The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread

[Syt]

Gave SGS' NATO's Nightmare a spin yesterday; based on the likes of


https://store.steampowered.com/app/1849360/SGS_NATOs_Nightmare/

Biggest letdown is that there's no good dedicated manual for the game. You get the general SGS manual here (which is generic for all their games): https://strategygamestudio.com/sgs-rules/

Beyond that, there's some tutorial pop ups, and an (aborted) tutorial series by XTRG (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsH2ZD_DTwZo8vrRVp_U7HynVEUW0-s0Q) on the Avalon Hill channel, though I feel the best way to learn (besides trial and error once you figured out the UI, for which XTRG's tutorials were helpful, like how to organize unit stacks ... ) is maybe ot watch his PBEM series on his own channel. The devs say that this is intended as a "monster wargame" that is going to overwhelm and confuse you, but I think that it's not an excuse for not having a proper manual (Shadow Empire or War in the East does much better in that regard IMHO).

[Habbaku]

Sigh. I was briefly excited until I saw who the developers were. Typical AGEOD trash. Pass.

[Syt]

It's not AGEOD, though?

SGS has a long list of titles by this point, but my impression is they do minimal post-launch support. One of their devs posted on the NATO Steam forums that basically he's doing all the scenarios and it takes him forever because he works on the side.

https://store.steampowered.com/developer/sgs

[Habbaku]

Have you compared the UI and the general map-structure, not to mention the overall way they present the game to an AGEOD design? The units are stacked in the exact same style, the map is constructed and separated into the same type of spaces, and even the event mechanics look identical.

That and, just like AGEOD, they seem to be applying their basic framework to multiple eras while only changing the artwork.

I would be immensely surprised to learn that it wasn't just AGEOD's engine being used by new people or even the same!

Compare:

https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/2150300/ss_6e4c0ab580798386145a4796e48b759f539a4a15.1920x1080.jpg?t=1716392323

https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/374380/ss_3609f0b671b47b446d0e921b7bbdf7e422e5eba5.1920x1080.jpg?t=1710931917

[Habbaku]

Sure enough, Philippe Thibaut (the former CEO/head of AGEOD and head designer of their games) is the head of Avalon Digital:

https://www.avalon-digital.com/about/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AGEod

[Valmy]

Is that the same guy who created Europa Universalis, board game that started it all? Dude must be pretty old by now.

[Habbaku]

The very same, yes, among other greats like La Grande Guerre.

[Syt]

Fair enough.

[Tamas]

SGS is very similar looms-wise and yes it has Philippe but the basic framework they use for the games is quite different to the old ageod titles, as far as I am aware. More boardgame-y

[Syt]

Also: no simultaneous turn resolution. Turns are segmented into phases - drawing/playing cards, moving air, moving ground, combat, defensive air movement, etc. Very much IGO-UGO instead of WEGO.

[Habbaku]

Also: no simultaneous turn resolution. Turns are segmented into phases - drawing/playing cards, moving air, moving ground, combat, defensive air movement, etc. Very much IGO-UGO instead of WEGO.

More boardgame-y

  Alright, you're doing a better job selling me now.

[Norgy]

There's a sale on Larian Studios games on Steam right now for those who haven't gotten Divinity: Original Sin 1 and 2.

[Josquius]

I finished jedi fallen order.
The combat is not good and it's a bit too much of a  linear corridor runner, old school throw back, but the vibes and story are nice. Might get the second at some point


Booted up Ff15 for the first time... Christ the ui is awful. Such backward steps from earlier final fantasies. It does not bode well. But will give it a go.
Just what is it with so many Japanese games and having such god awful UIs these days. They didn't used to be so awful.

[Syt]

New Wargame Design Studio game is out: Panzer Campaigns Smolensk '43: https://wargameds.com/collections/panzer-campaigns/products/smolensk-43

Not ready to pull the trigger yet - so many of the East Front game scenarios they have you assaulting a fortified line with bunkers and minefields. Which, I guess, is realistic, especially for battles early in an offensive, but it's always such a slog (bonus points if also crossing a major river!) - artillery barrages, sending in engineers, isolating bunkers, etc.

Screenshots below from ... (hexes with numbers = minefields with density 1-3, O = obstacles)

Smolensk '43:



Minsk '44:



Kiev '43:



Mius '43 (their free demo):



Moscow '42:



Orel '43:



Rzhev '42:



Spring Awakening '45:

[Syt]

Burden of Command, in development for ... a very long time, seems to be in its final stretch. It's a turn based WW2 tactics game where you also are presented with morale choices that will affect your troops. PC Gamer preview:

https://www.pcgamer.com/games/strategy/burden-of-command-is-a-ww2-wargame-that-saddles-you-with-anxiety-about-each-soldiers-life/

Steam page says "Q1 2025" which is a lot more concrete than last time I checked ("Soon")

https://store.steampowered.com/app/887490/Burden_of_Command/