Armchair Dragoons Forums
Wargaming => Intel Dump => Topic started by: panzerde on April 24, 2019, 09:25:42 PM
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After fruitlessly again browsing the products at Matrix, Slitherine, and AGEOD, I realized that they haven't published a game I'm interested in for at least two years. Aside from the fact that they haven't published much, what they have published has been shallow, trite, and often quickly abandoned.
Matrix used to publish wargames. They really don't seem to, anymore. There's only so many ways you can retread Panzer General and expect to maintain interest.
I really hope someone comes along and starts to sell computer wargames again. It feels to me like there's a completely untapped market now that the former "big dog" has decided to publish Camouflage Candy Crush.
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Seems like Tiller is the only one doing real computer wargames these days.
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Pretty much. There are plenty of people that will complain about the engine and the graphics, but at least there's an actual wargame there.
I used to enjoy the stuff from Battleground, but I haven't been able to rouse myself to buy Shock Force 2. I haven't seen anything different enough from Shock Force to justify $125. I can buy three board games for that.
That's where my money is going these days: cardboard.
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I'm too put off by Steve's attitude toward his customers to buy anything from Battlefront these days.
And yeah, my money is going to cardboard as well.
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I'm too put off by Steve's attitude toward his customers to buy anything from Battlefront these days.
I feel like that's a problem at Matrix, too. It's more subtle there. In both cases there's a pretty significant contrast with people like Dave Heath, or Tom & Mary Russell, or a host of other boardgame publishers who seem so much more connected to their customers. Even GMT is pretty customer focused, despite being the 800 lb. gorilla of the industry.
I'm eagerly awaiting General Staff. That's a real computer wargame, and Ezra is good people. It goes without saying that the OTS crew are as well, and I'll definitely buy FPC: Southern Storm when it's released. As far as I can see though, those will likely be my only 2019 computer wargame purchases outside of Tiller stuff.
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Southern Storm will be a must buy for me, but there is very little else from Matrix/Slitherine that grabs my interest these days.
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I'm not as interested in super hard core wargames as some of you - so Matrix/Slitherine keeps vacuuming my wallet.
Still, we should count our blessings. There are a lot of wargames and strategy games being released both on computer and board games.
You've entirely made my point. Matrix, which used to be a hardcore wargame publisher, no longer is. They're selling to you, not to me.
Wargames and "strategy" games are not the same thing. There are almost NO wargames being released on computer these days. There's a lot of light weight war-themed "strategy" games. More power to people that want to play those. Paradox does a far superior job at that than Matrix does, IMHO. What Matrix isn't doing is publishing wargames. It's be good if someone would fill that gap in the market, that they did under David Heath very successfully for a long time.
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They are a long way from being the "Home of Wargamers" that they were when David owned it.
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Matrix is the late 90's Montenegro to Slitherine's Serbia
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I smell a new Dragooncast in the future. Seems to be a rich topic. I think almost all computer gaming has fallen to the lowest common denominator in search of the almighty dollar. It is flashy eye candy, simple mechanics, and trophy achievements that own the market Most of us grew up in the opening days of the computer games and remember thick printed manuals, keyboard overlays, rare bugs, no mods, and hours spent learning how to play. Can't have that in today's instant gratification world. At least we are slowly working on a real wargame with a number of PDF manuals Maybe we should try a keyboard overlay as well.
Such a rant worthy topic. From many sides.
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I miss keyboard overlays
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I smell a new Dragooncast in the future.
maybe we do one at Origins with everyone in the same room together
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I miss keyboards
--- Generation Z, 25 years from now
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This is how bad it is: I have a 40% off coupon from Matrix that I've had for months now. I can't find anything they publish that I'm even willing to buy with a 40% discount.
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I miss keyboards
--- Generation Z, 25 years from now
(https://i.imgflip.com/2zf4qj.jpg)
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This is how bad it is: I have a 40% off coupon from Matrix that I've had for months now. I can't find anything they publish that I'm even willing to buy with a 40% discount.
none of their older stuff? or you already have it all?
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This is how bad it is: I have a 40% off coupon from Matrix that I've had for months now. I can't find anything they publish that I'm even willing to buy with a 40% discount.
none of their older stuff? or you already have it all?
I have all of the older stuff I want and that shows any sign of still being supported. Matrix has a terrible habit of continuing to sell games that aren't being patched and that receive zero support or attention in their forums. That's getting so bad that even some very recently released games are effectively dead. That's the case with everything from AGEOD, for example, except their new, unreleased game.
The last game they released before Phil Thibaut "left" received a single patch. Despite issues that have been pointed out with the game, no further updates are expected. Same with TYW. Same with ECW. These have clearly been abandoned. Why would I spend any money at all on games that I can't count on being supported?
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Why would I spend any money at all on games that I can't count on being supported?
this
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Why would I spend any money at all on games that I can't count on being supported?
You just described most games on Steam. :whistle:
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Why would I spend any money at all on games that I can't count on being supported?
I don't keep up with them so I didn't realize it was that bad. But I totally agree with your assessment there and can't imagine why you would.
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Matrix has been hinting that their doing Distant Worlds 2 for like 2 years now. They finally posted and update a few days ago and said their still working on it. That was after at least 6 months of nothing. Paradox is good at announcing games and then giving updates as to content and screenshots. Yes, they always caveat the screenshots as work in progress, but Matrix seems scared to talk about DW2 at all. They have people regularly asking about the game.
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Why would I spend any money at all on games that I can't count on being supported?
You just described most games on Steam. :whistle:
True, but Steam doesn't claim to be the "Home of Wargamers." Having said that, I'm not buying a ton from Steam, either. I think Cap'n Darwin is right. The quality of what passes for games now is pretty shallow, twitch-based, and overrun with DLC.
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Matrix has been hinting that their doing Distant Worlds 2 for like 2 years now. They finally posted and update a few days ago and said their still working on it. That was after at least 6 months of nothing. Paradox is good at announcing games and then giving updates as to content and screenshots. Yes, they always caveat the screenshots as work in progress, but Matrix seems scared to talk about DW2 at all. They have people regularly asking about the game.
That one is another painful one to me. DW was the best 4X game around at the time. There are still things about it I like more than Stellaris. DW2 should have been out a long time ago - but I realize developers, particularly small developers, miss deadlines. I really get the sense though that it doesn't fit the current Matrix/Slitherine business model and I'll be surprised if we ever see it.
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Why would I spend any money at all on games that I can't count on being supported?
You just described most games on Steam. :whistle:
True, but Steam doesn't claim to be the "Home of Wargamers." Having said that, I'm not buying a ton from Steam, either. I think Cap'n Darwin is right. The quality of what passes for games now is pretty shallow, twitch-based, and overrun with DLC.
My Steam purchases have always been sporadic and tend to be older games that I can pick up for pennies. Now I pretty much own every old game I could possibly want.
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My Steam purchases have always been sporadic and tend to be older games that I can pick up for pennies. Now I pretty much own every old game I could possibly want.
Same here. Anything newer I tend to Kickstart and then get a Steam key for.
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Now I pretty much own every old game I could possibly want.
just for kicks - how many of those have you played? :nerd: :hehe:
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more than you have
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I'm downloading Imperator: Rome now. I did at least get a 15% discount through Green Man Gaming. :sigh:
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I have played 100% of the games I ever bought from them
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And what is 100% of zero? Oh yeah, zero.
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And what is 100% of zero? Oh yeah, zero.
Hah! Wrong. I actually bought Forge of Freedom about 10 or 11 years ago, a and played for a few hours before I got bored with it.
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You're a Real American Hero.
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You're a Real American Hero.
Now, I freely admit to a few freebies from S&M I haven't gotten around to playing yet, but everything I bought I actually played
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You're a Real American Hero.
Now, I freely admit to a few freebies from S&M I haven't gotten around to playing yet, but everything I bought I actually played
TOTALLY EXONERATED!!!
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I'm downloading Imperator: Rome now. I did at least get a 15% discount through Green Man Gaming. :sigh:
I'm hoping they announce Victoria 3 next. :bigthumb:
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I'm downloading Imperator: Rome now. I did at least get a 15% discount through Green Man Gaming. :sigh:
I'm hoping they announce Victoria 3 next. :bigthumb:
From a couple of tweets I've seen this week, not going to happen. >:(
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:'(
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(http://www.prankmenot.com/images/25-04-2019/ekR7cH.png)
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Did you take Axis & Allies Zombies out of the shrink yet?
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You cannot take 100% of games out of shrink that you never buy, either.
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Did you take Axis & Allies Zombies out of the shrink yet?
:2funny:
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https://twitter.com/PdxInteractive/status/1121396220126212096
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:2funny:
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>:D
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Matrix has been hinting that their doing Distant Worlds 2 for like 2 years now. They finally posted and update a few days ago and said their still working on it. That was after at least 6 months of nothing. Paradox is good at announcing games and then giving updates as to content and screenshots. Yes, they always caveat the screenshots as work in progress, but Matrix seems scared to talk about DW2 at all. They have people regularly asking about the game.
That one is another painful one to me. DW was the best 4X game around at the time. There are still things about it I like more than Stellaris. DW2 should have been out a long time ago - but I realize developers, particularly small developers, miss deadlines. I really get the sense though that it doesn't fit the current Matrix/Slitherine business model and I'll be surprised if we ever see it.
Their attempt to transition Distant Worlds 2 to 3D has placed it in development purgatory.
If they'd kept the game 2D, I'm pretty sure it would've released last year already, maybe even back in 2017. Now, though? I honestly doubt we'll see it come out until sometime next decade.
I'm downloading Imperator: Rome now. I did at least get a 15% discount through Green Man Gaming. :sigh:
I'm hoping they announce Victoria 3 next. :bigthumb:
Just play Stellaris instead. It has the same boring, overly-complex economy now.
(Sigh.)
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I'm downloading Imperator: Rome now. I did at least get a 15% discount through Green Man Gaming. :sigh:
I'm hoping they announce Victoria 3 next. :bigthumb:
Just play Stellaris instead. It has the same boring, overly-complex economy now.
(Sigh.)
(http://www.frontlinegaming.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Youre-a-Heretic.jpg)
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Their attempt to transition Distant Worlds 2 to 3D has placed it in development purgatory.
If they'd kept the game 2D, I'm pretty sure it would've released last year already, maybe even back in 2017. Now, though? I honestly doubt we'll see it come out until sometime next decade.
I'm downloading Imperator: Rome now. I did at least get a 15% discount through Green Man Gaming. :sigh:
I'm hoping they announce Victoria 3 next. :bigthumb:
Just play Stellaris instead. It has the same boring, overly-complex economy now.
(Sigh.)
[/quote]
Everything you say is completely true. None of it makes me happy. :(
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I'm downloading Imperator: Rome now. I did at least get a 15% discount through Green Man Gaming. :sigh:
I'm hoping they announce Victoria 3 next. :bigthumb:
Just play Stellaris instead. It has the same boring, overly-complex economy now.
(Sigh.)
(http://www.frontlinegaming.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Youre-a-Heretic.jpg)
BURN THE HERETICS!!!!!!
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Well, it is Martok. Burning might be a bit extreme. We could just make him watch Star Trek Discovery all day long.
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Matrix has been hinting that their doing Distant Worlds 2 for like 2 years now. They finally posted and update a few days ago and said their still working on it. That was after at least 6 months of nothing. Paradox is good at announcing games and then giving updates as to content and screenshots. Yes, they always caveat the screenshots as work in progress, but Matrix seems scared to talk about DW2 at all. They have people regularly asking about the game.
That one is another painful one to me. DW was the best 4X game around at the time. There are still things about it I like more than Stellaris. DW2 should have been out a long time ago - but I realize developers, particularly small developers, miss deadlines. I really get the sense though that it doesn't fit the current Matrix/Slitherine business model and I'll be surprised if we ever see it.
Their attempt to transition Distant Worlds 2 to 3D has placed it in development purgatory.
If they'd kept the game 2D, I'm pretty sure it would've released last year already, maybe even back in 2017. Now, though? I honestly doubt we'll see it come out until sometime next decade.
I'm downloading Imperator: Rome now. I did at least get a 15% discount through Green Man Gaming. :sigh:
I'm hoping they announce Victoria 3 next. :bigthumb:
Just play Stellaris instead. It has the same boring, overly-complex economy now.
(Sigh.)
Personally, I like the more complex economic pieces of their games. I do understand that it's not for everyone. With that said, I did enjoy DW, and look forward to DW2.
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Well, it is Martok. Burning might be a bit extreme. We could just make him watch Star Trek Discovery all day long.
I'd sooner be consigned to the flames and eternal damnation. >:(
Personally, I like the more complex economic pieces of their games. I do understand that it's not for everyone.
I can't put my finger on exactly what it is, but ever since the release of Megacorp and the 2.2 update, managing my planets in Stellaris is about as fun as watching paint dry. I can't enjoy the game at all anymore unless I first roll it back to 2.13 (if not earlier -- I still despise a lot of the changes made in 2.0 as well).
Gods knows the older version (with the planets being made of tiles) was far from perfect -- the biggest problem, of course, being that it was micromanagement-intensive -- but at least that still felt somewhat engaging. Now, though, my eyes automatically glaze over when trying to figure out the economy, as it's become too abstract. Districts, jobs, alloys, and "trade value" may be great for some folks, but it's way too...bloodless for me.
With that said, I did enjoy DW, and look forward to DW2.
Same.
What I find both odd and ironic is that I enjoy DW's economic model immensely, *and* that I can wrap my brain around it without giving myself a headache. The game's high degree of automation is obviously a big help with this, but ultimately it's also a lot simpler than what you find in Victoria II or Stellaris.
In Distant Worlds, you ultimately just need to make sure you a sufficient supply of whatever resources you're using. If you do, all is well; if not, then your economy (and your empire in general) suffers.
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Paradox totally screwed up Sectors in Stellaris. I think they were trying to get people to have narrow tall empires that would allow people to micromanager their planets more. But people like me like wide empires and didn't have too many issues with the Sector AI.
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I’ve bought one computer game in the last several years and that was The Operational Art of War IV. Decent enough game but frankly I’d rather play games at the table and get away from staring at a computer screen.
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Paradox totally screwed up Sectors in Stellaris. I think they were trying to get people to have narrow tall empires that would allow people to micromanager their planets more. But people like me like wide empires and didn't have too many issues with the Sector AI.
Making tall empires a viable option is great. Trying to coerce gamers into playing one is not. Wide or tall, they should both have their advantages & disadvantages.
And yes, sectors (while never exactly wonderful) have become far worse in 2.2. While it sounds like it's one of the higher-priority items that will be addressed in the next update, it would've been much better if they'd simply not been borked in the first place.
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That's one of my biggest problems with Paradox. "The next patch will make things great!"
It's always the next patch. I end up never playing because there's always a next patch.
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It's nice that we can bash on all the publishers equally. Fair and Balanced ;D
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All this bashing reminds me of a high stakes game of Agricola. The tension. The intrigue. The not so subtle shanking of your opposition.
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Still not going to play Agricola
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You will when I visit your neck of Canada again.
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Still not going to play Agricola
What if they add ZOMBIES to it?
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You will when I visit your neck of Canada again.
Don't threaten me.
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Still not going to play Agricola
What if they add ZOMBIES to it?
Then it would become a must buy
For BanzaiCat
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You guys sure are fixated on that game, about as much as mirth is fixated on Agricola. ;D
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That's one of my biggest problems with Paradox. "The next patch will make things great!"
It's always the next patch. I end up never playing because there's always a next patch.
I'd always heard this about Paradox, but never realized just how true it was until Stellaris (as it was the first Paradox title that I really got into).
To be fair, I generally enjoyed Stellaris as-is (at the time), so at least for me, the patches merely improved on what I felt was already an excellent 4x/grand-strategy experience. What bothers me more about the updates is that they've often never fixed ongoing issues that have existed since the game released. I know that's not exactly unusual for PC games, but it sure is annoying -- especially when the devs say said issues will be addressed or at least looked at (but then aren't).
Worst of all -- from my perspective -- Martin Anward (the lead dev at the time) took Stellaris in a direction I never wanted it to go, leading to the craptastic 2.0 and 2.2 updates. The former (with its ridiculous hyperlanes-only maps and handicapped AI) leached much of the original game's fun factor for me, and the latter (with an even dumber AI and its over-focus on a boring economy) pretty much destroyed any remaining enjoyment I once derived from it.
I still play Stellaris, but only on earlier versions. Distant Stars was the most recent DLC I picked up for the game, and I'm pretty sure it will be the last. .
It's nice that we can bash on all the publishers equally. Fair and Balanced ;D
As long as none of us are secretly Sean Hannity. :P
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This is the exact same discussion about Paradox that has been going on for about 15 years now.
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I own several Paradox games and have never played any of them for more than a handful of hours.
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I used to play them when I wanted to take a nap or watch a computer play a game.
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I used to play them when I wanted to take a nap or watch a computer play a game.
heh. pretty much.
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Okay, I fired up and updated the Battlestar Galactica game from Matrix and have been enjoying that quite a bit. It was decent when it first came out. With the improvements that have been made, this is my favorite tactical space game ever.
Someone needs to take this system and make an Age of Sail game.
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The BSG game is a lot of fun.