Is Steve ok?

[Vanman]

I am more than happy to be wrong.

I second my fellow Canadian's (CanInf) positive sentiment in that I am glad to hear Steve is doing mighty fine and that the game continues to progress. I used to be one of those players who didn't see much point in developing AI and wanted the optional rules finishes first, figuring AI would probably be subpar and player vs players superior. Although the latter still applies, now I am at a point that I can really only play sporadically due to a pounding schedule that is not conducive to player vs player (work, kids soccer, periodic courses etc). My last game I played was probably around two years ago against NatRapsEno and he was relentless. Great player in a tough game (he taught me a few things) but I could not hold up the pace and we ended up shelving it.

The AI would certainly be advantageous for players lacking time commitments and in attracting new players. There are probably a tonne of players intimidated by the idea of playing another human when they are newbies (go for it anyways!).

This game is absolutely wonderful, I concur with others who say its the best game they have ever played. Kudos to Steve. Even if they game never reached its end goal, what was created here is a masterpiece (with a few quibbles that can be overcome with patience).

[ReconPathFinder]

Ill believe it when I see it really. Most disappointing game I ever bought on Matrix and never bought one since. Up to this title I had every title in the catalogue. The price, the decade of waiting. Now just a disappearing act.

[juntoalmar]

Ill believe it when I see it really. Most disappointing game I ever bought on Matrix and never bought one since. Up to this title I had every title in the catalogue. The price, the decade of waiting. Now just a disappearing act.

You had bought every single game in Matrix catalogue?

It's your right to feel disappointed, but that statement seems a bit exagerated. For me, MWiF has been the best value for the money wargame or videogame in my life, so I guess there are some confronting opinions here.

[ReconPathFinder]

9 per page x 22. Im sure you can do the math

[rkr1958]

Ill believe it when I see it really. Most disappointing game I ever bought on Matrix and never bought one since. Up to this title I had every title in the catalogue. The price, the decade of waiting. Now just a disappearing act.

Just for my own curiosity and sorry to pry. What's disappointed you about with MWIF?

[juntoalmar]

9 per page x 22. Im sure you can do the math

Almost 200 games... just curious, "the decade of waiting" means that you bought MWiF the year it was released and you have been waiting for the AI since then?

[Joseignacio]

I am curious too, now. I would be surprised that he was disappointed about the AI, for it was widely known the game came without.
May be about the delay in creating it but I would favour he may be disappointed about the bugs of the Netplay. Not everybody can or is willing to work around the problems of the game or edit files, just to be able to keep playing.

P.D.: Glad that Steve is doing well, as well.

[pzgndr]

I am curious too, now. I would be surprised that he was disappointed about the AI, for it was widely known the game came without.

I'll chime in. AI would be nice, but yes we all knew the game didn't have it and wouldn't have it for a long while. My disappointment is that the Fascist Tide half map scenario for ETO is still not available. Still, even for solo gaming. Still, even with perhaps a few minor bugs and missing half-map rules. That was my motivation to buy the game. It's annoying that it is still not available and not being worked on. I continue to wait patiently to play the ETO scenario. Maybe someday. And no I'm not interested in playing a global scenario. I wish Steve well as he works towards completing all promised features of this game, for all those who want to play it as they want to play it,

[rkr1958]

I am curious too, now. I would be surprised that he was disappointed about the AI, for it was widely known the game came without.

I'll chime in. AI would be nice, but yes we all knew the game didn't have it and wouldn't have it for a long while. My disappointment is that the Fascist Tide half map scenario for ETO is still not available. Still, even for solo gaming. Still, even with perhaps a few minor bugs and missing half-map rules. That was my motivation to buy the game. It's annoying that it is still not available and not being worked on. I continue to wait patiently to play the ETO scenario. Maybe someday. And no I'm not interested in playing a global scenario. I wish Steve well as he works towards completing all promised features of this game, for all those who want to play it as they want to play it,

That's a shame indeed. The below quote from Erik Rutins is from a post he made on November 27,2017. By my calculation that's 5 1/2 years ago. What I find interesting are the priorities laid out in "Future Plans". Additional scenario (i.e., half-map scenarios) are 3rd and the AI is 4th. So doesn't 3 come before 4?

Thank you all for your patience and support of Matrix Games' World in Flames (MWIF) over the years since release. We hope you have enjoyed the game so far and that you will check back with us as we continue to support this release. Steve and I greatly appreciate the community's involvement through bug reports, suggestions and other feedback, both through the beta test program and through the official updates. Your support and feedback has been critical in getting MWIF to the point where it is today and we can only complete the rest of the our shared goals with your continued involvement.

Our Commitment to You

We are committed to continuing to support MWIF, which includes addressing bug reports, completing NetPlay and adding additional optional rules and scenarios. You can find more on our future plans a bit further down.

The State of the Game

Thousands of issues have been resolved over the past few years, but despite that, much more work remains to be done. We recently released the promised new official update, which included an additional 300+ fixes, focused on all modes of play, but including 50+ NetPlay fixes as well. We hope that you find this update to be a significant improvement for solitaire as well as NetPlay, but it is not yet the "NetPlay Complete" update we were hoping to release this year.

After spending a significant amount of time this year during the process leading up to this official update trying to make sure that the solitaire game was made as stable as possible, we will now shift our focus back primarily to NetPlay. The NetPlay issues list has been shrinking and many of the remaining issues are less frequently encountered than those that have already been fixed. We plan to have a new series of internal and public beta updates to progress NetPlay to the point of an official "NetPlay Complete" update.

NetPlay, Our Next Priority

We have been working towards this for far longer than we ever expected and it has seemed to be a Sisyphean task at times, partially thanks to the incredible complexity of MWIF and how fixing one issue can at times uncover several new ones, but based on the progress we've seen to date and the remaining issues on our list, the goal does finally seem within reach. We are aiming for an April 2018 "NetPlay Complete" release candidate, along with additional fixes for all modes of play that come up between now and then. We expect another update later in 2018 with fixes for any additional NetPlay issues that arise from testing the "NetPlay Complete" update.

Once we have evidence that NetPlay for 2 Players is indeed at last working as expected, we plan to proceed with the following in priority order:

Future Plans

1. Additional Bug Fixes
- This will be an ongoing effort, focused on any serious issues that arise as well as areas of the game that still need more attention. Each update, including the NetPlay updates, will continue to include fixes for every issue we can fit in.

2. Low Risk Optional Rules
- These are the rules we are planning to include in this set:
53. City based volunteers (67)
54. Isolated reorganization limits (47)
55. Kamikazes (60)
56. Naval supply units (69)
57. Guard banner armies (70)
58. Rough seas (75)
67. USSR-Japan compulsory peace (50)

3. Additional Scenarios
- This means the two half map scenarios we promised to complete.

Once we reach this point, we would consider the original MWIF feature and content complete, with ongoing support after this point focused on bug fixes and interface polish.

4. AI Expansion (Core Rule Set)
- This means implementing a working AI opponent for solitaire play. The "Core Rule Set" means that the AI will be designed to work with a core set of fixed optional rules, rather than supporting all possible optional rules variations. Needless to say, this will be a big job and for a game this complex no AI will ever be as good as a human player, but we know players love to have an AI to practice against and use as a learning aid and we don't intend to leave MWIF as our only release without an AI opponent. This is also a feature that Steve is very interested in and very knowledgeable about, plus he has already put in place much of the necessary framework.

5. Additional Optional Rules Expansion
We will look at the remaining optional rules not implemented as part of #2 above and decide which can be implemented, possibly as part of the same expansion which includes the AI, possibly as another project. The list to choose from here is as follows:
59. Convoys in Flames (76)
60. Recruitment limits (16)
61. Surprised zones of control (20)
62. Bounce combat (22)
63. V weapons (23)
64. Atomic bombs (23)
65. Frogmen (24)
66. Hitler's war (49)
68. En route interception (51)
69. Limited aircraft interception (57)
70. Flying bombs (59)
71. Ukraine (62)
72. Intelligence (63)
73. Japanese command conflict (64)
74. Partisan HQs (72)
75. Oil tankers (76)
76. Naval offensive chit (a variation on the optional rule for offensive chits)

[RFalvo69]

I am curious too, now. I would be surprised that he was disappointed about the AI, for it was widely known the game came without.

I'll chime in. AI would be nice, but yes we all knew the game didn't have it and wouldn't have it for a long while. My disappointment is that the Fascist Tide half map scenario for ETO is still not available. Still, even for solo gaming. Still, even with perhaps a few minor bugs and missing half-map rules. That was my motivation to buy the game. It's annoying that it is still not available and not being worked on. I continue to wait patiently to play the ETO scenario. Maybe someday. And no I'm not interested in playing a global scenario. I wish Steve well as he works towards completing all promised features of this game, for all those who want to play it as they want to play it,

That's a shame indeed. The below quote from Erik Rutins is from a post he made on November 27,2017. By my calculation that's 5 1/2 years ago. What I find interesting are the priorities laid out in "Future Plans". Additional scenario (i.e., half-map scenarios) are 3rd and the AI is 4th. So doesn't 3 come before 4?

I remember this post. Erik wrote it after I said how, after four years, I was done with this farce.

[Of course I got the usual comments: “Close the door when you are out etc.” Like if they were needed. I was in the Navy for eight years. I had to learn four different firefighting procedures. I do know that you don’t leave the door open on a dumpster fire.]

Then in early 2022 I decided to see how the game was going. It went south immediately. The comments there were on the sound of “This works” - which, by then, was literally hoping that if you said something it became true.

Every then and now I put my nose here, with the kind of spirit that makes you slow your car when you see a truly spectacular car wreck on the side of the road. Out of curiosity, I searched the forum for “Mene Grande”. If you are a long time sufferer you will know why. The result was funnier than I expected. Try it.

I’m happy to learn that Steve’s chorus is doing fine - at least last December, as we don’t know anything anymore even about that. The AI for a very minor scenario is apparently entering beta, three years after programming it became more important than bug fixes, missing scenarios and missing optional rules (contrary to popular belief, “Let’s do the AI!” was not the las nail on the coffin - as, by then, the coffin was already underground).

This November it will be ten years that Matrix sold MWIF as a reasonably finished product with three mandatory physical manuals. I feel that we should organise some sort of event but A) Parties with few people in big places are just sad, and B) All I can think of is some kind of stand-up satire “a la” David Chappelle. If you have better ideas, let me know.

[ncc1701e]

Personally my main problem with MWIF is that I have lost combat with the user interface. It is so complicated.

[Joseignacio]

Personally my main problem with MWIF is that I have lost combat with the user interface. It is so complicated.

The only really complicated interface I can think of, is the CONV + Production interface. At least if you know WIF; I cannot tell the problems in other parts that you may see if you don't, that's true.

However the IMO horrible functionality of this part makes sometimes you think you cannot get things right when in truth it is the system what doesn't work. It may make you feel you dont do things right but the truth is the things can't be done right acting as specified in the books or videos, unless you know the "tricks" you need to do, additionally.

I know that I will be refuted, but I had to say it so that you know. It is not we are fools or the feature is complex, it is that sometimes it doesnt work unless you have an insider's knowledge, further than what the manuals and tutorials explain. You can do it literally as told and it may not work.

[RFalvo69]

I know that I will be refuted

Don't worry. The answer to a "This part of the game doesn' work because [DETAILED EXPLANATION] is always "This part works". Unsspecting victims will finds solace from both your explanation and the obvious state of denial of those whithe their heads int he sand.

but I had to say it so that you know. It is not we are fools or the feature is complex, it is that sometimes it doesnt work unless you have an insider's knowledge, further than what the manuals and tutorials explain. You can do it literally as told and it may not work.

Hey! It was me who first called MWiF "Matrix Workarounds in Flames"

[juntoalmar]

Don't worry. The answer to a "This part of the game doesn' work because [DETAILED EXPLANATION] is always "This part works".

First rule of UX design: don't blame the user. There are a lot of challenges in the game's UI, but with a team of 1 (developer) we can't expect the UX/UI design to shine.

[RFalvo69]

Don't worry. The answer to a "This part of the game doesn' work because [DETAILED EXPLANATION] is always "This part works".

First rule of UX design: don't blame the user. There are a lot of challenges in the game's UI, but with a team of 1 (developer) we can't expect the UX/UI design to shine.

I don’t expect for it to shine. I expect for it to work.

[juntoalmar]

Many parts of the game (particularly the map screen and main info area) I think have a great design. Others, not so much. I think the problem with convoys is two-fold: the AI not working to set the convoys correctly and a cumbersome UI that don't support the user.

[Joseignacio]

Yes, the game could be amazing, and most of it is.
Problem is that nobody cares or wants to address the fails that darken it, instead starting other projects.

[RFalvo69]

Yes, the game could be amazing, and most of it is.
Problem is that nobody cares or wants to address the fails that darken it, instead starting other projects.

That's what's maddening. Back in 2022 I tried to play MWiF again after watching a YT series about a WiF tabletop game played solo by a guy who knew what he was doing. Three seconds in... BAM! The Mene Grande problem.

Which is, IMHO, symbolic both of the game and of the "Stockholm Syndrome" that surrounds it. A basic problem with the convoy system that is in the game since forever - and it was never fixed. The answers I got? These two sum up the mental state of the community:

1) The convoy system is working correctly, apart from one bug regarding the sending of trade build point out of Vichy when it is active.

It is not broken. You need to learn how to use the interface correctly. And that is hard work with a lot of trial and error.

Yup. Because I don't already have a job IRL. And God forbids that MWiF simplifies the positioning of the convioy system - leaving you to concentrate on the trategic and optional layer. No, you pay $150 for working on a game instead of the programmer - after 10 years.

2) The convoy system works.

...Which, while being an amazing answer if it comes from adult (believing that just saying things makes them true), at least treats you as an idiot in a more straightforward way.

I'm happy that these people find gratification in MWiF - while ignoring the unfulfilled list of propmises made by ERutins back in 2017. Meanwhile, our old friend Mene Grande is still there.

I'll be frank: I'm sad. Never ever in the life I expected such a farce in a game I desidered so much. But the developer's chorus is fine. Thanks God for small favors.

[Centuur]

My thoughts about this is pretty obvious. Yes, you can get the convoy system to work for you, if you invest a lot of time. I've spend that time.

However: one should not have to spend this much of time to get things right. That in itself is not good at all. So I agree totally with those who are not happy with this part of the game.

[rkr1958]

My thoughts about this is pretty obvious. Yes, you can get the convoy system to work for you, if you invest a lot of time. I've spend that time.

However: one should not have to spend this much of time to get things right. That in itself is not good at all. So I agree totally with those who are not happy with this part of the game.

+1