New Player- Inital Impressions of Beta 1.0

[Benpark]

I just downloaded the beta 1.0 a few hours ago, and I'm really impressed. This is the first I have seen of the game, and it exceeded my expectations far beyond what I thought it would. The game plays out like a great tabletop game should (but on a PC). The AI seems sensible, things make sense right away and the visual whole holds together well.

I'm on Windows7 64bit (in Mac OSX/Bootcamp). No issues whatsoever thus far after 3 full games.

Two suggestions: One is to allow a slightly more zoomed out view. The other is to allow for something like the quick battles of other games. The players load a map, and forces can be determined by the computer, or picked by the player. To take the latter suggestion a bit further, allow forces to carry over from battle to battle in a "campaign".

Good stuff here. I sure hope we see an Eastern Front version someday(?).

[pipfromslitherine]

Thanks for the feedback! It might be useful to know that the M key will bring up a topdown view which can be good for getting a higher level feel for what is going on.

Please let us know how you are getting on with the various campaigns as you continue throught the game.

Cheers

Pip

[junk2drive]

Hi ben and everyone

XP Home SP3 no problems here either.

I agree with the zoom out request. I'll have to try the hotkey.

A readme or quick start text would be helpful. I fumbled my way through the tutorial and first campaign but I have a lot of experience with computer games.

[pipfromslitherine]

I think you're right - some more helpful tips would be ideal.

Which areas especially did you find you had to experiment to find out as you went through the tutorial?

Thanks for the feedback, and please let us know as you have more.

Cheers

Pip

[junk2drive]

A sticky post with a list of hotkeys would be nice. I picked up some tips by reading other threads.

My first confusion was what I was looking at. I finally figured out that the lower right box and arrow was a minimap. The popups tell you to left click to select and right click to order. Then I get a row of choices, not too clear. Right click to fire at the Italian tank. Nothing but the symbol changes. Right click again, oh that's it. Then I try to move again and...
I clicked all over and then pressed the spacebar. Something happened and I was able to move. The next battle I found the next turn button. I had trouble plotting the airstrike.
I finished the tut and moved on to the desert. Couldn't figure out how to turn my tanks. I did later though. Couldn't figure out how to disembark the carriers. I did later. Are you seeing a pattern?
By now it is starting to get interesting. I muddled along and won the desert battle. Arty is impressive. Animations are good. Ambush and counter attack are well done.
First glance is a cartoony entry level game which is fine, we need to bring people to the hobby. Then I went to the Bulge. Very Steel Panthers in 3D. I did well, kicked some butt, and still failed the first objective. Dang arty made a mess of some of my stuff.
I'm impressed so far. Looking forward to spending more time with this.

[St1gar]

...allow for something like the quick battles of other games. The players load a map, and forces can be determined by the computer, or picked by the player.

This, by the gods. Every modern strategy game I can think of has got some "Skirmish Mode"-equivalent, so I honestly think it's insane that this game hasn't got one.

[IainMcNeil]

That is simply not true

Games of this type do not have random batle generators because the random battles would be terrible. E.g. The UFO series, Lazer Squad etc.

Games that have random generators have much simpler designs for the combat model - e.g RTS games, Civilization etc.

[junk2drive]

hmmm, I've played randomly generated battles in Steel Panthers, Combat Mission and Panzer Command with success. Even random campaigns, although they tend to either go too well or too bad after a few battles.

[IainMcNeil]

Combat mission has pre-scripted AI so they cannot be randomly generated. At most they vary the unit composition slightly on the same map. That's very different to a skirmish mode where you get random maps. I dont know about the others.

[junk2drive]

Combat Mission x2 has scripted AI, not the original series, nor SP or PC. None of these are multi platform though.

[Benpark]

If scripting the AI behaviors is necessary, maybe a hybrid type of "quick battle" can be used.

Some type of randomness involving one of 3-4 set plans (made by the scenario designers) would be ideal. There could be a set of user made maps where the AI has a variety of different choices for attack/defense. These AI decisions are selected randomly, so the player never knows what he faces. If the enemy forces could also be one of a programmed set, that would up the ante.

The above is basically what CMSF offers, but it would work better with this engine. CMSF quick battles are basically unworkable due to the odd forces given the player, who has no choice in what is given- hordes of Humvees are the norm. If 3-4 different pre-made forces are available to the player and the AI (chosen by the player or randomly), this would work nicely. Think FoG WWII style for the basic form this could take.

The issue of replayabilty is bound to come up. It would be good to have some way of having the game play out slightly different each time. Even if this means more work for the scenario designer.

Hey J2D!

[Benpark]

As far as the campaigns go, I am finding them tough but winnable with patience and some luck. Some of the side missions are very difficult. Sometimes it seems that the enemy is getting a near inexhaustible force to the point of frustration, but I realize this extends the missions rather than depicts a realistic battlefield depiction of say, Normandy on June 7th. This is irritating in certain games, but it's passable here and I can't name why particularly- probably because it's actually fun to play.

The best part of the game is the little dramas that play out, my AT gun that held off a particularly nasty assault, the squad that was able to fall back through a town fighting like devils, etc. This is the mark of a good game.

[IainMcNeil]

Its a nice idea and can be done by modders but there is no chance of anything like it happening in the initial release

This is a final beta

[Benpark]

Of course. I am hoping there will be additional titles in this series.

[St1gar]

Why must necessarily everything be randomly generated? What if the battles took place on pre-made maps, and the player was given a sum of cash before the battle to spend on his, (or possibly the AI's.), forces? The Total War and Advance Wars -games are doing this, and they work...

[Hemulius]

How does the user interface feel?
Minimalistic, found my self familiar with it in just couple of minutes.

How does the game look?
Nice looking. Got bored to music pretty quickly (great tune) and had to turn it off -> some background loops like wind, rain, distant shelling etc. would
make atmosphere even better. Total silence is somehow creepy even when it is war, or perharps because of it...

Did you understand what you were supposed to do?
Yes. Orders were clear.

Did you enjoy the scenarios?
So far I´ve played ~4 hours. Shock defeat on first try, on second try in 1.st bulge mission managed to get 3/4 goals.

Were there any bugs?
Tested version 1.0 (15.7.2010) using Win 7-64b prof. Latest ATI-drv and DirectX. Firewall was already configured before starting game.
- On settings screen at very first start, before registering: dialog "MISSING_IDS_REGISTER_BOX". Appeared just once.
- Did notice some key shortcuts from forum and when trying, pressing "U" caused map borders to
disappear but also it did reveal ALL enemy units on map.

Did you find the game too easy or too hard?
Balance is just right. Nicely show de facto differences between units. Dont want to complain about my tactical faults...

What is your overall impression of the game?
Think I´ll be spending way too many hours with this one. Great piece of wargame art.

[pipfromslitherine]

Thanks for the feedback - the U key should be disabled unless you specifically want to take screens or movies I guess!

Let us know as you have more comments.

Cheers

Pip