I finally bought it...

[FERdeBOER]

Originally Posted by Sunburn

Welcome, and thank you for the honest feedback. This is exactly the kind of feedback we need to make the game even better. I will try to address some of your points with what we know about the present and future:


I hear you on the manual; thankfully Matrix listened and they've provided a printer-friendly version, here: http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=3418599

Thank you!

Also, if you downloaded v1.00 please make sure you get & install the v1.01 update, which has a lot of fixes & improvements. (It also includes an updated version of the AAW tutorial which is a little easier for beginners).

Already updated, as I said.

As you say there are already alternatives, and you can even make your own (some guys have made high-contrast mods, for example).

Is there a good download area? Or is all spread out in different forums?

This [Images in database] was a hard decision for us, no doubt. Back in the Harpoon era anyone attempting to sue for the inclusion of the images, drawings etc. would be laughed out of the court. Today you're receiving letters from lawyers faster than you can say "fair use".

I understand, that's why I said drawings, maybe silhouettes... anything is better than nothing. Many sports games can't afford paying the license and make the game the way the community can easily insert the real player names... but this takes me back to the cost of the game.

As you say there are already community image packs and in fact today we are releasing a big update (over 650MB).

Sorry, I don't understand this, are you talking about a game update or a database images one?

We added a dedicated weapon page in the DB viewer in v1.01, and we're also going to add hyperlinks in the places where weapons are commonly listed (e.g. aircraft loadout selection) so that you can click and read.

Only for weapons? No for units?

You can configure which of the messages will appear (Game -> Game Options -> Message Log), and even set certain types to raise a pop-up that stops the clock (useful for incoming weapon alerts).

I know and I've already done that, but my point is that for me is useful to know some things, but no others. For instance: 11:29:22 - New contact! Designated SKUNK #5 - Detected by USS North Carolina [Sensors: AN/BLQ-10(V)1] at 255deg - Estimated 139NM
This is an in-game message. What's AN/BLQ-10(V)1???? "Go to the database", you could say, but that's my point, I don't want to need to go to the database... I went and found that is... active radar!! Apart from the fact that a submarine shouldn't have the use of radar on as default (I didn't change it), would have been far more useful a message saying: 11:29:22 - New RADAR contact! Designated SKUNK #5 - Detected by USS North Carolina- at 255deg - Estimated 139NM. Or, even better: 11:29:22 - USS North Carolina - New RADAR contact! Designated SKUNK #5 - at 255deg - Estimated 139NM
And this is a simple example, messages involving missiles hit/miss are more complex.
If this would be followed by a voice alert, even better.

[Window display] Can you elaborate on that? If you mean the ability to quickly jump in areas of interest we have something in the works for that.

Yes, I'm sorry. I show you how I'm playing:


I would like the log window to be a bit wider, but there's no possibility of shrinking the map window more than that.
The unit control window can't be resized, so I have to move it sometimes to see what's behind. Would be great to be able to integrate it on the right column. Or being able to resize it and put it under the log window.
My laptop's window resolution is 1280x800.
This reminds me a bug I've found!: my windows in in Spanish and, if you look at the time row, the date comes in Spanish. You can see it in the image.

We hear you. More sounds are in the cards. Optional background music too. (BTW you can customize _any_ sound!)

Good to know. Be careful with background music, though, is almost impossible to have a good one than people can listen for more than 20 minutes... I use to switch music off in almost every game.

Again, thank you for all the observations and rest assured you're not alone in voicing many of your remarks. We are listening, we have already made many changes as a direct response to player feedback and even more stuff is on the way.

Stick around. It's going to be one hell of a ride!

Thanks to you for your answers!

[Sunburn]

Originally Posted by FERdeBOER

Is there a good download area? Or is all spread out in different forums?

The "official" download page is here: http://www.warfaresims.com/?page_id=1876

Sorry, I don't understand this, are you talking about a game update or a database images one?

From today, both

DB-image packs update: http://www.warfaresims.com/?p=1994

And new game update, released today: http://www.warfaresims.com/?p=1996

Only for weapons? No for units?

Platform hyperlinks are already there. While having a unit selected, click on the unit's class on the unit-status window. The DB-viewer will open up and show you the page for that unit.

I know and I've already done that, but my point is that for me is useful to know some things, but no others. For instance: 11:29:22 - New contact! Designated SKUNK #5 - Detected by USS North Carolina [Sensors: AN/BLQ-10(V)1] at 255deg - Estimated 139NM
This is an in-game message. What's AN/BLQ-10(V)1???? "Go to the database", you could say, but that's my point, I don't want to need to go to the database... I went and found that is... active radar!! Apart from the fact that a submarine shouldn't have the use of radar on as default (I didn't change it),

It's a passive ESM sensor actually. Subs use those very regularly when at periscope depth.

would have been far more useful a message saying: 11:29:22 - New RADAR contact! Designated SKUNK #5 - Detected by USS North Carolina- at 255deg - Estimated 139NM. Or, even better: 11:29:22 - USS North Carolina - New RADAR contact! Designated SKUNK #5 - at 255deg - Estimated 139NM
And this is a simple example, messages involving missiles hit/miss are more complex.
If this would be followed by a voice alert, even better.

This is a double-edged sword. Consider the two following message log samples, reporting on the same events:

New contact! Designated VAMPIRE #5 - Detected by USS North Carolina [Sensors: AN/BLQ-10(V)1] at 255deg - Estimated 139NM
New contact! Designated VAMPIRE #6 - Detected by USS North Carolina [Sensors: AN/BLQ-10(V)1] at 255deg - Estimated 139NM
New contact! Designated VAMPIRE #7 - Detected by USS North Carolina [Sensors: AN/BLQ-10(V)1] at 255deg - Estimated 139NM
New contact! Designated VAMPIRE #8 - Detected by USS North Carolina [Sensors: AN/BLQ-10(V)1] at 255deg - Estimated 139NM
New contact! Designated VAMPIRE #9 - Detected by USS North Carolina [Sensors: AN/BLQ-10(V)1] at 255deg - Estimated 139NM
New contact! Designated VAMPIRE #10 - Detected by USS North Carolina [Sensors: AN/BLQ-10(V)1] at 255deg - Estimated 139NM

And:

USS North Carolina - New RADAR contact! Designated VAMPIRE #5 - at 255deg - Estimated 139NM
USS North Carolina - New RADAR contact! Designated VAMPIRE #6 - at 255deg - Estimated 139NM
USS North Carolina - New RADAR contact! Designated VAMPIRE #7 - at 255deg - Estimated 139NM
USS North Carolina - New RADAR contact! Designated VAMPIRE #8 - at 255deg - Estimated 139NM
USS North Carolina - New RADAR contact! Designated VAMPIRE #9 - at 255deg - Estimated 139NM
USS North Carolina - New RADAR contact! Designated VAMPIRE #10 - at 255deg - Estimated 139NM

Which of the two notifies you most immediately that you are under a missile attack?

I would like the log window to be a bit wider, but there's no possibility of shrinking the map window more than that.
The unit control window can't be resized, so I have to move it sometimes to see what's behind. Would be great to be able to integrate it on the right column. Or being able to resize it and put it under the log window.
My laptop's window resolution is 1280x800.

Interesting. The external log window was added primarily for use by players who have the extra desktop real estate to make use of it, particularly those with multiple monitors (one may argue that printing the log directly on the map is more efficient if space is limited). Let us look what we can do about that. Thanks!

This reminds me a bug I've found!: my windows in in Spanish and, if you look at the time row, the date comes in Spanish. You can see it in the image.

That was deliberate . We wanted that date to suit each user's selected locale in order to make it more personal. Most guys like it. Maybe add as option?

Good to know. Be careful with background music, though, is almost impossible to have a good one than people can listen for more than 20 minutes... I use to switch music off in almost every game.

Quite true. OTOH we had objections so passionate that guys actually went to the trouble to dig up old FC videos to show us that they'd like background music. We thought that, being a desktop windows app, people would just fire up their favorite mp3 player in the background and blast away. We were correct, but not 100% so

Thanks to you for your answers!

You're welcome! We hope you have endless fun with the game and feel free to join us on our or MG's forums too.

[FERdeBOER]

Originally Posted by Sunburn

The "official" download page is here: http://www.warfaresims.com/?page_id=1876

From today, both

DB-image packs update: http://www.warfaresims.com/?p=1994

And new game update, released today: http://www.warfaresims.com/?p=1996

Downloading!

It's a passive ESM sensor actually. Subs use those very regularly when at periscope depth.

I'm sorry, I thought it was active... see my point? I couldn't know what kind of sensor it was despite looking at the database... And I know ESM pretty well from SC and DW!!

This is a double-edged sword. Consider the two following message log samples, reporting on the same events:

New contact! Designated VAMPIRE #5 - Detected by USS North Carolina [Sensors: AN/BLQ-10(V)1] at 255deg - Estimated 139NM
New contact! Designated VAMPIRE #6 - Detected by USS North Carolina [Sensors: AN/BLQ-10(V)1] at 255deg - Estimated 139NM
New contact! Designated VAMPIRE #7 - Detected by USS North Carolina [Sensors: AN/BLQ-10(V)1] at 255deg - Estimated 139NM
New contact! Designated VAMPIRE #8 - Detected by USS North Carolina [Sensors: AN/BLQ-10(V)1] at 255deg - Estimated 139NM
New contact! Designated VAMPIRE #9 - Detected by USS North Carolina [Sensors: AN/BLQ-10(V)1] at 255deg - Estimated 139NM
New contact! Designated VAMPIRE #10 - Detected by USS North Carolina [Sensors: AN/BLQ-10(V)1] at 255deg - Estimated 139NM

And:

USS North Carolina - New RADAR contact! Designated VAMPIRE #5 - at 255deg - Estimated 139NM
USS North Carolina - New RADAR contact! Designated VAMPIRE #6 - at 255deg - Estimated 139NM
USS North Carolina - New RADAR contact! Designated VAMPIRE #7 - at 255deg - Estimated 139NM
USS North Carolina - New RADAR contact! Designated VAMPIRE #8 - at 255deg - Estimated 139NM
USS North Carolina - New RADAR contact! Designated VAMPIRE #9 - at 255deg - Estimated 139NM
USS North Carolina - New RADAR contact! Designated VAMPIRE #10 - at 255deg - Estimated 139NM

Which of the two notifies you most immediately that you are under a missile attack?

I see your point. By the way, if you want immediate awareness, the message would better be:
VAMPIRE INBOUND! Designated VAMPIRE #5 - Detected by...
My point wasn't exactly that, but simplify the sensor detecting the threat.
What I'm thinking about is more about "game-flow". If I have to pause often to check the database and spend some time reading and "deciphering" what some things mean, or which sensor is... If, on the contrary, the messages log is clear and simple enough, or the database has a "simple" description area, the battle would run smoother.

Interesting. The external log window was added primarily for use by players who have the extra desktop real estate to make use of it, particularly those with multiple monitors (one may argue that printing the log directly on the map is more efficient if space is limited). Let us look what we can do about that. Thanks!

I thought that: I would love to have a second monitor...
I will give a second chance to the "in screen" log, but my first thought was it was hard to read.

That was deliberate . We wanted that date to suit each user's selected locale in order to make it more personal. Most guys like it. Maybe add as option?

I personally hate that. I have my smartphone in English only because I hate having some parts in Spanish and then some non translated (or worst: bad translated) apps in English...

Continuing with my experience with the game, I've been playing this morning the 3rd tutorial and loved it. I think it only lacks a 4th one about more complex battle set, kind of "advanced tutorial".

Again, I miss a lot of sounds. I think you mentioned first some can be added by anyone? Can you point me where could I find the way to do it? I'm mostly interested on a sound when a new contact is made and when I'm being attacked (I already make the game pause when that happens).

I'm loving the game, though, I really do. Still hurts having paid so much, but almost worth it.

Thanks again!

PS: Working on Sunday?? Give yourself a break!

[Skyhigh]

Goblin3 hit by AA sidewinder missile

Ah that would massively hurt realism....

(Goblin being a submerged target and Sidewinder an A-A missle... )