Why Squares?

[z1812]

Hi All,

Perhaps this has been covered before. I am wondering why the game uses squares instead hexes. It does not make a difference to me. I am simply curious.

Regards John

[IronManBeta]

There are two answers actually.

1. The original SimCan Main Battle Tank games used squares and they formed the spec for this game. David Heath and I met at Origins 02 and discussed it in some detail and we decided that we liked the distinctive look that it gave and decided to keep it.

2. The modern military uses squares on it's maps too. "UTMS" or some such thing is the official name for it and we preferred something that would be recognizably similar to an experienced eye.

The game uses squares but works out all the exact timings and moves based on actual distances covered. That means that a move on the diagonal takes 1.414 times as long, all else being equal. The only real limitation is that bridges cannot run on the diagonal. Everything else is pretty much a wash.

Good question!

Cheers, Rob.

[stephen newberg]

And besides, I like squares.

Actually, Rob has it dead on with his second point. The reasoning behind the use of the square grid pattern is that this is what the US Army uses, and the game when originally programmed was a cross over product.

pax, smn