Matrix Games Forums

Greetings,

I have a newbie question to experienced Pacific War gamers:

Can you tell me how much time one has to invest in this game to be able to enjoy it? Like, approximately how many hours does it take to learn to play? To finish a long campaign? A shorter scenario?

I haven't started playing Pacific War yet, and it looks like a great but very complex game. I already play several wargames (e.g. War in Russia), and I also have a life... That's why I wonder if I should start this one.

Regards,
Michael

Well, if you've played War in Russia, you'll have a good idea of the time consumption in PW. However, PW will take a bit longer, because it also includes ships and submarines.

ORIGINAL: Terminus

Well, if you've played War in Russia, you'll have a good idea of the time consumption in PW. However, PW will take a bit longer, because it also includes ships and submarines.

I disagree. In WiR each turn takes about the same long time.
In PW it is different for both sides:
Jap: the first turns are very time consuming but the longer the game goes, the less there is to do. You only can react on the US moves.
US: In the begining you just react, later you have to plan a bit but not too much

Watching the VCR take 10-20 min depending on your setting.
Overall I play a turn PW far faster than WiR.

Cheers

ORIGINAL: Misi75

How many hours does it take to learn to play? To finish a long campaign? A shorter scenario?

That will depend on your experience, but having played WIR should help. The online materials available should help also - I wish I would have had them when I bought this thing.

I would say you should be able to get a turn done in 1 hour or less once you have the hang of it - more for the times when you are planning a big operation (perhaps every few months of game time).

ORIGINAL: Misi75

I also have a life

Beware - that life can really cut in to your gaming time [;)]

ORIGINAL: Misi75
Can you tell me how much time one has to invest in this game to be able to enjoy it? Like, approximately how many hours does it take to learn to play? To finish a long campaign? A shorter scenario?

To give orders for a turn takes this reasonably experienced player between 10min and half an hour depending on the stage of the war.

To LEARN the game so you can achieve the times given in the previous sentance probably involves 40 to 60 hours of play with multiple restarts as you figure out what you are doing wrong. It's good fun all the way.

Well worth the time IMHO

I play this game for over 10 years but sometimes it seems I still have not learned all the lessons. The learning curve is steep and long, but it is great fun. Just go ahead and start a game. Even if you have a life - a save game file won't run away... [;)][/align]

Thanks for everybody replying to my post. Your replies suggest that the time requirements of PacWar are not prohibitive, so I'll read all the docs carefully and then start a game (maybe a smaller scenario as the Allies, just as I started WiR with Bagration as Russia). I'm looking forward to it - starting a new wargame is always fun.

I highly recommend following the tutorial in the manual. There's nothing like "hands-on" experience to make you remember which keys do what.

I go back to the old version of WIR and I tried the matrix version which is a total waste of time IMO. It appears to me that the game they created is more like a bata sans play testing. It contains non of the flavor of the former WIR and adds a lot of stuff that is not needed. It also makes the game harder to play with the system they put in.
I plan on downloading the PW version from matrix and I hope they did not mess with it to much.
Is your refference to amount of time related to the old PW game (which I played) or the matrix version which I have not played.

Just wondering
Lawrence

Is your refference to amount of time related to the old PW game (which I played) or the matrix version which I have not played.

Matrix download version

I never played the matrix version which I was wondering if it took longer than the old PacWar game. I find it a bit amazing that there seems to be a active group of players out there playing not only the matrix PacWar but War in Russia as well.

Lawrence