It's a disgrace

[tiredoftryingnames]

What covered? What were we talking about? [&:]

[Hanal]

Another key to solo play is to be an extraordinary bad player such as I.....this way both sides make an equal number of assinine mistakes....[;)]

[IronManBeta]

I notice that David has written up a preview of Matrix at Origins this year and it says, in part, "Robert Crandall will be on hand to discuss Flashpoint: Germany and his work on the licensed World in Flames mega-wargame computer adaptation." I guess that means that I have been officially tapped as the new developer for this amazing title. Thank you David!

First let me say that we really appreciate the extensive feedback that has been posted here and I have been saving large swathes of it into my design notebook. Serious posts are taken seriously here! Keep it coming.

The core WIF team held a number of lengthy design sessions back in March to work out the big picture for this title. The holdup since has mainly related to clearing the decks of current projects. At the time I thought that I was just a few weeks away from delivering Flashpoint: Germany and that I would be into WIF full time shortly thereafter. Well, FPG still is not out (too many other games were ahead of it in the production spiral) but it will be top of the queue next week and that means I will finally be able to return to WIF. We are getting ready to move on a number of simultaneous development tracks to make up for lost time.

There are some major challenges with such a sprawling title and computer program. Documenting the existing code base and getting comfortable with it is / was a huge undertaking in itself. I plan to be posting though at least every couple of weeks from here on. Implementing the March design will not be a quick job, but I hope not to waste a minute of time either. David claims he gets email every day asking 'is it done yet?' and believe me, his pain is my pain too!

If any WIF'ers are planning to be at Origins this weekend, make absolutely sure that you look me up. I'm the tall handsome guy at the Matrix booth that is a dead ringer for Mel Gibson (hey, my wife swears its true!) and I would love to meet you personally and discuss ideas.

Cheers all, Rob.

[Greyshaft]

Origins... <mutter mutter... damned air fares...>

Does this mean that you'll be in Australia for Cancon in January 2005? That's the annual wargames convention in Canberra and there is usually a big WiF contingent Could be a good time to launch the game

[IronManBeta]

Wouldn't that be fun! Jan 05 is not all that far away though. Lets get some more of the battle fought first before we start planning the victory celebrations!

I'm sure David would love to fly us all out for a week of legendary Australian hospitality though when the time comes. David - are you listening? See, I didn't promise a ship date so you won't have to murder me this weekend!

Cheers, Rob.

[Mziln]

Until then any chances of some screenshots of the game on the WiF site (click on this link) [&:]

[ASHBERY76]

ORIGINAL: Mziln

Until then any chances of some screenshots of the game on the WiF site (click on this link) [&:]

They have yet to start the game seriously, no screenies likely for a few years at least.

[Mziln]

ORIGINAL: ASHBERY76

They have yet to start the game seriously, no screenies likely for a few years at least.

[:D] I could send them some screenshots from the demo (Version 7.66) [:D]

Graphics from the demo are excelent (IMO). Since production of the game was so far along, I wouldn't think there would be that much of a change. After all they had just (or just bout) finished the creation of Vichy France after France falls. After that it is mostly just streight forward game play.


Suggested Screenshots:

(1) The game maps for the Commonwealth (so you could see a good example of the convoy routes).

(2) from the Help pulldown under Units screenshots of...

(2a) Land Units
(2b) Air Units
(2c) Naval Units
(2d) Special Units

5 screenshots total for a start.

[ASHBERY76]

Are you talking about that A.I less beta? the graphics were dreadfull imo.I hope for the same quality as "War in the Pacific", they truly look great.

[Arnir]

ORIGINAL: RobertCrandall

I notice that David has written up a preview of Matrix at Origins this year and it says, in part, "Robert Crandall will be on hand to discuss Flashpoint: Germany and his work on the licensed World in Flames mega-wargame computer adaptation." I guess that means that I have been officially tapped as the new developer for this amazing title. Thank you David!

First let me say that we really appreciate the extensive feedback that has been posted here and I have been saving large swathes of it into my design notebook. Serious posts are taken seriously here! Keep it coming.

The core WIF team held a number of lengthy design sessions back in March to work out the big picture for this title. The holdup since has mainly related to clearing the decks of current projects. At the time I thought that I was just a few weeks away from delivering Flashpoint: Germany and that I would be into WIF full time shortly thereafter. Well, FPG still is not out (too many other games were ahead of it in the production spiral) but it will be top of the queue next week and that means I will finally be able to return to WIF. We are getting ready to move on a number of simultaneous development tracks to make up for lost time.

There are some major challenges with such a sprawling title and computer program. Documenting the existing code base and getting comfortable with it is / was a huge undertaking in itself. I plan to be posting though at least every couple of weeks from here on. Implementing the March design will not be a quick job, but I hope not to waste a minute of time either. David claims he gets email every day asking 'is it done yet?' and believe me, his pain is my pain too!

If any WIF'ers are planning to be at Origins this weekend, make absolutely sure that you look me up. I'm the tall handsome guy at the Matrix booth that is a dead ringer for Mel Gibson (hey, my wife swears its true!) and I would love to meet you personally and discuss ideas.

Cheers all, Rob.

Rob, thanks for the update. Although I'm currently waiting for WitP quite anxiously, I'm really looking forward to this one. I bought the board game and expansions (several times) and I'm looking forward to being able to play it without taking over the apartment's parking lot. Good luck with the project.

[Mziln]

ORIGINAL: ASHBERY76

Are you talking about that A.I less beta? the graphics were dreadfull imo.I hope for the same quality as "War in the Pacific", they truly look great.

I prefer standard NATO symbols vs. "tank and plane icons" in a strategic game. I liked the mini-maps that showed the global terrain, convoy routes, and etc.

[David Heath]

Hi Guys

Just a little word from the top. We are taking this design very seriously. I am sure this game will take some time to complete but in the end you will be happy. There are major inferface changes being done and as soon as some screenshots are available trust us we will post them and get the web site fully running.

David

[stretch]

Awesome.

[IronManBeta]

1. I met with 6 plus gamers that identified themselves as World in Flames players and had an in depth talk with each of them. I was looking for the things that engaged them most about the game and what tended to turn them off. I was amazed at how little consensus there was on the former. Three people said that they really liked controlling economic production and there was no real commonality beyond that! I take it as the sign of a superior game that so many different needs were satisfied out of one box.

Three people also wanted Days of Decision thrown in but did not agree on which version they liked best.

In terms of dislikes it was mainly about the sheer physical size of the boardgame and the inability to protect it from pets and family while not in use.

My queries re doing the impulse system by email and AI levels and expectations met with all kinds of different answers and no one theme emerged. Darn, so much for easy short cuts.

2. It is way premature to talk about screen shots yet. Flashpoint Germany is in the pipeline ahead of it but we should finally get it out the door in July and then our art guy can get busy.

Cheers, Rob.

[fhbgamer]

On top of that from what I know from following WIF before the code is probably a mess. I'm sure we'll start getting information when the programmer assigned has sorted through the code and is actually starting on moving forward with the project. To say that it's been shelved when you have no idea how many hours the programmer has been sifting through the code is pretty lame. Maybe you should buy the rights and show us how it's done properly and get the code finished in no time.

Having been on the Alpha team testing and Beta Testing before the rights were sold to matrix: Posh on your code mess. If you know Delphi you could figure it out in about 6-8 weeks I have done so on several languages that I had to self teach myself first then figure out what the prior folks did.
The Game was about 80 percent playable. We'd try something weird and find a problem. most of it had to do with production and convoy lines.
The Basic move and combat sequences were IMO tight already.
The real problem will be Matrix may well wish to NOT use Delphi etc. as
the previous programmer (who work part time on it as he had to have a real job to allow him to work on this at all).
This will then require them to rewrite the language in their chosen language. If an AI is involved that most likely would need to do this
(I'm not up on my Delphi and AI theory these days).
If I had the funds I would buy the rights and Hire the original Programmer to finish it. Matrix might want to consider offering him a contract to do so
He might just take a Leave of Absence etc. and do it!
I know originally there was to be no AI or PBEM. We of the Wif community
said fine do it because most of us wanted it for 2 reasons, Strategy testing
or lack of Space.
They could always add those latter with an expansion CD [:D]
Matix will no doubt make it a great game unfortunately I would guess it will be a few modules short of what we play on the board version
(Those come out about every 2 years).
Fred -The Eternal Gamer[&o]

[Samsonite]

I posted this topic 9 months ago, but it seems that the topic is still very contemporary. The game is not out yet.

[coregames]

ORIGINAL: Samsonite

I posted this topic 9 months ago, but it seems that the topic is still very contemporary. The game is not out yet.

You posted 9 months ago, and this is still only your fourth post? You seem to have a narrow agenda Samsonite, and not a positive or uplifting one at that. If you expected MWiF to be released in 9 months, I would offer the observation that you are living in a dreamworld; this game is going to take a heck of a lot longer to develop than that.

Your name begs the question: Do you bring a lot of baggage with you into your assessment of this topic?

[macgregor]

Now take it easy big fella. Samsonite has a point. Somehow we were all supposed to get excited about matrix games taking over WiF. Well I for one am not. Like the programmer previously posted, in all but a small area the game was pretty tight. So now were back at square one. (Excuse me-I have to scream) THIS SUCKS!!!

[sol_invictus]

Just follow the EIA game, that should relieve some pre-release stress.[:D] I think I have been following that game for three years. All in good time.

[macgregor]

The EIA game? I'm not sure what you mean Arinvald. But I can tell you this: if your trying to get me interested in another game, it ain't happening. I'm here to find WiF, and not some homogenized,watered-down, lowfat version either but with all the fat and carcinogens! This game can take 6 months or more to play.That's why I play it. I like it that way. You can't tell me on the one one hand you're scrubbing a very good game to start a project that'll take another 7 years and then milk my attention to sell me another product! I wont stand for it.