First Impressions from a Beta Tester

David Heath · Post by **David Heath** » Mon Feb 04, 2002 6:35 am

Hi Guys

We are looking into a few items to see what we can offer. We have not set a price yet on whatwe are going to charge or if there will or will not be a printed manual. I will let everyone know once we are ready to roll.

Paul Goodman · Post by **Paul Goodman** » Mon Feb 04, 2002 9:00 am

Say, Beta Testers: Has the same scenario been enabled for everyone, or do you have one of several different scenarios?

On the subject of pdf vs. printed manual, I can think of several advantages that stone tablets have over printed paper. However, they do seem to have gone out of vogue. The same with paper vs. pdf. You may have an index, but it can't compare with a keyword search. True, you can't crash on the couch with a crt but game rules are best used in conjunction with the game, anyway. However, to each his own. I think Matrix should offer a printed game manual at extra cost, which I don't think anyone would object to.

Paul

mario vallee · Post by **mario vallee** » Mon Feb 04, 2002 10:09 am

Any comments about the A.I. ? Is the computer a good player ?

mv

[ February 04, 2002: Message edited by: napoleon1emperer ]</p>

Warpup · Post by **Warpup** » Mon Feb 04, 2002 11:50 am

Does anyone here remember the rulebook for Advanced Squad Leader? That was just a notebook with a cover pasted on it. It had notebook sized paper, color printed, and occasional rule updates and additions could easily be inserted. It was purchased separately from the boxes of maps and counters that made up ASL. Maybe that would be a reasonable model for a computer game manual, low cost, purchased separately, and easy to update...

ratster · Post by **ratster** » Mon Feb 04, 2002 11:52 am

If there's not going to be a printed manual, will there be a secure download purchase available? Why bother with shipping&handling charges. CDRs and jewel cases are cheap.

Crocky · Post by **Crocky** » Mon Feb 04, 2002 2:36 pm

Hey Paul..Scenarios at the moment we have 17 to play with and WOW is about all I can say so far , just starting to delve into the inner depths but it looks great <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

Elvis1965 · Post by **Elvis1965** » Mon Feb 04, 2002 6:14 pm

Scenarios!!! See any hypothetical scenarios in the list of 17?

Adnan Meshuggi · Post by **Adnan Meshuggi** » Mon Feb 04, 2002 6:33 pm

Well,
the pdf-discussion, one thing, could it be possible to split it, because every pdf-file with more then x MB to print is not printable..... so please, make 2 versions, one large (to look in and search) and one to print out. Even with 18 MB Memory for my HP LJ1500 (the pre modell of the 2100) i cannot print one single page of a matrix manual (if a pdf-file)

It is a funbreak, if you don´t know what to do and i even can´t look every page, because my computer drop out after 5 or 6 pages (with 512 MB and a 450er P2....)

How long and we can buy it and if you make it sellable, can you contact me (well i´m in germany, but pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease)

Larry Holt · Post by **Larry Holt** » Mon Feb 04, 2002 6:37 pm

Originally posted by ratster:
If there's not going to be a printed manual, will there be a secure download purchase available? Why bother with shipping&handling charges. CDRs and jewel cases are cheap.

This has been asked about before. Small companies have problems with banks and charge backs. People make the download then claim that they did not get it all and ask for a charge back. There are sophtisticated e-commerce applications to work around this (Akami has one) but its a lot for a small company.

Paul Goodman · Post by **Paul Goodman** » Mon Feb 04, 2002 6:43 pm

Ratster, you raise a good point. We don't have any idea how big the download might be, but let's think in terms of, say, 500 mb. Now that is just too big for 56k modems on conventional landlines. However, for those of us with high speed connections, a 500 mb download is not that big a deal. It is around three hours on my satellite system; only about two hours on the cable modem at work. Distribution protection might be a problem for Matrix, however.

Matrix, what about the possibility of allowing high speed downloads only. Is that practical?

Paul

Dunedain · Post by **Dunedain** » Mon Feb 04, 2002 9:50 pm

I think I sense a bit of sarcasm in ratster's post...

David:

Thanks for checking into the situation and seeing what kind of options you
can give us on this manual issue. <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

DougAngle · Post by **DougAngle** » Mon Feb 04, 2002 11:52 pm

PDF works for me. It would be a good idea to make a printed manual available from the Matrix store as an option to those who want one. It could be in a 3 ring binder for easy updating. That would also allow for hints/tactics/updates to be easily added. We also want to make sure that this is not a money losing proposition for Matrix.

ratster · Post by **ratster** » Tue Feb 05, 2002 12:21 am

<img src="tongue.gif" border="0"> A bit of sarcasm, but at the same time I was serious about the download. It seems a waste of my money to spend what will probably amount 6-8 dollars for S&H for just a CD.

I have a high speed internet connection, aren't dial-ups a thing of the past and out of "vogue" too, along with paper manuals. <img src="tongue.gif" border="0">

Of course all this discusion of with or without manual is moot without knowing the actual price(s).

In all seriouness though "I yearn tragically" for this game and will prolly get it regardless of circumstance. <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

Paul Goodman · Post by **Paul Goodman** » Tue Feb 05, 2002 2:54 am

Ratster, I agree. Actually, dial-ups go with the stone tablets. <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

Paul

madflava13 · Post by **madflava13** » Tue Feb 05, 2002 3:40 am

To whomever was asking about the hypothetical scenarios:
I'm not a beta-tester or anything, but I read (either on the UV site or in the forums) that there was at least one hypothetical scenario. Something along the lines of "What if both sides had all their carriers in theater at the time?" (As you know, most of the Japanese Air Arm was around the Indian Ocean area at the time. Only Shokaku and Zuikaku saw extensive action...
I may be wrong, but I am pretty sure thats what I heard...

Joel Billings · Post by **Joel Billings** » Tue Feb 05, 2002 3:46 am

Current stats say there are only 11 million broadband customers. Hard to believe but there are still a lot of dial-up people out there.

Joel

Caltone · Post by **Caltone** » Tue Feb 05, 2002 6:49 am

Saw someone asking around in a newsgroup the other day about locations of print shops so he could run off some pdf manuals. The best reply was: "print shops? that's what working in offices are for <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> " One thing I do hate about pdf is the slow speed I get get on my humble home printer, but hey, we do have some nice laser printers at work <img src="biggrin.gif" border="0">

I too like to have a nice printed manual but have resigned myself to this pdf thing. Its here to stay and we should all just get used to it.

The game is sounding great. It sounds like you guys have nailed the pace/flow. I wanted this one for Christmas and want it even more now. My birthday is March 1st, David, Joel, Gary, can you guess what I want?

Testers, more info please! Someone asked about the AI earlier, any answers?

siRkid · Post by **siRkid** » Tue Feb 05, 2002 7:44 am

Originally posted by rough44:

I read several surface battle descriptions and the results seem to be quite realistic... how are they really? this was one of the more serious failings of PacWar.

simply give me more...[/QB]

So far I think the models are very accurate. The thing I like are the many different phases. You start with a night phase (Japs have better night tactics) that includes air, naval, bombardment and submarine action. Then you do it all again for the day phase but the ships have keep moving and the night results have been applied. There might be several sorties from a carrier against the same or different targets. I have seen a ship get crippled at night and have to split off form the TF and then get pounded in the day phase. The ships take damage in three areas: systems, flooding, and fire. Also,gun/torpedo mounts can be knocked out.
Hope this helps.

Rick

rough44 · Post by **rough44** » Tue Feb 05, 2002 8:04 am

Thanks man, Matrix should start paying you for giving us all the steam...

How is crew experience portrayed? (air & naval & troop) is it static or does it increase/decrease depending on performance/losses.

Are flying fortresses as invulnerable as they were in PacWar... really pissed me off back then.

Bulldog61 · Post by **Bulldog61** » Tue Feb 05, 2002 8:46 am

Hi Rough44!

B-17's can be tough at altitude, but they aren't very accurate! Although I have gotten one hit on a docked Destoyer in Rabaul from 25,000 ft.

Naval crew experience is rated for day and night capabilities. I haven't been paying attention to it but will!

Mike