3 simple questions for Chris Marinacci

[macgregor]

Let me say thank you for an excellent demo. I may be all alone -but I think this thing is at least 75% completed.If there's a question you're not permitted to answer -that's cool. Just say so.

1- It would seem as though the CWiF demo was or is in the playtesting phase. Is this true?

2-Is there something about the programming language it's written in that would make it either impossible to debug or impossible to complete a full campaign?

3- What kind of player interaction did you have in mind?

(Of course if anyone knows the answers to one or more of these questions -please post. I realize this thread could very well slide into the abyss before Chris sees it -or I think we would have heard more from him.)

[Froonp]

ORIGINAL: macgregor
2-Is there something about the language it's written in that would make it either impossible to debug or impossible to complete a full campaign?

I'm not sure to understand fully what you are asking, but if you are asking whether a complete 39-45 campaign was possible, it was. I played many, and I also played to the bitter end in late 1946, and it was a blast.
Best Regards
Patrice

[macgregor]

Precisly. Thank you Patrice. That answers two questions. The lingering question is: Is Chris a WiF player who happened to be a serious game programmer or a highly touted game programmer who was discovered by the ADG team?

[Mziln]

Perhaps Chris Marinacci's work on CWiF is best decribed in this very old review (NOTE: the preposed 1999 release date)...

Link: World In Flames!

Matrix will want you to ignore the screenshots.

[coregames]

ORIGINAL: macgregor

1- It would seem as though the CWiF demo was or is in the playtesting phase. Is this true?

2-Is there something about the programming language it's written in that would make it either impossible to debug or impossible to complete a full campaign?

3- What kind of player interaction did you have in mind?

... a fourth question:

4- Are you glad to have this gargantuan project in someone else's in-basket now? (It was an arduous process getting his beta to the point it was at)

[Mziln]

ORIGINAL: coregames

... a fourth question:

4- It was an arduous process getting his beta to the point it was at.

But it was fun getting there [:D]

[Froonp]

4- Are you glad to have this gargantuan project in someone else's in-basket now? (It was an arduous process getting his beta to the point it was at)

It was a PLEASURE getting the beta to the point it was at, because the game had exactly the same feeling as the tabletop game. The same decisions, the same "physics", the same rules.

I, personaly, was glad that Harry chose Matrix Games to continue the project, because I felt that Matrix were dedicaced to the Wargame Hobby at that time, and they were the only alternative to Chris alone.

Another alternative were the gifted guys of SSG (Strategic Studies Group, another Australian beauty), who worked marvels in the A.I. of their games (Battlefront series, Carrier at War series, and the Last Blitzkrieg series), but they are too working for Matrix Games now.

So, in my opinion, Matrix Games is the last chance for CWiF now.

Best Regards

Patrice

[macgregor]

Another alternative were the gifted guys of SSG (Strategic Studies Group, another Australian beauty), who worked marvels in the A.I. of their games (Battlefront series, Carrier at War series, and the Last Blitzkrieg series), but they are too working for Matrix Games now.

I used to have CCAW. I wish I still did. That was pretty good, and, as you mentioned had AI. Perhaps a global version of this could handle the naval aspect for this pbem/AI game, which as I see it, is a completely different game from what I know as WiF. The rest would eventually resemble TOAW or similar games. It's the only way you can play asynchronously. With literally thousands of players at your fingertips I don't see the big deal about finding someone with the same schedule to play synchronously. But what do I know. I'm what now, a purist? Just because I want to play the game I know as WiF? Between what I've heard from matrix and a group of fellow posters, WiF now appears to be a pbem/asynch/AI game, with guys like me being called 'hardcore purists'. Just like these 'No AI, no $$' guys -if I don't like what I see (which so far I don't), or am being asked to pay for I wont be buying this...game, whatever it's called.

[Mziln]

ORIGINAL: macgregor

The lingering question is: Is Chris a WiF player who happened to be a serious game programmer or a highly touted game programmer who was discovered by the ADG team?

Just for grins I hit "Check For Updates" under "Help" in CWiF which has a link to...

Chris Marinacci's resume

[macgregor]

Thanks Mziln. I found out he's been playing WiF longer than I have. Which is good enough for me. I'm not too sure to what extent he's actually still involved. Someone from Matrix said he's a consultant. So I guess he offers verbal help if Matrix needs it.

[Mziln]

From the resume:

"Matrix Games, Staten Island, NY 2004 to Present

Consultant

Assisting programmers with graphics and computer AI additions to the “World in Flames” computer game."

[coregames]

ORIGINAL: macgregor
if I don't like what I see (which so far I don't), or am being asked to pay for I wont be buying this...game, whatever it's called.

What have you seen or read that has slipped by the rest of us mac? The only official postings from Matrix I've seen indicate that faithful (e.g., synchronous) play will be a feature.

[Greyshaft]

Have another look at Chris's resume. I'm really interested in his current stint with this crowd...

International Rescue, Redondo Beach, CA 2004 to Present

Chief Technical Officer

Does this mean that he's handling the software upgrades for Thunderbirds 1 through 6 [&:]

EDIT: Changed the color... the green was too faint

[Mziln]

ORIGINAL: Greyshaft

Have another look at Chris's resume. I'm really interested in his current stint with this crowd...

International Rescue, Redondo Beach, CA 2004 to Present

Chief Technical Officer

Does this mean that he's handling the software upgrades for Thunderbirds 1 through 6 [&:]

EDIT: Changed the color... the green was too faint

He's part of the International Rescue Committe (established 1933) not International Rescue (British television series 1965 - 1999).

[X(] At least I think so [X(]

[macgregor]

What have you seen or read that has slipped by the rest of us mac? The only official postings from Matrix I've seen indicate that faithful (e.g., synchronous) play will be a feature.

I've since resigned to the fact that while I can tell matrix my petty thoughts, I can't tell them what to do. The combination of the announced intent to add pbem, with all the pro-pbem rhetoric (including the guys who simply post "No AI-No $$") added to my own understanding of the monumental task of adding AI and realization that it won't be as detailed as most pbem games of this nature led me to believe I had to counter-balance with a few posts of my own. I see your point. We'll just have to wait and see after origins.

Does this mean that he's handling the software upgrades for Thunderbirds 1 through 6

...or maybe he spends time on the LA beaches hitting on foreign chicks.

[coregames]

ORIGINAL: macgregor
We'll just have to wait and see after origins.

We can still hope that our voices, along with other "purists", will not be lost in the mix. At least this forum has given us a place to let our feelings on the subject be known Mac. Fingers crossed, hoping for good news after Origins!