Lite doesn't equal simple or small scale damnit!!!

[MrsWargamer]

Ok was just over at Matrix Games, and I don't post there so it ain't getting said there.

Sooooo sadly this sentiment might well be doomed to never be heard there too. Oh well I can live with it, just so long as the people running the show see it here.

What makes a game great? Really, I want to ask this question of the people intent on insisting that it is something looking like War in the Pacific or War in the East.

I once took a stab at getting Fire in the East the board game from the Europa series. Told my then local wargaming opponent, the first one to 100 bucks can get it. Well the dude had more money than me and so he bought it first. And as we had no one else to play, it was always a done deal the first to get a copy meant the other wouldn't need one. So today, more than a decade later, actually 2 decades I think now, I have still not got a copy of that awesome board game. Oh well, the number of times my friend and I played it was zero. Just how often does a wargamer find a 6'x8 table to play it on anyway?

Fire in the East is a superb example of a board game that while stunning in detail, is basically a waste of 100 bucks (or whatever it costs to a collector now on eBay). A gae never played is worth nothing regardless of how awesome it 'looks'.

Thus, I feel completely and totally in my right saying War in the Pacific, and War in the East, while incredible simulations, are the dumbest computer wargames I have ever willingly bought. Dumb, stupid, idiotic, moronic, and a waste of cash. I do NOT care if a few of you out there steadfastly insist 'oh I like playing my copy'. I can play my entire Battle Academy collection all the way through before you can complete one playing of either WitP or WitE once. That doesn't make my BA less of a game, it makes it less tedious of an experience. Come meet me on the field of battle in BA and beat me more than half the time before call ing it an easy experience. Because frankly, a hohum attempt at BA means I own your ass. Just like in a game of Chess. Or is Chess an easy game too?

The device the game is played on, is NOT a reflection of the game's sophistication, it is just a measure of the programs hardware demands. And real time 3d graphics is about the only thing out there that will massively challenge almost every old school (ie hexes and turns) computer wargame ever made. War in the East makes even my desktop gag, and it has a dedicated video card and plenty of ram to play with. So yeah, I suppose it won't run well on my Asus epad Transformer. Not because it is a 'serious' PC wargame, but because it is a wargame with 1000s of individual units it must manage each and every turn. BA would be as bad if it has 10000s of units to manage as well, and then I could call it 'serious' too I suppose.

So is it the only thing that makes a wargame 'serious' is it must overwhelm the human with 10k units to click on every turn?

I've often loved playing Steel Panthers. But I always avoided the major battles. It's more fun commanding 20 units instead of 200.
I have foolishly bought numerous games like the Panzer Battles series, but basically hardly tough them. They are too close to monster titles, and not close enough to quick easy to manage battles.
ASL the current incarnation of the venerable Squad Leader. The game shines on one maybe two boards. On a large map like Red Barricades though, it becomes a bad idea. You CAN kill a game when it becomes a chore, not a game.

I have bought so many large monster games over the years. I suppose the main difference between myself and too many demanding wargames belong on the PC, is I at least acknowledge it is a stupid idiotic assertion. I recognize I was doing it wrong. I have been eagerly moving back to the days when a wargame was meant to be played in a single day.

The crowd that demands wargames remain rooted to the PC and primarily on the PC, YOU are the ones killing wargames and wargaming. Cut it out.
Get a grip, stop demanding a wargame be some manner of be all and end all all inclusive can doerine, everything no portion of the war left out monstrosity.

Battle Academy on the iPad and the Android device will have done mountains of work more so for wargames, than War in the East will ever do.
All War in the East is accomplishing, is providing a drug fix for a few die hard junkies. It isn't making any new wargamers, it isn't interesting anyone new to the hobby.

Slitherine, you just keep doing what you are doing, making great wargames for new markets.

[scarfacetarraff]

Agreed. ::

[VPaulus]

I'm just tired of this handheld and PC arguing.
I'm glad the that games are being ported to handhelds. It would be foolish to be exclusive to one platform
If it is, there will be less buyers. I for example. I like to play in front of a monitor. Not in a couch. So for me it's PC.
If you don't want to play War in the East, good for you. I too don't play it. But I'm glad that it exists. And above all I'm glad that other people get pleasure from it.
I'm also glad that you feel happy with your handheld device as for me I'm glad with my new 23" inch monitor.
I'm glad to be able to play PzC with a resolution of 1920x1080.
Boy, I'm really glad.

One thing is for sure, it seems, that these new announcements were able to please most people.
That's great Slitherine.

[scarfacetarraff]

I much prefer playing on my iMac. Games I'm interested require some mulling over, and although I have some strategy games (like BA) for my iPad, I cannot really get into the gameplay on the go.

[MrsWargamer]

Only a 23 inch?

I much prefer to connect my PC to my Sony 40 inch TV if I must use the PC at all

I only use my hobby room chair for sitting in while making models. Sitting in an office chair, even a good one for several hours is just too much even for a good wargame. Don't know how people do it at my age.

Hand helds rule in some areas though. I like the idea of a healthy walk a hot chocolate at Tim Hortons, and a few turns of Battle Academy on my tablet.

But I recognize that not everyone can indulge that. My scorn is mainly with the crowd that think it can ONLY be a PC for serious wargaming. Phooey to that.

[VPaulus]

Only a 23 inch?

I much prefer to connect my PC to my Sony 40 inch TV if I must use the PC at all

Nah! I would have to be at least 3 meters away. 23" is good enough for any kind of game, IMO.
Although I might try one day eyefinity and add three monitors. It might help in some flight/combat simulators.