Matrix Games Forums

Thanks guys,

We're really excited to introduce the new 2D Zoom-in level, it brings back the tactical to the series, doesn't it. With screen resolution having gone up all the time, the previous views got smaller and smaller over the years. What we have now are:

[*] 2D Zoom-In View, or 2D150 (150% size), above
[*] 2D Normal View, or 2D100 (100%, the previous Zoom-In)
[*] 2D Zoom-Out View, or 2D075
[*] 2D Extreme Zoom-Out View, or 2D050 (the largest view from the previous JTCS series )
[*] 2D Strategic View, or 2D025

This meant all the 2D terrain was redone, with larger size as a working template. There's more detail available as a result, hopefully you like them. The above screenshot is from Golan Heights I presume, so it is not that dark normally, this is higher elevation.

As for the counters, those are the new Alternate counters, redesigned to be used with the 3D unit images, as above. The Standard counters continue to be smaller, and with no watermarks or anything. Just like they are now.

Counter art is now with three options:

[*] NATO symbols continue to be supported,
[*] As do the 2D unit profiles
[*] 3D unit images are the new option, and for the first time 2D view now has a unit facing, handy if you prefer to play with Armor Facing optional rule right.

Icons are revisited as well. The number of icons is almost double now, not for the sake of it, but to visually introduce game features otherwise had to be discovered from Menu or from manual. They come in three sizes as previously, here is the Large option. They continue to have Tooltip text available when hovered over with cursor.

They are now designed with Color Blindness guidelines, no more green and red intermixing. Instead, contrast does the job. Also it should be easier now to observe which items are toggled ON, as they really stand out from the ones not.

Here's some Libyans vs Brits action from Desert for comparison:

Same with NATO symbols on Std counters. NATO icons have not yet been tidied, these are the result from having just magnified them from 2D100 to 2D150, scaling up is always a bit of an issue. But there you go, just showing how they'll pan out eventually. Work in progress until it ain't [:'(]

Here's the new 2D Normal View, or what was the previous 2D Zoom-In View, with the new terrain.

Very nice gentlemen![;)]

I am impressed and 2D facing thrown in to boot! Sweet, very Sweet![&o]

NATO counters are my preference--great job! terrain is really good.

can't wait.

I like the new counters, and that they have facing in the 2d again.

Berto I like the new icons and tool bar in your screenshot.

Nice job with those views

More sneak peeks, works-in-progress. How many new features can you spot?

Nice Map of Hue in South Vietnam [8D]

A fictional, modified map of Hue, with some of the new features arbitrarily hacked in. [;)]

Darn it berto, quit it![;)]

Now my mouth is watering...

Lets see how many new terrain types I can spot: meadow, produce field, airfield, colored dirt, major river, major river shallow,
major canal shallow, canal, canal shallow, thicket, minor river join, stream join.

Holy Hanna, that's 12 new terrain types at least and a "boss" looking toolbar to boot![&o]

When CS Vietnam comes out, do you think Matrix would mind if I bought 2 copies just in case one gets lost or worn out?[:D]



Big Ivan

ORIGINAL: Big Ivan

Darn it berto, quit it![;)]

I'll continue then [:'(]

Three summer Ground Conditions, three Winter Ground Conditions

ORIGINAL: Big Ivan

Lets see how many new terrain types I can spot: meadow, produce field, airfield, colored dirt, major river, major river shallow,
major canal shallow, canal, canal shallow, thicket, minor river join, stream join.

Holy Hanna, that's 12 new terrain types at least and a "boss" looking toolbar to boot![&o]

You missed a few. Where's Waldo?

When CS Vietnam comes out, do you think Matrix would mind if I bought 2 copies just in case one gets lost or worn out?[:D]

Why not? It'll make a great stocking stuffer too. [:)]

Well Crossroads and berto,

Your forcing me to make a decision and maybe retire early!

Can't let the darn day job get in the way of what's coming over the horizon for CS.

I can see the Matrix Headline in the future:

"Welcome to The Mega Campaign Series. The absolute last and final word in tactical war gaming for the personal computer!!"

"Millions of maps, organizations and scenarios spanning a time line from 1860 to 1985. Fight the American Civil War, World War I, World War II, Korean War,
The Arab-Israeli Wars and countless other engagements real or make believe. Fight over the face of the entire earth from the North Pole to the South Pole, from the Urals to the Alps to the Rockies! Includes terrain
found on all seven continents with organizations for over 500 countries and combatants!"

"ONCE YOU TURN THIS GAME ON YOU WILL NEVER SHUT IT OFF!" "For just a poultry $2500 price tag you can be sitting in the driver's seat of the greatest war engine ever produced!" "GUARENTEED TO DEPRIVE YOU OF SLEEP FOR YEARS TO COME!"

OK, I'll stop but its nice to dream a little...[:D]

But I have to admit there is some good stuff coming for CS, nuff said!



Big Ivan

Not to be poetic or anything........ thats Friggin Sweet[&o] ......I'm just not sure whether it cool or cruel to show us[;)], cant wait...first day purchase .

ORIGINAL: Big Ivan

Fight over the face of the entire earth from the North Pole to the South Pole, from the Urals to the Alps to the Rockies! Includes terrain
found on all seven continents...

---

// Definition of region values.

enum RegionValue {

XDefaultRegion = -1, // all games
XWestEurope, // WF, CW
XEastEurope, // EF, CW
XSouthEurope, // WF, CW
XWestAsia, // ME, CW
XEastAsia, // PF, VN, CW
XSouthAsia, // PF, CW
XNorthAfrica, // WF, ME, CW
XAfrica, // CW
XLatinAmerica, // CW
XPacific // PF, CW

};

const int NumRegions = XPacific + 1; // excluding XDefaultRegion

// Definition of biome values.

enum BiomeValue {

XDefaultBiome = -1, // all games
XTemperateForest, // EF, WF, PF, VN, CW
XTemperateGrassland, // EF, PF, CW
XMediterranean, // WF, ME, CW
XDesert, // WF, ME, CW
XTropicalRainforest, // PF, VN, CW
XSubTropicalForest, // PF, VN, CW
XTaiga, // EF, WF, CW
XTundra, // EF, WF, PF, CW
XAlpine // WF, CW

};

const int NumBiomes = XAlpine + 1; // excluding XDefaultBiome

---

[;)]

CW = Cold War

Really looking forward to your Vietnam title a day one purchase. I am still playing CS Middle East PBEM all the time.