Matrix Games Forums

My apologies to the purists.

I do not think there will be time to do a full game and a PBEM WiF light (shortened sequence of play optimized for PBEM). I was hoping WIF optimized for PBEM would have priority over the faithful adaption of WiF where we have to wait for every naval mission announce sea box by sea box and every air mission to be flown to see if we want to intercept.

The majority opinion of the forum is a faithful adaption is preferred and I bow to the majority. I know the EiA group on yahoo is even more adamant about staying true to WIF. Maybe my comments are sour grapes and I apologize if I offend. I just don't want CWIF that gives me the following options: (1) play solitaire (2) beat on an inferior AI or (3) play hotseat or TCP/IP. Maybe when I get GG's WAW my WW2 strategic PBEM itch wil be scratched and I will wish for a complex game. I confess I will buy CWIF regardless.

I do admit that if I can take my laptop to my friends house and with a wireless network play CWIF without getting out the board, that would be a good thing. That avoids AI and solitaire play. Unfortunately that requires us finding WIF players in the same city. In my small town I am the only WiF player and have to take out my WiF deluxe and read the rules and look at the counter sheets with no one to play. Do not pity me, just make the AI outstanding for CWIF.

As for the Rome burning comment, through no fault of Matrix, CWIF has been promised for a long time. I have watched other strategic WW2 computer games get started and released during this time (e.g. Hearts of Iron). I worry that one of them will finally get it right before CWIF is released. By the way, the tech tree for HOI is very well done, shouldn't a tech tree be on the table for CWIF? Just trying to make things better by commenting and caring.

Greg

Greg,

Even some of us purists are hoping that both can be done. As a developer, I think the key is that plans for whatever features are to come need to be made earlier in the development cycle rather than later. Perhaps a simplified sequence can be an option that they add. I feel that from your perspective, the worst case (that is likely to happen) is that the AI will make some decisions during PBEM while keeping the sequence of play intact. The key is that we don't have enough information to know what they will be able to include. Let's keep our fingers crossed! [:)]

Again, I think it would be a great thing to have a shortened sequence of play for PBEM if it does not prevent the full game from being implemented.

I bet the developers (as soon as they catch a breath from their closing project) will be examining this carefully. I hope they will keep us posted of their ideas and will give the community a chance to comment on plans rather than suspicions.

Keep your fingers crossed that they think BOTH are feasable.

Barring that, keep your fingers crossed that they will be able to plan ahead for any expansions they might add to satisfy wishes that cannot be included in the first release.

Have a great day & keep on gaming!

Dean

I hear you, Greg!

I've even gone further than you in calling for an entirely new game altogether. Forget trying to recreate WiF, and come up with a new game modelled on WiF (hexes, turn based, whole world, production, sea zones, etc.) but more compatible to e-mail. Of course that was last year. since HoI2 came out and WaW is right around the corner, I've suddenly developed some patience in the matter. Samurai Programmer makes a lot of sense. Now that Robert C. is devoting his every waking moment [;)] to MWiF, I'd like to see what ideas he has regarding PBEM before I put any more demands in. btw, what part of the world do you call home? It was only last year that I stumbled across my first local opponent, and we've been engaged in our first game the past 5 months. Great fun. It was one of my postings on this web site that made the connection.

Thanks for the vote of confidence Cheesehead.
I call Ft Walton Beach, Florida home. I have a hard enough time finding anyone to play Axis and Allies with, let alone WiF.
Anyway, lets hope we get a game that maximizes WIF purity and playability. I don't want to completely sacrifice the latter for the former.
As Harry always signed my WIf games at every LA convention, "Good luck and Good gaming!"

If I'm a purist -so be it. Like Dean, I welcome a shortened PBEM version. I just feel that the decisions portrayed in wif , while many, are all essential to the game. There are other games to suit every person's needs. Why pick on wif? IMHO World in Flames, while adaptable to PBEM and solitaire , was the grognards answer to 'poker night'. It's best played with 4 or more players(IMHO). If someone couldn't make it, there were nights that his allies would have to move for him. Maybe use the AI like that as well. Though I wouldn't want the AI to become a 'crutch' for a weak player (unless by agreement).