Flashpoint Campaigns Update: 12Jan08

[CapnDarwin]

I hope everyone had a safe and happy holidays. It was a madhouse here with my two girls. As for the games we are working on, Rob and I have both been slowed down during the holidays with flu bugs, day job and family. The good news is that we are still working on the game. Rob has been under the hood reworking and tweak the AI, cleaning up items in the interface, and waiting patiently for me to finish the database work. I know you are saying "What is taking so long with that?". Fair question. The old game had a number of units from the time and weapons to match. The new game is covering 8 countries from 1950 to 1989. The weapons list alone is 450 items. The good news is that I'm even hoping to get the initial elements to Rob this weekend so he can start integrating the data into the game engine. From there we will be tweaking things and then looking at getting a beta out for testing soon. We are also waiting on some artwork to allow us to build maps for the Red Storm version. The plan is to get data and combat working this month and tackle any bugs that pop up in testing. From there we will start making maps, scenarios, and campaigns. The data will need cleaning up in places and supporting art work finished (sils and UI elements). I will be try to post an update each week here and in the DEV forum (until the new Campaigns forum goes up). I'll add some more picture of the game in the next update.

Sorry for the wait, but we beleive it will be worth it.

[SwampYankee68]

Red Storm Version?

[CapnDarwin]

We are looking at releasing two games out of the gate with the new 2.0 campaigns engine. One being the Mideast 50-89 and also Red Storm (NATO vs Soviets) 50-89 (David asked us a while back to also revisit Flashpoint Germany with the new engine and posed the dual release). At least that is the current plan. I'm finalizing weapon and unit data this week end and getting the database elements to Rob who has been patiently waiting for them to hook them into the new code. Right now the data covers most of the common hardware used by the US, Russia, West Germany, Britain, Israel, Egypt, Syria and Jordan during the Cold War decades. We will be adding other countries, regions and decades as we expand the series.
 
If you have any other questions feel free to ask.

[SwampYankee68]

About the only other question at this point would be release-date related, and I know that it will be done when it is done  [;)]. 
 
The Red Storm version will be a definate purchase for me.
 
Thanks for the quick reply!

[Spechtmeise]

I know I'm becoming repetitive here, but I look forward to these next Flashpoint iterations. Red Storm is news to me. I'll refrain from asking about the release date...the sooner the better [&o]

[CapnDarwin]

Guys, I'll try to be good and post an update tonight/Saturday on the progress. In short, the new data files are being tweaked and integrated into the code right now. In the last two days we've hit on a small number of format items and those are quickly being fixed up and small data bugs are being caught and fixed. We are also talking with the Matrix crew on some other details too.
 
Enjoy the day! More info to come. [:)]

[SwampYankee68]

I just got my buddy WaW Eisenburgh gap for Christmas.  Then he went out and got "Death of the First Panzer".
 
You and Mark Walker should collaborate to bring his modern warfare design to the PC!
 
Seriously.  Re-reading Team Yankee and Red Phoenix (An idea for an expansion for you, Cap'n! - 2nd Korean War!)  My appetite can be considered wetted! [;)]

[CapnDarwin]

Mark has a very good game system there and I have a copy of both in my office [:D]. Very nice simple rules, fast play and tense scenarios. Can't go wrong with that combo. FPG and the two new games Rob and I are working on are on a similar scale. WaW deals with a somewhat smaller "pocket" of a fight. I hope we both do very well on the table top and on the computer so more folks can be pulled from the "dark" side (better known as WW2 gaming [;)]) and join the modern bandwagon. I also know Mark has a third game in the works called "Blood and Bridges" for the World at War system.

[SwampYankee68]

Well, you are talking to a guy who cut his wargaming teeth on SSI's "Mech Brigade", so rest assured, you have an audience for your games.  I wish you great sucsess, for the selfish reason that you'll make more of the types of games I love!

[CapnDarwin]

Same here. Must have played every SSI wargame that came out for the C-64 back in the day. Mech Brigade and Overrun being two of my favorites. Did a lot of "mod" work on those two. To bad the internet wasn't around back then. The 3rd party think would have been bigger much faster. We are planning to give everyone the tools in the new game. [Shameless self promotion plug warning] The new games will have the ability to edit almost every feature in the game. You will be able to create and edit units, formations, weapons, artwork, some sounds, maps and terrain, scenarios and campaigns. Our hope is that the new Flashpoint Campaigns engine really creates a large 3rd party following given the flexability of the game and the time periods covered. [shamless plug ends]

[SwampYankee68]

Well, I'm all for it.  Hopefully a "Wild Bill" type will come along and put into your game what they have done for SPMBT.  A game that despite its many flaws suceeds thanks to the community.