War Plan Orange Announcement

[Tankerace]

Hi guys. I have an anouncement.

War Plan Orange has evolved far beyond the small WWI style scenario that I had started back in August. It has come to consume almost my entire private life, plus a hefty amount of work over at 2by3 and Matrix Games.

To fully get the effect of a 1920's naval war, a good number of changes needed to be done to the standard War in the Pacific game. Mike Wood has graciously helped out, and is spending a significant amount of time changing parts of the code for this mod. These aren't small tweaks either.

As to my own part, I have poured enormous amounts of time into this, in scenario design, research, graphic editing, testing, and so on.

Throughout War Plan Orange's development, I have been in close contact with Matrix and 2by3, getting help, support, ideas, and more from them. They too have had hand in this project.

Throughout the development, the possibility was broached that this would be sold, for a small fee, as an official expansion. I am in favor of this, for several reasons. Number one, this gurantees several scenarios. As opposed to a single, long scenario, at the moment of release WPO will include a good number of scenarios. In addition with continued support, I can devote time after the release to do more scenarios, and provide continued support.

You guys need to understand, that this is not a simple “scenario modification.” This is not one or two graphic changes, or a few modifications. This is an entirely new database, new scenarios, new graphics, and thanks to the guys at Matrix, new code.

War Plan Orange stands on the verge of being a great expansion to an already great game. I have spent a lot of time, effort, money, and sweat into making it. I am sure that the end result will be something that everyone will be pleased with.

[Rob322]

Shoot, bring it on! I can pony up some $$$, expansions are cool. I understand what you mean about how projects can grow on you and the fact you've had Matrix in there is great, I don't see many developers willing to go to those lengths to assist one customer with their "little mod".

Just so long as you don't forget to give my grandfather a command of something, John Henry Merkamp was the name! [;)]

Cheers,
Rob [8D]

[DrewMatrix]

"Small Fee" huh? Like when the doctor says "this my pinch a little".

I will doubltess spend several _months_ playing this thing. Also I am fascinated by pre-radar/pre-decent-air-search, blundering-around-confused, manly-toe-to_toe naval gunfire combat. I am also a little disappointed Jutland was so anti-climactic. I mean they built those steel monsters. You should get to use them at least once, right?

So I would be happy to pay a "small fee" for something that will give me months of recreation. Just don't let my wife know. The "small fee" won't perturb her. The "months of recreation" will. Then I will have to take her someplace nice for a few weeks. That will likely _not_ be a "small" fee[:)]

Hmm. People complain about the cost of this game. I wonder how much we have had to spend on dinners and short weekend vacations to molify the wives for all the time we spend here?

[jnier]

This is good news! It seems like a little support from Matrix/2by3 (along with all your hard work) will greatly enhance the mod. You've got my money Tankerace.[&o]

[Bodhi]

ORIGINAL: Tankerace
It has come to consume almost my entire private life, plus a hefty amount of work over at 2by3 and Matrix Games.

To fully get the effect of a 1920's naval war, a good number of changes needed to be done to the standard War in the Pacific game. Mike Wood has graciously helped out, and is spending a significant amount of time changing parts of the code for this mod. These aren't small tweaks either.

While I wish you all the best with your mod, I'm a bit annoyed that Mike Wood has been spending "a significant amount of time changing parts of the code" when the all major bugs haven't been fixed. IMHO, this should only be done after the bugs have been fixed, after all I purchased WitP not War Plan Orange.

[Ron Saueracker]

Did they change the code so that BBs lined up in formation are not affected by the there/not there aspect of naval combat? Kinda hard to have a Jutland style engagement where Adm Beatty is leading the charge but his ship is in another dimension.

In WITP, it should be that some TFs in a hex may not be engaged by an enemy TF (now, a TF will battle all enemy TFs in succession), not that ships in formation within a TF are randomly off doing something when in actuality they are in line ahead or something similar. This seems backwards.

[U2]

ORIGINAL: Tankerace


War Plan Orange stands on the verge of being a great expansion to an already great game. I have spent a lot of time, effort, money, and sweat into making it. I am sure that the end result will be something that everyone will be pleased with.

Work hard, complete it and you'll see my money [:)]

[jnier]

ORIGINAL: Bodhi
While I wish you all the best with your mod, I'm a bit annoyed that Mike Wood has been spending "a significant amount of time changing parts of the code" when the all major bugs haven't been fixed. IMHO, this should only be done after the bugs have been fixed, after all I purchased WitP not War Plan Orange.

Depends on what "significant" means. Significant could mean only a modest investment of time. OTOH, It could mean a lot of time. Let's not jump to conclusions before we have more info.

I do not see ANY major bugs when I play WITP, so I can't fathom the attitude of some people on this board. The folks at Matrix and 2 by 3 (not to mention Tankerace) could quit making wargames tommorrow and make a lot more money doing something else. They've decided not to do that and pursue their (and our) passion. So how about we give them the benefit of the doubt, at least until we have some real information? Then you can complain all you want.

[Don Bowen]

Throughout the development, the possibility was broached that this would be sold, for a small fee, as an official expansion. I am in favor of this

I am in favor of this too. Matrix is, after all, a for-profit company and you certainly deserve some reward for all your work (not to mention any expenses). So - do you take checks??

[Tankerace]

Thanks for all the support guys. I can't comment on a lot of stuff, but I can make comment on one thing:

In reference to significant, I did not mean to imply Mike Wood had stopped working on bug fixes. What he is doing to help on this is a significant amount of work, and to my knowledge he is doing both that and bug fixes. WPO by no means (as far as I know) did WPO take precidensce over War in the Pacific.

[HawaiiFive-O]

Count me in, I'll buy it.

I've been waiting for this mod since you started it. I'm glad that Matrix (and you, I hope) can make a little money off it.

[Don Bowen]

Mike Wood has graciously helped out, and is spending a significant amount of time changing parts of the code for this mod.

Oh, don't forget to tell Mike Wood that WPO requires an increase in the number of Carrier-Capable aircraft slots (for all those disparate bi-plane types).

[Arsaces]

I'll be coming on board too, Tankerace.

Actually this is great news, as it can be considered to be a commitment of official support for WPO.

Now if only you could convince The Powers That Be to support a Mediterranean total conversion...

[Skyros]

Count me in, I mean I must have the complete set![:D]

[skrewball]

I'm on board with this! I've always been fascinated with the Pre-WWII technology and tactics. You guys ever play the Plan Orange scenario in SSGs Carriers at War? That was impressive, I expect this to be amazing! I look forward to a time where Japan can take over the pacific with out being pummelled back into the stone age by B-29s!

Tankerace, I know I'm late on this one....still taking names for captains? Keep up the good work!

[Andy Mac]

Guys you got me I think this a greast idea as I will get months of fun out of your mod.

You will get my money

Andy

[Ron Saueracker]

Hey, Justin. When ya want it tested give me a bell. I'd love to PBEM with your mod with you. I'm kinda free at the moment.

[derwho]

I'll pay up, no problems!

[Stavka_lite]

Does this mean I will have to pay to watch clunky old Battleships beat on each other for what seems like forever? Or have to wait for weeks while those old slow boats move across the Pacific and then dance aound each other playing 14" tag and deal with archiac weapons systems?

If the answer is yes, then I am in too[:D]

[Drex]

Count me in