Matrix Games Forums

Hey, I thought we were going to have this out by now!

What's the holdup?

Problems? New enhancements being added?

Inquiring minds are getting concerned.

ooops sorry never mind
wrong forum!

Sure seems awfully quiet out here...too quiet

ORIGINAL: Yohan

Sure seems awfully quiet out here...too quiet

Definitely... I was expecting to have this in my hands by now. [:(]

Oh well, HPS just released "Vicksburg" in their campaign series so there is something new to chew on.

Personally, and I never thought I'd say this as a 10 year Battleground fan, but I don't really mind if they are never rereleased.

The HPS games are, in my view, far superior except for three things:
- Maps/Graphics/Icons - All the 3D visual things, but really, I don't play a turn based historical strategy game for the graphics.
- Sound, including music - But really, does this matter much? I don't believe it does. The music is good, but I can go so far before I just turn it off.
- The handcrafted maps - This is nice, but to be fair, they are much smaller maps than the HPS ones.

But really, those things are all peripheral. I could list why I have become convinced that HPS is better, but I won't.

I'm just wondering how much Matrix is hoping to sell. The graphics and setting will only appeal to a small group of gamers, and those would have the games or alternatives already! I mean, I have no reason to buy the games I already have. If they did new ones...maybe.

Anyway, wonder if anyone wants to discuss this with me.

I had most of the Battleground games and they did get alot of use.  But after getting new computer systems with windows XP I couldnt get them working on my computers.  Im sure there are work arounds but, it wasnt worth the hassle.  Actually I just moved and finially threw them all away.  When the Matrix versions come out I will probably buy my 3 favorites, Waterloo, Getteysburg and Borodino and maybe another of the Civil War games.
 
I dont have any of the HPS games, wouldnt mind trying one, any suggestions for the best one to try first?

I loved the Battleground box set, which included Gettysburg, Antietam, Shiloh and Bull Run.  With Tiller's own 32-bit enhancement mods, these WILL play on XP (running in Win98-compatible mode). 
 
Still, I'm looking forward to Matrix' versions of these fine games.  The biggest improvement they could make is a better AI opponent, as the graphics/maps were already good.  

When the Matrix versions come out I will probably buy my 3 favorites, Waterloo, Getteysburg and Borodino and maybe another of the Civil War games.

HPS has versions of Waterloo, Gettysburg and Borodino, as well as many other Napoleonic and ACW titles. They're all pretty much the same and if you like one, you'll like them all.

ORIGINAL: nmleague
I dont have any of the HPS games, wouldnt mind trying one, any suggestions for the best one to try first?

I have Peninsula, Gettysburg and Shiloh.

I'll give you pros and cons of each;

Gettysburg:
+ HUGE maps, the largest is 20 miles by 17 miles. That is massive.
+ Good quality armies with good reliability.
+ LOTS of flexibility.
- No specific ones.

Peninsula:
+ Big armies on both sides - 230,000 total when deployed.
+ Size means tactical flexibility and a use of cavalry is vital.
- It covers only Seven Pines and Seven Days...a big map, but only one area.
- Lack of short battles!!!

Shiloh (got yesterday):
+ Big variety of campaigns.
+ 'Split maps'
+ Gunboats...and fun scenarios.
- The Rebels seem to have a lot of B quality troops, and both armies are almost all C and D quality, which seems a little strange.

Overall, go for Gettysburg as first choice in my view.

ORIGINAL: Ashantai

ORIGINAL: nmleague
I dont have any of the HPS games, wouldnt mind trying one, any suggestions for the best one to try first?

I have Peninsula, Gettysburg and Shiloh.

I'll give you pros and cons of each;

Gettysburg:
+ HUGE maps, the largest is 20 miles by 17 miles. That is massive.
+ Good quality armies with good reliability.
+ LOTS of flexibility.
- No specific ones.

Peninsula:
+ Big armies on both sides - 230,000 total when deployed.
+ Size means tactical flexibility and a use of cavalry is vital.
- It covers only Seven Pines and Seven Days...a big map, but only one area.
- Lack of short battles!!!

Shiloh (got yesterday):
+ Big variety of campaigns.
+ 'Split maps'
+ Gunboats...and fun scenarios.
- The Rebels seem to have a lot of B quality troops, and both armies are almost all C and D quality, which seems a little strange.

Overall, go for Gettysburg as first choice in my view.

Agreed... go for Gettysburg Campaign! Shiloh is fun but Gettysburg... the ultimate campaign!

Also, you can mod Gettysburg with better 3D graphics that makes it look more like the BG Gettysburg.

While purists can dismiss the BG graphics, I play in all 4 views and clearly prefer the older BG games in this regard. That's why I can't wait to replace my collection with the new and improved Matrix version. I'll still be playing the HPS series though because I LOVE the huge maps and campaign games (however, these also take me forever to play... I'm only halfway through one Gettysburg campaign game that I started back during Spring Break 2005! The BG series provide the graphics that I enjoy in a reasonably paced series of scenarios that can be played in a shorter time span.

I'm certainly not knocking HPS... they both have their place in my heart!

Both have their pluses and minuses.  I recommend at least experimenting with an HPS Demo to see how you feel about it.  You need to keep in mind for almost all HPS games there are 3D and sometimes 2D graphics MODS and also MOD extension games avilable.
 
If you do buy an HPS game, buy it here:
 
http://yhst-12000246778232.stores.yahoo.net/
 
It is always lower cost than HPS Direct and is a good service.
 
Napoleonic Wargamers - Our Club link below, we are always looking for new pepple to join and we also have MODS for folks to download free for use. We play Battleground, HPS and Matrix.

I'm also keen to see the Battleground series (especially the Napolionics) converted over to XP. If anyone form Matrix is looking at these boards and could give us a clue as to an approximate release date it would be good to know.

I was thinking about getting the HPS Gettysburg but didn't for two reasons.  First, I no longer buy games with disk copy protection.  And second, I did some research and found the ai in that particular game isn't too good.

I would like to see Matrix publish this series with all the games in one, like they're planning for the campaign series.

ORIGINAL: rich12545

I was thinking about getting the HPS Gettysburg but didn't for two reasons. First, I no longer buy games with disk copy protection. And second, I did some research and found the ai in that particular game isn't too good.

I would like to see Matrix publish this series with all the games in one, like they're planning for the campaign series.

Quite honestly, the scope of these "campaign" games is just so huge, that the AI is totally worthless. The AI can't even seem to keep units organized in any coherent fashion. The first campaign game of Gettysburg that I played I switched the Confederates from "Computer" to "Manual" to take a look at what was going on... it was ghastly. Units scattered all over the place, no discernible order of battle, some troops just sitting there way in the rear. I stepped in for a couple of turns, got the Rebs all organized and turned it back to the AI. Within about three turns it was back to sheer chaos. So... yep, I would agree that the "ai... isn't too good" [:D]

However, I play myself in a PBEM game and have a great time (I do have a split personality from my years of solitaire boardgaming).

I haven't really played any of the regular scenarios so I can't evaluate how effective the AI is at that level. The BG Gettysburg AI was reasonably good (though I could always beat it). I expect that the HPS version would do at least as well, if not better. Playing the campaign with the huge maps and endless varibles is just way beyond state of the art for AI.

I still recommend purchase.

AI in HPS is for the most part worthless. Benefits are always made in playing PBEM.  You get someone with an imagination at the other end...msot of the time...[:'(]

...sorry for boring you again with the same old question... news about the release?