2013 Info Thread

[Mad Russian]

Turn resolution is varied. In the first place turns don't always represent the same amount of time. That is determined by several variables. Like in many games the fewer units you have the faster the game plays because of the fewer commands that need to be executed.

Good Hunting.

MR

[Mad Russian]

Wonder what would happen if you string scenarios together?

Good Hunting.

MR

[Mad Russian]

I heard that the British were coming to the party as well... [X(]

With both Chieftains and Challengers! [&o]


Good Hunting.

MR

[Mad Russian]

Meet King Kong!

Good Hunting.

MR

[midgard30]

Are helicopters used only for combat? Is there any air assault infantry, air transport and air recon unit in the game?

[CapnDarwin]

In the data we have attack, utility, and recon helos. The initial release will not have helos doing transport functions. This is very high on the additional game engines feature list we carry internally. We want to get the main game out soon and we do plan on supporting the game with additional content and features as we go as well as fixing any bugs that pop up after release (hopefully small in both number and scope, we have some great testers!).

[wodin]

This game is approaching the top of my must own list.

I don't think I've seen any screenshots of dismounted Inf yet though...hope it isn't all armour ops.

[midgard30]

And what about engineers?
How does Electronic Warefare work? Is there some kind of decryption that gives information on enemy units? Or some disruption that block communications between HQ and units?
And thanks for the answers!

[CapnDarwin]

Wodin. No fears. I spent last weekend into the wee hours of the mornings fixing bugs and getting the grunts to fight and survive as they should. There are discreet infantry units and then there are mechanized units that "dismount" infantry (still the same counter, for now) that fight as independent subunits (own cover/LOS/etc mechanics). Losses are tracked to either vehicles or squads and in some cases both if a load track goes boom.

I think there are dismounts and such in the sneak peek screens.

[CapnDarwin]

macob30,

Engineers as units on map. Not this version. Their functions are abstracted and used as required in the game to blow bridges, build them, clear or place obstacles. We started out looking to have them as separate units and functions but the additional scope at the time was too much. Mad Russian on our team is ex-Engineer from back in the day and he really wants to see them added down the road and they are on our future features list.

EW comes in a couple flavors and is abstracted to a point. The scenario designer can set the level of C2 jamming each side is doing. This effects the number of orders each side can issue during a turn (this is a game option with an on/off switch). I want to deepen the model down the road to include spoofing orders, loss of command link to sub-units, and similar effects. There is also a mechanic for intercepting orders and "locating" enemy HQs.

We recently added icons and tracking for radar systems (right now air search systems). If aircraft or helos are equipped with radar warning receivers they will detect the emitter and see it on the map. Certain platforms also have ECM and DCM and ACM to jam, spoof or blind other sensors.

Good questions. Hopefully you like the answers.

[midgard30]

ORIGINAL: Capn Darwin

Hopefully you like the answers.

Engineers: No, but not a big deal since engineer work is done by regular units. Yet, I, too, believe they deserves their own unit.
Air assault/transport: Hell, no! That's a downer, considering the tactics that could be develop around this.
EW: Hell yes!
Radar: Super cool! These are great features typical to our time, that make us feel we're not playing a WW2 game.

All in all, I discovered FPG just recently. I was looking for a modern tactical game, and was really happy to see that there was a newer version of FPG in development. Obviously you're putting a lot a effort in this game, that is already looking great. Since there will be more features, campaigns and full support, so, YES, me too, this game is now high on my purchase list! In addition, modern warfare in the world of computer wargames is under exploited, as the WEGO system.

Keep the good work!

Good questions.

I watch a lot of war movies. [;)]

[Mad Russian]

You want the game months sooner than if you wait for airmobile assault or not? I guess if enough gamers wanted to wait for us to get that to work now we could.

I can assure you that airmobile assault is a key element of the first module to the system. Which would be released soon after we get this base game out to you.

As has been pointed out, I am an ex-combat engineer. There are things that we can do and will do with engineers and then there are things that we shouldn't do. We have put a lot of thought into how the Engineers are represented in the game. While it's not perfect it is pretty accurate. Mines and obstacles don't just magically appear. They take a lot of time, resource management and manpower to create. Is that what the game is about or is it about fighting? We chose to go with the fighting aspect and because of the time scale to have mostly pre-made engineer capabilities in game.

For those of you that have played FPG in the past you will see just how much has been changed. There has been almost an entire years worth of code rewriting done to the game at this point. The scope of what you will be getting in the base game is staggering. The fact that the maps can be created from Google Earth data is tremendous. I'm an old map maker at heart and the scenario and map editors get most of my attention. But this is a team made up of seasoned gamers. We know what we like and I'm pretty sure you will like the changes to the game as well. MONTHS of continuing research has gone into everything from the unit TO&E, ORBATS, combat SOP models for each country, interaction of combat delivery systems, etc.

This is basically a whole new game from the previous version. This is absolutely not a WWII game!! [X(]

Rob is a magician!! [&o]

Good Hunting.

MR

[midgard30]

The more I read about this game, the more I want it.[:D]

You want the game months sooner than if you wait for airmobile assault or not?

Lack of engineer and air mobile unit won't be a show stopper at all!! I'm quite impressed already from what I've read.
And this is a big incentive to buy it when it will be out:

I can assure you that airmobile assault is a key element of the first module to the system. Which would be released soon after we get this base game out to you.

At this point, reasons that will make me buy this game or not will be the same as any other games that I have an interest for (good reviews, quality of AI, UI, price, free time, etc.).

[Hexagon]

This is like when your mon says to you "what do you want, He-Man or GI Joe figure, only one" and you reply "both" [:D]

[midgard30]

Indeed, indeed! [:D]

[Mad Russian]

Few things have taken a back seat. Airmobile operations is one of them. At least where the helo's actually transport infantry onto the map and move them around.

Good Hunting.

MR

[midgard30]

Don't worry about that. I may have left the impression that I was disappointed and impatient, but really it's not the case. I tried a couple of years ago winSPMBT, and while I thought I wouldn't be interested in modern warfares, I found the scenarios really interesting, especially those involving helicopters. I believe they add a new and interesting element in tactics.

That being said, knowing that game designers care about customers' input and intend to pursue development of the game is really appreciated.

[Mad Russian]

I will also add that the only thing helicopters can't do, at this moment in time, is transport infantry. The utility helo's are in the game and ready to use when the code catches up.

Attack and recon helo's are in almost every scenario!! [&o]

Good Hunting.

MR

[Hexagon]

Interesting but a little question now that you talk about the high presence of helicopters... how is the AAA??? specially the emergency AAA like MGs, small arms (now with dismounted infantry... if a sheep guard can shoot down an attack heli with an AK-47 ... [:D]) or the APCs autoguns (i remember that BMP-2 use of 30mm was in part to counter NATO helicopters).

Thanks.

[Mad Russian]

What is AAA?

Good Hunting.

MR