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-   -   Totem games "Ironclads"--- DEMO is up (https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=140335)

Maxim 08-26-08 10:56 AM

http://www.totemgames.ru/Ironclads_ACW_demo_2.exe

New Demo

1. The user's guide (Game Manual) to be in a folder from a demo. It is a file in format PDF.

2. You are right. Not in all countries the Internet is developed equally well. We try to make game accessible to all.

3. The English version of game can be purchased in Spain only through the Internet. We did not receive offers on translation of game on Spanish.

Totem Games

Ilpalazzo 08-27-08 10:24 PM

Hey, this demo is much better than the last one. I felt this demo really gave me a feel for the game and it is much more interesting with more ships involved :)

I have one fairly bad problem with the demo though. There is a bug I seem to get every time I play. At some point, an AI ship will get stuck in some sort of loop and never end it's turn. It will not move, but rather sit there and I must close the game's running process to stop it. I was very patient for quite some time, but it is apparent that this is a bug and the AI will not execute it's action. I'm uncertain as to what causes this. It seems that when I have a ship in front of an AI ship, this bug is likely to occur. As though I'm blocking it and it doesn't know what to do. I have been unable to finish the demo because of this problem. I suppose I could try not to get in front of the AI...

Apart from that bug, this is much better than the first demo.

"3. The English version of game can be purchased in Spain only through the Internet. We did not receive offers on translation of game on Spanish."

Any info on who the English version of the game may be purchased from?


On the TotemGames.ru website there does not seem to be any other projects. Is Ironclads their first game? Just curious.

Raptor1 08-28-08 02:01 AM

I agree that the new demo is much better than the last one, but I found that bug with the AI really annoying, hopefully that will be fixed when the full game comes out

Maxim 08-28-08 02:37 AM

1. We shall correct errors up to release of game.

2. Help us to relieve game of this bug. If at you the same problem send us please two files: "dxdiag" and "TotemLog".

dxdiag - computer diagnostic file. To get the file, follow the instructions below:

1. Press the Windows «Start» button;
2. Click on «Run»;
3. Type the following: dxdiag, then hit enter;
4. Save result in a separate file and pack this file in ZIP archive;
5. Attach the file to your email.

In a folder from a demo file TotemLog (for example C: \Program Files \Ironclads - American Civil War Demo 2 \TotemLog.log) is located. Attach the file to your email.

3. Now it will be known that the English version to be on sale through the Internet. About sales on disks there are negotiations.

4. It is first our game.

Totem Games
support@totemgames.ru

Maxim 08-28-08 08:51 AM

The bug is corrected. The updated version of a demo here:

http://www.totemgames.ru/Ironclads_ACW_demo_2.exe

Excuse for inconveniences.
Totem Games

Dutch 08-29-08 10:38 AM

Apparently I am the only one here that has crashes every time I try to play the game.

I can't even play with the US side, but with the CSA I can move 2-3 ships before it randomly crashes, either by me hitting move and crashing right after load. Any ideas on this? Looks to be an intresting game, I like the idea of surface combat and it looks like it would be fun. But again I can't seem to play it. I'm looking to see if I've done anything wrong. I am going to uninstall and re-download then reinstall to make sure.

Ilpalazzo 08-30-08 12:36 AM

Nice, the AI no longer locks up the game. I had much fun:yep:

However, around 27-28 turns into it, the enemy had two ships left and the game unexpectedly closed itself.

The end of the TotemLog states;

EXCEPTION : 0x 4841ce

Maxim 08-30-08 12:52 AM

I ask to pay attention, that game should not work on operational system Windows Vista at all. It is written in system requirements.

Now we work above this problem. We hope with your help it to solve.

Thanks all who has sent us files with the indication on an error.

BR,
Totem Games

Maxim 08-30-08 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dutch
I'm looking to see if I've done anything wrong.

You have made all correctly. Excuse for the caused inconveniences. We do all that we can to correct it a bug.

Totem Games

Dutch 08-30-08 12:14 PM

Oh wow I had no idea a dev was in here! It no problem at all no need to apologize. Any software is going to have its problems and glitches but from what I have been able to play I am very excited about this game.

You guys keep up the good work don't let a couple of bugs get you down, most of us understand how it is. Thank you for you quick response! I just received an email from you guys this morning, I hope it helps you guys.

Ilpalazzo 08-30-08 03:55 PM

I couldn't help but think about this from the game's page;

"the morale, training, physical conditions of the crew have an influence on the efficiency of the ships"

Is morale modeled in the demo? I saw no indications of morale or it's effect on anything. Or anything about the crew for that matter.

Maxim 08-31-08 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dutch
Oh wow I had no idea a dev was in here! It no problem at all no need to apologize. Any software is going to have its problems and glitches but from what I have been able to play I am very excited about this game.

You guys keep up the good work don't let a couple of bugs get you down, most of us understand how it is. Thank you for you quick response! I just received an email from you guys this morning, I hope it helps you guys.

Thanks for understanding and support.

Now about a moral and physical condition of crew. Our game is similar to an iceberg. Behind several simple actions of the player big work disappears.

For example at a shot speed of both ships, a corner between the ships, distance up to the purpose, speed of a shell during the moment of hit, kinetic energy of a shell, a zone of continuous destruction is considered. If the shell gets in the armor calculation of resistance of the armor and a wooden lining joins. What quantity of energy of a shell was absorbed with the armor. Depth and diameter of a hole.

What does the player see? Has guided the cursor of the mouse and has given a command to shoot. All!

Each of the ships has a value of training of crew, a moral condition. They vary during fight. Only the player of this does not see. There can be it a mistake, but we have given the player only those data on the ships and crew which are accessible to the real commander of the ship.

Totem Games

kjuice 08-31-08 01:47 AM

For Totem
 
Thanks for replying to my video glitches. I hope you can get it ironed out.

CaptainHaplo 09-02-08 06:04 PM

First of all - I am downloading the demo now and will post an opinion of it asap. However, let me simply say you have my business already for 3 distinct reasons.

#1 - Your presence here shows your committed to the customer - you want our feedback to make the game better. This is a great thing.

#2 - When issues arose - you fixed them - even revamping your demo due to feedback. If thats how you respond to problems or concerns - I know my money will be well spent on this game.

#3 - You had the courage to tackle a subset of naval history that is often overlooked, difficult to model, and yet wanted by tru naval grognards. Well done!

Tell the entire team they have support here in at subsim.com!!!!

CaptainHaplo 09-02-08 08:48 PM

OK I am hooked. No problems to report. I noticed you guys are doing things via XML for the vessels themselves. Great decision! Its one great game - I can't wait to buy the full version. If there is any help I can provide (be it helping proofread documents/in game text in english - or playtesting etc), feel free to let me know. I will be glad to help. You guys have a great game in process!

Maxim 09-04-08 12:35 AM

Our game is first experience of creation of game about an epoch of the first ironclads. To understand, that our ideas correct, to us the opinion of players is very important. Only players can inform us successful and unsuccessful game elements. It allows to remove unsuccessful elements and to make game better. While game is still made much it is possible to change. After end of all work it is already difficult to correct something.

Now we have found problems in a demo. With your help have collected the information on this bug. As soon as we shall cope with this error we shall inform.

Thanks for attention to our project.
Sincerely,
Totem Games

P.S.
2 Captain Haplo\
The help in testing is necessary to us. Please contact us.
support@totemgames.ru

ReallyDedPoet 09-04-08 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Typical Russian
Our game is first experience of creation of game about an epoch of the first ironclads. To understand, that our ideas correct, to us the opinion of players is very important. Only players can inform us successful and unsuccessful game elements. It allows to remove unsuccessful elements and to make game better. While game is still made much it is possible to change. After end of all work it is already difficult to correct something.

Now we have found problems in a demo. With your help have collected the information on this bug. As soon as we shall cope with this error we shall inform.

Thanks for attention to our project.
Sincerely,
Totem Games

P.S.
2 Captain Haplo\
The help in testing is necessary to us. Please contact us.
support@totemgames.ru

Continued good luck with this TR :yep::up:


RDP

Dutch 09-05-08 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Typical Russian
Our game is first experience of creation of game about an epoch of the first ironclads. To understand, that our ideas correct, to us the opinion of players is very important. Only players can inform us successful and unsuccessful game elements. It allows to remove unsuccessful elements and to make game better. While game is still made much it is possible to change. After end of all work it is already difficult to correct something.

Now we have found problems in a demo. With your help have collected the information on this bug. As soon as we shall cope with this error we shall inform.

Thanks for attention to our project.
Sincerely,
Totem Games

P.S.
2 Captain Haplo\
The help in testing is necessary to us. Please contact us.
support@totemgames.ru

Man talk about elite customer service, I do not believe that I have ever seen a company so readily willing to help their future customers! You guys will certainly have have my business.

OldNuke 09-05-08 09:58 PM

Ironclads Demo
 
I tried it and it was pretty buggy...probably not surprisingly, considering the size of the file.

The most frustrating thing about the game is the turn-based architecture. I don't understand why they would go to all the effort to make the ship models look realistic (down to the turrets turning before firing) and then limit them to board-game-like turns. It reminds me of the old X-Com game.

Graphically, there are some clunky aspects. All the smoke plumes go straight up, with exactly the same shape, even when the vessels are moving. The background steam engine noises are repetitive and annoying. The models have serious z-axis problems with the undulating water surface rising inside the bulwarks and covering the decks of the ships on occasion. (Think submarines with funnels.) In one game, all the ships acted like they were on teeter-totters for a brief period. Maximum speed of movement is unrealistic for the scale.

The in-game help was limited. I would hope the production version will be more informative. When I saved a game and logged out, I couldn't reload the game.

Similar ships are grouped at the beginning of a battle so they can move as a unit, but can be split up for individual ship-on-ship engagements. However, there is no provision for regrouping them later in the battle.

You really have no idea of how much damage you are doing to the enemy other than tool-tips indicating "Undamaged", "Light Damage", and "Damaged". I didn't notice any effect of battle damage on rate of fire to the enemy ships, but YOUR ships take damage that eventually can leave them without guns. The instructions tell you to shoot at point-blank range for greatest effect, but often I would lay my ship right next to the other and have no more than a 62% chance of a hit. Didn't make sense.

In each battle I tried (3), at some point the movement phase of either friendly or enemy ships developed errors. Either the friendly ship didn't track along the specified PIM, or the enemy ships ran into their own ships, or they took extra movement turns. The demo wouldn't let you finish your turn until all of your ships had moved to their maximum extent, even if that wasn't what would have been prudent in the tactical situation. Even X-Com allowed you to skip a turn for one of your soldiers! The ships are slaved to a pseudo-inertia model, so they speed up and slow down gradually over the course of several turns (you can't do All Back Emergency or All Ahead Flank, in other words).

The map in the demo is limited to just showing positions of friendly and enemy ships at a single scale. The circular markers are not identified by name, only by color indicating side. There is no heading marker (think NTDS), so it's hard to relate the map positions to what you see in the camera view. Speaking of the camera view, it is slaved to only friendly ships. You can pan around, tilt, and zoom relative to the selected friendly ship, but there is no overall battlespace camera that lets you get a view of all the ships.

I could go on, but you get the idea. Just thought I would provide fair warning. I would like to get copies of the plans they used for their ship's models, though.

Terry
Greenville, SC

Maxim 09-06-08 01:26 AM

Terry:

I tried it and it was pretty buggy...probably not surprisingly, considering the size of the file.

The most frustrating thing about the game is the turn-based architecture. I don't understand why they would go to all the effort to make the ship models look realistic (down to the turrets turning before firing) and then limit them to board-game-like turns. It reminds me of the old X-Com game.

Totem Games:

At this forum fans of simulators communicate. For you game in real time is better, than turn-based. At forums where fans of strategy all on the contrary gather.

Terry:

Graphically, there are some clunky aspects. All the smoke plumes go straight up, with exactly the same shape, even when the vessels are moving. The background steam engine noises are repetitive and annoying. The models have serious z-axis problems with the undulating water surface rising inside the bulwarks and covering the decks of the ships on occasion. (Think submarines with funnels.) In one game, all the ships acted like they were on teeter-totters for a brief period. Maximum speed of movement is unrealistic for the scale.

Totem Games:

In occasion of a smoke from pipes you are right. Thanks that have paid our attention.

Depth of immersing in water of the ship depends on each concrete computer. Normal it is possible to consider almost full immersing of the case of the monitor in water. On the Internet it is a lot of photos on which monitors in movement are shown. Very similar on a submarine. We consulted at historians. They have confirmed such strange feature for the modern person of these ships.

Terry:

Thein-gamehelpwaslimited. Iwouldhopetheproductionversion will be more informative. When I saved a game and logged out, I couldn't reload the game.

Totem Games:

Page of the help have already corrected and have added. You cannot load game? Contact us please … support@totemgames.ru

Terry:

Similar ships are grouped at the beginning of a battle so they can move as a unit, but can be split up for individual ship-on-ship engagements. However, there is no provision for regrouping them later in the battle.

Totem Games:

We based on experience and tactics of the true battles. During Civil war in the USA, Paraguayan war, war between Austria and Italy, wars for islands Chincha the ships did not gather in groups after the beginning of battle. There is no example. Historians have explained to us what to make it is impossible. Therefore we have repeated it in game.

Terry:

Youreallyhavenoideaofhowmuchdamageyouaredoing to the enemy other than tool-tips indicating "Undamaged", "Light Damage", and "Damaged". I didn't notice any effect of battle damage on rate of fire to the enemy ships, but YOUR ships take damage that eventually can leave them without guns. The instructions tell you to shoot at point-blank range for greatest effect, but often I would lay my ship right next to the other and have no more than a 62% chance of a hit. Didn't make sense.


Totem Games:

How it is possible to estimate a condition of the enemy ship in fight? You see it only outside. Therefore can estimate damage from your actions only as it was made by us. Accuracy of shooting in fight depends on the sizes of the purpose, speed of your and enemy ship. Please, pay attention that guns on the first ironclads differ from guns of the ships of Nelson only in the sizes. On these} guns are not present even normal sights. That accuracy, that you see in game is calculated on the basis of statistics of all sea battles with 1854 for 1875. Esteem special books and count up.

Bombardment of fort Samter - distance up to the purpose of 660 meters - accuracy of hit of the ships in a fort of 8,28 % - accuracy of hit of a fort in the ships of 17,4 % (Both the ships and a fort did not move.)

Fight of a cruiser of England and the monitor from Peru - a distance of fight of 2275 meters - accuracy of 6 % (By both ships only rifle guns).

Fight of two ironclads of Chile against the monitor from Peru - a distance of fight of 200 meters - accuracy of 35 %

Terry:

IneachbattleItried(3), at some point the movement phase of either friendly or enemy ships developed errors. Either the friendly ship didn't track along the specified PIM, or the enemy ships ran into their own ships, or they took extra movement turns. The demo wouldn't let you finish your turn until all of your ships had moved to their maximum extent, even if that wasn't what would have been prudent in the tactical situation. Even X-Com allowed you to skip a turn for one of your soldiers! The ships are slaved to a pseudo-inertia model, so they speed up and slow down gradually over the course of several turns (you can't do All Back Emergency or All Ahead Flank, in other words).

Totem Games:

Each ship in game constantly moves. It not a simulator. Even when you see, that the ship stands on a place - is in movement. The ship is not the tank. It cannot will stop at any moment. But you can finish speed of your ship to zero and it will not have an opportunity to move.

Look at maps of sea battles of that period. Full chaos. Absence order and managements. Each ship conducts fight in itself. It is not necessary to transfer the representation about other epoch of sea battles on 1854 - 1875. This especial time.

Terry:

The map in the demo is limited to just showing positions of friendly and enemy ships at a single scale. The circular markers are not identified by name, only by color indicating side. There is no heading marker (think NTDS), so it's hard to relate the map positions to what you see in the camera view. Speaking of the camera view, it is slaved to only friendly ships. You can pan around, tilt, and zoom relative to the selected friendly ship, but there is no overall battlespace camera that lets you get a view of all the ships.

Totem Games:

To open the information screen on the vessels involved, use the 2D map and click on the circle with a star inside. To close the ship information screen, move the cursor to the map border and press the mouse button. So you will see the name of all ships and the information on these ships.

Terry:

I could go on, but you get the idea. Just thought I would provide fair warning. I would like to get copies of the plans they used for their ship's models, though.

Totem Games:

We searched for drawings of the ships in all museums and libraries. Some drawings should be restored under drawings of the same or similar ships. We were very much helped by professional ship builders from Russia.

About searches of drawings it is possible to tell separate detective histories ;)


Thanks for your message.
BR,
Totem Games


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