Great Stumble backwards?

[vaalen]

Thanks to Hartmann,this post has become obsolete. By making the adjustments he suggested, I find the game to be visually okay, and I withdraw my objections to it. Visually, it is not great, but it works fine with these adjustments, and I am content. After playing a bit more, I think the improvements in the AI alone justify getting this game. It looks like the best AI that has ever been done for a game on this subject. edited 11/27/16, by Vaalen

On a hunch, I looked back at the Storm Over Europe scenario contained in Strategic Command, World War 1, Blitzkrieg, a game that was published several years ago.

After comparing the two, it seems like the series has taken a giant stumble backwards. It is hard to even express how disappointed I am , after eagerly looking forward to this game form the day it was announced.

I was astounded to see how much more attractive the map was, presenting information at a clear glance, at how much bigger the map was, at how many more units were in the scenario.
The Graphics were clear and easy to read. The units were clear and distinct, and larger, the fonts were much larger and easier to read, a nice color contrast scheme was used that made everything easy to see, even for me. The map displays, research screen, Diplomacy screen, convoy map were presented much more clearly, much easier to read, much easier to operate.

The colors and artwork were much brighter and more colorful,making the map fun to look at, rather than the current map, whose dull, blended colors give me eyestrain after a while.The units of the different nations were easy to differentiate from each other.

The reduced size of the map area is another issue. it makes central Europe appear small and cramped, rather than spacious,as did the previous game

I note that the graphics were done by different teams. As a consumer, I far prefer the original presentation, and cannot understand why it was replaced by the current one.

Can anyone tell me what this game has, that the earlier Storm Over Europe scenario did not?

[Hartmann]

I disagree. I never liked the maps when there was still the tile system with isometric view. Didn't like the colours either. I was a big fan of the first SC. When the second iteration came, I bought and played it, but after a while found myself playing other games again - Commander: Europe at War, and even the old classic Clash of Steel. Now I came back for SC3 and am in heaven.

Also, map and gui aren't everything anyway, e.g. the AI is much improved over the last games in the series.

[Qwixt]

I disagree. This does not look better to me. I won't link a current pic from product page because it messes up the width of posts.

[vaalen]

Qwixt, your opinion is just as valid as mine. The ideal solution would be to have an option to use the earlier graphics, so we could both be happy.

Does the example you are using use the national colors option? That is one I never use, as I do not like the way it looks.

Secondly, even your example is much easier for me to see and work with than the scheme in the current game. You may be blessed with better vision than I and many veteran gamers, which may enable you to see it without problems, but that is not true for many of us.

regards,

Vaalen

[vaalen]

Hartman, your opinion is just as valid as mine. And I thank you for pointing out that the AI is better, which makes me feel better about buying the game.

It is true that Graphics and GUI are not everything, but if they are hard to see and use, they make it very hard to enjoy the game. You may not have this issue, but I do, and I submit it should be corrected. Maybe the best resolution would be to make the older scheme an options, so both of us can be happy with the game, as we can choose the scheme we can use and prefer.

Regards,

Vaalen

[Hartmann]

An option to have the older map too isn't feasible because it was based on tiles, not on hexes. Hexes are nodes with 6 lines going to other nodes, tiles (in how Hubert used them) are nodes with 8 lines going to other nodes. This btw had the downside that diagonal movements covered greater distances than vertical and horizontal moves.

Though they can't use tiles, modders still might make maps more to your liking.

[vaalen]

Hartmann, thank you for the explanation.

You have explained why the old system cannot be an option. But I see no reason that they cannot change the colors of letters so there is more contrast, and similar less drastic changes.

[Hotschi]

I like the new graphics, and I can't remember any game which has the option to use the graphics of an older version.

And I know that my opinion is just as valid as yours [;)]

[vaalen]

Hotschi, actually, there are several. One is Sengoku Jidai,which allows you to use the tile set and colors of the first game in the series as an option. I requested that, and the designer and Matrix were gracious enough to include it in a patch.

And I believe that Campaign series, middle east, has the choice of the original graphic set as well. And Endless Space allowed you the choice of the classic version once the game had been heavily modified, and this included some Graphics changes. And I have been told that there are a number of games that allow gamers to choose a set of graphics that have been adjusted to accommodate color blind gamers.

These are the one I remember off the top of my head. There are others.

regards,

Vaalen

[xwormwood]

ORIGINAL: Hotschi

I like the new graphics, and I can't remember any game which has the option to use the graphics of an older version.

Monkey Island offers this feature, too.

[Hotschi]

As I say I can't remember - hey I am old! And this excuse works with my wife! [:D] - any game that has this option, and I don't own the titles you mention, vaalen. I am pretty sure, within a short time, some abled graphic modders will come up and we'll have a bunch of choices.

Moneky Island! Ah the good old days... Is this gem of a game still available? I loved it back then, Guybrush was my hero! [:D]

[AstroCat]

I really don't understand how anyone can think the old graphics are better then the new ones. I mean look at that screenshot, even for the time it was waaaaaayyy outdated. (*I own all the SCs).

[sPzAbt653]

I really don't understand how anyone can think the old graphics are better then the new ones.

Totally agree. Also agree that the new map is dark and gloomy, but this is the way that maps are designed these days. What I really couldn't stand are the rabbit turd cities and resources. I've gone to the graphics and changed them all [;)]

[AstroCat]

ORIGINAL: sPzAbt653

I really don't understand how anyone can think the old graphics are better then the new ones.

Totally agree. Also agree that the new map is dark and gloomy, but this is the way that maps are designed these days. What I really couldn't stand are the rabbit turd cities and resources. I've gone to the graphics and changed them all [;)]

Any chance of sharing? I'd love to check out your mods.

[xwormwood]

ORIGINAL: AstroCat

I really don't understand how anyone can think the old graphics are better then the new ones. I mean look at that screenshot, even for the time it was waaaaaayyy outdated. (*I own all the SCs).

My guess that it is about the contrast. The simple colors and little background detail on the map might allow some players to see everything better compared to the actual map. As he said above, it is all about eye-sight problems.

[vaalen]

ORIGINAL: Xwormwood

ORIGINAL: AstroCat

I really don't understand how anyone can think the old graphics are better then the new ones. I mean look at that screenshot, even for the time it was waaaaaayyy outdated. (*I own all the SCs).

My guess that it is about the contrast. The simple colors and little background detail on the map might allow some players to see everything better compared to the actual map. As he said above, it is all about eye-sight problems.

Yes, eyesight problems are a big part of it, but it is also about clarity, and utility. I agree that the earlier maps are not that attractive, but they were very clear and easy to use. I liked that aspect even when my eyesight was perfect.

Some games had maps that were clear and beautiful, both easy to use and pleasing to the eye and the mind,colorful without being garish and evoking a feel for the terrain. That is my strong preference.

I hate the current style of dark, gloomy wargame maps, using muddy,ugly colors that are inherently depressing.They are ugly, in my view, and I dislike looking at ugliness. And the depiction of cities and resources in this game is truly unattractive, to be polite. And the units are also gloomy and drab. I much prefer to see colorful, attractive units, with distinct colors for the different nations.

Just my view. Literally.

[Hartmann]

Actually, you might try and fiddle with the options a bit. Alot of the default graphic doesn't please me as well. I personally use

- "national colours": This not only visualizes occupied terrain, but also tends to lighten it up a bit
- I leave hex grid on: This not only visualizes the structure, but also shows where units would (and could) go
- I use nato counters: With the 3D units, everything looks cluttered, whereas the counters make every tactical situation look clean and crisp

[vaalen]

Hi Hartmann,

I tried all of your suggestions, and they did make a very positive difference. They had exactly the effects you describe, and you have already substantially improved my visual experience with this game.

I very much appreciate your taking the time and trouble to share this valuable information. Thank you.

Regards,

Vaalen

[JWW]

ORIGINAL: Hartmann

Actually, you might try and fiddle with the options a bit. Alot of the default graphic doesn't please me as well. I personally use

- "national colours": This not only visualizes occupied terrain, but also tends to lighten it up a bit
- I leave hex grid on: This not only visualizes the structure, but also shows where units would (and could) go
- I use nato counters: With the 3D units, everything looks cluttered, whereas the counters make every tactical situation look clean and crisp

These are the settings I use, and I find the visual experience to be great. Of course we each have our own preferences. Without NATO counters I would not have bought the game.

[Razz1]

I am having difficulty with the small font too.

I would have liked something a little larger, say 10%