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| 28 APR 2011 at 3:16pm |
Michael TCenturion
Posts : 12
Joined: 26 APR 2011
Status : Offline | Any rough ETA for this title Ron?
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| 28 APR 2011 at 9:46pm |
Ron DockalCenturion
Posts : 532
Joined: 8 MAY 2003
Location: US, Texas
Status : Offline | Good question. It is very dependent on my day job. Target date is October 2012, but that could be off by a year in either direction.
Ron
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| 8 MAY 2011 at 11:25am |
Ron DockalCenturion
Posts : 532
Joined: 8 MAY 2003
Location: US, Texas
Status : Offline | I've been out handling a family emergency for the past week, so little progress has been made in finishing up the WWIIE maps. Everything okay now, and progress should resume. I did have the opportunity to create a list of WWIIE code improvmeents that I plan to look at during its development. I plan to share that with the community soon, and to ask for your comments and suggestions.
Thanks for your patience,
Ron
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| 8 MAY 2011 at 6:27pm |
Michael TCenturion
Posts : 12
Joined: 26 APR 2011
Status : Offline | Ron
IIRC in RGW Soviet Tank/Mech corp were broken down in to Brigades. Could it be at least an option in the new game to have these units represented as a single Corp sized unit?
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| 10 MAY 2011 at 7:56pm |
Ron DockalCenturion
Posts : 532
Joined: 8 MAY 2003
Location: US, Texas
Status : Offline | Below is a list of some of the improvements we are looking at in the game engine for WWII-Europe. I am posting this to elicit comments from the community. I appreciate any thoughts you have. They will be considered.
This is Round #1. I plan to try this at least one more time later on in the development cycle.
Thanks in advance,
Ron
World War II Europe
Potential Improvements
First set are MDE v1.2:
1. (Wargamer/Playtesters) Computer Opponent (CO)
a. Change algorithm for movement of SAM units.
b. Improve algorithm for Motorized Supply unit moves.
c. Currently, CO performs operations and leaves the player to select Next Phase. Problem is that this allows the human player to cheat the FOW by looking at the Reports and locations of the enemy air units. One easy fix would be for WWIIE to automatically select next Phase before allowing the human player to start their ops. Another would be to add code to prevent the display of information at that time. originally, I left the ability to allow the human to correct any problems noticed that would make it less of a game experience. An example would be the movement of motorized supply unit to enure the CO area of attack is not completely disrupted by lack of supply.
d. Implement FOW on the Reports.
2. (Wargamer) Consider marking every hex as in/out of supply.
3. (Wargamer) Consider marking every hex as to side control.
4. (Mike) Consider limiting Air Tactical Ops so that it cannot destroy units, only greatly weaken them.
5. (Bill) Consider collecting all rules and text on supply into one section of the Help to make the rules clearer.
6. (Agent Smith) Put back the AGW combat markers. Ensure they are removed at the end of the turn.
7. (Agent Smith) Implement smooth scrolling of map at all levels.
8. (Kutnezov) Add neutral countries such as Spain, Portugal, Turkey.
(Ron) Done.
9. (tombo) Link the reports to the battle hex on the map. +1 on the AGW combat markers. Display full detailed combat results from battle.
10. (tombo, Agent Smith) Allow operations at the mid level maps as in AGW (as opposed to MDE).
11. (tombo) Bring back the AGW toolbar.
12. (Ron) Add a pull down menu to select the map to be centered on key locations. Part of menu, and/or part of Command panel. Done instead of the MDE hot keys.
13. (Agent Smith) Mouse right button depressed for pan/zoom of map. Same as MDE v1.1 patch, but smooth scrolling. Consider left button drag to scroll, or CTRL-left button. Note this would allow right button to be used to select op as in RGW/AGW.
14. (tombo) Allow the player to perform ops on all units in one hex, without going back to the map area to select the unit. In other words, at op completion, display the units in the that hex again for another op. Select “Cancel” to return to map area.
15. (5th Horseman) Widen the unit types. For example, add engineering units with combat modifiers when attacking digin/entrenched/fortify hexes. Add bridge units that can create and destroy bridges.
16. (Agent Smith) Display unit information by moving mouse cursor on top of unit without clicking.
17. (Agent Smith) Add a display option to display icons instead of NATO symbols.
18. (Agent Smith) Improve the scenario builder, currently just a text editor.
19. (Agent Smith) Display of CO unit moves and combat via animation.
20. (Mikeck) Add background music (was there for RGW/AGW, not there for MDE, should have for WWIIE).
21. (Michael T) Allow combining of Russian Tank Corps to one unit instead of 5. Was usually 1 HQ, 3 TBRs and 1 Mech Br in RGW. Something similar to AGW combining.
22. (Arnaud Desjumaux) Replacements are not summing from turn to turn, just have whatever is there for the current turn.
23. (Bill Macon) Add the capability for the scenario designer to specify whether the player choose optional
rules, or has to use the rules selected in the file.
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| 11 MAY 2011 at 1:11pm |
critterCommander
Posts : 1170
Joined: 7 APR 2004
Location: US
Status : Offline | Work on the pbem air rules so it plays more like the AI game.
Make rail movement automatic. Buy the unit and then click the city hex it turns up in. It shows up x turns later.
You know what's sad? My first thought was, "Gah! She overcooked the bacon!" - Martok
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| 12 MAY 2011 at 6:12am |
jmlimaCenturion
Posts : 37
Joined: 28 MAR 2007
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By Ron Dockal
Below is a list of some of the improvements we are looking at in the game engine for WWII-Europe. I am posting this to elicit comments from the community. I appreciate any thoughts you have. They will be considered.
...
All good points!
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| 13 MAY 2011 at 3:24pm |
5th HORSEMANCommander
Posts : 1464
Joined: 16 NOV 2005
Status : Offline | Ron,
Any ideas on the politics of swithcing sides.
It's impossible to realistically replicate that in the current build files. Might be a neat trick if you could master a Romanian style switch in mid-scenario.
And I could use more nation slots. My current build of 1914 uses every one, just for four nationialities.
Of course, I have gotten a little extravagent with the unit styles. But more is always better.
Keep up the great work.
And the angels, terrible and without pity, carry savage weapons, and their torture is unmerciful.
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| 13 MAY 2011 at 11:01pm |
Ron DockalCenturion
Posts : 532
Joined: 8 MAY 2003
Location: US, Texas
Status : Offline | @5th Horseman,
Yes to both. In MDE, we added a "side" designation and a separate "country" designation for each unit. It was necessary in MDE, since the scenarios had Iraq on the Coalition side against Iran (1980-198, and on the Arab side against the US/UK/others coalition side in Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom, and also on the ?Arab side agianst Israel.
We plan to include this in WWIIE, since it worked well in MDE. The number of countries can be very large (hundreds).
Ron
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| 1 JUN 2011 at 7:38pm |
Ron DockalCenturion
Posts : 532
Joined: 8 MAY 2003
Location: US, Texas
Status : Offline | This is just a quick status update. My day job has taken over for the last two weeks, so progress has slowed. It should pick up starting this weekend.
I have split my time between two items:
1. WWIIE maps. The paper map of Spain and Portugal is almost complete. I did finish the cities, coastlines, railroads, rivers, terrain elevations and connections to AGW maps. Need to add roads and forests. Any good sources for that information?
2. I have been studying the code needed to implement some of the improvements on the list. Map scrolling and more commander names are two that I spent sme time looking at.
Ron
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| 3 JUN 2011 at 2:50am |
KutnezovCenturion
Posts : 65
Joined: 25 MAY 2003
Status : Offline | Hi Ron,
You can look here for Spain & Portugal maps: [link]http://cartotecadigital.icc.cat/index.php[/link]
It's an official cartographic institute.
1.- Choose english as language almost at your top right.
2.- Then, in the center of the window, click on Maps of Spain (s. XV-XX) 1603 documents.
3.- Because bad traslation click on Any original: (almost at your top right) to order the maps by years.
4.- Go to page 77 for searching 1930-1940 maps.
I think that the following maps could be ok:
- Map 1537. Espanya. Official map from that time. At your left you can choose the 4 parts of the map. Also you can zoom in for more detail. This map is very detailed for roads.
- Map 1538. Fisonomia de la Peninsula Ibérica (for elevations).Just push over the map to zoom in. There is a small map at your right for select the area.
- Map 1541. Guía internacional de las carreteras de España y Portugal. Another good source for roads, also for Portugal. Not as detailed as the previos but good enough for the game. Just push over the map to zoom in. There is a small map at your right for select the area.
- Map 1578. España: mapa físico mudo. Another good source for elevations and rivers. Just push over the map to zoom in. There is a small map at your right for select the area.
I'll look for the forest this weekend,
Emilio
Emilio
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| 5 JUN 2011 at 6:03pm |
Ron DockalCenturion
Posts : 532
Joined: 8 MAY 2003
Location: US, Texas
Status : Offline | @Kutnezov,
Very nice map source! Roads are now in place on the paper map. Need swamps and forests.
Thanks!
Ron
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| 12 JUN 2011 at 5:16pm |
KutnezovCenturion
Posts : 65
Joined: 25 MAY 2003
Status : Offline | Hi Ron,
For the forests, just go to this page: http://www.marm.es/en/b...mapa-forestal/index.aspx
Then go to the very bottom of the page, and click over this link: mapa desplegable en papel (7,45 MB)
This is a very accurate map about forests in Spain. Yes, this is a modern map, but I couldn't find a similar map from the '40s
About maps, go to this other page: http://www.marm.es/en/b...nas-humedas/default.aspx
Again, go to the bottom and select the last link: Mapa: localización de los humedales incluidos en el IEZH (591 KB). Here you can see all swamps in Spain.
I'll try to find something similar for Portugal.
Emilio
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| 14 JUN 2011 at 8:36pm |
Ron DockalCenturion
Posts : 532
Joined: 8 MAY 2003
Location: US, Texas
Status : Offline | []@Kutnezov,
Thanks for the links. I'll use them this weekend to finish the forests in Spain.
I am now working on the paper maps of Turkey, and will then move on to the Syria and Iraq of 1940. Seems like I was just here earlier, but a few years later (say 1948 to 2010)....
Ron
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| 20 JUN 2011 at 6:21pm |
Ron DockalCenturion
Posts : 532
Joined: 8 MAY 2003
Location: US, Texas
Status : Offline | Although paper maps are not complete, the digitization of the ones done started in earnest this weekend. Layout of map segments is done. Hexes will be 434 x 360. Conversion of AGW bitmap names to WWIIE names has started. There will be 1395 low level map segments, each one being 14 x 8 hexes. Source code for WWIIE has also been started.
Additionally, we made good progress on the paper map area covering Turkey.
Ron
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| 22 JUN 2011 at 2:40am |
KutnezovCenturion
Posts : 65
Joined: 25 MAY 2003
Status : Offline | Hi Ron,
I think I found a good place for Portugal maps.
Go here: [link]http://mapas.igeo.pt/[/link]
In the next page click over Web Map Service (WMS).
There are 3 options that can be useful (just use the Viewer):
- Carta Administrativa Oficial de Portugal (CAOP Continente) - A good map from Portugal. You can zoom to high detail.
- Carta de Risco de Incendio Florestal (CRIF) - Good source for forest fires risk areas in Portugal
- Carta de Portugal Continental a escala 1:500000 - Also you can zoom in for higher detail.
- Modelo Digital del Terreno - for elevations
Also, go here: http://portal.digmap.eu.../geral/date/EN/1960.html
and select the 3rd option Carta Agricola e Florestal de Portugal. It's from 1960, and you can see center and south Portugal forests and swapms.
I'll look for north Portugal. Also take a look on [link]http://portal.digmap.eu[/link] for other countries (including Turkey). It could be useful.
Regards,
Emilio
Emilio
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| 22 JUN 2011 at 8:05pm |
lupiCenturion
Posts : 571
Joined: 14 FEB 2004
Location: US
Status : Offline | Question about the game. Just loaded up AGW and I noticed that countries still have no controls on them for entering the conflict. How will this be addressed/fixed with the next version?
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| 23 JUN 2011 at 5:58pm |
Ron DockalCenturion
Posts : 532
Joined: 8 MAY 2003
Location: US, Texas
Status : Offline | @lupi,
That is a good question. There are two methods to approach this:
1. Frozen in place until someone attacks one of your units, or moves into your country hexes, or moves into one of your cities.
2. Enemy player activated. (honor system)
Your thoughts?? Your preference??
Thanks,
Ron
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| 23 JUN 2011 at 6:29pm |
lupiCenturion
Posts : 571
Joined: 14 FEB 2004
Location: US
Status : Offline | If it could be done, I'd be happy with the somewhat standard approach of a country activating when it's borders are crossed along with (if possible) a system that automatically aligns a country as an enemy or ally based territorial changes and neitrality or lack thereof of surrounding neighbors.
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| 23 JUN 2011 at 9:36pm |
Epee1Commander
Posts : 1218
Joined: 31 MAY 2005
Status : Offline | Can't you just declare war on said country, and then that countries units are immediately activated.
Combat Command The Forgotten Gamers
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| 25 JUN 2011 at 10:08am |
Ron DockalCenturion
Posts : 532
Joined: 8 MAY 2003
Location: US, Texas
Status : Offline | Both seem a valid approach. There may be a hybrid solution.
Ron
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| 25 JUN 2011 at 10:15am |
Ron DockalCenturion
Posts : 532
Joined: 8 MAY 2003
Location: US, Texas
Status : Offline | I am excited about this weekend, and an upcoming vacation time (fishing and wargame development, it doesn't get any better than this...).
I plan to continue to work on the WWIIE paper maps (the end is near), and begin review of digitized maps that KC is developing. I have setup the MS Visual Studio compiler for code development of WWIIE. An interesting sidelight... I created the WWIIE project and brought in the MDE source, menu and header files for editting as a starting point. While I was at it, I also developed an area for the following wargames in no specific order:
WWII Pacific
US Civil War
WWII Atlantic
Vietnam
Any others I should add? Retirement from aerospace is hopefully a few years away, but it is a good thing to plan ahead...
Ron
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| 25 JUN 2011 at 11:06pm |
Agent SmithCenturion
Posts : 269
Joined: 17 JAN 2006
Status : Offline | [font="times new roman"][size="3"]WWIE
Although I suspect (hope) 5th Horseman will probably travel down this path, with a full Europe map available.
“We can’t make you do anything, but we can make you wish you had.”
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| 25 JUN 2011 at 11:29pm |
Aces8Centurion
Posts : 78
Joined: 23 JUN 2009
Status : Offline | Wow I would love to see a Vietnam game if you ever get to it
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