SP:WAW vs WinSPWW2

[Deputy]

I have both games and have been playing each one to compare them. The final results...

SP:WAW: The good....
Excellent game play. Especially with the Enhanced mod. I could spend all night playing one scenario or campaign after another. When you set the Preferences the gameplay can be easily adjusted for new users or pros. In other words...SP:WAW is a BLAST to play!!!!

The Bad...after all this time I still experience Crash To Desktop and occasional lockups and video glitches. You have to save game after EVERY turn or you could end up starting at turn one. This is such a shame, since this game would be PERFECT if it wasn't for those problems. Even sadder that a fix will probably never be forthcoing.

And the competition....

Win SPWW2: The good...the guys that ported the original version of Steel Panthers did a fantastic job of making it 100% stable. It NEVER crashes to desktop. You NEVER need to worry about losing gameplay or having lockups. You can run it either in a window or full screen and it runs great either way. Screen resolution is awesome. It truly is 100% Windows compatible.

The Bad...the game comes with some excellent editors, including an OOB/weapons editor. Unfortunately, it NEEDS them badly.
The settings for some weapons are just plain NUTS!!!! I suspect that the guys that built the game were computer programming geniuses, but they never bothered to take any WW2 history classes[:)]. Bazookas that easily kill Tiger tanks with FRONTAL shots. Submachineguns that are deadly out beyond 50 meters. That's just two things I noticed during gameplay and looking in the OOB editor. Also, the Preferences settings seem to have VERY LITTLE actual affect on gameplay. I set the German side on 250% and the Allied side on 30% and the Germans STILL got clobbered[X(].
Bringing these problems to the attention of their forum and game designers has mixed results. One mod admitted that there was a problem with the code, and another said in effect I was an idiot that didn't know what I was doing. But I received confirmation from a couple of other forum members and players that there certainly WERE problems and that I had spotted one of them. What's really strange is they also converted Steel Panthers Modern Battles to Windows format (WinSPMBT), and it works great and the problems in WinSPWW2 are NOT present.

Bottom line...I will probably play SP:WAW much more than WinSPWW2. [;)]

Dep

[chief]

Do you play SPwaw with NOTHING running in the back ground ????? NO screen savers , no Email, no virii checkers, anything running in background ????

[Deputy]

ORIGINAL: chief

Do you play SPwaw with NOTHING running in the back ground ????? NO screen savers , no Email, no virii checkers, anything running in background ????

Yep...I've owned the CD of the game since 2005. Even with everything else shut down I get CTD and lockups. I'm used to it by now [:)]

[Alby]

Deputy, have you updated an video drivers?
 

[Deputy]

ORIGINAL: Alby

Deputy, have you updated an video drivers?

Yep...GeForce 7800GS with latest Nvidia drivers. The CTD is not a big deal. I'm so used to it I hit the save button automatically. But it would be nice if I didn't have to. [:)]

[junk2drive]

I saw your latest post at Shrapnel's forum. Not wanting to pimp a Matrix game over there I'm posting here. You stated that you like the Campaign Series from Talonsoft. Matrix has re-released the series for Win XP with many improvements and additions. Plus you can play all 3 games from one menu without a CD. Look under John Tiller's Campaign Series in the new releases forum.
 
There is an old thread at The Depot, www.spwaw.com , in the other SP category about the differences between SPWAW and WinSPWW2. I do enjoy the (CD version) higher screen resolution and window mode of the WinSPs plus the reversing of AFVs. But the special op-fire surprise in SPWAW makes vs AI battles better.
 
Can't wait to see SP IV.

[Deputy]

ORIGINAL: junk2drive

I saw your latest post at Shrapnel's forum. Not wanting to pimp a Matrix game over there I'm posting here. You stated that you like the Campaign Series from Talonsoft. Matrix has re-released the series for Win XP with many improvements and additions. Plus you can play all 3 games from one menu without a CD. Look under John Tiller's Campaign Series in the new releases forum.

There is an old thread at The Depot, www.spwaw.com , in the other SP category about the differences between SPWAW and WinSPWW2. I do enjoy the (CD version) higher screen resolution and window mode of the WinSPs plus the reversing of AFVs. But the special op-fire surprise in SPWAW makes vs AI battles better.

Can't wait to see SP IV.

WOW!!!! That's EXCELLENT NEWS!!! Thanks a ton for that info!!!!! Looks like I'll be placing an order today. [:)]
I agree about Win SPWW2 having nicer eye candy. But their Preferences settings seem to be way off. One of the mods/game designers actually agreed with me that there was a problem with the code, although those folks over there sure can't take constructive criticism very well. And I agree with you 100% that SP:WAW op-fire surprise adds a LOT to the game. Quite simply, I find SP:WAW more enjoyable to play. I feel more "immersion" and control over things, rather than in WinSPWW2 where I am just watching game mechanics occur on the screen. Thanks again for that heads up. I realy appreciate it. Hmmmm...I wonder if there is any way to crank up screen resolution in SP:WAW???? [:D]

Dep