Internet/LAN play

[Jombee]

My friends and I were really looking forward to this game until we found out there was no TCP/IP/LAN multiplayer support. We play a number of wargames currently over the internet (HOI2, Strategic Command, Axis & Allies Iron Blitz), and we were hoping to add World at War into the mix. While some people may prefer PBEM with a game like this, I would assume an equal number of people would prefer to play "live" over the internet. I feel that the PBEM system greatly disrupts the game flow, and having to wait for other players replies can be quite annoying. I am very surprised and disappointed that this option wasn't also included for people who would prefer to use it. I've read in the forums that a possible patch will be released to support Internet/LAN play. Can someone please tell me the likelyhood of this happening, and if so, a guess on how long until it would be available?

Thanks!

[aletoledo]

i disagree that PBEM will disrupt the gameflow.

I used to love playing axis&allies on the internet, but when a player stepped away from their computer for even a minute it was annoying.

in this game, the production phase and simply planning your moves may make for some pauses of 5-10 minutes. having someone step away from their computer during that time will add another couple minutes till they start their turn up. all in all, having an email system where you're not constantly watching the screen seems nice (though I haven't tried it yet).

I just hope that player matching can be worked out to be as convinient as internet/lan play is.

[Joel Billings]

I can't give you an answer on the probability of there being a future TCP/IP/LAN version or how long it would take as we really haven't decided whether we want to do it and haven't figured out how long it would take to do. Although I understand the interest, keep in mind that this game takes most players 5-30 minutes to make a move. That's a lot of waiting time as you wait for the other 4 players to move. We really think that PBEM play is the best way to play this game given the time involved. Although you can theoretically make your move in a few minutes, there's enough going on where it will likely take you much longer. If any decision is made, I'm sure we'll announce it in the forum, but don't expect a decision anytime soon.

[Paul Vebber]

I can't wager a gues at the probability or the timeframe - The more folks like you that voice a prefference teh more the liklihood improves...

The time it takes to think through a turn can make the "disruption" of pbem play visit you in LAN play. IT can take 5 minutes to do a turn, or an hour.


One suggestion I offered was the idea of adding "initiative" movement order, as in games like Victory Games Civil war - where based on dice rolls of some sort and potentially level of "current activity" and supplies available, that you move 15-25% of your units in an "impulse" - in a semi random order.

This reduces the wait time for a player to do his whole turn, adds a distinct 'character' (sort of like speed cheess if you put a time limit on the moves) to online play that rewards "thinking on your feet" (as LAN players tend to focus on), and keeps everyone's "head in te game" as they need to be watching the move in progress and readying his plans in the case his "number comes up" next.

You could still allow play on the standard turn rotation, and complete turns. But adding "initiatve" based movement impulses would offer a different challenge and take advantage of LAN style play. I always loved games like "Across Five Aprils" where part of teh tension was trying to get ALL the units you wanted into attack positions before teh "combat" chit was draw... This game has a great potential for that kind of tension, hoping you get an intiaitive roll sufficient to launch a big attack, fearing ending up having to commit rroops piecemeal, or wait until next turn.

Just a thought...

[Jombee]

I would think that if the non-phasing player can at least "see" what the active player is doing, (production/movement/combat, etc) time is not a factor. With PBEM, depending on your opponent, waiting for an email can be much more frustrating. At least with live internet play, you know the person is still there, and in the process of making their move. I know this game isn't as simple as Axis & Allies, but in the original computer version you can see what your opponents production is, then watch all his moves and combat. I would think that something along those lines would work great with this game. I have tried PBEM games with Matrix's Massive Assault. I had repeated problems with delayed/inconsistant turns, or players that just lost interest over the course of a game that took weeks to play instead of one evening if they were played live. I understand that some people might prefer PBEM, but I also believe a great number of players would prefer to be able to play directly over the internet/LAN. I believe the best thing to do is offer players the choice of which type of multiplayer system they would like to use. I would really like to buy this game, but being able to play another person over the internet "live" is an option that I really need. I truly hope that you consider adding TCP/IP play to this great looking game.

[lion]

Well I am sorry to say that I was stupid enough to buy this game and of course you can not take an opened game back. How in the world do you make a game that does not have online multiplay capability? This is 2005 for **** sake. I mean the original axis and allies at least does that. I love the quote on top of the box, "My copy of Axis and Allies is going to start gathering dust." Ya if you dont have any friends. If I could take this game back I would and I am not even sure that I am going to install the damn thing. I was hopeing for a more in depth up to date version of axis and allies. I guess I got that it I want to play alone! I am off to post on every game board I can fin about this! Matrix Games the glory is coming back (maybe in the 1980's that would be true) This is pathetic!

[IDrinkBeer]

Well I am sorry to say that I was stupid enough to buy this game and of course you can not take an opened game back. How in the world do you make a game that does not have online multiplay capability?

Flame On:

RIF - Reading is Fundamental

Flame Off:

[pyrhic]

I'd have loved to seen a lan/net version, though with this turn format, i agree it might be difficult. I've always been a fan of simultaneous play, where all players can plan at the same time and then their moves all get executed at the same time against each other...the v4v series did a good job at this(though only hotseat), so maybe that'd be a good model to use...

[lion]

Flame On:

RIF - Reading is Fundamental

Flame Off:

You are correct that I should have read the box. First until now I did not know what PBEM was. If I had seen it in the store I would have thought it was some crazy web based service for playing games. And second, since about 2001 I have pretty much stopped looking at the box to see if games are multiplayer or not. I did not see that PBEM placed proudly on any of their websites! It is just mixed in there. It should say NO LIVE MULTIPLAYER! I mean half the online games I have don not support TCP/IP but they are online capable through a web service of somekind. Most games do not use TCP/IP so putting that on the box did not mean much to me.

[IDrinkBeer]

Sorry to be picking on you but this was your first reply to me:

You are correct that I should have read the box. First until now I did not know what PDEM was. If I had seen it in the store I would have thought it was some crazy web based service for playing games. And second, since about 2001 I have pretty much stopped looking at the box to see if games are multiplayer or not. I did not see that PBEM placed proudly on any of their websites!

Probably after thinking about it you decided to actually go look and see if there was any mention of PBEM or IP play and you changed your post to this:

You are correct that I should have read the box. First until now I did not know what PBEM was. If I had seen it in the store I would have thought it was some crazy web based service for playing games. And second, since about 2001 I have pretty much stopped looking at the box to see if games are multiplayer or not. I did not see that PBEM placed proudly on any of their websites! It is just mixed in there. It should say NO LIVE MULTIPLAYER! I mean half the online games I have don not support TCP/IP but they are online capable through a web service of somekind. Most games do not use TCP/IP so putting that on the box did not mean much to me.

I'm really not sure where you are going with this but it is interesting... [:D][;)]


I guess Matrix should have also put on their box the following:

THIS IS NOT AN RTS.
THIS IS NOT AN MMORPG.
THIS IS NOT AN ACCOUNTING PACKAGE.
THIS WILL NOT CURE CANCER.

You see where I'm going with this...

[ravinhood]

Wah!

[lion]

You are correct I did go the website to look to see what it says about the game and what did I find? The exact same thing that was on the box. PBEM (Like I said I have never heard of this before this game) I know there were games that were played by email but I did not know that PBEM stood for that. Battlefield Vietnam is an online game correct? Try playing that game TCP/IP! Not going to happen. It is not supported hence stating no TCP/IP means next to nothing. I have been gaming a long time and I have always been dligent about reading the box. In the case, I did not. Honestly thought if I had I still would have thought that it had Live online play. This game looks like a complete knockoff of axis and allies and so I expected it to have online play. I mean it is my fault that that I bought this game. There is not doubt about that. I am sure that you love the game and that is great but for those of us that have a couple friends and want to play a game in real time it sucks! I mean how about I set up the Axis and Allies board game take a picture of it mail it to my friend and he can play it on his board and then take another picture and send it back to me! That would be great!

[lion]

I would like to say that I am not taking a shot at you by the friend thing. Can you at least see where I am coming from? I have been disappointed by a lot of games in my time, but normally it is because the game play sucked. This is the first game I have bought in about 2 years that I did not play a demo of first. I figured how can you mess up a game like axis and allies? Give me some more units and depth and keep most of it the same

[Erik Rutins]

Lion,

Have you actually played the game much yet? Have you tried Multiplayer PBEM?

I'm sorry you're unhappy that it doesn't have TCP/IP multi-player, but the design does not lend itself well to that type of play, whereas PBEM is perfect for it. If you didn't know what it was and haven't tried it, give it a try. You might be surprised that you like it after all.

Regards,

- Erik

[Jombee]

Hi Erik,

I have tried PBEM with 2 games. One was with one of your products, Massive Assault and the other was TOAW. I found it to be very annoying and frustrating. I constantly had problems with very long waits for turns, or players just stopping playing. Many times it would take days to receive a move, and at that point the whole flow of the game was broken. Personally, I enjoy setting aside an evening for gaming, kind of like if you were actually playing a real boardgame. I definitely think you guys should have included TCP/IP play at least as an option.

[riley555a]

Imagine how much the flow of the game will break and how much more confusion there will be with 5 player PBEM, when people stop playing etc. This is a good game but I agree with Jombee, there should at least be a TCP/IP option, and/or a simple multiplayer with lobby. I don't see any reason not to have it. TCP/IP would work fine with save games just like PBEM, but TCP/IP is just so much more convenient.

[Scott_WAR]

I have stated that it needs a live muliplayer option since before it went gold, ESPECIALLY since Matrix is taking it retail. The retail world doesnt play PBEM.

[Reiryc]

Put me in the camp that would like tcp/ip.

[CommC]

Dude, if you had ever played this game you would see that even if on-line play were available, you would not like it or use it. This is a turn-based game... specifically designed for PBEM.

If you and your friends have an afternoon to devote to gaming, just each sit down in front of your computers (turn the ball game on at the same time or something) and fire off 10 or 20 turns by email. Its basically almost the same exact thing as on-line live gaming, but you don't have to worry about missing something when you get up to get another beer, etc.

[Reiryc]

Dude, if you had ever played this game you would see that even if on-line play were available, you would not like it or use it. This is a turn-based game... specifically designed for PBEM.

Dude... I have played this game and would find it quite enjoyable online. I used to play napoleon in russia by talonsoft online quite a bit some years ago. I also played smolensk '41 by hps online as well.

When not moving units, I'd converse with my opponents as if we were in a chat room. It was just like playing a board game but in front of the computer.

I didn't have any problems sitting around for turns when playing board games back in the day either.