Another (praising) review

[Oleg Mastruko]

I wrote WITP review for our local Croat PC magazine - Bug. Bug is leading "mainstream" Croat PC magazine (it's all-round PC magazine, not strictly "gaming" mag), and with circulation ~40.000 it's also best-selling monthly magazine in Croatia overall, sold in neighboring countries too (ex-Yugoslavia mostly). Homepage is http://www.bug.hr although this review is available only in print (not on web).

This is the second biggest game review I ever wrote in 10 years of writing strategy games reviews and 20 years of playing computer games, and is also the highest "score" I ever awarded to a game (perhaps the highest in the history of Bug magazine as well). I am willing to take bets that at 5 full sized magazine pages this will be largest WITP review in the world.

This isn't so much a "review" as poem in prose, reviewer bias is a non-issue here, as "bias" transcends into "love", I departed with any usual objectivity in the very opening paragraphs, going on to write what is like one huge "thank you" to everyone who ever worked on this game. Our readers know the editor's tastes anyway, so they know what to expect. As I say in the article in as much words, I don't think I will write more than 2 or 3 journalistic praises like this in my life, perhaps this will be the first and the last.

If you actually take care to download the PDF, bear in mind:

- You won't understand a thing since it's in Croatian
- You may understand the final score for the game and "short impression"
- After the article was prepared for publication I noted that almost every screenshot in the article is taken from Japanese standpoint. It wasn't my intention as I wanted to be more "balanced" but obviously our graphic editor loved Japanese screens (or didn't care to check the Allied ones I supplied). Anyway, larger parts of the text itself are written from the US standpoint, though you won't be able to understand that - so it IS balanced as far as the "fanboyism" goes.

Link to dload the review in PDF:

http://www.bug.hr/oleg/witp.pdf

O.

[Oliver Heindorf]

hmm, dl doesnt work here seems to be a dead end or a VERY busy line.

I will forward it to a friend who lives here in Hamburg and actually, he is from Zagreb [;)]

[Oleg Mastruko]

It's a large file (7+ MB).

As with any PDF file it's actually better to use "Save target file to disk" option, than to open it directly in web browser.

Say hello to your friend, I was in Hamburg last year and liked the town very much. Made some naval-related photos too:

http://www.bug.hr/oleg/subs.html

O.

[Oliver Heindorf]

cool oleg ! I had seen those two babies as well ( 434 & 995 ). Glad that you enjoyed your stay here [:)]

if you come back to the city drop me a line if ya like.

didnt know that the pics you show here in the forum where taken in a german sub/german mine, pretty cool [:D]

[Arsaces]

Samuraji vs. kaubogi indeed !

Well done Oleg.

Unfortunately I am incapable of appreciating the finer nuances of your prose poem - but I was able to interpret your rating of 98% as an endorsement.

The last issue (#12, août/septembre 2004) of the french magazine "PC4War" also contains a 5 page review of WitP by Francis Houard, but you beat him in the ratings game as he "only" gives WitP a score of 4,5 on a scale of 5. (M. Houard regrets the absence of political and diplomatic options... and of a paper manual) The word count seems roughly comparable to your own article. However since Monsieur Houard has promised a series of further aricles on strategy in the game he should ultimately surpass your published wordage on the subject.

Sic transiunt gloriae mundi...

Cheers,

ORIGINAL: Oleg Mastruko

I wrote WITP review for our local Croat PC magazine - Bug. Bug is leading "mainstream" Croat PC magazine (it's all-round PC magazine, not strictly "gaming" mag), and with circulation ~40.000 it's also best-selling monthly magazine in Croatia overall, sold in neighboring countries too (ex-Yugoslavia mostly). Homepage is http://www.bug.hr although this review is available only in print (not on web).

This is the second biggest game review I ever wrote in 10 years of writing strategy games reviews and 20 years of playing computer games, and is also the highest "score" I ever awarded to a game (perhaps the highest in the history of Bug magazine as well). I am willing to take bets that at 5 full sized magazine pages this will be largest WITP review in the world.

This isn't so much a "review" as poem in prose, reviewer bias is a non-issue here, as "bias" transcends into "love", I departed with any usual objectivity in the very opening paragraphs, going on to write what is like one huge "thank you" to everyone who ever worked on this game. Our readers know the editor's tastes anyway, so they know what to expect. As I say in the article in as much words, I don't think I will write more than 2 or 3 journalistic praises like this in my life, perhaps this will be the first and the last.

If you actually take care to download the PDF, bear in mind:

- You won't understand a thing since it's in Croatian
- You may understand the final score for the game and "short impression"
- After the article was prepared for publication I noted that almost every screenshot in the article is taken from Japanese standpoint. It wasn't my intention as I wanted to be more "balanced" but obviously our graphic editor loved Japanese screens (or didn't care to check the Allied ones I supplied). Anyway, larger parts of the text itself are written from the US standpoint, though you won't be able to understand that - so it IS balanced as far as the "fanboyism" goes.

Link to dload the review in PDF:

http://www.bug.hr/oleg/witp.pdf

O.

[mogami]

Hi, Does Monsieur Houard ever vist the forums?

[Oleg Mastruko]

ORIGINAL: Arsaces

Sic transiunt gloriae mundi...

[:D] My post above is semi-tongue in cheek, I'm glad there are other gigantic WITP reviews in the world [:D]

I plan on expanding the WITP series further as well. I'd like to start AAR/blog, detailing a game vs human opponent, to post daily on my magazine's web. Idea is that I write ALL my plans, and everything I think of, but in Croatian, for our local readers. Also post screenshots, historic photos etc. My opponent should be:

- Dependable: play couple of turns per day, almost every day, never quit etc.
- Not know Croatian, nor ever have any will to read/translate what I write in my WITP "blog" [:D] If he'd read what I write that would amount to cheating, so that's not the idea. So he must have personal integrity not to try to translate it (looking at the pictures is OK)

That is a long term project, cause if I start writing this, I am commited to our readers, I'm doing it officially for my magazine, and I don't plan to stop until the bitter end... the blog might well last for some years. (I'd have to persuade my editor colleagues to side with me in this blatant privatisation and abuse of our magazine's web space but I think that won't be a problem - they'll read it too [:D]).

O.

[Panzer76]

As long as they know its a fanboi review and not objective review I guess there is no harm done.

[Apollo11]

Hi all,

ORIGINAL: Oleg Mastruko

I wrote WITP review for our local Croat PC magazine - Bug. Bug is leading "mainstream" Croat PC magazine (it's all-round PC magazine, not strictly "gaming" mag), and with circulation ~40.000 it's also best-selling monthly magazine in Croatia overall, sold in neighboring countries too (ex-Yugoslavia mostly). Homepage is http://www.bug.hr although this review is available only in print (not on web).

This is the second biggest game review I ever wrote in 10 years of writing strategy games reviews and 20 years of playing computer games, and is also the highest "score" I ever awarded to a game (perhaps the highest in the history of Bug magazine as well). I am willing to take bets that at 5 full sized magazine pages this will be largest WITP review in the world.

This isn't so much a "review" as poem in prose, reviewer bias is a non-issue here, as "bias" transcends into "love", I departed with any usual objectivity in the very opening paragraphs, going on to write what is like one huge "thank you" to everyone who ever worked on this game. Our readers know the editor's tastes anyway, so they know what to expect. As I say in the article in as much words, I don't think I will write more than 2 or 3 journalistic praises like this in my life, perhaps this will be the first and the last.

If you actually take care to download the PDF, bear in mind:

- You won't understand a thing since it's in Croatian
- You may understand the final score for the game and "short impression"
- After the article was prepared for publication I noted that almost every screenshot in the article is taken from Japanese standpoint. It wasn't my intention as I wanted to be more "balanced" but obviously our graphic editor loved Japanese screens (or didn't care to check the Allied ones I supplied). Anyway, larger parts of the text itself are written from the US standpoint, though you won't be able to understand that - so it IS balanced as far as the "fanboyism" goes.

Link to dload the review in PDF:

http://www.bug.hr/oleg/witp.pdf

O.

I can confirm that it was great review (in fact "pangeric")... [;)]

BTW, Oleg is doing nice thing when he tries to motivate people in our country to play more of "better" games (read proper wargames with tactics/strategy) - so far I think that there are 4-5 of us here at forums playing UV and WitP...


Leo "Apollo11"


P.S.
Oleg what is with "WitP Blog" you mention?

[pauk]

i can confirm that too!

it is a really outstanding rewiev!

Although i always liked "better" wargames, the first time i ever heard for UV was from "Bug" (croatian PC magazine).

We need some more prophets![;)]

[Arsaces]

ORIGINAL: Mogami

Hi, Does Monsieur Houard ever vist the forums?

Judging by the article, which contains various odds and ends about Matrix policies, he does lurk about. Maybe he has assumed another identity, or like many other french speakers he does not feel at ease expressing himself in a foreign language... Après tout, ce n'est pas toujours évident !

The magazine CD also contains a new Uncommon Valor scenario by M. Houard.

Cheers,

[Arsaces]

Noble and heroic ambition, the fountainhead of all great deeds !

ORIGINAL: Oleg Mastruko

ORIGINAL: Arsaces

Sic transiunt gloriae mundi...

[:D] My post above is semi-tongue in cheek, I'm glad there are other gigantic WITP reviews in the world [:D]

I plan on expanding the WITP series further as well. I'd like to start AAR/blog, detailing a game vs human opponent, to post daily on my magazine's web. Idea is that I write ALL my plans, and everything I think of, but in Croatian, for our local readers. Also post screenshots, historic photos etc. My opponent should be:

- Dependable: play couple of turns per day, almost every day, never quit etc.
- Not know Croatian, nor ever have any will to read/translate what I write in my WITP "blog" [:D] If he'd read what I write that would amount to cheating, so that's not the idea. So he must have personal integrity not to try to translate it (looking at the pictures is OK)

That is a long term project, cause if I start writing this, I am commited to our readers, I'm doing it officially for my magazine, and I don't plan to stop until the bitter end... the blog might well last for some years. (I'd have to persuade my editor colleagues to side with me in this blatant privatisation and abuse of our magazine's web space but I think that won't be a problem - they'll read it too [:D]).

O.

[&o]

[Clipper1968]

The last PC4War issue (#13:October/November) contains 7 full pages relating to the situation and the strategy to apply for the beginning of the campaign for both side. Moreover a lot of article are planned for future number.[:)]

[Arsaces]

ORIGINAL: Pumba1968

The last PC4War issue (#13:October/November) contains 7 full pages relating to the situation and the strategy to apply for the beginning of the campaign for both side. Moreover a lot of article are planned for future number.[:)]

Chez nous au Québec, les parutions en kiosque ont toujours un ou deux mois de retard sur la France. Surtout dans mon coin de pays perdu. On peut espérer le numéro vers la fin octobre...au mieux !

Un cousin d'Amérique,

[Clipper1968]

ORIGINAL: Arsaces

Chez nous au Québec, les parutions en kiosque ont toujours un ou deux mois de retard sur la France. Surtout dans mon coin de pays perdu. On peut espérer le numéro vers la fin octobre...au mieux !

Un cousin d'Amérique,

Cher cousin d'Amérique,

Ah! La Belle Province...
Il faudrait peut-être à mon humble avis (pour ce qu'il vaut...[:D]) prendre un abonnement ce qui permettrait de réduire au maximum les délais d'attente.[;)]

Cordialement,

un Francilien

[captskillet]

Well Oleg how 'bout a translation????? [:)]