Matrix Games Forums

ORIGINAL: JeF
Seeing that Wodin has finally put the thread back on track (can Belgian and Brits speak about something else than drinking ? [;)] )

Once you start beta-testing, the drinking comes naturally - it's the only thing that'll keep you sane

ORIGINAL: JeF
The games are part of a serie. If you like one (in this case RdoA demo), you'll like HttR.
Nevertheless, CotA is huge improvement over HttR, which is big improvement over RdoA (not only the new maps and scenario).

If you liked the RdoA demo, HTTR will blow you away. I must admit that the RdoA demo didn't do it for me, it felt a bit cramped in scope, implementation and functionality.
But HTTR was a huge step forward and I embraced it totally. The step from HTTR to COTA - no scratch that - the *leap* from HTTR to COTA is again significant but HTTR does not feel "old" or "quaint". It's a mighty fine game and it will remain a mighty fine game despite having a successor.

... and you could be playing it today

Greetz,

Eddy Sterckx

One thing I always liked about the HPS games was the way they updated all the older games with the new engine whenever they made improvements.

I really wish you guys would look at doing that. Or at least updating the older scenarios to the new engine.

For me at least, its very hard to justify paying Matrix game prices for updates to the same game system. I know you guys and Matrix like the cash flow, but for me its very, very hard to justify paying the hefty price Matrix charges for a new game, when I've already got the same game system in HTTR. Do I fire up HTTR and play it again instead of ransoming my checkbook to Matrix to get an updated version? And if I do, why can't I play the Arnhem battles with the new features in the game system?

I know I've reached that point with the Decisive battles games. I'm just not seeing enough in the new stuff to make it worth the hit on my checkbook a new game costs. The result is I've pretty much stopped paying attention to what they are doing.

At some point, paying $50 or so for what looks a lot like expansion paks just doesn't seem like a deal.

ORIGINAL: marc420
One thing I always liked about the HPS games was the way they updated all the older games with the new engine whenever they made improvements.

Yes, but from a coding pov that's the *easiest* way : that way your engine remains just a single code-base. Clever marketing by HPS, but you won't fool a professional programmer

Mind you that this only works as long as your internal and external data structures (scenarios, maps, etc ..) remains the same between games - which they do in HPS games - not when you've got a seriously enhanced engine as is the case in the move from HTTR to COTA.

ORIGINAL: marc420
For me at least, its very hard to justify paying Matrix game prices for updates to the same game system.

Whow, hold your horses - if you're only used to the glacial pace at which the HPS engine changes you're in for a rollercoaster ride here.

ORIGINAL: marc420
I know you guys and Matrix like the cash flow, but for me its very, very hard to justify paying the hefty price Matrix charges for a new game, when I've already got the same game system in HTTR.

Not quite following you here - you're paying HPS $50 for what are essentially scenario packs - Glenn Saunders has once gone on record saying that they worked *a whole week* on new features in the HPS engine - but you won't pay $50 for a brand-new engine they've been working on for the past 2 years .[&:]

Don't take my word for it, just wait for the first couple of reviews if you think this is just another scenario pack for HTTR [:)]

Greetz,

Eddy Sterckx

Nicely put Mr Sterckx.
Yes this is a me too and I am a beta tester.
That by and of its self doesn’t make me wrong.
Cheers
Ray

ORIGINAL: RayWolfe
Nicely put Mr Sterckx.
Yes this is a me too and I am a beta tester.
That by and of its self doesn’t make me wrong.
Cheers
Ray

Ray agreeing with me <phone rings, a certain Mr. Beelzebub complains to me about having to skate to work tomorrow>

Greetz,

Eddy Sterckx
Cota beta-tester - well, they made me one after I proved to be such a pain in the lower backside area I was told to either put up and help or shut up

marc420,

I appreciate where you are coming from. Everyone of us wants value for money and that's one thing I believe you will get with COTA. Our focus is on providing players with the best wargaming experience possible with today's technology. That's why we've been blazing a trail of innovation here and not focusing on just delivering a series of scenario packs. The down side of that is that it does make updating old titles difficult.

I urge you to check out the list of new features HERE

Please remember that innovation costs money. If it's not encouragted and rewarded all we'll end up with is a series of scenario packs for a very stale game engine and that IMO is not fun.

ORIGINAL: Arjuna
That's why we've been blazing a trail of innovation here and not focusing on just delivering a series of scenario packs. The down side of that is that it does make updating old titles difficult.

The easiest would certainly be to redo the entire maps and scenarios, then play balance each of them. It will be a totally different game with re-supply and new tasks included.

Marc, you're being a bit unfair here. I would agree if, after having bought RDoA, you hesitate to put again full price for HttR. But CotA will be a totally different beast.

Revisiting old games to add the newest feature and/or adapting the game engine to allow easy backporting of old scenarios and maps might be an interresting work. But I'd much prefer Panther Games to continue to improve on the game engine freely, without the burden of oldies to support, and to provide us with new materials, and not spending their time to redo old scenarios in new game engine, writing an import/export tool.

Let's move on, full speed ahead. If the serie is successful enough maybe it will be time for a Gold edition, with the latest engine and all scenario packs included.

To add to Arjuna's post, if you need more info, you'll find an illustrated list of CotA's new features HERE.

Take care,

JeF.