Matrix Games Forums

Matrix' recommendation to us based on their experience was that demos do not substantially help sales in anything near the proportion of their cost to produce. The notion is that, with a strategy game, if you give away enough to make a good demo then you've given away most of the game: as Hertston describes, it is trickier to demo a TBS than, say, a FPS.


Eric

ORIGINAL: ericbabe

ORIGINAL: Uncle_Joe

Can you play the tactical battles if playing Multi-player using Direct Play?

Thanx!

Yes.

Thanks for the interest,
Eric

I am bit lost here, additional explanation would help...

I primarily buy games to play PBEM (or direct play vs other humans). I don't care for AI except as training partner, and I don't care much for demo (so, in effect, I am trying to hijack this thread [:D]).

Now correct me if I say something wrong. If I understand right COG will have two distinctive phases: strategic phase played on the map of Europe, and tactical, for resolving specific battles. Both phases will be turn based right? So tactical phase will be turn-based tacbattle inside turn-based strategic turn, yes?

PBEM will be supported but only on strategic level? Players playing PBEM will have their tactical battles resolved automatically? Did I get this right?

Yet, "if playing Multi-player using Direct Play" we will have the ability to play tac battles over net vs other humans? How so? Can it be made we play strat level game in PBEM mode, and then resolve tac battles in that same PBEM game, using direct play mode?

What about human vs human (PBEM or net play) games with more than two humans? Different players controlling different powers? Will that be possible?

Additional explanation of multiplayer modes and game mechanics would be welcome, thanks.

Finally I agree with guys who are enthusiastic about this title - it does look very promising [&o] But with so many Nappy titles currently in development (3 IIRC?) we need more details to understand in what they are different from each other.

O.

Now correct me if I say something wrong. If I understand right COG will have two distinctive phases: strategic phase played on the map of Europe, and tactical, for resolving specific battles. Both phases will be turn based right? So tactical phase will be turn-based tacbattle inside turn-based strategic turn, yes?

Hi Oleg--that is correct.

PBEM will be supported but only on strategic level? Players playing PBEM will have their tactical battles resolved automatically? Did I get this right?

Yes.

Yet, "if playing Multi-player using Direct Play" we will have the ability to play tac battles over net vs other humans? How so?

TCP/IP

Can it be made we play strat level game in PBEM mode, and then resolve tac battles in that same PBEM game, using direct play mode?

No. The code will not allow PBEM for strategic mode, though it may be possible to offer a separate, tactical-only version for PBEM in the future. This was discussed on the "PMEM [sic] or not" thread (you have to view threads older than 30 days to find it.)

What about human vs human (PBEM or net play) games with more than two humans? Different players controlling different powers? Will that be possible?

Of course!

Additional explanation of multiplayer modes and game mechanics would be welcome, thanks.

Eric can supply this.

ORIGINAL: Mr. Z

Yet, "if playing Multi-player using Direct Play" we will have the ability to play tac battles over net vs other humans? How so?

TCP/IP

Thanks Mr. Z, but some things are still unclear to me (so I took liberty to resurrect the PBEM thread). I'd miss that important thread - thanks for the heads up.

When I asked "how so?" I didn't mean technically. Of course I expect it would use TCP/IP. I meant to ask.... IF both strat and tac parts WILL be turn based (and they will) why should not tac part be played via PBEM too?

I do not belong to stubborn and agrressive customers with "I won't buy this game !!" attitude, I merely wonder why tac battles can't be PBEM-ed if they are turn based, just like strat part of the game? I am OK either way, I just wonder.

O.

Thanks for the invite Le Tondu.

Do you have a date for the flash presentation? Will it include movies of battle resolution?

ORIGINAL: huzzah

Do you have a date for the flash presentation? Will it include movies of battle resolution?

Thanks for the continued interest. Sorry I'm slow to respond of late.

No date for flash yet... sometime in June I suspect. I hope it'll show animated sequences for detailed battle resolution, but can't guarantee it.


Eric

Why not release a demo of a tactical historical battle like Austerlitz or Waterloo? It could just be a hot seat version with no AI (if thats easier). It would be good for us because we have been so starved of Napeleonics and EiA is taking sooo long.,[:)]

ORIGINAL: jamo262

Why not release a demo of a tactical historical battle like Austerlitz or Waterloo? It could just be a hot seat version with no AI (if thats easier). It would be good for us because we have been so starved of Napeleonics and EiA is taking sooo long.,[:)]

Quick answer?

This is a small company and it is far, far more important to release the game than to waste time on a demo.

I agree; we all know we want it; just concentrate on finishing the game.