Good Gawd!

[JudgeDredd]

This is the single most frustrating game I have ever had. The interface just grates me every single time I play it.

After downloading the mods for the map and the "see through" battle window, I thought I'd fire it up yet again.

I loaded an old game which I stopped because I didn't have a clue how to deploy reinforcements at the time. So...now I have the manual. And I load the game...and I still do not know how to deploy reinforcements!!

I have a Hungarian Infantry unit sitting in the reinforcements window and can I place it!? Nope! Can I find Hungary? Nope!

Which brings me onto the other "really" annoying factor...the map. Not the orientation, but rather having to distinguish between states (or front lines) by the tiny little flags! I know about diplomatic mode, but that's just horrible to look at! Why are there no distinguishing lines to show the front line!

When this game came out in the state it came out, I fully believed it would come of age. I bought it regardless of the issues and decided to wait for it to be "fixed". Whilst it seems it's become more stable and more playable for some, for me the interface is simply "yuck".

The "sweet spot" for units is ridiculous
The messages show text going outside the message box
The sweet spot for the tick boxes is horrendous

Unfortunately, when I bought it...although I realised there were problems and I was confident of them being fixed, I had no idea the interface was designed by the Spanish Inquisition!

Sorry...but the interface in this game kills me every single solitairy time I open it! It's being closed again...unfortunately, I suspect, for good. I have way too many good games to waste time trying to click on a unit on the map!

[calvinus72]

...I have a Hungarian Infantry unit sitting in the reinforcements window and can I place it!? Nope! Can I find Hungary? Nope!...

I think there's a big misunderstanding. Hungary does not exist in WW1 as a separate State/Nation. It's an "entity" inside the Austro-Hungarian empire.
In fact, the Army of AH is multi-national composed. You can find Italian corps, Hungarian corps, Austrian corps, Czech corps, etc. etc.

So you are not asked to put that Hungarian Infantry unit in Hungary nor in an Hungarian army. You can put it everywhere you wish inside the AH Empire (controlled major cities or supplied detachments).

[JudgeDredd]

well, Calvinus, and I'll try and be polite being as this is your baby....I tried just about every damned city within the Austro Hungarian empire with no go. The reference to finding Hungary was a "piss take"...my point was that I couldn't place the damned unit anywhere.

This was the route...
Select the reinforcements tab
Select unit
Find location on map
Click location
Click reinforcements tab
Select unit (because it hadn't been dropped last time)
etc...
etc...
Boredom set in!

Now I will say this...it is more than likely my understanding (or lack of) causing the problem...but I have already read the manual from start to finish. And in order to get past this issue with reinforcements, I re-read the section on reinforcements and I still can't place the damned unit.

And that is one issue addressed. What about the other issues I find hard to see past...seeing front lines...the sweet spot for units? Are these ever going to be addressed?

Actually, nevermind. I've really given it all I can. I have other great games giving me a call.

Calvinus, I would like to say, although I have found your game frustrating and I am now going to give up (perhaps to revisit in the future, though I doubt it), I admire you for having the nads to make a game and put it out there...it's always very easy to be critical.

Although I feel the way I do about your game, you have produced something I, as a fellow programmer, couldn't even begin to imagine creating and for that I congratulate you...my main beef is the user interface is so twitchy and touchy and not very user friendly. My other gripes are generally not understanding the rules as well as I perhaps could.

I hope all the criticism you do get, you take constructively and bring forward to your next game, whatever it may be and I wish you luck in your endeavour to be a wargaming programmer.

[06 Maestro]

ORIGINAL: JudgeDredd



This was the route...
Select the reinforcements tab
Select unit
Find location on map
Click location
Click reinforcements tab
Select unit (because it hadn't been dropped last time)
etc...
etc...
Boredom set in!

Judge-been there, done that. I agree something seems off doing the replacements, but it actually does work. The problem is that the units are not selected in the way in which I consider normal, or even how units are selected elsewhere in WW1-like in the battle screens.

For whatever reason; to select a unit from the reinforcement panel, and assign it, you must click and drag in one motion. If you click to highlight the unit and release (which I assume is a normal thing for many of us)and the grab and drag-frequently it will not work. The movement of the cursor and clicking needs to be done in one "fell swoop". I've tested this time and time again-it works-no mistake about it.

I can understand your frustration at this aspect of the game as I was there too. It is, however, easily corrected. Its just that it is not intuitive. It's something that one would do the right way accidentally and not realize it. After you see what its doing, then it is not a problem.

This game has taken extra time to figure out for sure. After you get through some of the strange quirks, its game time. I played for hours last night-trouble free (minus some odd stuff on RR's). I will most likely have another new game today, so this one is going to the "back burner". It will be kept on my HD and I will still be playing it for a long time to come.

The most irritating part of this game for me is the Event messages. Many are redundant, others are just wrong sometimes. There are too many in any case-for me. I have temporarily fixed this situation in the game menu by nixing most of those little things.

Anyway, try pressing and dragging for your replacements just to see if it works for you. At least you will know that you can come back to it when you have an interest and not have to face that ugly little circle of actions you described above.

Edit: This method of select (left press without releasing), drag and release/drop works all the time. It is much easier if zoomed in all the way though.

[JudgeDredd]

Maestro - thank you. Dragging and dropping worked first time!

Why the hell the system allows you to click and release on a reinforcement, AND show the silouhette as if that's what you are meant to do but not actually work like that is just one of the many reasons why this interface does not work and the point I was trying to make to Calvinus.

Guns of August, although a stalwart WWI game, suffered from the interface also...so much promise from both games and let down by a less than intuitive interface!

Anyway, the reinforcement issue was the last issue I hit which stopped me (and I had several beforehand)...I wonder if there are others waiting...

[06 Maestro]

My pleasure to be of assistance-glad it worked for you.

Good luck with the ai. Don't leave gaps in the line[;)] That can spoil a beautiful offensive.

[calvinus72]

ORIGINAL: JudgeDredd

Maestro - thank you. Dragging and dropping worked first time!

Why the hell the system allows you to click and release on a reinforcement, AND show the silouhette as if that's what you are meant to do but not actually work like that is just one of the many reasons why this interface does not work and the point I was trying to make to Calvinus.

Guns of August, although a stalwart WWI game, suffered from the interface also...so much promise from both games and let down by a less than intuitive interface!

Anyway, the reinforcement issue was the last issue I hit which stopped me (and I had several beforehand)...I wonder if there are others waiting...

I'm back! [:)]
Ok now I understand your point is clear. I will examine it. [;)] Your claims are not a reason of disappointment for me, judge. [:)]
Thanks, Calvinus.

[pvthudson01]

Dont all AGEOD games use the drag and drop method though? I would have tried that first

[06 Maestro]

ORIGINAL: pvthudson01

Dont all AGEOD games use the drag and drop method though? I would have tried that first

The problem is (or was) that the unit would appear as selected-complete with shadow while moving it. Many times it would not move even though it was selected. It was misleading-causing the repeat effort over and over again. No doubt many others had a problem with this part of the game. I know I did for a while.

[ypsylon]

Hmm, in short. There is - rather - vast room for improvments when it comes to interface. I really hate drag&drop stuff.

But it could be worst. That is on the plus side.[:D]

And game at least works well (honestly, I never had a single crash even with v.1.00), unlike some beta-release of HOI3 as a fully functional product.

[EUBanana]

I didn't like drag n drop but I kinda got used to it.  Like all strategy games theres going to be some hesitation initially as you grapple with the interface, only when thats done can you actually play.

Good game, I think.  The only thing that still grates after much play is how the map is swivelled 90 degrees anticlockwise.  I mean...  why?  [&:]  I don't think I will ever get used to that.