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General Category => Off the Record => Gaming HQ => Topic started by: Syt on September 10, 2013, 12:57:22 PM

Title: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: Syt on September 10, 2013, 12:57:22 PM
It appears Matrix is looking for beta testers for WiF:

http://www.matrixgames.com/beta/

(and GG's War in the West)

Considering the game has been in development at least since, oh, Two-Thousand-Fucking-Four, I'm not sure this means that the game is close to release or if there's too much attrition in the team at this point. The game has been in development for LONGER THAN THE WAR LASTED!

Didn't they nix the AI for this one, too? Like for Empires At War?
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: Viking on September 10, 2013, 01:10:28 PM
The problem is that there is an online WiF community and play on Vassal (http://www.vassalengine.org/wiki/Module:World_in_Flames). The community went off and did it on their own. The AI will be crap and pointless.
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: Ed Anger on September 10, 2013, 01:11:37 PM
MRSP: $199.99
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: 11B4V on September 10, 2013, 04:13:51 PM
Meh.
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: Scipio on September 10, 2013, 07:29:25 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on September 10, 2013, 01:11:37 PM
MRSP: $199.99
About the same price as actual Wallet in Flames.
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: PDH on September 10, 2013, 08:18:17 PM
This would have been so great a decade ago.
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: CountDeMoney on September 10, 2013, 08:27:19 PM
Quote from: 11B4V on September 10, 2013, 04:13:51 PM
Meh.

Ditto.
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: Tamas on September 11, 2013, 04:42:42 AM
Quote from: Viking on September 10, 2013, 01:10:28 PM
The problem is that there is an online WiF community and play on Vassal (http://www.vassalengine.org/wiki/Module:World_in_Flames). The community went off and did it on their own. The AI will be crap and pointless.

From the product page:
QuoteIMPORTANT NOTE: This title does not include an AI player in the initial release.  It is designed as a computerized, automated and online multiplayer-capable World in Flames.

Also the beta recruitment post says it will be out in November.
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: Viking on September 11, 2013, 04:58:45 AM
Quote from: Tamas on September 11, 2013, 04:42:42 AM
Quote from: Viking on September 10, 2013, 01:10:28 PM
The problem is that there is an online WiF community and play on Vassal (http://www.vassalengine.org/wiki/Module:World_in_Flames). The community went off and did it on their own. The AI will be crap and pointless.

From the product page:
QuoteIMPORTANT NOTE: This title does not include an AI player in the initial release.  It is designed as a computerized, automated and online multiplayer-capable World in Flames.

Also the beta recruitment post says it will be out in November.

so, basically completely redundant

I played around with one of the much earlier betas (it was called a beta at the time) and the interface was just bad and convoluted

vassal is just better in every way.
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: Tamas on September 11, 2013, 05:01:07 AM
Quote from: Viking on September 11, 2013, 04:58:45 AM
vassal is just better in every way.

unless you want to PBEM with Berkut.
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: Viking on September 11, 2013, 05:10:55 AM
Quote from: Tamas on September 11, 2013, 05:01:07 AM
Quote from: Viking on September 11, 2013, 04:58:45 AM
vassal is just better in every way.

unless you want to PBEM with Berkut.

Rest assured, that will not happen.
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: crazy canuck on September 11, 2013, 11:35:45 AM
Quote from: PDH on September 10, 2013, 08:18:17 PM
This would have been so great a decade ago.

Yeah, a decade or two ago I would have been all over this.  But now? As the wise men said, Meh.
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: Bluebook on September 13, 2013, 12:25:38 AM
Quote from: Viking on September 10, 2013, 01:10:28 PM
The problem is that there is an online WiF community and play on Vassal (http://www.vassalengine.org/wiki/Module:World_in_Flames). The community went off and did it on their own. The AI will be crap and pointless.
How do they handle the sequence of play?
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: Viking on September 13, 2013, 12:48:11 AM
Quote from: Bluebook on September 13, 2013, 12:25:38 AM
Quote from: Viking on September 10, 2013, 01:10:28 PM
The problem is that there is an online WiF community and play on Vassal (http://www.vassalengine.org/wiki/Module:World_in_Flames). The community went off and did it on their own. The AI will be crap and pointless.
How do they handle the sequence of play?

by being online simultaneously.
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: The Larch on September 16, 2013, 07:05:12 AM
Tamas, are you involved in this? I see that the NDA agreement for the beta is with Slytherine...  :ph34r:
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: Tamas on September 16, 2013, 07:30:38 AM
Quote from: The Larch on September 16, 2013, 07:05:12 AM
Tamas, are you involved in this? I see that the NDA agreement for the beta is with Slytherine...  :ph34r:


OMG TBR SANCTITY IS TEH BROKENED!!!1oneone

:P

Nope, not that much involved at this stage. But god damn this is some massive stuff.
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: CountDeMoney on September 16, 2013, 07:33:02 AM
They should just leave it alone.  There are enough man-hours wasted on WIF as it is in this world, let alone a computer version they've been bouncing around since 1998.
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: Syt on September 16, 2013, 07:53:39 AM
Quote from: The Larch on September 16, 2013, 07:05:12 AM
Tamas, are you involved in this? I see that the NDA agreement for the beta is with Slytherine...  :ph34r:

I'd think that's standard MO for them now, ever since Slitherine bought Matrix?
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: Syt on September 16, 2013, 07:54:09 AM
That said, I'll rather wait for GG's War in the West.
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: The Larch on September 16, 2013, 09:30:10 AM
Quote from: Tamas on September 16, 2013, 07:30:38 AM
Quote from: The Larch on September 16, 2013, 07:05:12 AM
Tamas, are you involved in this? I see that the NDA agreement for the beta is with Slytherine...  :ph34r:


OMG TBR SANCTITY IS TEH BROKENED!!!1oneone

:P

Isn't it already public knowledge?  :unsure:
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: ulmont on September 16, 2013, 09:34:27 AM
Quote from: The Larch on September 16, 2013, 09:30:10 AM
Quote from: Tamas on September 16, 2013, 07:30:38 AM
Quote from: The Larch on September 16, 2013, 07:05:12 AM
Tamas, are you involved in this? I see that the NDA agreement for the beta is with Slytherine...  :ph34r:


OMG TBR SANCTITY IS TEH BROKENED!!!1oneone

:P

Isn't it already public knowledge?  :unsure:

Slitherine seems to have disappeared the announcement, but yeah, it was publicly announced at least by Slitherine.  :P
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: Tamas on September 16, 2013, 09:57:08 AM
There are a lot of Tamases out there you know :P
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: ulmont on September 16, 2013, 10:29:50 AM
Quote from: Tamas on September 16, 2013, 09:57:08 AM
There are a lot of Tamases out there you know :P

Less with your last name and picture, of course.  :contract:
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: Tamas on September 16, 2013, 10:32:37 AM
Quote from: ulmont on September 16, 2013, 10:29:50 AM
Quote from: Tamas on September 16, 2013, 09:57:08 AM
There are a lot of Tamases out there you know :P

Less with your last name and picture, of course.  :contract:

Which are of course TBR sanctities :P
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: CountDeMoney on September 16, 2013, 10:33:51 AM
I found Tamas' picture in the fresh veggies aisle.
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: grumbler on September 16, 2013, 04:26:48 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on September 16, 2013, 10:33:51 AM
I found Tamas' picture in the fresh veggies aisle.

If you can't beet 'im, join 'im.
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: garbon on September 16, 2013, 04:40:38 PM
Quote from: Tamas on September 16, 2013, 10:32:37 AM
Quote from: ulmont on September 16, 2013, 10:29:50 AM
Quote from: Tamas on September 16, 2013, 09:57:08 AM
There are a lot of Tamases out there you know :P

Less with your last name and picture, of course.  :contract:

Which are of course TBR sanctities :P


Or facebook. Actually, I think linkedin recommended you to me as well.
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: fhdz on September 16, 2013, 09:58:28 PM
Thinking about Matrix just makes me want to dust off Korsun Pocket.
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: CountDeMoney on September 16, 2013, 10:02:33 PM
Quote from: fhdz on September 16, 2013, 09:58:28 PM
Thinking about Matrix just makes me want to dust off Korsun Pocket.

If you listen close enough, you can hear wailing.  Really.
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: fhdz on September 16, 2013, 10:03:59 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on September 16, 2013, 10:02:33 PM
Quote from: fhdz on September 16, 2013, 09:58:28 PM
Thinking about Matrix just makes me want to dust off Korsun Pocket.

If you listen close enough, you can hear wailing.  Really.

It's wailing in Russian and German, though, so it's okay.
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: fhdz on September 16, 2013, 10:30:06 PM
Fuck, I appear to have lost my WitP serial number :weep:
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: Tamas on September 23, 2013, 12:04:22 PM
http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=3412066

There will be actually three manuals included.

QuoteWhen using all the optional rules, the full sequence of play has 60 phases, 85 subphases, 11 sub-subphases, and 7 digressions. Volume 1 of the Players Manual describes who does what in each phase/subphase and how the game transitions between them.

The second volume covers the player interface in detail, with screenshots of all 150+ forms
Each form has accompanying text describing the form's visual elements and how to make decisions using the form
The text from this section of the Players Manual is available during game play as context sensitive help. During a game you don't need to leaf through the Players Manual looking for how to use a form, just click on the Help button to bring up the text from the Players Manual that describes the form 

2nd volume also contains all the optional rules and their explanations and the appendices with all the stuff.

3rd volume is the rulebook, basically.
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: Tamas on September 23, 2013, 12:06:37 PM
Also, beta AAR:
http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=3409403

Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: Ed Anger on September 23, 2013, 12:13:46 PM
Hey, 1998 called. They want their interface back.
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: Syt on September 23, 2013, 12:23:43 PM
It does remind me of Threesixty's High Command: Europe 1939 - 1945.
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: fhdz on September 23, 2013, 10:43:45 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on September 23, 2013, 12:13:46 PM
Hey, 1998 called. They want their interface back.

Seeeeeriously.
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: katmai on September 23, 2013, 10:44:42 PM
Damn fhdzzzle slamming graphics is harsh indictment if ever seen one.
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: fhdz on September 23, 2013, 10:55:00 PM
Quote from: katmai on September 23, 2013, 10:44:42 PM
Damn fhdzzzle slamming graphics is harsh indictment if ever seen one.

I know, right? They MUST be bad. Because I have a soft spot for shitty interfaces.
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: Tamas on September 24, 2013, 03:35:47 AM
 :huh:
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: Tamas on September 24, 2013, 03:50:22 AM
Point is, they got the name of the city of Debrecen right, which is quite a rare feat in wargaming. :P

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.matrixgames.com%2Fforums%2Fupfiles%2F16912%2FC700D35DBA21440BA56587C715FE12DF.jpg&hash=19a234b1fbb7cd256081f1d70afb3b5d63a90ff4)


It is from an other AAR: http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=3411644&mpage=1&key=
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: The Brain on September 24, 2013, 10:11:58 AM
At least north is up.
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: Tamas on September 24, 2013, 10:14:00 AM
Quote from: The Brain on September 24, 2013, 10:11:58 AM
At least north is up.

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fawesomegifs.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fdead-horse.gif&hash=66e5ab2ef95c733be946ccef836bb61476fa46ee)
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: The Brain on September 24, 2013, 10:19:36 AM
Yes, a BDSM and bestiality combo should keep me from doing it again.
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: The Minsky Moment on September 24, 2013, 01:33:34 PM
Quote from: The Larch on September 16, 2013, 07:05:12 AM
Tamas, are you involved in this? I see that the NDA agreement for the beta is with Slytherine...  :ph34r:

Tamas isn't being assigned to that beta.  They have him focusing on beta vulgaris.
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: Ed Anger on September 24, 2013, 01:34:23 PM
He is sculpting the interface out of mud and beets.
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: Tamas on September 24, 2013, 02:47:33 PM
 :rolleyes:
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: Ed Anger on September 24, 2013, 04:58:18 PM
It's all love dawg. Tough love.
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: crazy canuck on September 24, 2013, 04:59:44 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on September 24, 2013, 04:58:18 PM
Tough love.

Its a beet down
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: Ideologue on September 24, 2013, 06:15:31 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on September 24, 2013, 01:34:23 PM
He is sculpting the interface out of mud and beets.
:lol:
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: Berkut on September 25, 2013, 12:10:11 PM
If the game works, provides interesting choices and problems, and is fun, the interface only needs to be functional.

At least in theory.
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: Neil on September 25, 2013, 03:49:06 PM
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on September 24, 2013, 01:33:34 PM
Quote from: The Larch on September 16, 2013, 07:05:12 AM
Tamas, are you involved in this? I see that the NDA agreement for the beta is with Slytherine...  :ph34r:
Tamas isn't being assigned to that beta.  They have him focusing on beta vulgaris.
:lol:

That was awesome.  The most clever way I've ever seen that done.
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: Tamas on September 26, 2013, 11:32:40 AM
http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=3412066&mpage=1&key=&#3418682
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: Ed Anger on September 26, 2013, 11:58:23 AM
Quote from: Tamas on September 26, 2013, 11:32:40 AM
http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=3412066&mpage=1&key=&#3418682

Wow, I'm glad I skipped that game
Wow, what a stinker
Wow, it looks like it was made in 1999
Wow, look at the MRSP of this thing!
Wow, I'm not reading that manual
Wow, I like teasing tamas
Wow, beets

There, 7 moments of wow.
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: Tamas on September 26, 2013, 12:53:36 PM
weak  :rolleyes:
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: The Minsky Moment on September 26, 2013, 02:13:21 PM
The last ADG game conversion went so well, what could possibly go wrong here?
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: fhdz on September 27, 2013, 08:52:26 PM
Quote from: The Brain on September 24, 2013, 10:19:36 AM
Yes, a BDSM and bestiality combo should keep me from doing it again.

:lol:
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: fhdz on September 27, 2013, 08:53:46 PM
Poor Tamas. Now he gets to deal with grognards from the other side of the fence. :lol:
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: Ideologue on September 27, 2013, 09:05:25 PM
Quote from: Neil on September 25, 2013, 03:49:06 PM
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on September 24, 2013, 01:33:34 PM
Quote from: The Larch on September 16, 2013, 07:05:12 AM
Tamas, are you involved in this? I see that the NDA agreement for the beta is with Slytherine...  :ph34r:
Tamas isn't being assigned to that beta.  They have him focusing on beta vulgaris.
:lol:

That was awesome.  The most clever way I've ever seen that done.

I had to look it up, but that's good.  Real good.
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: Tamas on September 28, 2013, 03:59:31 AM
Quote from: fhdz on September 27, 2013, 08:53:46 PM
Poor Tamas. Now he gets to deal with grognards from the other side of the fence. :lol:

No shit. Did I think this through?  :ph34r:
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: fhdz on September 29, 2013, 06:20:42 PM
Quote from: Tamas on September 28, 2013, 03:59:31 AM
Quote from: fhdz on September 27, 2013, 08:53:46 PM
Poor Tamas. Now he gets to deal with grognards from the other side of the fence. :lol:

No shit. Did I think this through?  :ph34r:

:D
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: Tamas on October 04, 2013, 09:46:58 AM
This is a good spot explaining why I have doubts about the VASSAL module being comparable to this game (was made on topic of how long a game would take:

QuoteDuring game play all the arguing about the rules will disappear (or be even more pointless than usual). But the fastest increase will be in the calculations and determining which units can move. Odd bits like out-of-supply naval units having 1 less movement point, damaged naval units having their defense factor increased by one, intercepting fighters having only half their range, bombers flying at extended range having half their bombing factors, all the effects of weather and terrain on combat, units having to cooperate in order to participate in an air mission, and on and on. Then the actual calculations for land, naval, and air combats will evaporate, since the program works that all out for you.

But two of the biggest time savers will be having the sequence of play rigidly enforced (and visible for inspection at a mouse click), and finding which air units can move during all the 8 air missions, naval air phase, and air rebase phase. Zero time will be spent examining stacks of units looking for air units that are capable of flying in the current phase/subphase.

There is also a ton of information available that relieves the players of the burden of remembering and/or figuring things out. For example, how many land units have you moved in this Combined action? Is this unit in supply now that the weather is Snow?
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: Tamas on October 18, 2013, 06:07:08 AM
Like the screenshots or not, the game manuals look awesome:

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wargamer.com%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F3457%2F20131018040521.jpg&hash=a6d01e7ad459b677e765036cfd5bb2fa4d3feefe)

There is an optional map set for the whole thing, which is the map in the computer version printed out on a scale to fit with the boardgame counters. There was no room to put it all up, so there`s only this scale representation:
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wargamer.com%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F3457%2F20131018040519.jpg&hash=a49e947edb4e7568b036b83573e7b67bde6c6af8)

:D
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: CountDeMoney on October 18, 2013, 06:28:55 AM
I smell a broken game.
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: Viking on October 21, 2013, 12:05:50 PM
Quote from: Tamas on October 18, 2013, 06:07:08 AM
Like the screenshots or not, the game manuals look awesome:

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flessenthesuck.files.wordpress.com%2F2013%2F08%2Fjaws-bigger-boat.jpg&hash=98e9c9be6878fb89fc02a6dc0334040f1c2d6418)

I'm gonna have to get a bigger house.
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: Agelastus on November 19, 2013, 07:12:35 AM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on October 18, 2013, 06:28:55 AM
I smell a broken game.

Given the frustration I'm "enjoying" at the moment you may well have been right.

The guy who programmed this seems to have spent a lot of time stripping out what worked from the Marrinacci version and failing to make the replacement work without annoying little niggles.

And the production planning screen is a masterpiece of "WTF".
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: Ed Anger on November 19, 2013, 05:34:37 PM
What a shocker. A Matrix game that doesn't work right.
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: Agelastus on November 22, 2013, 03:37:00 PM
Heh, just realised that I'm listed in the credits section of the game as a pre-2006 Beta Tester. After 38 years as a "total nonentity" I've finally advanced one level to "utter nonentity"! :showoff: :D
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: Syt on January 14, 2014, 02:42:03 PM
http://www.matrixgames.com/news/1330/World.in.Flames.download.version.now.available

QuoteSince the release of World in Flames the single most common request from the community has been for a download only product.

Well, this is another occasion where we have listened and worked to find a solution.
You can now buy World in Flames as a download only title from the product page: none of the shipment charges of the luxury edition with three books and humongous map pack, and the game gets delivered to your mailbox in seconds.
Nothing can stop you getting your hands on the game now, you just have to follow the link.

Price of boxed version: €77.99 + VAT (comes with FREE download)
Price of download version: €77.99 + VAT

:lol: :lol:
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: Grey Fox on January 14, 2014, 02:45:01 PM
The price in Canadian is way more outrageous.


Download Edition
CAD 115.99+tax
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: Ed Anger on January 14, 2014, 04:51:52 PM
You get what you pay for. Shit.
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: Berkut on January 14, 2020, 03:24:55 PM
I picked this up on sale for $20. It is...amazingly deep. Ridiculously so. There is so much there!
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: Habbaku on January 14, 2020, 03:46:38 PM
Yeah, but does it work?
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: Berkut on January 14, 2020, 11:11:23 PM
Quote from: Habbaku on January 14, 2020, 03:46:38 PM
Yeah, but does it work?
Hell if I know. The amount of content is just crazy though.
Title: Re: World in Flames - Beta
Post by: Habbaku on January 14, 2020, 11:12:16 PM
I'm not saying that you should upload a copy somewhere I can find it or anything.