30 Second & 5 Minute Feedback [+ 30 Minute Feedback]

[robthomasson]

First (and of course subjective) reaction -

My First 30 Seconds +

* Loading was quick and stylish - a good start (including easy registration).
--- The Slitherine logo breaks the design flow - but I guess there's no getting away from that. Not any sort of real problem
* Went to choose a New Game - expected the "Action Butttons" (Play | Cancel) to be bottom right - and probably larger + more "impressive".
* Some info about the scenarios would be nice. They seem to be ordered by time so this gives no clue as to diffculty/scale.
--- So which to choose? Other than Tutortials to learn of course.
* Alt-Tabbed away from the game to another window and the music kept going. This is not unusual but some games do mute when this happens which can be very useful.
--- If there was an options menu which included ability to easily mute sound then that mostly counters this comment.
--- Lack of options menu was a surpise, later found system menu available when playing a game, still no control over display size - not causing a probolem but would be nice to have the option.

My First 5 Minutes +

* Went into Tutorial 1, stared at the screen for a while before finding that clicking on the title got a map.
--- Later found this is standard for all games. But as this was billed as a tutorial I waited thinking maybe some guidance would be seen/heard. Later discovered there is no guidance.
* Failed to notice the troops in the hills, eventually scrolled left to find the tank and other troops. Then troops in the hills became obvious.
--- Would be much better for this tutorial to appear with left edge of map (and thus armour and troops in clear) visible.
* Noticed (presumed) date at top right was now "01 10 00145" from "01 10 00000" - okay, not a date.
--- Later discover that the 145 must be Prestige.
* (Left) clicked on units - got presumed movemment possibilities. Double clicked on them - nothing happened.
* Played around clicking on buttons. 5 minutes had come and gone. Feeling that there was depth in the game had increased.
* Discover that right-clicking caused movement. Realise no understanding of what will happen. Start moving units anyway.
--- Left-click to select and right-click to action is a common convention so no real problem but when all is new it can take a while to orient.
* Discover that right-clicking will initiate combat and understand some symbols used (like truck for transported infantry that cannot then attack).
* Win the scenario - as it is fairly obvious what has to be done and seems impossible to lose.
--- Know that I need to understand the numbers presented before an attack is committed.
--- In general stats presented (here and elsewhere) seem familiar but actual understanding not yet present (or apparently available).
--- Pity the units don't fire in the direction of their target. In fact units can appear back to back firing away from each other - cosmetically weird (but obviously no affect on play).
* Notice that some of the Tool Tips for the grouping of three by three buttons includes html (like "<br>").
--- Also applies to fifth button in row of six buttons starting "Previous Unit"

Asking for the above timeframes means you get detailed comments. My next post on 30+ minutes will be more broad brush.
Fundamentally I expect something called a tutorial to teach/guide and it did not - even at a basic level. Maybe a development to come?
No performance issues - graphics, music, anything.

Edit: Found that you can play Tutorial 1 as the "Allies". That won't teach you anything much at all!

Rob

[CactusWillie]

This is Panzer General with a facelift ! If you have ever played panzer general it will take you less than a minute to figure out how to play this game. I started with first thing on the menu and found that the game play was so much like panzer general that, other than knowing where the menu items had moved too, was quick to figure out. That was the first 5 minutes.
Next I moved to playing the first camp and it again, started with such an easy to use format that I was going through it in no time at all. I purchased units, replacements, etc with just some getting use to the place buttons were and just general feel for it.
I think this is great for gamers that do not care for a lot of logistical stuff and complications of politics in a game. It is fun and I plan to play some more later when time permits.
Love the graphics and simple format ! Just could not be general Eishenhower or field marshal Rommel yet!

[robthomasson]

Thanks for that CactusWillie. Whilst I have played some Panzer General it was a long time ago - so I had much less of a "starting point". A lot of what I said is immediately irrelevant after the first five minutes and of course it's all about who the game is aimed at. No doubt (hopefully) there are many PG veterans just waiting for a modern / improved "PG inspired" implementation like this looks set to be - and they will be up and running in no time (quicker than me) just as you were.

[robthomasson]

My First 30 Minutes +

* On to Tutorial 2 and increased understanding dawning.
--- Such as the numbers presented before combat, even basics like numbers to left of Prestige are current and total turns. Completely obvious when you know.
* Plays smoothly, easy to issue orders.
--- Still understanding conventions - like when Undo Move is available. Feels important to get basic mechanocs sorted before trying something too ambitious and screwing it up for lack of control.
* Tried saving a game and "disappointed" to see standard Windows dialogue (but of course it does the job).
--- But good that games are saved under "My Documents\My Games"
* Do not get "Unmoved Units Warning" (when click on "End Turn" even though that option is enabled in System Menu).
--- What other meaning could that option have? Or do I miss something fundamental?
* System Menu does not included Load Game option - odd not to have that alongside Save Game option. Just means an extra key press to get to Load Game when in a game.
--- One use of "Quit To Main Menu" seemed to take me direct to Scenario List - but have not had that happen again so ... was it somehow me?
* Won Tutorial 2 (hard to lose) and went on to Tutorial 3
--- Still not clear on when Undo Move is available - but do believe it has consistent logic
--- Do not know what governs availability to Purchase Units (other than having enough Prestige points obv).
* After winning Tutorial 3 discover Alt-Click & Ctrl-Click.
--- Feeling increases that the depth is there but it will take time to extract (quite possibly a lot of time without info).
--- For example, now believe that Bruckenpionere is about getting over the river, but by that time I had coverted it to Grenadiers.
--- No doubt much easier for those with a better knowledge of the units involved in the conflict.

In summary - realise that there is a lot to learn but have the belief that the system is consistent and detailed - but not overwhelmingly so for the player.
A lot of my comments relate to "user experience polish" - the actual game looks to be clearly worthy of time investment.

Learning curve through the first 3 "Tutorial" scenarios is good even without explicit guidance.
To give context ... I don't have sufficient knowledge to know what a Bruckenpionere is but I am familiar with wargame conventions.

I would value the ability to experiment. Saving at the end of every turn would help that - but easy to forget to do so. No doubt an AutoSave was considered, and there are arguments for and against but given that there is a Save feature an AutoSave could be provided as an option (with automatic delete at the end of a game). Especially useful when learning.

Rob

[IainMcNeil]

Thanks for the feedback guys - the tutorial is mising and will be added. Currently we only have the missiosn it will be set in.

Feedback from people who have no played PG is vital so keep it coming.

PS this game is inspired by PG but in no way a remake. PG is owned by Ubisoft and not something we have anything to do with!

[hema57]

Hallo,
I am play following Missions:
1,2,3,4,5 Tutorials and i play the Mission Italy - Operation Avalanche.

I have played all the older Panzer General Games. I like Strategie Games.
I am very happy and the Game is very greatful and superb.
The Grafiks are very nice and very good detailed.
I bin waiting for the Full-Game and will buy the Game before the Release-Date.

Heinz Marmetschke

[Rudankort]

I would value the ability to experiment. Saving at the end of every turn would help that - but easy to forget to do so. No doubt an AutoSave was considered, and there are arguments for and against but given that there is a Save feature an AutoSave could be provided as an option (with automatic delete at the end of a game). Especially useful when learning.

Autosave exists even though there is not option. You should see autosaved files in the list when you load a game, they are saved at the end of each half-turn (separately for axis and allies).

Thanks for great feedback!

[robthomasson]

Dang! Those AutoSave files are obvious (now) and also fit for the purpose I described - a good compromise between providing a "safety net" / experimentation point and auto-cluttering the save game folder. Thanks for the info ...