Sneak Peeks, Coming Attractions, Works-In-Progress

[berto]

Another first for the Campaign Series: The F2 Unit Handbook available within the scen editor. Before now, it has only been available within the game engine.

[berto]

And what's good for the goose, is good for the gander, is good for the gosling. Another first: The F2 Unit Handbook is now available within the org editor too.



Sort of. Alas, not so fully functional. As you can see, the Organization info, the Movement data, and perhaps more important, the Range chart -- all are blank. Why? It's because the Unit Handbook display pulls in info from all over the game system. In order for that to happen in the simple org editor, we would have to bloat the program and its data processing, such that it becomes not so simple any more, becomes more like the game engine (and the scen editor). And the organizational editing functionality becomes not the coding focus of edorg, rather more like a sideshow.

One other thing. The 'Prev Unit' and 'Next Unit' controls are non-functional. If you try browsing the orgs within edorg, you will get the warning: "Operation not permitted."

Maybe at some future date, we will figure out good, inexpensive (code and data) ways to fill out the org editor Unit Handbook display, also fix the organization browsing.

Still, it's better than nothing.

[Big Ivan]

My prayers have been answered!! Having the Unit Handbook available in the editors is a huge step forward!![&o]

Granted it's not fully functional like you say berto, but it is a start a good start!![;)]

[berto]

To clarify: The scen editor Unit Handbook is on a par with the game engine version, both are equally functional. It is just the org editor Unit Handbook that is limited function.

Strange that ever since the beginning, there was no way to do unit attribute lookups within the editors. With the new implementations, going forward there will be.

[canuckgamer]

Sorry but it's been awhile but some time ago I saw some screenshots of a Campaign East Front. It appears that Campaign Vietnam is the next to be released rather than East Front, is that correct? I am more interested in East Front but also think that not many games covering land battles in the Pacific are available.

[Jason Petho]

Vietnam 1948-1967 is first to be released

Followed by East Front III 1939-1941

Followed by the rest of the series in the future. West Front II, Pacific Front and Cold War... plus DLC's for all of them and updating CS Middle East

[canuckgamer]

Thanks for the prompt reply. East Front 1939-1941? This sounds like the invasion of Poland and Barbarossa to December 1941. I was hoping for East Front 1941 - 1945.

[Jason Petho]

We have decided to release smaller packages in order to get the games out to you faster.

East Front III 1939-1945 will take our team about 5-6 years to complete, which is too long between releases.

[canuckgamer]

Aaargh, that is a long time, hopefully I'm not senile before then.

[Crossroads]

ORIGINAL: canuckgamer

Aaargh, that is a long time, hopefully I'm not senile before then.

Well hopefully receiving a smaller CS: East Front game / DLC once and a while, instead of waiting for one huge WW2 she-bang at the end would actually help keeping your brain engaged. I certainly hope that's the case for me [:D]

[MarechalJoffre]

So if I'm getting this right, there will be no post-1967 content for presumably a long time after the release. Is leaving out content like '68 Tet and '72 Easter Offensive a great idea? Especially if CS Legion team is going to focus on East Front 1939-41 after Vietnam gets released.

Nevertheless, can't wait to get my hands on this one. Vietnam era is surprisingly underappreciated in wargames.

[Jason Petho]

We're aiming to have 1968-1979 content available about two years after the first release. I still have to develop a lot of the scenarios for those years, so they aren't ready yet. I do have them all mostly researched though and the maps of the areas are mostly complete, so that's a HUGE bonus.

[berto]

Another recent (private) Dev Forum post...

ORIGINAL: berto

How many times have we seen this "loner hex", present from the Campaign Series' very beginning?



It's gone!

Good riddance, too. It looks stupid, sloppy, unprofessional. Going forward, we will now have this:



No "loner hex". And also important, the feedback "Loading..."

Why important? Think about it. When players, especially new ones, load up a scenario, they see a blank, black window. Maybe they wonder "WTF?! Has this thing crashed or something?" The "Loading..." gives them feedback, reassures them that all is well. It's User Interface 101.

I saw the "Loading..." banner in another game I loaded up recently. Good idea! So I stole it. [:)]

Implemented in the game engine and also the scenario and map editors, all games. (Very hard to get just right in all contexts, implemented imperfectly, but good enough.) Available now at Dropbox, and in future game releases.

[berto]

Another recent (private) Dev Forum posts...

ORIGINAL: berto

Where's Waldo?



Can you easily spot all of the units in that 3D map screenshot? Can you spot them at all?

In my playtesting of the Saigon '55 scenario, I am finding it nearly impossible to spot the 3D units, even with bases (and thermos) toggled ON, even at the largest 3D Zoom.

I am finding it absolutely impossible to discern the front lines, to make sense of the overall situation.

Can I switch to 2D for that? Yes, sure. But I like to dip into 3D from time to time for greater immersiveness. (Especially to discern slopes and map elevations, neither depicted very well in 2D.) I also tend to think that 2D makes things too clear. To an extent, 3D obfuscating situational awareness is a feature, not a bug. Greater Fog of War, if you will. Playing entirely in 3D can also help handicap the human player when playing vs. the AI.

Playing 3D has its pros, but a big con is -- depending on the underlying map terrain, and the colors and patterns of the unit bases -- it can be practically impossible to see the units!

In CSME, we have a partial fix for this: the CSME Monochrome Bases mod.

The Jerusalem_1_1967 scenario with standard bases:



Not quite as bad as the above CSVN Saigon '55 example, but could be clearer.

That same Jerusalem scenario, with the CSME Monochrome Bases mod enabled:



I don't know about you, but for me, with the monochrome bases, the units are generally easier to see.

How much more so if the units and bases are highlighted. See the above CSVN example...

[berto]

And another...

ORIGINAL: berto

Already much better, with the new Display > Highlights > All Units (*):



I can discern the frontlines now! [screenshot taken before implementation of different highlight colors for the opposing sides]

It will be better still with the new "Standard [monochrome] Bases" option.

[berto]

And another...

ORIGINAL: berto

Options > 3D Unit Bases > Standard [monochrome] / Alternate implemented. Henceforth, the earlier Monochrome Bases mod will no longer be an external JSGME mod; monochrome bases will instead be an integral part of the game.

Also note in 3D, the new Highlight All (*) option, with the current side showing the primary Highlight Color, while the other side shows the secondary (alternate) Highlight Color:



Is there this primary/alternate Highlight Color distinction in 2D also? But of course!

[berto]

And another...

ORIGINAL: berto

Much better! Compare with the first screenshot here:



For the first time in 3D, one can clearly see the units, and the frontlines.

With Alternate Bases selected, and the Highlight All Units (*) option toggled ON:



And the preceding, but with bases toggled OFF:



Maybe for the first time ever, it is now practical to play the game in 3D with unit bases toggled OFF.

It is easy to foresee where the new Highlight All Units * hotkey will be used quite often!

[fritzfarlig]

all super to watch [:)][:)]

[Andrea G]

Well thought of

[Jason Petho]

Campaign Series Vietnam: SCRIPTING.

While it seems quiet, things are further from the truth. Working on scripting HAL (the AI) with LUA to make playing against HAL actually relatively interesting. Exciting times ahead!