CAW postmortem

[Prince of Eckmühl]

As released the game was full of show-stopper bugs. Sometimes CAP didn't take off. Sometimes Strikes didn't proceed to target. Searches by day-only aircraft were being launched before dawn with unnecessary "prangs" as a result. And that's just some of the stuff that I remember. Oh, and you had to page through the interface pretty carefully to realize that any of this was going on. A lot of people didn't know or believe that the problems existed because they assumed that the game was WAD. Eventually, most of what I helped document here on the forum was cited in patch updates as being "fixed."

I also contributed to a "wish-list" thread. Like some other posters, I was "wishing" for something with a little more flavor, something that would give me the impression that I was gaming/simulating WW2 carrier operations. I won't put words in the developer-representative's mouth, but basically I got the impression that he thought that I was FOS. SSG had sold a bazillion games back in the eighties and early nineties, and they were the experts on all these matters. So much for customer-feedback. Anyway, I stopped "wishing," and went about trying to enjoy the game that I had paid for. I played through the scenarios, including several online games with a friend. After a couple of weeks, we came to the conclusion  that the game felt as much like Roman trireme's shooting ballistas at each other, as a game about carrier warfare.

I attempted to play the game solo, twice, after the last patch. It crashed both times. Phooey!

Recommendation: I hesitate to pitch another game to our readers, but you might want to take a look at Midway from HPS. The game isn't perfect, and I've begged the developer to make some changes. For instance, there's no AI for friendly subs and only one altitude for aircraft. Obviously, these are not small items, and I'm dieing to seem them addressed. HOWEVER, the game simply bleeds with the "flavor" that was lacking in CaW, and it plays well online. All the above, said, there is no demo, and I wouldn't want anyone to invest in the game based on my preferences alone. So, if you're somewhat interested, check out the HPS forums at Wargamer and Gamesquad. There was also a reasonably long thread about the game over in GD:

tm.asp?m=2392759&mpage=1&key=HPS%2CGuadalcanal

BTW, Grigsby's update to "Carrier Strike" is apparently dead, so that road is closed.[:(]

[gabeeg]

PofE,

I could not have said it better myself. I will be even more blunt...after playing a handful of games against the AI I was bored to death. It is one of the only wargames I have removed from my HD...and never reinstalled. I know quite a lot of people that enjoy(ed) it, so milage may vary. I am right there with you on Midway...it is a half step away from greatness, but even at 1.01 (I believe that is the latest) it is still a lot of fun...and it is staying on my hard drive. HPS just needs some additional details plugged in and a couple of tweaks. It is sort of frustrating that HPS's update cycle is soooo...slow.

[Kiwi Red One]

It is alive................maybe

Looks like there may be some updates in the works for CAW judging from brief comments by Roger Keating over on the SSG forum recently:

http://www.ssg.com.au/forums/viewtopic.php?t=5856

I personally hope that they make the editor easier to use - got started on converting a couple of scenarioes that I did for the 1993 version of CAW but adding ship graphics is just mind bogglingly difficult in the latest version so moved on to other things. I'd give this a another go if SSG would only set out in detail how to use the editor as the notes in the game guide are fairly basic and not easy to follow.

I think there is a good game in there, just needs the bugs ironed out and the editor tweeked.

PS Gary Grigsby's redevelopment of Carrier Strike/Force does seem officially dead:

tm.asp?m=2632664&mpage=2&key=&#2640037

KRO

[Prince of Eckmühl]

Edit: Never mind.[:-]

[RyanCrierie]

I think another major issue was that the AI was very hard coded; requiring a lot of counter-intuitive programming using the scenario editor; adding a LOT of extra work to creating a scenario. That, I think was a major reason killing it -- because there was a lot that could have been done, like a Mediteranean mod; etc.

[Blond_Knight]

Ive always liked this game, despite its simplicity. For some reason the artwork really did it for me. And watching the strikes, NO! NO! HIT THE CARRIER STUPID!!!
Interestingly it runs on Win8.1 fine, and you can set your own screen res manually(ie wide screen is no problem). Not too shabby for a game from 2007.
Even the editor has a good "feel" to it. Its just a nice product.

[yakisoba]

I would pay good money to play CAW on my iPad... any thoughts re: an iOS port...?