A little feedback from a newbie...

[FlipTrac_511]

Hello. First post here.

I've owned FPG since it first came out but only recently have I begun to play it (with v1.11 patch at that). I'm getting the hang of things after playing the "Soviet Tank Rush" scenarios several times. I'm enjoying this game very much so I'm glad Matrix made such a game available. Anyhow, here are a few things I noticed so far:

1. When I delete a waypoint while I have 'show all waypoints' enabled, the old yellow waypoint trail remains seen. It causes confusion especially when numerous waypoint trails from other units are about.

2. I prefer to enable the 'show all waypoints' throughout the game, but I must re-enable it after each and every turn. It gets a annoyingly repetitive. Other features in the menu remain selected turn after turn, why not this one?

3. I was browsing through the hardware inspector one time and I saw a picture of a Harrier but the description was for a Jaguar. I'm sure of it. That said I have not been able to reproduce this event. I just browsed the inspector and it shows the Jaguar and its description just fine. I just thought I'd throw this out there.

[CapnDarwin]

FlipTrac,

Glad to hear that you are enjoying the game. We are hard at work on the next game in the series which shifts the Flashpoint to the Mid-East. As for the 3 items you problems with I can see only 1 as an issue. It almost sounds like your game is not updated correcly. In the opening spash screen do you see a 1.11 in the lower left hand corner?

Item 1 was fixed in 1.10. If you select a unit and right click a waypoint and delete, both the point and the trail go away.

Item 2 looks to be a good call. I though we had that corrected but it does appear to not be "sticking" turn to turn. We'll get that on our list.

Item 3 also was corrected in 1.10. Both aircraft have a similar look but the pictures are correct in the current version. The Jag has square inlets and tricycle gear to the Harriers rounded inlets and 4 post gear.

If you notice anything else please drop us a line.

Thanks.

[FlipTrac_511]

Item 3 also was corrected in 1.10. Both aircraft have a similar look but the pictures are correct in the current version. The Jag has square inlets and tricycle gear to the Harriers rounded inlets and 4 post gear.

Oh...you didn't just give me a lesson in aircraft identification did you!? [:@]

On a serious note, the splash screen shows 'version 1.1.0'. Doesn't look right to me. I can't believe I didn't notice it before. Both program and patch were fresh installs.

D'OH! I just realized that the patch I downloaded and use was v1.10. How did that happen?

[FlipTrac_511]

Okay, I just downloaded and installed v1.11. Thanks for the head's-up Capn Darwin.

One last thing (for now); I don't understand why the 'aftermath' is already being shown with the scenario briefing dialog window at the very beginning of a scenario. Am I missing something here?

Thanks.

[CapnDarwin]

Oh...you didn't just give me a lesson in aircraft identification did you!?

I'm an Aerospace engineer by trade and a aircraft lover (military birds mainly) so I had to do it. A moral imperative. [;)]

The layout of the scenarios was done before I got involved but the aftermath is there to basically tell a story with respect to the series of battles. A kinda history that never was so you can compare your results. Not a bad idea but perhaps that info should display after the fight is over.

Enjoy 1.11!!

[FlipTrac_511]

Yes, it's odd being able to see the 'aftermath' even when the scenario hasn't even started yet. Does the 'aftermath' description change depending on how a scenario was won/lost?

[CapnDarwin]

Think of the Aftermath as the "historical result" of the designers series of scenarios. It would be like fighting the battle of 73 Easting knowing that the historical outcome was a major US victory. The Aftermath is just something to read and in some cases to compare your results to. The page itself does not change based on your result. It is purely text from the scenario designer.

[FlipTrac_511]

I get it. It's as if the there really was war in Europe between NATO and WP.

[FlipTrac_511]

Another anomaly I noticed: When right-clicking units that are (edit) slightly off-center on the map (but closer to the top of the screen), the scroll menu opens up only to have the upper options cut-off of the visible area. Under such conditions, perhaps the menu should pop up lower than it normally would, thus its entirety remains in full view.

[CapnDarwin]

FlipTrac,

Can you get a screenshot of the problem? I'm testing this as we speak and I can't reproduce it. When I right clcik a unit the menu is all on screen for me. What kind of unit it it? Any other items of interest will help too (Scenario, turn, side, etc).

Thanks for the report.

[FlipTrac_511]

How do I take a screenie in FPG anyway?

And oh yeah, btw, I found the Harrier/Jaguar mixup issue I mentioned in my original post. I was just browsing through the FPG manual pdf, and there it was on page 62; a Jaguar description with Harrier pic.

[FlipTrac_511]

Or try this:

Open up 'Meeting of Titans (v1.1) scen as WP player.
Locate unit HQ/1/68 Gds MRR at loc 31.22
Scroll the map so this unit has 7 squares to its left and 5 above it.
Now right click on this HQ unit from its lower area and the menu should pop upwards and cut-off up top. Strangely, right clicking from the upper area of the counter will have the menu pop downwards as desired.
Without moving the map, click on the arty units to the right. Their menus will pop upwards and be cut off too.

I hope you are able to recreate this. I do have custom scrolling parameters.

[FlipTrac_511]

Also, is there a way to keep the map view from moving away from the current view when the AI turn ends? I don't know if it's re-centering itself on the scenario map or what, but it's annoying having to scroll all the way back to where the action is.

[FlipTrac_511]

I figured it was better to keep posting here than open up new threads. On the other hand, I hope these latest reports don't go unnoticed.

1) Very frustrating for scenario to end because only enemy HQ (and arty) units are left.

I was denied a 'Decisive Victory' because hidden enemy HQ units managed to sneak into objective area. Before I could conduct a thorough mop-up and secure the objective area, I destroyed the last remaining enemy line unit and the scenario abruptly ended. I had ample time and plenty of healthy units left.

Very dissappointing especially after I was finally able to stave off the British in "Thin Blue Line" scenario...without using nukes.

2) When opening the barrage menu for artillery units, the cursor can easily wonder off causing the barrage options to dissappear before a selection can be made.

Perhaps the cursor threshold can be increased in regards to this menu, thus avoiding a frustrating process of repeated clicking and paintstaking cursor dragging.

3) In the 'Game Options' and 'Realism Settings' menu, the floating cursor information can use another 3 seconds before disappearing, allowing the reader to absorb what has just been quickly read.

4) This is a known bug, but having to reset the 'Show all friendly waypoints' option after every turn is increasingly becoming frustrating.

[CapnDarwin]

FlipTrac,

I was out of town on vacation and Rob is hip deep in code. I'll look over this list this evening. We are always looking for items like this in order to adjust the new game and also for updating FPG.

Thanks.

[CapnDarwin]

Okay...
#1. I agree that the left over units can be annoying sometimes, but just like real life a small unit can sneak in and the the prize while you crush the rest of the map. We are working on cleaning up the VP system for the next game and should get rid of most of the sudden death issues.

#2. I hate that too, but it is the way the control in question operates within windows. I'll see if there is something we can tweak to to keep the sub menu up long enough to make a selection.

#3. That should be an easy fix and we can add it to the fix list for the next update.

#4. We should be able to nail this one too in an update.

Thanks for the inputs, I'll pass this on to Rob.

[FlipTrac_511]

[quote]...just like real life a small unit can sneak in and the the prize while you crush the rest of the map...quote]
 
Absolutely, but the issue is the scenario ending before I can do anything about it.  I don't mind the scenario ending if only enemy HQ units are left, but it should not end if I have turns and line units left and I have not secured objectives.
 
Thanks for the feedback Cap'n.  Good to hear from you again.
 
 

[FlipTrac_511]

Another one I noticed:
 
I play with medium or high EW intensity levels and I noticed the EW intensity level resets itself to 'low' every time when starting a new game.
 
Not a problem for those who always play with 'low EW intensity', but it may be overlooked by those who use medium or high intensity and unknowingly play with low settings.  Resetting it to medium or high is also repetitive.

[CapnDarwin]

We'll add that to the list.

Thanks.

[FlipTrac_511]

I just noticed, the intensity level only resets to 'low' if you start a new game from a current session.  If you choose to exit FPG completely (i.e. close FPG), the intensity level will not reset the next time FPG starts; it will be at the same setting you left it last.