Matrix Games Forums

This lurker just bumped it to 46%. : )

Hi all. I've been watching this site for the last few years, and will continue to do so at least until we have a product available. Count me in the optimistic group.

30+ year wargamer, rpg'er, computer gamer, etc... Many, many games of ASL, Third Reich and others. I have owned much of the WiF product line for many years now, but have never quite had the ambition or space to launch a game. Can't wait to play a game on my PC.

Looking forward to the next update.

Welcome!!  Another long time gamer.

ORIGINAL: aaronden

This lurker just bumped it to 46%. : )

Hi all. I've been watching this site for the last few years, and will continue to do so at least until we have a product available. Count me in the optimistic group.

30+ year wargamer, rpg'er, computer gamer, etc... Many, many games of ASL, Third Reich and others. I have owned much of the WiF product line for many years now, but have never quite had the ambition or space to launch a game. Can't wait to play a game on my PC.

Looking forward to the next update.

Welcome Aboard!

See what I've done? Gotten you kids motivated and energized. This is why I can't understand all the hate you guys lay on me.

What's the over/under on "Nothing new" in the forthcoming update? If it's 6.5-7.5, put me down for $50 on "over".

I get pretty motivated when I gotta run down the hall to the WC too [:D].

I'm saving time for August after read this new release date. Probably it won't be done, but I have my hopes pinned on this release date (before the next one)

ORIGINAL: Triboga

I'm saving time for August after read this new release date. Probably it won't be done, but I have my hopes pinned on this release date (before the next one)

just to be clear ... there are no release date yet ....

62% now

My two desktops, laptop and netbook all worked but the Mac got the message about already voting.

Oh well, maybe next week...

ORIGINAL: abj9562


Whenever Matrix is ready to release they will gear up the promotion bandwagon and start cheering it on. To me, the cue to watch for are posts made by Seand. He is the Marketing, Press Relations and Project Manager. Also watch for other key people in the company as they make announcements too. Watch their posts for cues on release dates for any of Matrix's products. This is why, when I see 3rd party releases not verifiably connected to Matrix or any announcment they have made, I take them with a grain of salt.

I hope this explains what is going on here.

+2 for useful post.

My hopes were dahsed!

ORIGINAL: michaelbaldur

ORIGINAL: Triboga

I'm saving time for August after read this new release date. Probably it won't be done, but I have my hopes pinned on this release date (before the next one)

just to be clear ... there are no release date yet ....

Steve any idea when the MWIF website will be up?[&:] Soon I hope, sounds very interesting and should really help us noobs [speaking only for myself gentlemen] at this game even though the CWIF game is very interesting for me even though there is no AI, but thats a good thing because the AI would probably destroy what little ego I have left in war games[;)]

Bo

I think this answers your question Bo.
===========
June 5, 2010 Status Report for Matrix Games’ MWIF Forum


Accomplishments of May 2010

Project Management
I monitored all the threads in the MWIF World in Flames forum daily.

Hardware and Software
Theme Engine is still disabled. Running the Delphi 2010 IDE/debugger has dropped down to merely annoying, because I am now using work-arounds, which are actually better than the debugger in a few instances. Although I would still prefer to have the debugger’s functionality available, obviously.

Beta Testing
I released versions 4.01.06 and 4.01.07, to the beta testers last month. The next version for them will be 4.02.00 since when the number of patches is high (each time the last number changes the version is a patch) downloading and installing the program becomes tedious.

The changes this month were to correct bugs I introduced when making edits since the first of the year, new code for the improved supply determination routines, and enhancements to the supply path display form.

Saved Games
Nothing new.

Map and Units
Added some map changes in Australia from Patrice.

Scenarios and Optional Rules
Nothing new.

MWIF Game Engine and CWIF Conversion
I continued to rewrite the supply routines, with debugging them taking a ton of my time. Partially this is because I kept trying to use the Delphi 2010 debugger - I have since sworn off trying to do that except in extraordinary cases. After much effort, I have the overseas path search algorithm working correctly. Indeed, I stepped through that code hundreds of times looking for bugs and in the process found ways to improve its efficiency.

What cost me almost a week of time was trying to find a bug in the supply path determination routines when no bug existed. The problem was that the display form had a bug so the path that was shown on the form looked defective/incomplete. In reality the path was perfect but the presentation of the path on the Display Supply Paths form was stopping processing abruptly. Usually the MadExcept package I am using detects this kind of exception and fault isolates it for me. In this instance the program just skipped some code and acted as if it had completed the processing with no trouble. Spending days going over code that is perfect, looking a mistake that isn’t there, has a zero happiness quotient.

I find it near to impossible to stop trying to fix a problem when I have a good understanding of the circumstances under which it occurs. Hence the lateness of this monthly report. As long as the overseas supply path determination routine had a single bug, I simply could not drag myself away from fixing it to write this report.

Player Interface
Made major enhancements to the new form for displaying supply paths. The Display Supply Paths form lets you look at each major power and minor country and see (1) its different supply sources. Clicking on a supply source centers (2) the insert map on the hex. It also lists (3) the hexes and sea areas in the path that is being used. You can examine secondary to primary paths the same way. At the bottom of the form is (4) a list of the units using the supply source. I want to add (5) the ability to list all the units that are out of supply and isolated as well. Items 1 through 3 are now fully functional and I’ll complete the other two this coming month.

Internet - NetPlay
Nothing new.

PBEM
Nothing new.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Nothing new.

Player’s Manual
Nothing new.

Tutorials, Training Videos, and Context Sensitive Help
Nothing new.

Historical Video, Music, and Sound Effects
Nothing new.

Marketing
Andy Johnson continues to made enormous progress on the MWIF fan site. Currently we are planning on making the fan site available roughly a month or two before MWIF is released.

Many of the features I listed in last month’s report about the fan site have been improved. Andy is currently working on setting up a system for players to link up with each other for playing games over the internet and by email. His newest addition is to create a system for “Game of the Month”. His idea is to create a saved game of a particular scenario (a definitive start and stop points with selected optional rules) for everyone to play. At the end of the month the person with the best ‘score’ will be announced and the game annotated. As I write this, how to score a game is an open question.

My involvement in the fan site remains close to nil.

Communications
Nothing new.

Keep plugging away at it buddy! [:)] [&o]

Nine "Nothing new"-s... I win $50!

For people who may not have read the monthly status report for June 2010. Steve was referring to communications. There is no change as he continues to answer tons of questions, provide detailed monthly reports, work with numerous beta testers, provide advice on material for the game site, work with Matrix, keep ADG informed, maintain a family, and keep a life with some semblance of time to regenerate. Yes I am glad there is no change in communications.

How should we interpret the Nothing New on AI, when the game was delayed because it needed an AI?

ORIGINAL: CarnivalBizarre

How should we interpret the Nothing New on AI, when the game was delayed because it needed an AI?

Nothing new, in the past has meant, in the current month there were no changes regarding that item. It in no way implies that an item has been dropped from the game or the development process. The status report usually indicates where Steve's and others energies were directed during that time frame. It has at times listed development plan changes. When that has occurred it is usually a pretty clear statement though.

However, keep in mind this is my lowly opinion based on years of being here.

I am concerned with that too. AI is going to be tough to get done and will take alot of time. Nervous that no game testing of the AI is happening. Arg. I'm afraid we are at least a year away.

ORIGINAL: HansHafen

I am concerned with that too. AI is going to be tough to get done and will take alot of time. Nervous that no game testing of the AI is happening. Arg. I'm afraid we are at least a year away.

Concerning your comment on AI game testing....
Are you on the beta team and know what is happening? If so wouldn't discussion of what is or is not being tested be considered a violation of your NDA. Or are you just making assumptions about an issue you are not sure of?