Matrix Games Forums

Hi everyone,

I was excited when I heard of a new Age of Sail game. It's been a dry spell since 2002.

Since then, Akella has gone the stategy/RPG route with Sea Dogs and then Age of Pirates. Soon there will be Captain's Blood and the much anticipated Pirates of the Burning Sea. Encore Games will also make East India Company.

This kind of game is popular, but I don't see Age of Sail doing to well...[:(]

First off, I have my doubts there will be a 3D enviornment and there is no publicity.

Second, to say the excuse is there are no fansites for Age of Sail is simply because it's an old game with dated graphics, and so, little interest if any. There's no excuse to blame this on lack of fansites. I don't see many fansites for any old games, LOL.

There ARE fansites for HOT age of sail/pirate games that ARE succesfull.

http://www.piratesahoy.com/

http://www.burningsea.com/pages/page.php?pageKey=home

http://www.eicgame.com/

http://www.playlogicinternational.com/

If you want to make a REAL game, you have to put something out built up brand new. Take a look at Legion Arena. People will buy it because it's hot in graphics like Rome Total War. Pirates of the Burning Sea is also hot, best game at E3 last year because of the graphics and the limitless world map with RPG and RTS elements.


My suggestion, if you are serious at all.

Same concept as Age of Sail 2, make it easier to control fleets.

Better graphics that can compete with the likes of Pirates of the Burning Sea, Age of Pirates and EIC.

Blend RTS and RPG. How? Easy, you keep the variety of missions and add a campaign game. For instance, a world map or at the very least the Atlantic and Medieranean. You start off with historical fleets and fleet sizes. Say for the Age of sail era, 120 SOL for English, 80 for French, 60 for Spanish, Russian 35, Holland 50, Sweden 20, Denmark 30.

The ability to attack and capture enemy ships, bombard towns and cities.

The ability to land troops and take colonies.

The ability to build up colonies and an empire or Countrie's infastructure similar to this:

http://www.pacific-storm.net/

You make historical ships with well detailed land.

Basically blend Rome Total War, Pacific Storm and Pirates of the Burning Sea and you have a game that makes $$$$.

But with no vision, all you can expect is the same old, same old and a waste of time and $.[:-]

I hope you guys can use your imagination a little, if not, sell your rights to the game if your're not going to make the next evolutionary step and make a quality product that can compete with the best of the genre.

BTW, here is another game that just goes to show you how dated Age of Sail is. If you don't make a game better than Privateer's Bounty, might as well anounce that this project is canceled.

http://vc.igg.com/pic_list.php?pic_type=screenshot

Some more suggestions:

The ability to sail the ocean and blockade the coast

The ability to capture ships and sail them back into port and refit

Hurricanes, yellow fever and plague

Historical events

The ability for ship crews to gain experience and become better trained with experience

Island and continents to sail to

Historical characters like Admiral DeGrasse, Nelson, Howe, Hood, etc.

I really hope that Matrix will consider this constructive criticism. I wish you guys the best prosperity while at the same time listening to what your customers want in an age of Sail game.

Graphics are not every thing in a tactical Naval wargame. They certainly do help but its what is under the hood (or deck [;)]) that counts...............

very true indeed
but it helps alot and is the next evolutionary step
 

I read in a post from David Heath( I'm not sure where). He said: something to the effect that This game will be packaged with John Tillers Civil War titles? I'm not positive if this was the planned pakage(my memorey fails me). So I don't think fans should expect too much.

Thanks for the heads up Zap, appreciate that alot.
 
I for one am pleased....that naval simulations and warefare games are on the horizon, and the future looks promising. Soon, Pirate Simulator will be available next year with the goal of having an entire world to conquor, fight ship of the line battles, blockade ports, repair fleet, capture ports, bombard fortresses. And use actual plans of shipmodels in the game. Keep posted on this new game, it's going to be great.

Is that a planned RTS or FPS game?

Hi Zap, the main site is down right now, might be up in two days,Server problem, but here is the weblog to keep up to date:
 
http://creativesparks.wordpress.com/

http://creativesparks.wordpress.com/pirate-simulator/

And here's some of the screenshots from the game Zap (note,the 17th century 2 decker is dated and is being fixed/I chastized them for that,hehehehe)
 
http://s181.photobucket.com/albums/x208/Creative-Sparks/Pirate%20Simulator/