It seems that 3.0 has internet TCP/IP play, and most of the other new features are related to this, too. To me this is a disappointment, because I can't imagine spending hours on internet planning my moves. It normally takes 1-2 hours to view the last turn and make new moves. Playing a game in internet would take about a day, minimum.
Steel Panthers has always been best in PBEM, and it should be that way in the future, too. I don't need another real-time stragegy game, we have those enough already (Command & Conquer etc). I may be wrong, perhaps SPWAW internet play could be a hit, but I doubt it.
Another new feature is a new campaing system, and this is great for playing against computer, but not so much with PBEM.
What I would like to have, is a better, faster PBEM. The following features would make 3.0 really worth something:
1) Compressed secure PBEM. Now the three turn files are almost 1 MB compressed, which takes about 2 minutes to send/receive a turn.
2) Faster and better action replay. Now the map jumps needlessly all the time, and still it is impossible to say which tank is firing in many cases. If the tank is in the bottom of map, then most the screen is black.
3) Fix PBEM bugs: disappearing troops, unable to load secure games.
4) Registered PBEM file type, so that SPWAW would load directly from e-mail program. Now I
a) first click "Steel Panthers World At War v2.1" on desktop
b) then get the "WAW AutoPlay Menu"
c) then click "Play SPWAW"
d) watch SSI and Matrix movie, until I press space
e) then get "COLONEL: CHOOSE YOUR GAMEPLAY", where there is only two choises, play or quit
f) click "Play SPWAW"
g) click "LOAD SAVE"
h) click the right PBEM (it can be difficult to say which one is the right one)
i) click START
Could it be any harder? All these phases would be gone if the PBEM file type was registered to SPWAW and it would load automatically.
Another thing I would like to see is a better user interface. The current one is ancient. One thing which bothered me in the beginning is the entering of numbers, e.g. range. It does not display the current value anywhere, and if I press Escape or Enter to cancel without entering any numbers, the range is set to zero. This should be fixed.
Is 3.0 a disappointment?
Moderator: MOD_SPWaW
But you forget some very importent points!
It's free
It's done by wargamers for wargamers
It's free
It's been developed in direct responce to user feedback
It's free
There's no other game that comes near it for atmosphere, in my oppinion that is.
Oh! And have I mentioned that it's free!
It's free
It's done by wargamers for wargamers
It's free
It's been developed in direct responce to user feedback
It's free
There's no other game that comes near it for atmosphere, in my oppinion that is.
Oh! And have I mentioned that it's free!
In times of war we see the worst that man has to offer. But we also see the best that man has to offer.
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David Heath
- Posts: 2529
- Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2000 5:00 pm
This is a classic case of..... I don't what I want so it not good. We made MAJOR game play changes. All the internet rules can be played PBEM and Online play. The ONLY option that can not be played is the new OpFire Options. This will only work H2H or Online. What about the Victory hexex to name another. Before you kill it try it. I also agree FREE is a good thing only if it works [GRIN]
David
David
Got to dessagree with you on this, I think way more people will play online then by Email, becouse its more fun that way and it makes for better play.
As for taking 1-2 hours to play a turn, I dont even take a hour a turn on the largest scenario made yet, let alone 2. Most scenarios and battles I have played it takes about 10 to 15 mins to play a turn at the start and speeds up from their.
The best thing about Online is doing team play. Used to play PG2 online and their was nothing like 2 vs 2 player play.
[This message has been edited by Drake666 (edited August 26, 2000).]
As for taking 1-2 hours to play a turn, I dont even take a hour a turn on the largest scenario made yet, let alone 2. Most scenarios and battles I have played it takes about 10 to 15 mins to play a turn at the start and speeds up from their.
The best thing about Online is doing team play. Used to play PG2 online and their was nothing like 2 vs 2 player play.
[This message has been edited by Drake666 (edited August 26, 2000).]
Heya Fuerte!
Before you start wishing, dislike, want's and don't want and putting negative though about Ver..3. I would recommend that you wait till you have played the new version 3, and then you could put in your though. For one who never played Ver..3 yet should not have to many comments till he has actually played the game. This post is by no means to put you down, it is just a reminder to some real facts. Just my 2 cents.
Tankhead
------------------
Rick Cloutier rcclout@telusplanet.net
Coordinator: Tankhead's SPWAW Resources
http://sites.netscape.net/rcclout
Before you start wishing, dislike, want's and don't want and putting negative though about Ver..3. I would recommend that you wait till you have played the new version 3, and then you could put in your though. For one who never played Ver..3 yet should not have to many comments till he has actually played the game. This post is by no means to put you down, it is just a reminder to some real facts. Just my 2 cents.
Tankhead
------------------
Rick Cloutier rcclout@telusplanet.net
Coordinator: Tankhead's SPWAW Resources
http://sites.netscape.net/rcclout
Tankhead
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Colonel Klink
- Posts: 103
- Joined: Sun Apr 09, 2000 8:00 am
- Location: Northern California
Right Colonel,
SPWAW as it is, is already more than I could have wished for a couple of months ago, when I knew nothing about this. Now that I have played it for a while, I realize that there are some things that would be relatively easy to implement, and which would make it even better.
The things that I read of v3.0 didn't impress me much, but I don't want spoil your fun. I just had to say what I thought. And it is better to not expect too much, so that you will be positively surpised...
SPWAW as it is, is already more than I could have wished for a couple of months ago, when I knew nothing about this. Now that I have played it for a while, I realize that there are some things that would be relatively easy to implement, and which would make it even better.
The things that I read of v3.0 didn't impress me much, but I don't want spoil your fun. I just had to say what I thought. And it is better to not expect too much, so that you will be positively surpised...
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Greg McCarty
- Posts: 231
- Joined: Thu Jun 15, 2000 8:00 am
- Location: woodbury,mn,usa
Fuerte:
Dont dwell too much on internet play. It's
just another of the many options. Spend tme
with the game in your chosen mode of play.
In the long run I think you will agree it is
the best of its kind available today. have
some fun with it. Get some miles under your
belt.
Greg.
Dont dwell too much on internet play. It's
just another of the many options. Spend tme
with the game in your chosen mode of play.
In the long run I think you will agree it is
the best of its kind available today. have
some fun with it. Get some miles under your
belt.
Greg.
Greg.
It is better to die on your feet
than to live on your knees.
--Zapata
It is better to die on your feet
than to live on your knees.
--Zapata
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Colonel Klink
- Posts: 103
- Joined: Sun Apr 09, 2000 8:00 am
- Location: Northern California
Originally posted by Fuerte:
I realize that there are some things that would be relatively easy to implement, and which would make it even better.
The things that I read of v3.0 didn't impress me much, but I don't want spoil your fun. I just had to say what I thought. And it is better to not expect too much, so that you will be positively surpised...
Fuerte,
I think that all suggestions should be welcome in an open forum. Your comment about relatively easy is something that may not be necessarily true. Unless you program for the game, we just don't really know what is and what isn't possible.
I've been playing since the original SP days and i can appreciate how far this game has traveled. If it wasn't for the great folks who had a vision for SP we would still be in the DOS basement looking for other tactical ww2 games to play. I agree that some of your comments would make playing easier, however i'm not at all certain they can be implemented. I like very much the idea of TCP/IP play. You could be right about the length of time required but i've shared many online hours with like-minded gamers so this is a really NICE FEATURE to have included. The main thing i don't like is when people are sometimes always considered to be "complaining" when in fact they are just trying to improve the game with their suggestions/comments/constructive criticisms. Ideas are how things change and become better.
There are some nice new features in the game that will work with PBEM and any suggestion is always welcome.
But IMO - there is nothing like on-line play - you don't just sit there either while the other guy moves - you have to watch because when your opfire comes up - you've only got a few seconds to decide if you want to shoot or not - now that can be made longer - but then if the other person is too slow - it could take a long time.
As to one of the new features of the game working in PBEM - I'm pretty sure the new Objective types will work in PBEM - That alone adds a lot!! I can see it now - every turn your enemy gets points for those hexes - you have to take them and hold them - and of course he'll be trying to do the same thing - not like fighting the AI - and that's just one of the Objective types.
Figmo
But IMO - there is nothing like on-line play - you don't just sit there either while the other guy moves - you have to watch because when your opfire comes up - you've only got a few seconds to decide if you want to shoot or not - now that can be made longer - but then if the other person is too slow - it could take a long time.
As to one of the new features of the game working in PBEM - I'm pretty sure the new Objective types will work in PBEM - That alone adds a lot!! I can see it now - every turn your enemy gets points for those hexes - you have to take them and hold them - and of course he'll be trying to do the same thing - not like fighting the AI - and that's just one of the Objective types.
Figmo
"Laws that forbid the carrying of arms...disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes ...Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, f
Guys, it simply sounds like Figmo is issuing a challenge to any of you guys who want to take him on in a "SPWaW Zone" match. Does one of those exist? If it does, then I'll be more than happy to participate in a team match... or is he referring to something like Age of Kings...that's for a different forum. I'm in the AoK Heaven Forums , too. "Almost heaven...West Virginia".
I wonder, do you have to play against each other in on-line play? Or can a couple people gang up on the AI? Can you pick a scenerio thats already in the game to play? I personally have no desire to take somebody on in their own custom made tank trap. What about Campains? Does Somebody know yet?
John
*rant*
All damn' idiots.
They're getting a marvellous game for free, the programmers are adding features and squashing bugs all the time, yet they can't stop complaining ...
Idiots.
Means "TCP/IP included" necessarily means that you've to play online via internet?
No. You can of course still play via e-mail ... or you get some of your friends together and play on LAN !!
Idiots.
Many "known issues" from v2.3 are dealt with in v3.0 , but they still complain what will be wrong with the game, and make dubious "suggestions" how to improve the game - while never having played v3.0, and most likely even v2.3 only 3 times or so ...
Idiots
.. they can't even search this forum for old postings (dating from the time when 2.0 came out), where they could see that most of their "new ideas" have been discussed long before.
...
*/rant*
Now I feel a little better
Arralen
PS: Didn't they tell you: "..and never deal with dragons" ??
All damn' idiots.
They're getting a marvellous game for free, the programmers are adding features and squashing bugs all the time, yet they can't stop complaining ...
Idiots.
Means "TCP/IP included" necessarily means that you've to play online via internet?
No. You can of course still play via e-mail ... or you get some of your friends together and play on LAN !!
Idiots.
Many "known issues" from v2.3 are dealt with in v3.0 , but they still complain what will be wrong with the game, and make dubious "suggestions" how to improve the game - while never having played v3.0, and most likely even v2.3 only 3 times or so ...
Idiots
.. they can't even search this forum for old postings (dating from the time when 2.0 came out), where they could see that most of their "new ideas" have been discussed long before.
...
*/rant*
Now I feel a little better
Arralen
PS: Didn't they tell you: "..and never deal with dragons" ??
AMD FX-4300
Gigabyte 970A-DS3P
Kingston 24GB DDR3-1600 (PC3-12800)
Asus GTX 750 Ti OC 2GB GDDR5
Kingston SV300 120 GB
Windows 8.1
Gigabyte 970A-DS3P
Kingston 24GB DDR3-1600 (PC3-12800)
Asus GTX 750 Ti OC 2GB GDDR5
Kingston SV300 120 GB
Windows 8.1
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Fabio Prado
- Posts: 419
- Joined: Tue May 23, 2000 8:00 am
- Contact:
Hi, Fuerte!
I would like to suggest you to wait and try SPWaW 3.0 and then decide if it improved pbem or not. I'm not putting you down or anything, It just happens I'm not exactly an Internet-play fan, I like to build scenarios and make them interesting, and yes, I like playing slow (some turns now, some turns then, and it helps me to maintain a reasonable sane mind while working on a very busy schedule), so I can understand you...
But I can assure you, SPWaW 3.0 will make you a happy boy, since most of the new features have a direct impact on solitaire and pbem play. The new objective types, new graphics - meaning new terrain types with multiple possibilities, on board arty, new revised OOBs and new costing values, just to name a few, will make your SPWaW playing a LOT more challenging and interesting.
Just wait and see...
Best regards,
FAP
------------------
Fabio Prado fprado@fprado.com
Webmaster - The ARMOR Site!
I would like to suggest you to wait and try SPWaW 3.0 and then decide if it improved pbem or not. I'm not putting you down or anything, It just happens I'm not exactly an Internet-play fan, I like to build scenarios and make them interesting, and yes, I like playing slow (some turns now, some turns then, and it helps me to maintain a reasonable sane mind while working on a very busy schedule), so I can understand you...
But I can assure you, SPWaW 3.0 will make you a happy boy, since most of the new features have a direct impact on solitaire and pbem play. The new objective types, new graphics - meaning new terrain types with multiple possibilities, on board arty, new revised OOBs and new costing values, just to name a few, will make your SPWaW playing a LOT more challenging and interesting.
Just wait and see...
Best regards,
FAP
------------------
Fabio Prado fprado@fprado.com
Webmaster - The ARMOR Site!
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Ed Cogburn
- Posts: 1641
- Joined: Mon Jul 24, 2000 8:00 am
- Location: Greeneville, Tennessee - GO VOLS!
- Contact:
[RANT]Originally posted by Arralen:
*rant*
All damn' idiots.
Speak for yourself. How do think SP and other products get better without constructive criticism? Are we suppose to "be happy" with a flawed game, just because its free? And no, I'm not saying SP or anything else is flawed, but they aren't perfect either. What's wrong with striving for perfection?
I'm tired of knee-jerk reactions like yours. The Matrix folks *want* to hear our constructive critisms, thats how the product, and themselves, get better. This reaction of yours is just wasted bandwidth.
If you have a specific problem with one of the suggestions, fine, talk about that, attack it even if you feel strongly, but jumping up and down and screaming "Idiots" at people will get *all* of us absolutely *nowhere*. Grow up.
[/RANT]
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laurent Favre
- Posts: 33
- Joined: Tue Apr 25, 2000 8:00 am
- Location: France
Can't say betterOriginally posted by Ed Cogburn:
[RANT]
Speak for yourself. How do think SP and other products get better without constructive criticism? Are we suppose to "be happy" with a flawed game, just because its free? And no, I'm not saying SP or anything else is flawed, but they aren't perfect either. What's wrong with striving for perfection?
I'm tired of knee-jerk reactions like yours. The Matrix folks *want* to hear our constructive critisms, thats how the product, and themselves, get better. This reaction of yours is just wasted bandwidth.
If you have a specific problem with one of the suggestions, fine, talk about that, attack it even if you feel strongly, but jumping up and down and screaming "Idiots" at people will get *all* of us absolutely *nowhere*. Grow up.
[/RANT]
When I think about TS, I'm suffocating. And you?
KG Erwin,
I think I'm in the right forum - haven't had my coffee yet - so who knows!!
As to a challenge - hmmm - maybe when the game comes out - did you know they added a feature just for old guys like me - "The time Out" - when we first tried the on-line game - you had to play all the way through without a break - I was hurting!!!
BTW - you can do scenarios or Generated Battles but never tried two against the AI - I'll let you know if somebody else doesn't.
Figmo
I think I'm in the right forum - haven't had my coffee yet - so who knows!!
As to a challenge - hmmm - maybe when the game comes out - did you know they added a feature just for old guys like me - "The time Out" - when we first tried the on-line game - you had to play all the way through without a break - I was hurting!!!
BTW - you can do scenarios or Generated Battles but never tried two against the AI - I'll let you know if somebody else doesn't.
Figmo
"Laws that forbid the carrying of arms...disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes ...Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, f
No game is going to please everyone. Someone will be disappointed.
Not every possible feature has been included in ANY wargame that I know of.
We try to include what we can. It won't be enough for everyone.
And I'm sorry if it is disappointing to anyone. I regret it, but I don't know really how to please everyone. I don't think anyone else does either.
I would recommend at least giving it a try to see what within the game tickles your fancy. Don't be too quick to judge what you have not as yet seen. It may be a pleasant surprise for you. It may not. I hope the former is the case.
I'm editing this because I re-read your post Fuerte. To say that the emphasis in version 3.0 is TCP/IP is incorrect. There is a lot more than that in this version that has been improved...A LOT MORE!
Just the 6 type of victory objectives opens a whole new world of scenarios and campaigns that could Never be done before. Completely revised OOBs, new scenarios, multi-player battles...so much more here than just TCP/IP
I've said enough.
Wild Bill
------------------
In Arduis Fidelis
Wild Bill Wilder
Coordinator, Scenario Design
Matrix Games
[This message has been edited by Wild Bill (edited August 27, 2000).]
Not every possible feature has been included in ANY wargame that I know of.
We try to include what we can. It won't be enough for everyone.
And I'm sorry if it is disappointing to anyone. I regret it, but I don't know really how to please everyone. I don't think anyone else does either.
I would recommend at least giving it a try to see what within the game tickles your fancy. Don't be too quick to judge what you have not as yet seen. It may be a pleasant surprise for you. It may not. I hope the former is the case.
I'm editing this because I re-read your post Fuerte. To say that the emphasis in version 3.0 is TCP/IP is incorrect. There is a lot more than that in this version that has been improved...A LOT MORE!
Just the 6 type of victory objectives opens a whole new world of scenarios and campaigns that could Never be done before. Completely revised OOBs, new scenarios, multi-player battles...so much more here than just TCP/IP
I've said enough.
Wild Bill
------------------
In Arduis Fidelis
Wild Bill Wilder
Coordinator, Scenario Design
Matrix Games
[This message has been edited by Wild Bill (edited August 27, 2000).]
In Arduis Fidelis
Wild Bill Wilder
Independent Game Consultant