Matrix Games Forums

Geoscape

Hey all! Just wanted to make a formal announcement of my next plugin: “Geoscape“!

Geoscape is a multiplayer dynamic campaign for Command. Geoscape will take commands from players and determine when combat needs to be resolved. It then generates Joint Command matches for each theater and then Joint Command in turn generates Command scenarios!

Geoscape is about persistence, units will exist before multiplayer matches and will exist (potentially damaged!) after multiplayer matches. Logistics will also be tracked, weapons will need to be shipped or flown around.

If you would like to help beta test Geoscape please sign up by chatting with us here: https://jabbr.net/#/rooms/baloogan or emailing me at baloogan@baloogan.com !

[&o]

Fantastic! You certainly help with promoting this very fine game.[;)]

Cheers Tophat [:D]

I typed this up for the Wargamer forums:
Geoscape is a multiplayer campaign plugin for Command. You set up a Geoscape game by importing 100s of Command scenarios, which then exist entirely in Geoscape. In Geoscape you can give simple orders to formations of your units, for example you could tell Carrier Strike Group 7 and a Convoy to move to a waypoint in the Northern Atlantic. Your opponents would tell their soviet submarines to move to waypoints as well, using recon assets to try to set up an interception on your CARSTRKGRU. When Geoscape detects that these units would pass within (say) 100nm of each other then Geoscape would generate a Joint Command multiplayer scenario which has the position of all the Units near this interception from Geoscape. The multiplayer scenario would have a duration of 1hr or 6hrs (or something). Then the battle is fought in Joint Command which creates Command scenarios to play multiplayer. After the multiplayer battle is over Geoscape will read back in the status of the units, the amount of munitions expended, who died, etc.

Then, if the battle isn't over, Geoscape will move time forward 6 hours (or however long the mutliplayer battles are set to last for) and generate additional Joint Command scenarios wherever it detects BLUFOR and REDFOR units in close proximity. Plus during these Joint Command scenarios time also passes in Geoscape so you can direct reinforcements to scenarios under way.

Geoscape will also keep track of logisitics and things like "6th Marine Regiment is stored aboard this amphibious assualt ship". I also plan to have a land combat component as well.

The inspiration for Geoscape came from MBX (mail battle experience) games run about a decade ago. Essentially Geoscape and Joint Command are plugins designed to make running an MBX game much less painful; as well as allow the players to take charge of their own units during combat.

I also take inspiration for Geoscape from War in the Pacific.

I wrote a singleplayer version of this about 4 months ago called "Baloogan Campaign" which I've kept a few screenshots of here: http://baloogancampaign.com/baloogan-campaign/ Geoscape is a multiplayer rewrite of Baloogan Campaign.

Myself and a few other guys are working on researching Orders of Battle for Geoscape campaigns; there are two campaigns planned one set in the western pacific 2008 which takes quite a few ques from a Tom Clancy book. And then next one (4-5 months down the line) set in Europe, 1988!

Ultimately I want to simulate a multiplayer World War 3 with full attention to detail and logistics. I shall achieve this via creating a multiplayer plugin for Command (already done
) and then creating a multiplayer campaign plugin for Command. Geoscape sits firmly on top of Joint Command, the only way munitions are spent will be via Command. Geoscape will move units around and detect when they might get close to each other, then send the resulting possible interceptions to Joint Command who then creates Command scenarios in a way which facilitates multiplayer gameplay. Then Command simulates the actual combat! After a Joint Command match is complete the surviving units and their states (munitions expended, fuel expended, damage, etc) is read back into Geoscape!

When and where can I buy this!!!

Matrix should be all over this platform.

Well, I am hoping to eventually get into making Wargames for a living. [:)] I'm writing this because I really really want to play it!

Hi Baloogan,

i think a really stupid question from me...so i downloaded the baloogan campaign_launcher and extracted it. But now when i double - click the baloogan campaign_launcher.exe nothing happens... What am i doing wrong ? I'm really new to command and also not that expert at naval games, but wanted to give joint command and geoscape a try.

thank you for your help !

You don't get any errors?
What operating system do you have, where did you extract the launcher to? Does it show up in the 'task manager'?

No it doesn'T show any errors. I extracted on the desktop. Using windows 8.0 and it also doesn't show up in the task manager. I double click, the moúse cursor changes to that blue circle but stops shortly after that and nothing else happens...

Could you try to reinstall the Baloogan campaign launcher from the zip?

One thing I do know is that I use the same prerequisites as Command; this is worth a shot to try, in Command's directory under PreRequisites could you run the installers located there? Starting with "dotNetFx40_Full_x86_x64.exe" and then "dotNetFx45_Full_setup.exe"

The launcher itsself should have this Size in the properties: 1.50 MB (1 572 864 bytes)

Another thing is that since this program auto-updates I've had virus scanners not like the baloogancampaign_launcher.exe; maybe add it to the list of trusted programs and see if that helps. It could be that the launcher activates and a virus scanner kills it.

ORIGINAL: mercho

No it doesn'T show any errors. I extracted on the desktop. Using windows 8.0 and it also doesn't show up in the task manager. I double click, the moúse cursor changes to that blue circle but stops shortly after that and nothing else happens...

I did some debugging last night and there is a new version available here: http://baloogancampaign.com/baloogan-campaign-launcher/

Blu3wolf shared this screengrab of his screen with me [:)]

This is Geoscape!

Best Korea's forces!

Registration of new Joint Command accounts is now automated!

Plus now, after you login once, will receive email notifications that its your turn.

Hey everyone! Joint Command has passed that magic threshold and has been released! Joint Command is now officially out of beta!

Anyone can download and run Joint Command, and you are able to create new users from within Joint Command!

Download:
http://baloogancampaign.com/baloogan-campaign-launcher/

WOW!! [&o]

General Staff rocks! Baloogan!

Thank you!

ORIGINAL: djoos5

General Staff rocks! Baloogan!

Thank you!

[:D]


That reminds me... I really need to make it work with CWDB.

Messaging feature added to Joint Command. Anyone can message any battle at any time; I foresee this being especially useful setting up games!

13 turns in 24 hours!