SYSTEM:
My system: Vista Home Premium 32-bit (SP2), Intel Core2 Duo CPU (T9300 @ 2,5GHz), ATI Mobility Radeon HD3650, 4 GB Memory (3,5GB usable)
SOME OBSERVATIONS FIRST:
Never played Panzer General in depth. Though I have beta tested for other wargame companies (latest at Battlefront.com) and have been playing wargames for almost 2 decades (board/computer), and enjoy a range of wargames, from strategic, operational to tactical or any combination thereof. I will note my reactions/actions/impressions and general feelings from a complete outsider/newbie.
First impressions obviously last, especially for newcomers to any genre. I am also aware, while wargames generally don’t need the latest whizz-bang graphic technologies to survive, it sure helps to draw the new crowd to wargames in general, and to operation/tactical games specifically, more so given that most interactions w/ the game environment is usually from a top-down view. So the look and feel of such games ARE important for new blood to take this genre up, as well as smooth UI conventions to make it non-confusing for people being introduced for the first time to the game.
So, the “filter hat” that I have is: -
(1) New to the game without any PG I & II background at all;
(2) I am starting to enjoy operational-tactical combo games, and I believe I’m one of that subset of potential wargamers that come from a 3D tactical wargaming background (e.g. the “Combat Mission” series of games) that will bite on the fish hook if this game’s first impressions are favourable, interesting, and captivating.
I also understand that testing/programming months/years on a project, people:
(1) Already involved with the game have seen the content at several stages and therefore have lost the "1st impression" capability that is needed to newcomers to be drawn to the game;
(2) Law of diminishing returns, in that I’m fully aware that recommendations done might be too late, or that, given Slitherine’s priority list, any comments/suggestions done might be way down on Slitherine’s want/need list for implementation into Panzer Corps.
With that in mind, on with Panzer Corps.
FIRST SECONDS:
* The most important hurdle. Installation. It works! Panzer Corps installed without a hitch on my system.
* Beautiful, crisp, clean intro sequence and very classy, stylized Splash Screen (3 Tigers). Well done to the art programmers.
* First reaction: No OPTION screen to set screen resolution, sound, graphic detail etc. at highest menu level? Mmmm. Not a game breaker, but certainly not ideal.
* NEW GAME Menu + Scenario/Campaign Tabs: Better usage of all that screen space where the scenarios/campaigns are listed? Suggestion: Could be scrolled from left to right rather then up/down, which hide the bottom parameters on my screen resolution. Compliment: I like the Radio buttons graphic selections; maybe can also be made slightly bigger, or the option to do so in the OPTIONS menu referred to above.
* PLAY/CANCEL buttons in Scenario/Campaign tabs jars/ does not fit/not consistent with graphically theme with rest of menus. Maybe it’s a place holder? Also, they are too small in size.
* No short synopsis on the individual scenarios/campaigns? Certainly not ideal. A few lines (tooltip/mouse-over/ extra window) giving a short indication of scenario parameters, length etc. will certainly whet appetite/preferences without a player first selecting (maybe hundreds!) of future scenarios to find out if they want/don’t want play a certain scenario will be very helpful.
* Likewise, added synopsis info should be given for the sections: WEATHER, SUPPLY and FOW options. We should not assume the latter acronym is known to new players. Furthermore, how does HARD compare to NORMAL difficulty level? Not all want to read a manual. Again, why waste all that Scenario/Campaign Tab screen space without providing some basic info here?
* Alt-Tab’s works well without crashes, though music continues to play. Would prefer no music for that “Boss/Wife/Kids coming, shut down quickly” mode. Rationale: Makes it difficult to play stealthily for potential newbie addicts
SELECTED 1st Tutorial.
[I understand a scripted help-along Tut is still forthcoming. Thus cannot rate this most crucial part for newbie introduction to this type of wargaming.]
* First instinctive action: Scroll of middle mouse wheel = zooms map. This mouse convention adhered to. Good. Has only 2 levels of zoom though. (Two zoom levels are better then not at all.)
MAIN MENU PANEL (extreme Right)
* Tooltips/mouse-overs: only shows “Turn” in top; and off-centre at that. No mouse-over on the "10" turns left.
* “00145” means what exactly for newbie, as it has no tool/mouse tip? I assume this is prestige/purchase points, but who is to know this for sure?
* Weather/Forecast flicker when mouse-over = reported and known bug.
* Mouse-over work for undo “Move” & “Supply Unit” buttons etc, but “Disembark” shows formatting code within tooltip & no mouse-over info for right bottom button (assume it’s a fire command?)
Well, my first minute is up. I’m off to match duty (I work mostly weekends!) and will jot down PART 2~ later here.
Kind regards and speak later, and despite critique comments so far, well done nevertheless
Charl Theron
http://RefArbiter.wordpress.com
