Allow myself to introduce myself

[Huggy87]

Hi all,
New here. I'm thinking of buying War in the Pacific, but I don't want to spend 70 clams and then not like it.

I loved Risk the board game, and Axis and Allies both on the board and on the PC. Harpoon (the original) on the PC probably cost me some grades my freshman year. I played the hell out of the Close Combat and Combat mission series. I've enjoyed a lot of fantasy strategy series like heroes of might and magic and Age of wonders. World at War from matrix has a permanent spot on my hard drive - but I never played with advanced supply. I didn't really care for that level of micromanagement. I never purchased the heart of iron series for the same reason. I'm a big WW2 history nerd and have a book case full of just WW2.

I love this subject matter, but with three kids and a busy job, this might be too much game. How is the game if you automate many features? I wish there was a demo for this game. Input would be appreciated.

Huggy

[FeurerKrieg]

The automation is pretty crappy. If you REALLY (who says you have to actually talk to the wife?) don't have any free time, don't buy it. It will consume your life.

There is a thread around here that deals with good things to say to the wife when you here her voice going and you are watching a turn run. 'Catch all' phrases if you will that cover about 90% of the things that wife might say/ask.

[dtravel]

If you think Hearts of Iron was too detailed, then this is definitely not the game for you.

[treespider]

ORIGINAL: Huggy87

I didn't really care for that level of micromanagement. I never purchased the heart of iron series for the same reason.

Huggy

Then you won't like this game...Although hands down it is the best around with this scope...

[scott64]

What they said [:'(]

[33Vyper]

Some have called this game Quartermaster in the Pacific.....yes there is micromanaging....you will need a notepad and a good memory...cause it only takes one...opps forgot I had the BB task force without air cover there to make you soooooooooooooooo angry....

that being said....still the best grognard level wargame I have ever played. [&o][&o]

oh yea....forgot one thing...you might be overwhelmed by WITP...but UV is a good alternative...it is WITP Lite™ and well worth the investment. It would give you a great idea of what WITP would be like...just imagine having 10,000 times more stuff to move around.

[Mart777]

Everybody is right in what they say it is rather complex but heres a thought you could consider, if you like the pbem in games the time issue can be less off putting. Play against someone who plays just a few turns a week and fit your game around your lifestyle.

[Mighty Atomu]

Don´t worry about the micromanagement complexity.

Just take a dive and fight your way through the game, and leave the rest to the artificial intelligence. It will be fun and - as you develop skills just by having fun - you will naturally start to feel the urge to micromanage everything yourself to improve performance.

You will catch the "micromanagement disease" - there´s no doubt about it!

The bigger issue is how to fit your life around the game. You know, all those annoying little things like wife/girlfried, family, work, various to-do's, social obligations - also know as "real life"...  [X(] Being a nerd helps, but you have to be very creative

[supermarina]

usually I don't like computer games on strategical level. I prefer boardgames with high difficult rating.
Usually on computer games the AI isn't smart enough, the game is too and boringly complex, tha map is too large and you can't have a right level of wiew,.. and so on.

This is the only computer game that can challenge a boardgame. Complex enough but not overwhelming if you have played a bordgame like World in Flames acting as the British Empire, very good historical accuracy and flavour etc.
It's a game that focus on air and naval combats obviously, the land combat is much sacrificated to sake of simplicity, but..

simply the best on its genre[&o][&o][&o]

[ny59giants]

Since I am a professional counselor by trade, I would suggest you talk with your wife about how much time she feels is appropriate to spend on the computer. This game is addictive. [:D][:D] 
Once you get it and start playing the tutorial and then a small scenario against the AI you will want to play either a PBEM or a full length against a pretty good AI. A PBEM can be taylor made to the number of games you want (I have three [;)]) and you can say only a limited number of turns per week. However, you say that when you start, but as the "game" gets interesting, you WILL spend more time playing it.
I have played board games and now computer games for almost 40 years and this is the best I have player. [&o][&o]

[jeffs]

Definitely start with UV. It is a great game on its own...Play PBEM (do AI for 1 to 2 weeks to get the basic idea)
then get slaughtered once or twice at PBEM and you will turn into a monster...
 
If then after a while you find UV a bit limited (or more likely, unable to get new PBEM partners as many UVers have gone to the dark side that is sometimes called WITP) then welcome.

[Huggy87]

Thanks for the input all.  I ended up paying 30 for aUV download.  30 seems like a lot for a four year old game, but it is such a niche game.  I can see how this sucks you in -  reminds me of Harpoon, only better.  Amazing detail with a steep learning curve, I've already managed to lose my carriers in the coral sea.  [:(]  The user interface is as bad as all of the reviews claimed.  Anyway, If this goes well (or badly), I may be seeing you soon with WITP.