If you want to do more then 2 players, woun't it be possible to just do it by doing part of your turn, saving and emailing it to your partner then he does the same and when you have both finished you email it to the other side?

For instance
Ger/Japan

Germany does movement then emails to Japan who does his movement and emails it back to Germany
Then Germany flies air mission and emails the save to Japan who flies air missions then emails it to the allies
the allies fly interceptions and ground support, and email back to Germany

etc.

Yes, that would work. There would be additional delays of course.

We play multi-player PBEM all the time. Having the extra players adds much flavor, like the FTF games. When we do it, we adjust the sequence of the phases by necessity. For example Germany does it's land moves, attacks and rebases, and then Japan does it's naval moves, land moves and rebases, etc. Often you send conditional instructions for responses during the opposite sides impulse. Basic necessities to keep the game moving. Now, thinking forward to Netplay with the game rules rigidly structured, you can't have easily this necessary freedom that only human players can have.

Therefore, If my group of buddies were to start playing this version with full Multi-PBEM turned on I would assume that, after the initial euphoria, we would shortly realize the human "flexi-rules" version of PBEM that we have adopted will be better. And we will soon stop using the MWIF for multi-PBEM. We might use it for 1 v 1... but that's hard to say at this point. What I gather it Will be used for is 1 v Computer, and thus will require an AI. But for sure, 3+ PBEM play has to be the least usage in the long run?

So, short conclusion is if AI is ready for publish along with 1 vs 1 play, then it would probably be not worth the time extension to wait for full Network multi-player PBEM support. Especially since we all know the accelleration that occurs between release and patches #1-10

I'm with Shannon on this one.

[gridley]

ORIGINAL: Scott Parrino

New titles announced by Director of Development Iain McNeil:

Legends of War - More to come soon!
Pandora: First Contact - Q4 2012: A 4x strategy game
Sovereignty - Q3 2012: Region-based grand-campaign strategy game.
Decisive Campaigns: Case Blue - More to come soon!
Field of Glory: Unity Update - Will be free for original owners, Q3 2012
Close Combat: Panthers in the Fog -Last Close Combat game using current engine, aiming for Q4 2012
Commander: The Great War - More to come tomorrow!
Panzer Corps: Afrika Corps - Q2012 - More to come soon! Q3 Panzer Corps will come to the Mac, Q4 will have Allied Pack
Battle Academy: Android version - Q4 2012
Conquest! for iOS/Android - May release, waiting for Apple approval, marketed as a lite wargame
Great Battles Medieval: iPad version - Coming Q2 2012
Field of Glory: Tablet versions - Q4 2012 after Unity update
Field of Glory digital book version - Coming soon! Beta version will be viewed by press
Panzer Corps on iPad - Q3 2012

Oh well...I was kind of keeping my fingers crossed.

Is there some reason MWiF wouldn't be on this list even if you are planning on a 2012 release?

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: gridley

ORIGINAL: Scott Parrino

New titles announced by Director of Development Iain McNeil:

Legends of War - More to come soon!
Pandora: First Contact - Q4 2012: A 4x strategy game
Sovereignty - Q3 2012: Region-based grand-campaign strategy game.
Decisive Campaigns: Case Blue - More to come soon!
Field of Glory: Unity Update - Will be free for original owners, Q3 2012
Close Combat: Panthers in the Fog -Last Close Combat game using current engine, aiming for Q4 2012
Commander: The Great War - More to come tomorrow!
Panzer Corps: Afrika Corps - Q2012 - More to come soon! Q3 Panzer Corps will come to the Mac, Q4 will have Allied Pack
Battle Academy: Android version - Q4 2012
Conquest! for iOS/Android - May release, waiting for Apple approval, marketed as a lite wargame
Great Battles Medieval: iPad version - Coming Q2 2012
Field of Glory: Tablet versions - Q4 2012 after Unity update
Field of Glory digital book version - Coming soon! Beta version will be viewed by press
Panzer Corps on iPad - Q3 2012

Oh well...I was kind of keeping my fingers crossed.

Is there some reason MWiF wouldn't be on this list even if you are planning on a 2012 release?

Warspite1

This was from Erik's subsequent post:

There are other releases planned for the year, but these are the new releases we were ready to announce at the press event.

Don't lose heart.....

[FJeff]

It's hard not to when they're announcing 4Q2012 releases.

[Terminus]

And even more so when WiF has been "coming soon" for the last SEVEN years!