Official Update Announcement

[sofia12]

We want to thank our wargamer community for showing interest in our newest title. We appreciate your patience as the dev team has been working on addressing key feedback from game launch.

On March 10th, we will release a major update for War in Spain 1936 - 39. Some highlights for you: https://www.matrixgames.com/news/offici ... nouncement

[Tom_]

Thanks for this update! Means a lot to understand the next steps.

You have a tremendous game here and I really appreciate how you listen to the community - the good, the bad and the ugly.

I think this was demonstrated in the update to the manual, where questions raised by the community were answered directly, then added to the manual for future players.

[nanni]

I don't agree with the satisfaction expressed on the new manual. Just a glance at the WiS Forum entries shows that the manual is still unsatisfactory. IMHO, it needs a complete rework. To wit:
1. Get rid of ALL the padding and shift it into an annex.
2. Write the rules clearly, in proper English, with correct syntax and word usage.
3. ALL player actions must be explained step by step, with precision.
4. ALL hotkey commands must have alternate, intuitive procedures, like in all the other games. Many players would rather not have to memorize several score hotkeys spread over a stack of pages.
5. Add 8 or 9 one-page guides so players can start playing the game without having to plow through 450 pages first.
Until now, all Matrix Games manuals have been pretty decent, including monster ones such as WITE2. So, cleaning up WiS's should be within the realm of possibility, don't you think?

[RangerJoe]

I don't agree with the satisfaction expressed on the new manual. Just a glance at the WiS Forum entries shows that the manual is still unsatisfactory. IMHO, it needs a complete rework. To wit:
1. Get rid of ALL the padding and shift it into an annex.
2. Write the rules clearly, in proper English, with correct syntax and word usage.
3. ALL player actions must be explained step by step, with precision.
4. ALL hotkey commands must have alternate, intuitive procedures, like in all the other games. Many players would rather not have to memorize several score hotkeys spread over a stack of pages.
5. Add 8 or 9 one-page guides so players can start playing the game without having to plow through 450 pages first.
Until now, all Matrix Games manuals have been pretty decent, including monster ones such as WITE2. So, cleaning up WiS's should be within the realm of possibility, don't you think?

Go ahead and get started if you want to do so and then it will be exactly how you want it to be made.

[actrade]

I think he has a pretty valid point on number 5. I tackled WITE2 and the one page guides were MASSIVELY helpful in breaking down that beast into bite size bites. Of course, the devs can listen or not, but I do think something like that, particularly if they aspouse to use this game engine for future titles. I think it would really help sales and be worth their while. Having some kind of step by step for the tutorial would also be very helpful, especially since it require amphibious operations, which can be somewhat complex.

[RangerJoe]

I think he has a pretty valid point on number 5. I tackled WITE2 and the one page guides were MASSIVELY helpful in breaking down that beast into bite size bites. Of course, the devs can listen or not, but I do think something like that, particularly if they aspouse to use this game engine for future titles. I think it would really help sales and be worth their while. Having some kind of step by step for the tutorial would also be very helpful, especially since it require amphibious operations, which can be somewhat complex.

I have posted pictures on how to do things in my AAR and have stated that if anyone had questions that I was willing to explain what I know using verbiage and pictures.

[actrade]

And I think that's admirable as I know how much time you spend on the Matrix WIS/WITPAE forums helping people. However, the point is that if the devs want to grow the game (and the game engine), something more concrete and avaiable to everyone (not just forum lurkers) would be ideal. LIke I said, up to them and while many in this forum community see just trying to understand the mechanics of the game as a part of the game, I would venture many others do not and just want something in print they can follow along. I can't remember if you are a WITE2 player RJ (or the devs for that matter), but here are 4 of the 9 pages of one page guides for this game. I included 2 very basic ones, plus one on logistics, and one on metrics, which are much more complex. The other 5 pages are Air Operations Group Overview, AOG AI assist, AOG Manual ops, Ground Intro and Further Detail. I realize these are different games and devs and I'm not advocating lifting their work, merely looking at these as a template for one page guides for WIS. I would think that once you have an idea of what kind of template to use, filling in the information would be rather easy for anyone who knows the game inside and out. I write for a living and would be happy to help with editing but unfortunately, I don't know the game well enough to put it together.

[RangerJoe]

And I think that's admirable as I know how much time you spend on the Matrix WIS/WITPAE forums helping people. However, the point is that if the devs want to grow the game (and the game engine), something more concrete and avaiable to everyone (not just forum lurkers) would be ideal. LIke I said, up to them and while many in this forum community see just trying to understand the mechanics of the game as a part of the game, I would venture many others do not and just want something in print they can follow along. I can't remember if you are a WITE2 player RJ (or the devs for that matter), but here are 4 of the 9 pages of one page guides for this game. I included 2 very basic ones, plus one on logistics, and one on metrics, which are much more complex. The other 5 pages are Air Operations Group Overview, AOG AI assist, AOG Manual ops, Ground Intro and Further Detail. I realize these are different games and devs and I'm not advocating lifting their work, merely looking at these as a template for one page guides for WIS. I would think that once you have an idea of what kind of template to use, filling in the information would be rather easy for anyone who knows the game inside and out. I write for a living and would be happy to help with editing but unfortunately, I don't know the game well enough to put it together.

I do not own WITE2 or any of the WIT games other than WITP:AE.

I was asked to beta this this game engine which is why I know as much as I do know about it but I am still learning.

If people don't want to look at the forums, that is not my problem.

[zebrazwo]

....snip......
If people don't want to look at the forums, that is not my problem.

This is very true, but it would be Matrix problem, with gamers giving the game a poor rating or just dropping it or asking for a refund.

Honestly, how many do actually read the forums for a particular game, and by reading I mean follow along with the discussions, bookmark important posts etc. Or even try to search for something.

I have WITE2 and those one pagers were useful in the beginning of learning the game. Can't remember the last time I looked at them, but they were certainly useful at the start.

The simple answer from you, as a semi-official representative of the game could be to say, you could link this post to a suggestion you send up to the people that drive the project. If they choose not to do anything about then that isn't your problem either. But who knows? It might be a good suggestion that saves headaches down the road.

[RangerJoe]

....snip......
If people don't want to look at the forums, that is not my problem.

This is very true, but it would be Matrix problem, with gamers giving the game a poor rating or just dropping it or asking for a refund.

Honestly, how many do actually read the forums for a particular game, and by reading I mean follow along with the discussions, bookmark important posts etc. Or even try to search for something.

I have WITE2 and those one pagers were useful in the beginning of learning the game. Can't remember the last time I looked at them, but they were certainly useful at the start.

The simple answer from you, as a semi-official representative of the game could be to say, you could link this post to a suggestion you send up to the people that drive the project. If they choose not to do anything about then that isn't your problem either. But who knows? It might be a good suggestion that saves headaches down the road.

Actually, the devs do look here but it is also up to Matrix as well as for what is in the game. I can only do my AAR right now, if I was asked to do some tutorial verbiage and pictures I could do those.

As far as I know, my AAR is getting translated into Spanish as well.

[vinnland]

Just want give my 2c here...

Joe's ARRs is amazing. I used that to help learn. But I agree with the sentiment of having a "getting started guide" or a "first 10 turns play through" in writing similar to the one in Advanced Tactics Gold. That was the single best peice of content for that game.

Not everyone comes to forums, and matrix knows that.

[atheory]

I have mix feelings

Yes, the manual could use a lot of extra work. If the systems are explained adequately there, then any starter sheets or guides are really just redundant information. If there is a disconnect between the manual and new players learning then that should be explored.

Then again, I believe people should spend an extra minute or two figuring stuff out. Push buttons, fail and try again. Explore the game. Pull out a few hairs. I blame the internet.


that's it; pleasing neither side since 2016!

[altipueri]

O/T @ Ranger

Why am I getting purple boxes in your posts saying "Content not available in your region" ?

But the one page guides attachment by actrade shows up OK?

I am an adult (70+ years old) and in the UK.

Is this something with my browser perhaps?

Thanks (not just your posts in case you think I am getting at you.)

[RangerJoe]

O/T @ Ranger

Why am I getting purple boxes in your posts saying "Content not available in your region" ?

But the one page guides attachment by actrade shows up OK?

I am an adult (70+ years old) and in the UK.

Is this something with my browser perhaps?

Thanks (not just your posts in case you think I am getting at you.)

I don't know and you didn't post a picture so I can't tell you what you are missing. I am not currently in the UK so who knows what is going on. If this recently showed up, blame Vladimira Putina . . .

[Ikiv5]

Usually I would not post much, I search the info I want through all the methods above described, forums, manual, chats....And my uttermost respect for the developers, the writers of the manual and the people who help through videos, AAR,.. And I wish to notice that I am bit biassed as I like the detail of Witpae and of war in spain, and expect many hours of fun, but, the feeling is that the game and the manual are disconnected. There are references to things that dont appear in the game or are meant to be the basis for future scenarios, options that dont have even a mention in the manual so you dont know how they work unless you try out and even then its not always possible, and stuff that clearly is relevant doesn not even appear in the manual. And i know all this games has part of the fun by discovering some stuff by trial and error, but that shouldnt stop me from perusing a manual for that obscure rule who states that a guy with a yellow flag on the bridge tiles makes go up the morale by +1 for every unit stationted there (just a joke, but you understand the concept ).
In the end trying to make a constructive critic . I like the game, the people helping out, the writers , and encourage them to check if the manual could be more complete or better than it is now and if the answer is yes, how can it be improved.

[altipueri]

Hi Ranger,

Hopefully this is a screenshot of the purple square:

Screenshot (2).png (211.35 KiB) Viewed 527 times

And one from Paradox too !

Screenshot (3).png (697.88 KiB) Viewed 527 times

[RangerJoe]

Hi Ranger,

Hopefully this is a screenshot of the purple square:

Screenshot (2).png

And one from Paradox too !

Screenshot (3).png

That is just a picture in my siggie line, it does not pertain to WIS.

It reads:

Having a conversation with my Grandma with Alzheimer's:

Me: "It was nice seeing you"

Grandma: "It was nice remembering you"

Me: "You remember me?"

Grandma: "I don't remember your name. But I remember that I love you."

With a couple of crying emojies on the bottom.

[altipueri]

How odd.

Anyway thanks for replying.

[RangerJoe]

How odd.

Anyway thanks for replying.

It might be the site hosting the picture, this is the url:

https://i.imgur.com/vcJhbkP.png

[altipueri]

Hi Ranger,

I had similar issues on Paradox but a person called grotaclas identified it as an issue with imgur in the UK.

See post 8 in this thread:

https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/th ... t-31137589

Presumably everyone in the UK is seeing that purple square in your posts?

Sorry again for disrupting this thread - feel free to delete my posts now the issue is at least identified.