War in the Pacific (Admiral's Edition)

[Te Kaha]

Is there anyone playing this game, or pondering to buy it?

Am asking because I am thinking about buying it, but reading the reviews, this title seems to have such a depth that you can more or less forget about real life... I'm married with kids...

Opinions?

[eddie]

I have the original version of WitP, so get ready for lots of detail and micromanaging,lol If you like those things in a sim, then go for it! But,keep 2 things in mind before you do-

1-Check to see if your family has any problems with you being in front of your pc for long extended periods of time,like on weekends, during holidays, meal times, etc.

2-Make sure your employer will put up with you missing a day here and there, and ask him to overlook your appearence when you show up late, and looking like you haven't slept or shaved in about 3 days!

[Torplexed]

Originally Posted by Te Kaha

Is there anyone playing this game, or pondering to buy it?

Am asking because I am thinking about buying it, but reading the reviews, this title seems to have such a depth that you can more or less forget about real life... I'm married with kids...

Opinions?

It's not for the faint of heart. I've played the Coral Sea scenario and the Guadalcanal one, but have yet to take the campaign game plunge. It certainly helps if you have a deep abiding interest in the subject matter of the Pacific War, as it was hardly an even contest as time goes on and Japan slowly gets buried by Allied material advantages. The toughest part is tackling the situation in China where the Allies are blessed with many, many almost worthless Chinese units on a long meandering front. Happily there is a campaign scenario now where this sector remains mostly quiet, so you don't have to micro-manage it. If you play as Japan you really have to struggle to manage Japan's industry well as most resources are overseas and you never seem to have enough merchant ships.

I do like the little touches they have added. Your ships in combat can take damage from each other as well as the enemy in the form of collisions. The Pearl Harbor attack can be a one day affair or go through several days of repeat attacks. The "improved" fog of war means it may be months before you confirm through intelligence that an enemy ship you think you sank in battle did sink...or was even that particular ship. All in all well done.

[Arclight]

Still considering getting this for Christmas. imho it's the ultimate naval sim, if you have the time to play it. The scale is just mind-boggling.

[Te Kaha]

Thanks for the input, gentlemen. Just one more question, how long does it take on average to play a single turn?

[Torplexed]

Originally Posted by Te Kaha

Thanks for the input, gentlemen. Just one more question, how long does it take on average to play a single turn?

I've heard of some people taking many hours if not a whole day with the first turn as you have to set invasion and strike force convoys in motion as Japan, move aircraft forward from rear areas to better bases, start loading troops and supplies in follow-up convoys, move subs to likely interdiction points, fortify far-flung bases, decide which ships to convert or stop production on, start expanding airfields and ports, lay mines, set optimum aircraft patrols, set priority for which ships receive repair first, etc, etc. If playing as the Allies you have to react to all these moves in a similar fashion.

Once past that point it's not nearly as bad as task forces and ground regiments often many turns to reach their destinations. Maybe an hour or even less for a turn if not much is happening. Although it doesn't hurt to keep a note book of what is going where for why as the one-day turns means that supply convoy you loaded with P-40 fighter planes on December 8th in San Diego on the US West Coast won't arrive in Sydney, Australia until February and you may have forgotten where you intended those aircraft to go from there, or even that that particular convoy existed. All those subs take a bit of micro-managing too.

[Dowly]

Jebus! Who has time for games like this?

[Torplexed]

Originally Posted by Dowly

Jebus! Who has time for games like this?

Real strategic level game micro-management freaks. Which I'll admit to being guilty of at times.

I was born in Japan and lived for several years as a youth in Okinawa so I've always been deeply interested in the Pacific War. Plus, the game system seems to fit the theater real well.