Ageod's WW I Game

[Big B]

Not trying to upstage AGEOD, as I enjoy (love) several of their games - but for WWI games has anyone tried Hearts of Iron 2, Mod 1914?
wiki site here: http://www.paradoxian.org/hoi2wiki/index.php/1914

The game system is good enough, and it goes hour by hour - day by day, (adjustable game speed, and will give orders while paused) from 1897 through 1925. Combat units are divisions, major ships or flotillas, air groups, generals, leaders, politics, economics, R&D, and historical events with decision paths to follow....over the entire globe.

Just a thought,
B

[tgb]

ORIGINAL: Terminus

Well, no kidding, Sherlock. I meant it was stupid to offer a product for sale when there's three weeks until it's usable.

You think they just might want to grab people's gaming budget before the big AAA titles hit? Nothing stupid about that. If you don't want to pay 3 weeks in advance (and I don't either) no one is putting a gun to your head.

[06 Maestro]

ORIGINAL: Big B

Not trying to upstage AGEOD, as I enjoy (love) several of their games - but for WWI games has anyone tried Hearts of Iron 2, Mod 1914?
wiki site here: http://www.paradoxian.org/hoi2wiki/index.php/1914
B

I am under the impression that the 1914 mod is not finished. The AI is weak, and there are some bugs. About a year ago, I tried to install it, but ran into problems, and never gave it another shot-too many mods for that system that easily install. I know the current version is playable, but still not a polished game.

I think that the HOI system would make a great WW1 game-and eventually, they will finish it. I'll take another look at it. Those guys are basically changing everything for that mod-sort of like making a new game in your spare time.

[cdbeck]

Yeah, the Fallout Mod for HoI2 is clearly the choice of kings! Drat... I think I left my HoI2 CDs back in the states and can't reinstall!! Grr....
 
Back to AGEOD, I think the early buying is also to allow people to "pre-load." EA did something like this for Spore, and I wish that Direct2Drive would do the same for games like Red Alert 3 (titles that, on release day, will get blitzed by customers). In many ways, being able to DL a preorder early is, in my mind, better, as you actually HAVE a product for your money (not unlocked) rather than just handing someone some money and hope that your DL link will come on the day of release. Just paranoid like that, I guess. Besides, most wargamers are hardcore enough that they already know if they will buy the game or not.
 
I understand the principle of having "historically significant" release dates (BoA2 was July 4), but if you can preload the game, then the game must be in a near finished or finished state and thus, why not release now? Of course, AGEOD almost always sends a few patches out on release day, most of which are very welcome.
 
I'm not sure about the art direction. I do know that they lost one artist right after AACW, but the BoA2 art is still rather good. I am not enthusiastic about the unit pictures, which I find a tad bland in comparison to earlier titles. The new combat screen (which actually seems to have some interactivity this time by choosing front lines, rear lines, and reserves) looks nice. The diplomacy screen looks pretty good too. But the map looks a tad blurry and drab, although this may just be the quality of the screenshots.
 
SoM

[Terminus]

See, this is another example of the instant-gratification society we live in. We absolutely, positively MUST have something the very microsecond it's released.

Here's a thought: don't jump on this marketing bandwagon, but WAIT. So what if you have to wait 24 hours?

As pointed out previously, nobody is holding a gun to my head, but this is just stupid.

[Arsan]

Hey, you forgot that with the preload game you also get the pdf with the first version of the manual (probably to be improved for the real release) so you can start learning the game and be ready to ask for a rival for a multiplayer game on november 11 at 11.01 minute [:D]
And you can also access the game's files and start modding around before even launching the game [;)]

[Phatguy]

ORIGINAL: JMass

Maybe for avoid a server overload?

Server Overload? What server overload?

Let's not kid ourselves.. Its a wargame..Its about WWI....This is the definition of a niche product.

[Arsan]

ORIGINAL: apathetic lurker

ORIGINAL: JMass

Maybe for avoid a server overload?

Server Overload? What server overload?

Let's not kid ourselves.. Its a wargame..Its about WWI....This is the definition of a niche product.

Heh! i bet you did not bought and try to download AGEOD'S AACW on the first day of the release...[:'(]
I did [;)]

[Phatguy]

ORIGINAL: Arsan

ORIGINAL: apathetic lurker

ORIGINAL: JMass

Maybe for avoid a server overload?

Server Overload? What server overload?

Let's not kid ourselves.. Its a wargame..Its about WWI....This is the definition of a niche product.

Heh! i bet you did not bought and try to download AGEOD'S AACW on the first day of the release...[:'(]
I did [;)]

There's a difference though.. Many who buy a American Civil War game will not give WWI a second thought.Really now, which war is more "sexy" to an average wargamer?

I will end up buying it myself, just like I end up buying all thier stuff but i'm holding out for a boxed copy.

[sol_invictus]

I am also waiting for the boxed copy. I can't stand reading pdf manuals. While the graphics aren't superb, I find them perfectly fine. I really wouldn't change the map much at all but the unit graphics are a tad bland. I just hope the AI is not worthless since there is no email play possible.

[Arsan]

There's a difference though.. Many who buy a American Civil War game will not give WWI a second thought.Really now, which war is more "sexy" to an average wargamer?

Mmm... not sure. I suppose it must depend mainly if the wargamer is from the USA or form Europe.
I reckon WWI is not as popular as WWII by far but well, most of the countries were involved on it and being able to play with your own country is a selling point for many.
Over here (Europe) ACW is not a top seller conflict as in USA.
What most people know about the ACW around here is limited to what is shown on "Gone with the Wind" [:D]
I must be one of the exceptions [:)]
Cheers

[Terminus]

ORIGINAL: Arsan

Hey, you forgot that with the preload game you also get the pdf with the first version of the manual (probably to be improved for the real release) so you can start learning the game and be ready to ask for a rival for a multiplayer game on november 11 at 11.01 minute [:D]
And you can also access the game's files and start modding around before even launching the game [;)]

[8|]

[Arsan]

ORIGINAL: Terminus

ORIGINAL: Arsan

Hey, you forgot that with the preload game you also get the pdf with the first version of the manual (probably to be improved for the real release) so you can start learning the game and be ready to ask for a rival for a multiplayer game on november 11 at 11.01 minute [:D]
And you can also access the game's files and start modding around before even launching the game [;)]

[8|]

[:'(]

[Phatguy]

ORIGINAL: Arsan

There's a difference though.. Many who buy a American Civil War game will not give WWI a second thought.Really now, which war is more "sexy" to an average wargamer?

Mmm... not sure. I suppose it must depend mainly if the wargamer is from the USA or form Europe.
I reckon WWI is not as popular as WWII by far but well, most of the countries were involved on it and being able to play with your own country is a selling point for many.
Over here (Europe) ACW is not a top seller conflict as in USA.
What most people know about the ACW around here is limited to what is shown on "Gone with the Wind" [:D]
I must be one of the exceptions [:)]
Cheers

While I agree about the regionalism part, I still think most Europeans(like me) prefer WW2 to a(for most people)boring stagnant war.

[SlickWilhelm]

I'm not a graphics whore by any means, but to me the actual map style that AGEOD used for this game makes it look confusing. Napoleon's Campaigns looks much clearer in comparison.  I think the map Frank Hunter used in "Guns of August" was much better. That being said, I'll probably buy it anyways, because there aren't that many WWI games out there, and I feel its important to support any developer who's willing to create one.

One thing I noticed that I like a lot, is that on the unit counters, they have both a picture of the unit, and the corresponding NATO symbol. That's a nice touch.

[cdbeck]

I actually prefer WWI to WWII due to the complexity of the diplomacy, the lack of a clear goal or ideological difference between sides, the combination of nationalism with empire to form "powers" that fought one another. WWI also markes one of the first times that France and England really cooperated against a bigger threat. The battles were not fast moving, like WWI, but the battlefields were grim, bleak, gritty, deadly, and because of all this, fascinating. Also, the psychological impact of the war was huge, particularly in the development of the second war. Lots here to study.

And the preorder isn't about instant gratification, it is about know you have the file without worrying about problems in distribution. If it were instant gratification, you could play the preorder as some sort of Beta/Demo or something. As it is, you still have to wait for the unlock, you just have something to show for your money. I mean, you don't go to the video rental store, pay them some money, and then say "I'll be back in a few days to pick up a video I want," do you? Not everything has to be wait. Of course, I did forget that the Danish way of life is a bit slower and more laid back, even if Termie isn't. [:'(]

SoM

[Terminus]

This is a pre-order, something I never have, nor will I ever, waste money on. If the server is busy, I can wait.

[Terminus]

And what, pray tell, have the people who have bought this already "got to show for it"? A useless bundle of data, taking up space on their HDD's. It's just silly.

[sol_invictus]

I guess reading the manual would be the attraction.

[cdbeck]

I'm with Arinvald with that. You at least have the manual. Preordering helps with the gaming budget too, you buy it when it best suits you, not only when the game releases. Thankfully, no one is forcing you to do either, so we can disagree on the matter. [8D]

SoM