Matrix Games Forums

[>:]I'd much rather see time and resources spent on more theaters(games) or expansions...just my 2 cents.

ORIGINAL: Arjuna
In the first cut I'm proposing that the recording would retain FOW.

And the reason for that would be exactly what I mentioned (giving away AI behaviour). And I agree with that. But why would you want to replay the battle with FOW? There is no information in it (assuming you don't have a very bad memory). It is like 'Review Final Situation' in the AAR sceen without FOW lifted, would anyone use that? The interesting part of 'Review Final Situation' is that the FOW _is_ lifted.

The only reason for this feature I see is Joe's:

ORIGINAL: Joe 98

The real purpose of a replay, is so that the rest of us can watch it and discuss your game. Then everybody improves their game.

But imagine what is necessary for this to work. Uploading an event log that others can play in the game engine is not enough. Few people will take the effort to upload and few will startup the engine to see somebody else his battles. And the possibility to discuss the game will be poor.

Instead you will need a form that is ready for online consumption. For that you will need a n AAR editor, that will use the event log and produce a series of screen shots or an (mpeg) movie. Together with some drawing tools this editor will be great for producing AARs.

To get back to Arjuna's first post:

ORIGINAL: Arjuna
Tell me who would be interested in a feature which played back the game as a recording?

People who write detailed AARs, see the 'After Action Reports' section of this forum.

Then users could post these recording for all to download and playback.

That is really a bad idea, because you loose the people who don't own the game. I think the AAR section of this forum is a big seller of this game.

What do you reckon?

I am sceptical how much an AAR editor will be used considering how many people use the map and scenario editors.

And how much extra are you willing to pay for this?

As an add-on? Nothing. People writing AARs should be paid for writing these advertisments. [;)]

How high up on the wish list should it go?

At first I was enthousiastic, but the more I think about it the more I doubt it is worth the effort.

ORIGINAL: Vance
Few people will take the effort to upload and few will startup the engine to see somebody else his battles.

The game is a game of movement. Still screen shots do not do the game justice. In many cases people will be turned off. Especially when the footprint is visible and the game is zoomed out with the units all squashed together.

ORIGINAL: Vance
And the possibility to discuss the game will be poor.

Why did you move that unit there???? The other unit has these features and the ground is like that and its getting dark and so on and so forth!