Things that make you go "Wow!"

RobertMc · Post by **RobertMc** » Fri Jun 09, 2000 7:09 am

Been playing The Game pretty regularly now, and I keep finding things that amaze me.
Last night one of my (Russian) tanks was hit at the rear of the turret and a message came up that the crew was shocked. When I checked the tank, I saw that no weapons remained functional. Why? Well, if the turret had not been completely blown off it was knocked so crooked the weapons were unable to fix and fire! This kind of detail in the game is great!!
Also, I was able to get a Russian HMG into a stone building and open fire on the Germans, and the Guardsman were absolutely vicious! They hung in there even as the Germans tried to rush the building, and they shot 'em down left and right! I recall the original Steel Panthers, where an infantry squad would run out of a stone building at the first ping of a ricochet! But, I am not here to bewail the original SP, but to praise the new. Things just feel right in this game. Making the infantry as vital as armor really makes SPWAW come "to life". Thanks, all!

Wild Bill · Post by **Wild Bill** » Fri Jun 09, 2000 7:13 am

All I can say RoberMc is "WOW!"

Guess what I saw the other day. I saw an American tank come into range of a German Tiger, see it, and go into reverse. It backed up two hexes, out of the Tiger's LOS.
It did not turn around. It simply went into reverse and backed up.

"Wow!"

Now I long for the day that I can do it as well as the AI

Wild Bill

------------------
In Arduis Fidelis
Wild Bill Wilder
Coordinator, Scenario Design
Matrix Games

Paul Vebber · Post by **Paul Vebber** » Fri Jun 09, 2000 9:04 pm

Unfortunately this is likely a case of the graphic not updating properly when the computer is moving. I verified with Mike that there is no code right now for things backing up. Sorry

Wild Bill · Post by **Wild Bill** » Fri Jun 09, 2000 10:36 pm

Ah, but I did see it, if only for a moment...or I thought I saw it..."Wow!"

WB

------------------
In Arduis Fidelis
Wild Bill Wilder
Coordinator, Scenario Design
Matrix Games

RobertMc · Post by **RobertMc** » Sat Jun 10, 2000 7:52 am

Playing "King In France" scenario tonight. I've got the sound cranked up, and when one of my trucks hit a mine I jumped in my chair. Then I grinned.
Later on, I was (foolishly) running four tanks down a road at high speed. The fourth one hit a mine, after the other three had gotten through okay! This time I *really* jumped in my chair!! Then I grinned double-wide.
This kind of uncertainty is great! I think you guys may have a future at this game-creating stuff.

Dave R · Post by **Dave R** » Sat Jun 10, 2000 12:37 pm

Originally posted by RobertMc:
Playing "King In France" scenario tonight. I've got the sound cranked up, and when one of my trucks hit a mine I jumped in my chair. Then I grinned.
Later on, I was (foolishly) running four tanks down a road at high speed. The fourth one hit a mine, after the other three had gotten through okay! This time I *really* jumped in my chair!! Then I grinned double-wide.
This kind of uncertainty is great! I think you guys may have a future at this game-creating stuff.

A similer thing got me the other day! Can't remember which scenario it was, but I'd had to advance an inf coy accross quite a large open stretch! I'd just about made it to the cover at the other side, when all hell broke loose with loads of Russian troops and M/g's opened up into my flank and rear, after letting much of the coy go marching past! <grins> It wiped the smug grin right off my face !

Bing · Post by **Bing** » Sat Jun 10, 2000 8:16 pm

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Wild Bill:
Ah, but I did see it, if only for a moment...or I thought I saw it..."Wow!"

WB

I have seen it, too. Playing German vs Soviet, 1945: Tiger tank backed up two hexes when threatened by Russian heavies. Happened twice within two turns. No question, the Tiger backed up, without turning around. If the makers of WAW say this can't happen, maybe our computers have taken on a life of their own? Whatcha think, Bill?

Byron Inglesh

Paul Vebber · Post by **Paul Vebber** » Sat Jun 10, 2000 11:02 pm

I'm not saying it doesn't LOOK like its happening

just that its teh graphic not being in synch with the game. Let me know if you hit one that's doing that and you get a "front" hit <BG>

Then you have to worry, LOL =(8-1

The fact that the AI is smart enough now to realize the better part of value at all is to be celebrated

Sabot Scott · Post by **Sabot Scott** » Sun Jun 11, 2000 1:22 am

[QUOTE]Originally posted by RobertMc:
Been playing The Game pretty regularly now, and I keep finding things that amaze me.
Last night one of my (Russian) tanks was hit at the rear of the turret and a message came up that the crew was shocked. When I checked the tank, I saw that no weapons remained functional. Why? Well, if the turret had not been completely blown off it was knocked so crooked the weapons were unable to fix and fire! This kind of detail in the game is great!!
QUOTE]

My views exactly. Last night I fought a battle in a "winter wonderland" at night, complete with "howling" wind. I swear I could almost see my troops shivering! What a great game. Thanks again.

Scott

Wild Bill · Post by **Wild Bill** » Sun Jun 11, 2000 1:24 am

Kinda refreshing in June, isn't it Scott?

Wild Bill

------------------
In Arduis Fidelis
Wild Bill Wilder
Coordinator, Scenario Design
Matrix Games

Mac_MatrixForum · Post by **Mac_MatrixForum** » Sun Jun 11, 2000 12:34 pm

Played a game with Germans against Soviets yesterday. I had one King Tiger rampaging in south supported by two snipers and my HQ. The snipers got killed by Soviet snipes but I felt confident that the "King" would do the job and headed with full speed towards the victory hexes. As I couldn't see the snipers on my turn anymore, I had to advance. Well, one of the snipers assaulted with a 3% chance and blew my "King" away... Now that was a WOW!

------------------
Markku "Mac" Rontu

"Understanding is a three-edged sword,
your side, their side and the truth."
- Sheridan in B5

Wild Bill · Post by **Wild Bill** » Sun Jun 11, 2000 2:52 pm

Give that man a medal, soon as he stops shaking

WB

------------------
In Arduis Fidelis
Wild Bill Wilder
Coordinator, Scenario Design
Matrix Games

Voriax · Post by **Voriax** » Wed Jun 14, 2000 9:42 pm

I was playing the 'lighting strikes' scenario as Norwegians. The German reinforcements had arrived, there was a pile of two Ju-52's and their passengers some 7-8 hexes away from my infantry unit. 'What a delicious target' I thought and fired at them.

Got a message: Ju-52 suffers near miss from 6,5mm Madsen'

Suffers a miss? Probably the pilot soiled his pants?

Voriax

Stug · Post by **Stug** » Fri Jun 16, 2000 10:10 am

I enjoyed reading these stories. I feel like I'm in a bar drinking beer talking to war vets. It just shows what a great game this is. I'm just sick of reading complaints on other game forums its refreshing to hear all you positive gaming experences.

L8r..
Lets keep the good spirits up!

Greg McCarty · Post by **Greg McCarty** » Sat Jun 17, 2000 2:26 am

Well, we're not in a bar, but I know the
war vet part is true for some of us.
You know, with regard to the criticism, this
sort of thing happens every time a great new
game development appears. Its usually a few
purists with foam flecks appearing in the corners of their mouths, that simply aren't
patient enough to wait for a few refinements. This game is a wonder to behold
from any perspective. I'm confident that any
credible realism or playability issue can
be satisfactorily addressed. What I am in awe of is the patience, enthusiasm and
durability of the developers. I'm just
a few scenarios into a Russian campaign,
and just fended off a Ger. river assault in
the middle of the night with a damn frog and
cricket chorus going at the rivers edge. The infantry battle feel is as good as one could hope for. The attention to detail is incredible. I was very impressed by SPWW2
when it first became available, but SPWAW is
really pushing the envelope. I'm impressed;
can ya tell?

Originally posted by Stug:
I enjoyed reading these stories. I feel like I'm in a bar drinking beer talking to war vets. It just shows what a great game this is. I'm just sick of reading complaints on other game forums its refreshing to hear all you positive gaming experences.

L8r..
Lets keep the good spirits up!

Wild Bill · Post by **Wild Bill** » Sat Jun 17, 2000 3:13 am

Yeah, I can tell

And I echo your sentiments, Greg and Stug! I remember well as a beta tester for SP1, back in 1994 the first time I started the game. Yes, I said, "Wow!"

I had never seen a game where my little men were on the screen in detail and there was a tank...a Sherman tank, and it rumbled and moved like a Sherman tank!

That "rush" I have not felt to that degree since 1994 till I began playing SPWAW. Not even with SPWW2, in which I was deeply involved for months. It was great.

But this! The sounds, the sights, the uncertainty, the units, only thing missing is the smell of cordite!

That rush is back.

David Heath asked me today on the phone, "Well, is this the Steel Panthers game you wanted?"

Well, we never get everything we want, but I told him, "It's close enough!"

Of course, I have the new version and you don't

Sorry, that was cold. You will have it and very soon. We are just checking, double-checking and triple-checking this time around to get it as right as we can.

But its close...very close!

As for your pilot, Voriax, now HE had some stories to tell

Wild Bill

------------------
In Arduis Fidelis
Wild Bill Wilder
Coordinator, Scenario Design
Matrix Games

[This message has been edited by Wild Bill (edited 06-16-2000).]

troopie · Post by **troopie** » Sat Jun 17, 2000 3:30 am

Playing as the Republicans against Nationalists on an old girl friend map, Hearing the water chuckle and the frogs croak. Seeing a Republican plane strafe a friendly AC see the bombing hex message then the plane turn away before bombing. That pilot has been unavailable since then, disciplinary action maybe? Hearing the wind howl in a desert scenario. Maybe in a future version I'll see the sand move and the air filled. Hearing the battery captains whistle as my artillery fires.

troopie

robot · Post by **robot** » Sun Jun 18, 2000 12:01 am

Been sitting here reading and felt like old times talking with buddys in the rear echlons again. Even at the worst of times we found humor around us. Guess it kept us sane. Long campaing is on hold till patch. So tried corregidoe scernerio last couple of days. Was able to come out with draw on first play. But 2nd time around they whipped me bad. Lost control of my heavy shore guns. Was moving them around they make big diff in battle if used proberly. Was amazed at the tenacity of japenese. But more amazed at the doggeness of my marines and filipino scouts. Thought i was winning until the tanks came and my heart sank with nothing of any size to knock them out. But my men took 3 out with grenades. Still lost but what a fight double wows for this game.

Wild Bill · Post by **Wild Bill** » Sun Jun 18, 2000 1:02 am

Its amazing how in a scenario and especially in a campaign you can get attached to certain units.

They perform well, become heroes for you and then you see them shot to pieces. You feel it! At least I do.

I remember well in an Arab-Israeli tank platoon in the Black Beret SP3 campaign. They went through four battles, raised an impressive score. They were tough, and I knew them.

Then in a harsh night battle with Egyptians storming the Israeli positions in force, my "fire brigade" of M-48s was ambushed while enroute to save a friendly position from being overrun.

I groaned and moaned as the Egyptian armor and infantry carefully picked my guys to the bone.

Oh they fought valiantly enough! Ripped the Egptian tanks to pieces, but at the end, ala Custer style, they were wiped out to the last tank and man!

I lost a tank platoon that day, but more, I lost some friends...real warrriors.

Only a true wargamer would understand this and that is why I share it here.

Wild Bill

------------------
In Arduis Fidelis
Wild Bill Wilder
Coordinator, Scenario Design
Matrix Games

troopie · Post by **troopie** » Sun Jun 18, 2000 4:05 am

Kunel, You're last post reminded me of something that happened in the Port Harcourt scenario in SP2.

A Nigerian tank was advancing over a bridge, One Biafran squad with an antitank capability stood in its way. Behind them were only men with rifles, and several victory points. In OP fire the squad assaulted the tank on the bridge with a satchel charge, destroying the tank, the bridge and themselves. But they saved their comrades behind them. I stood at attention in front of my computer and saluted them.

troopie