Gary Grigsby/Joel Billings interview

[Von Rom]

Originally posted by Mogami
Hi, Didn't Germany begin the war with only 33 U-boats (and bad torpedos)

You're close on the mark, Mogami. Don't know about the torpedoes, though.

Doenitz wanted 300 U-boats before Germany went to war. One can only shudder at the thought of what might have happened in the Atlantic had that happened.

[Ron Saueracker]

Originally posted by Von Rom
You're close on the mark, Mogami. Don't know about the torpedoes, though.

Doenitz wanted 300 U-boats before Germany went to war. One can only shudder at the thought of what might have happened in the Atlantic had that happened.

Yup, that would have been bad news, even if the Allies were more numerous and organized too. The rest of the "Z Plan" would have provided 4 more Bismarck variants, two Graf Zeppellin CVs, CAs, CLs, DDs.....

Germans had the same magnetic torp problems the USN did.

[Strat]

Does anybody know why 2by3 have put there third game on hold.
USSR 1941/45 was the game I`ve been waiting for.
I have enjoyed Uncommon Valor and I`m sure I`ll enjoy the Pacific war but I really want to see a modern incarnation of GG`s "war in russia".

After reading the interview at the "wargamer" with Joel and Gary I`m concerned that this game did not even pop up and Gary states that he is going to back off from big complex games and that the Pacific War will be the last. Shock Horror, I hope he did not mean it.

Please tell me that it is not on permanent hold, please.

Cheers.

Strat.

[TIMJOT]

I dont think Germany ever would have had the capacity to complete the Z plan, just another Hitler delusion. The 300 Uboats were doable though.

[Sonny]

Originally posted by TIMJOT
I dont think Germany ever would have had the capacity to complete the Z plan, just another Hitler delusion. The 300 Uboats were doable though.

With 300 U-boats they may not have needed the rest of the plan.

[David Heath]

Originally posted by Chiteng
Bah! The only REAL scenario starts on Dec 7 and ends
with Japan surrender

We will be making a FULL 1941-1945 or maybe 1946 Grand Campaign.

David

[David Heath]

Originally posted by Subchaser
Matrix is going to make good sales of WitP, it’s commercial project after all. All we here are unable to provide sufficient sales, even if we will buy 2 copies each. That’s why they have to polish AI, and they will do it, one tiny line about ‘reliable and really smart AI’ in reviews and on WitP box, will give Matrix several thousands of new customers. 200 000$ - worth trying?

But no doubt, pbem is the only way to go in the case with WitP. I wonder how long it will take to finish grand campaign? 1400 turns or so, with 1-3 turns per day (some turns, as Mogami said can take up to 4 hours to complete) I’ll be lucky to finish it in two years.

Hi Guys

We are really doubtful we will be able to make a profit we just want to break even. We are doing this game because we all dreamed of it. The cost is high because we do not expect this will be a big seller even to wargamers. WITP is truly for the battle nut wargamer. When the time comes and if you do enjoy it please tell a friend. We like to do more on this scale be we really wonder if that is possible. We have not given up so don't give up on us. Its so hard to run a business and love what you do

David

[Mr.Frag]

With 300 U-boats they may not have needed the rest of the plan.

Considering there was virtually no defense against them, you are probably quite right.

Germany had a couple of huge chances to really alter how things played out. They blew it each time due to interference by stupid folks.

Not saying it would have altered the final outcome, but had Britain been kneecapped either by U-boats or the Battle of Britain, D-Day would have been rather tough to stage from New York ...

[Tanaka]

Originally posted by David Heath
Hi Guys

We are really doubtful we will be able to make a profit we just want to break even. We are doing this game because we all dreamed of it. The cost is high because we do not expect this will be a big seller even to wargamers. WITP is truly for the battle nut wargamer. When the time comes and if you do enjoy it please tell a friend. We like to do more on this scale be we really wonder if that is possible. We have not given up so don't give up on us. Its so hard to run a business and love what you do

David

We are definitely not giving up on you guys as you have made some of the best wargames ever. UV is by far the best I have ever played and I am drooling to get my hands on WITP as is everyone else who is playing UV!!!
I think you guys will be pleasantly surprised and this game will do very well and you will make a profit. Didnt Uncommon Valor do better than expected? It seems I always hear it is running out of stock. As UV is loved by more and more fans the word keeps spreading and sales keep moving along. I dont know anyone who loves UV who will not be buying this mother of all pacific war games or war games for that matter, WITP. If it sells at least as well as UV and I dont see why it wont I think it will be a great success. Keep up the great work guys and dont get discouraged this game will be a success and I think it will surprise you guys and do better than your expectations!!!:D

[denisonh]

Originally posted by Tanaka
We are definitely not giving up on you guys as you have made some of the best wargames ever. UV is by far the best I have ever played and I am drooling to get my hands on WITP as is everyone else who is playing UV!!!
I think you guys will be pleasantly surprised and this game will do very well and you will make a profit. Didnt Uncommon Valor do better than expected? It seems I always hear it is running out of stock. As UV is loved by more and more fans the word keeps spreading and sales keep moving along. I dont know anyone who loves UV who will not be buying this mother of all pacific war games or war games for that matter, WITP. If it sells at least as well as UV and I dont see why it wont I think it will be a great success. Keep up the great work guys and dont get discouraged this game will be a success and I think it will surprise you guys and do better than your expectations!!!:D

Well said!

[Von Rom]

Originally posted by TIMJOT
I dont think Germany ever would have had the capacity to complete the Z plan, just another Hitler delusion. The 300 Uboats were doable though.

And in Operation Drumbeat, the U-Boat war against America, Doenitz wanted to send 100 U-boats to attack along the Eastern Seaboard of the United States. In reality, all he had were six boats.

Even so, Jan 13, 1942, was the beginning of America's Second Pearl Harbour, as 25 ships were sunk, and over the course of the next 6 months, another 550 ships were sent to the bottom.

This period of U-boat activity along America's shores represented one-quarter of all U-boat sinkings in the war, and was the most successful U-boat operation of WWII.

What defence would there have been against 300 U-boats in 1939-40?

Churchill once said that the only thing that ever really frightened him, was the U-boat. . .

[herbieh]

I really understand where the matrix guys are coming from.
If you had the ability to produce a war game that you have been dreaming about all your life, would you develop it?
WITP will answer my heartfelt desires that were born the day I played my 1st war game, now finally they are coming in reach.
I appluad the efforts of these guys
Thanks.

[Mr.Frag]

David, that is pretty much what I expected. The scale of this game is simply too large to be profitable due to the insane investment in time and resources just to get it done. This is why simulators have pretty much completely vanished from the market. The investment to return is always negative.

Perhaps we can all commit to buying a double copy, or even better a special edition signed version for a higher price to help out the cause directly from Matrix (to keep the costs in house as much a possible). I think if you actually told people just how little money gets back in the hands of the dev team/publisher per copy sold, most folks would be shocked!

When I saw this one, I pretty much figured this was Gary's dream chance to write the game he always wanted to.

[Snigbert]

Does anybody know why 2by3 have put there third game on hold

It's only 3 guys, and they're working on a mammoth project. One game at a time!

We have not given up so don't give up on us. Its so hard to run a business and love what you do

Hey, I'm buying a copy and I get one for free anyway for being a tester. I want to support the only company that would be willing to tackle a game like this. I'm also buying a copy for my friend who is a borderline wargamer who would be put off by the price but I think will love the game.

[bilbow]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Mr.Frag

Perhaps we can all commit to buying a double copy, or even better a special edition signed version for a higher price to help out the cause directly from Matrix (to keep the costs in house as much a possible). I think if you actually told people just how little money gets back in the hands of the dev team/publisher per copy sold, most folks would be shocked!

Great idea Frag. The play value is certainly there at any price.

[Joel Billings]

message coming soon

[Joel Billings]

Originally posted by Snigbert
Does anybody know why 2by3 have put there third game on hold

It's only 3 guys, and they're working on a mammoth project. One game at a time!

We have not given up so don't give up on us. Its so hard to run a business and love what you do

Hey, I'm buying a copy and I get one for free anyway for being a tester. I want to support the only company that would be willing to tackle a game like this. I'm also buying a copy for my friend who is a borderline wargamer who would be put off by the price but I think will love the game.

Thanks to all those supporting Matrix and 2by3 in our trying to provide WitP. If David can arrange for the logistics, we'd be happy to sign the special edition copy.

As for what we at 2by3 are doing, you'd be surprised. We are currently working on WitP and another project which we hope to announce within 2 months and ship early next year. It is the antithesis of WitP, and a product we think will have widespread appeal and allow us to make a few dollars so we can pay for all the time spent on UV and WitP (which have paid us minimum wage for the 4-5 years the 3 of us will have worked on these 2 games although if WitP does ok they will have kept us afloat).

As for the Russian Front game, we do hope to get back to it sometime as it was 80% designed and the database and basic map were done as well as some of the coding. I don't expect to get back to it until late 2004 at the earliest however so it will have to wait.

In the meantime, go out and support Matrix whenever you see a game you are interested in as they are one of the few companies today dedicated to bringing you new top quality wargames.

Joel

[madflava13]

It is the antithesis of WitP, and a product we think will have widespread appeal and allow us to make a few dollars

Sometimes I think you guys drop hints to keep us on the edge of our seats... Let the rumor mill commence!

Seriously though, 2by3 and Matrix are top notch outfits and we all appreciate your hard work on these projects. Keep it up.

[Damien Thorn]

Originally posted by Joel Billings

As for what we at 2by3 are doing, you'd be surprised. We are currently working on WitP and another project. It is the antithesis of WitP, and a product we think will have widespread appeal and allow us to make a few dollars

Frogger for the X-Box?

[denisonh]

Originally posted by Mr.Frag
David, that is pretty much what I expected. The scale of this game is simply too large to be profitable due to the insane investment in time and resources just to get it done. This is why simulators have pretty much completely vanished from the market. The investment to return is always negative.

Perhaps we can all commit to buying a double copy, or even better a special edition signed version for a higher price to help out the cause directly from Matrix (to keep the costs in house as much a possible). I think if you actually told people just how little money gets back in the hands of the dev team/publisher per copy sold, most folks would be shocked!

When I saw this one, I pretty much figured this was Gary's dream chance to write the game he always wanted to.

I'm with you on this one Mr Frag.

The past year I have derived more entertainment from UV than any other computer game ever.

Ever.

If the level of enjoyment deserves a corresponding cost, I should have paid 3 figures for UV.

I am more than willing to underwrite GGs "dream game", because I know I will enjoy it more than anything else anyone else could possibly develop.