Matrix Games Forums

hello
like a lot of people i would like to know if matrix games ever plan to acquire the rights of advanced squad leader
from avalon hill and make a fidel computer adaptation?

if not why and if yes when

thx

Paradox (of Hearts of Iron and Europa Universalis fame) have the computer game rights - which left Avalon Hill a long time ago - and are currently developing a Squad Leader game which is awaited with, I'd think I'd be right in saying, a mixture of anticipation and dread!

I think we would all like to see a straight ASL port, but I can only see that happening if the Paradox version bombs and somebody like Matrix acquires what would then be seen as a 'dead' license to finally develop what wargamers really want.

Paradox (of Hearts of Iron and Europa Universalis fame) have the computer game rights - which left Avalon Hill a long time ago - and are currently developing a Squad Leader game which is awaited with, I'd think I'd be right in saying, a mixture of anticipation and dread!

I think we would all like to see a straight ASL port, but I can only see that happening if the Paradox version bombs and somebody like Matrix acquires what would then be seen as a 'dead' license to finally develop what wargamers really want

Now, Now Hertston..........Don't lie we all know you enjoyed the Hasbro Interactive Version.[:D][:D] Who knows if this one turns out to be much of the same, we can't really be sure Matrix will get it. [X(]

I used to play ASL...was a great game and I still have the rulebook but not any modules. In a sense there are some interpretations of ASL ie Close Combat Series and also Combat Mission. My favorite is Close Combat II. While not turn based it captures the sense and feel of WWII combat... much of what I experienced with ASL.

ASL was NEVER EVER real time, so, Close Combat doesn't even come close to being ASL in any form IMHO of course [:D] Steel Panthers comes the closest if you want to get technical.[:D]

Want computer ASL try VASL, if your looking for AI try SP, CM or CC. But remember both CM and CC set out to port ASL to the PC early on and both came to the same conclusions .

Can’t be done [;)]

Note to the marketing types:
 
If there were a PC version that was an exact port I would have no interest

I'm working on computer version of Advanced Squad Leader Stater Kit (I call it for now XASL)...head to head play and at some point I want to implement SASL II - scale it down for ASLSK. I have American, German and Russian infantry all in at this point and including support weapons like machine guns, DC and FT. I'm currently doing some testing then I will move on to ordnance like bazooka/panzerschreck and mortars before I got guns and finally armor - by that time hopefully MMP will release Starter Kit #3.

Here are some screenshots for you ....just to show you I'm not full of it

I have been working on XASL project for about a year now. The purpose is basically to able to play ASLSK against computer, if I can using SASL rules. XASL has ASL rules in the game, so you would play it as say HPS squad battles or the Matrix campaign series. So far I got unofficial green light from Brian Youse MMP. I'm primarily focusing on Eastern Front and single player and head to head only...

The Picture that you see currently is from the first ASL Starter Kit - Scenario S1 Retaking Vierville. The second image shows S2 Scenario War of the Rats.

ASL was NEVER EVER real time, so, Close Combat doesn't even come close to being ASL in any form

I disagree [:D]

Computer ASL interpretations
There have been a number of computer game interpretations of ASL.
Close Combat by Atomic Games was originally devised as a computer game version of ASL. Atomic Games had already developed several games for Avalon Hill, however, with Avalon Hill embroiled in a financial crisis that would ultimately lead to its demise, Atomic Games took what work they had completed, severed ties with the boardgame franchise and completed the game's development for Microsoft.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Squad_Leader

While not an exact replica (never said it was) of ASL, CC series is the closest and has obvious ties with its makers...

Peter,

That is outstanding,well done [8D]

ORIGINAL: Ocelotl

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Squad_Leader

[:D] Ranthood may be harsh at times, but he isn’t stupid , we all know what ASL is [;)]

While not an exact replica (never said it was) of ASL, CC series is the closest and has obvious ties with its makers...

I will have to disagree,
Actually CC is the furthest from ASL of the three titles I mentioned.

ORIGINAL: Sarge

Peter,

That is outstanding,well done [8D]

Thanks, last year in November I was browsing the net and looking for some interesting WW2 game that I would like to work on since I got sick and tired waiting for someone else to make me the perfect wargame I want to play. Then I came across MMP web site again and I knew ASL was deep and well respected system with tons of stuff and of course it's not cheap but then I saw ASL Starter Kit #1 and #2 selling for like $25 so I figured hey let's give it a try...then the rest is history, I got hooked big time. So I bought ASLSK #1, #2, Full ASL rulebook, Yanks, pre-ordered at that time BV3, ASL SK3, bought Pegasus Bridge HASL, KGP II, Streets of Fire and Hedgerow Hell deluxe modules, AOO and now FKaC and I have Valour of the Guards on pre-order Nothing comes close to ASL...and I want to play it on computer because otherwise I'm gonna loose my brain and my girlfriend will leave me as well playing around with those paper counters and maps...which I don't want that to happen so I want my PC to handle all the rules so that I can concentrate on game play and strategy. My Scenario Editor will allow me to connect 12 ASL boards together…I can either make my own or load pre-saved the original ASL boards. Still a lot of work ahead but that's ok...I'm having a blast and already have few ASL diehards testing the rules for me.

Do you have a forum you regularly post at regarding the development . If not, please keep us up to date on the your project.
 
 
 

ORIGINAL: Sarge


Do you have a forum you regularly post at regarding the development . If not, please keep us up to date on the your project.

At this point, XASL is still in development the first phase is being tested right now for a few months and tweaking the rules...I will post more pictures here in the future.

There is really two harsh truths that will always marr anything connected with official ASL.

1. the real ownership is with Hasbro, better termed Hasborg. And Hasborg doesn't do small.

Which is why they were ok with leaving it to

2. Multiman Publishing, the official source of genuine ASL.

Sadly though, Hasborg went and sold the electronic rights to Paradox, who likely knows only a fraction more about ASL, than an atypical Hasborg upper management suit.

And this state of conditions has for some time now, made it so MMP is constantly claiming it can't do this and can't do that, if it involves anything even remotely electronic due to vague notions of what would constitute "electronic rights" to ASL ... currently controlled by Paradox.

Soooooo the closest you are likely to ever get to playing actual ASL on your computer, is with VASL, and the actual boardgame set up in your home.

If you like real time, you want Close Combat, if you prefer 3d, go with Combat Mission, if you want something that visually looks like ASL, you want Steel Panthers. I have even played custom made scenarios designed to look exactly like SL and or ASL scenrios.
The Guards Counterattack for instance, plays incredibly true to the actual Squad Leader scenario.

I of course wish anyone well trying to make a real ASL game, but, I am being realistic when I say, chances of it going on sale, are dim at best. Hasborg is like that.

One thing you can say about computer ports of Squad Leader is the two greatest failures of all time (Close Combat, Combat Mission) both started out as ports of ASL. Funny, the only computer game to carry the SL title (hasbro version) was total crap!

Ya I know the probably everyone here knows what ASL is... not the point of the link (posted to show where i got the qoute from)the quote states what I think ie Avalon hill and Atomic teamed up to make a computer version of ASL and again my only point is that CC II is an interpretation. (key word) of ASL. Now by interpretation I dont mean exact replica just a loosely based version which I believe CC is... and having played both I still stand by my thoughts ...cheers

Well saying it's an interpretation is one thing, saying it's the "closest" thing to ASL is another. I still stand by SPWAW as the closest thing to ASL over all three "inerpretations". It's looks like it and it's turn based and you can build the battlemaps and unit representations from "Squad Leader" from it. Combat Mission comes 2nd, but, doesn't look like it or is turn based in the true sense of turn based gaming like ASL. Close Combat comes last and in my book doesn't even come at all being RTS, parterned with Avalon Hill or not it's just not ASL.

Close Combat is not RTS.  It's unfair to the game to refer to it that way.
 
 

ORIGINAL: Joe 98

Close Combat is not RTS. It's unfair to the game to refer to it that way.

Yep, the term "continuous time" is more appropriate.