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A Little Good News - 7/16/2002 4:26:07 AM   
David Heath


Posts: 3274
Joined: 3/29/2000
From: Staten Island NY
Status: offline 		Hi Guys

As you know Matrix is open to discussion on any subject on our products. We ask that you think about the Topic name. We have gotten a few emails from gamers coming to see what the game is about and walk a way feeling that no one is happy with the game or its riddle with bugs.

No one at Matrix is claiming the game is perfect but we do feel this is a great game and will be enjoyed for years to come. If you think you found a bug please post it in the bug section and we will also look into it. If you are enjoying the game found somethnig that makes you happy post it here and let us all know about it.

If you are enjoying the game its important that your fellow gamers and they read it here. We once again thank you for your support.

David
Post #: 1
- 7/16/2002 5:40:55 AM   
Raverdave


Posts: 6520
Joined: 2/8/2002
From: Melb. Australia
Status: offline 		It is a pity that "newbies" are looking in here and going away with the impression that the game is buggy.....a real pity in fact.

If the casual "lookers" took time out to read the AAR's then I would have thought that that would have been enough to convince them that the game is well worth it. Add to this the swift reaction from the game producers to fixing....er....playablity concerns, I could not recommed this game highly enough to anyone thinking of purchasing it.

_____________________________




Never argue with an idiot, he will only drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.

(in reply to David Heath)
Post #: 2
Good news - 7/16/2002 5:42:08 AM   
DaveConn

 

Posts: 254
Joined: 5/3/2001
From: Bainbridge Island, Washington
Status: offline 		Okay, here goes. I have been playing wargames (beginning with board games) for over 30 years, and have probably played just about every Pacific game produced (at least the board games; I missed a few computer ones). A true grognard can find something to tweak in any game; but UV comes closer than any game I have every played to giving me what I want in a theater-level game on the Pacific campaign. I have spent countless hours playing, and have barely scratched the surface of what the game has to offer. The learning curve is a little steep, but the rewards are worth it. If you are a fan of the subject, there is no way you can NOT own this game. If you are interested in a great wargame, there is no way you can NOT own this game.

Oh yeah, and did I mention, it's a LOT OF FUN as well.

--Dave Conn

(in reply to David Heath)
Post #: 3
- 7/16/2002 8:28:37 AM   
Huskalator

 

Posts: 212
Joined: 5/17/2002
From: Kansas
Status: offline 		Uncommon Valor is a great game, period.

I have Neverwinter Nights, Morrowind, JKII, Day of Defeat, and Uncommon Valor on my hard drive and UV gets the most play time out of all of them. The gameplay is very addictive and I'm really feeling the "just one more turn" effect. The graphics are very pleasant to the eyes and you can tell a lot of work was put into some of the animations and plane drawings. The AI is very adequate but the real fun is in playing a PBEM game of UV. There are many dedicated, experienced, and mature players who really wouldn't mind adding you to their list of opponents.

I would not describe UV as buggy and certainly not more than any other new release. Matrix has shown themselves dedicated to not only eradicateing bugs but tweaking and improveing the the gameplay. I anticipate every patch knowing that a great game will just get better. The Matrix staff support their products better than any company I have encountered and they frequently visit the forums to answer questions and just be helpful in general.

I am very, very happy with my purchase of UV and I think anyone who reads this thread and decides to buy UV, will love it too.

_____________________________

SW Episode 2:Good movie, bad love story

Happiness is the only good. The time to be happy is now. The place to be happy is here. The way to be happy is to make others so.

(in reply to David Heath)
Post #: 4
- 7/16/2002 8:40:57 AM   
strollen

 

Posts: 159
Joined: 5/18/2002
Status: offline 		For me the bottom line on the game is it that simulates history exceedingly well and it is a blast to play.

Practically every factor that any book on the war in the south Pacific talks about, Zero range, durability, the SeaBees, shortages of merchant ship, malaria, Japanese Long Lance torpedo, leadership, and hundreds of other factors are taken into account.

The more knowlegable you are the WWII in the Pacific the more you appreciate the wealth of details.

But you don't have to worry about all of these things, you just need to focus on the bigger strategic picture which base to defend/invade, where do I put my carriers task force and how do I counter the enemy. The detail exist and you can examine them to your hearts content or ignore them and stick to the high level.

The interface is good and getting improved with every patch. The AI is competent if not brilliant, and Play by email (PBEM) is a lot of fun.

The great thing about the game is I find myself thinking about the game even when I'm not playing it. How am I going to take back Guadacanal, how I'm going to keep Gili Gili in supply and zillion other things.

I highly recommend it for anybody who likes turn based strategy games (like Civilization), any wargamers, anybody interested in the War in the South Pacific.

(in reply to David Heath)
Post #: 5
- 7/16/2002 9:00:05 AM   
pasternakski


Posts: 6565
Joined: 6/29/2002
Status: offline 		Okey dokey, David. My general feelings about UV were expressed in a post to another thread, whose name shall remain nameless here in order to persecute the ignorant (I said such foolish things as, "I am grateful that Matrix and 2by3 even bothered to produce this, otherwise, we'd all be fiddling around with those horrid pseudo-Sid-Meyer abominations or worse" and we all know how BAD a horrid abomination can be - just look at Sid's face in Civ III).

The depth of this game is far more than we have ever seen before. Matrix has freely admitted that this was an ungodly complex undertaking. Bless 'em for doing it. I've gotten my round butt roundly kicked both at AI and PBEM (although I've kicked some butt, too) and I don't mind. It's like Andres Segovia said about the guitar: "It's the easiest instrument to learn how to play a little. It is the most difficult instrument to learn how to play well."

This is not to mention the unprecedented support Matrix and 2 by 3 are giving this software. Where else have you ever gotten this kind of attention (this side of mom, of course, assuming that your mom wasn't an uncaring old beast like mine was, but that's another story)?

So, put all them complainers into an old Brewster Buffalo and let 'em fend for themselves.

-----------

I will now proceed to entangle the entire area.

(in reply to David Heath)
Post #: 6
- 7/16/2002 10:13:54 AM   
Mark Ezra

 

Posts: 340
Joined: 12/29/2000
From: Jasmin Ranch, Acton CA
Status: offline 		This is a great game that can be played by the casual gamer as well as the gronard. When you start this thing forget everything else...it's gonna hook ya good!

(in reply to David Heath)
Post #: 7
- 7/16/2002 2:04:05 PM   
msaario

 

Posts: 245
Joined: 5/22/2002
From: Back in E U R O P A
Status: offline 		UV is definitely the best WW2 Pacific title on the market. It is a direct descendant of other (still) world class wargames, such as Pacific War, Carrier Force, Carrier Strike, Guadalcanal Campaign (did I get this one right?), War in the South Pacific etc. I was playing WitSP still a few years ago in an Apple 2...

When I am in a boring meeting at work, I keep thinking of my Bettys attacking Noumea and the hunt for the last US carrier still floating... Or, why did I lose those 16,000 troops in an uncoordinated amphibious landing...

It's simply awesome! We just bitch about the tiny details we'd like to get fixed, and it's happening one by one as there are already several patches out! Great support, too!

--Mikko

(in reply to David Heath)
Post #: 8
Great game - 7/16/2002 10:03:25 PM   
mikel

 

Posts: 63
Joined: 3/15/2002
From: Pennsylvania
Status: offline 		I ‘m not a serious wargamer although I have played games such as Pacific War, War In The South Pacific, SPWAW, and The Operational Art of War. I’ve been playing UV for about 2 weeks now (although I pre-ordered, it arrived the day after I left for a 6-week trip!) and so far have only played against the AI.

UV is by far the most enjoyable game I have ever played. The depth of the game is impressive but the ability to play the game at many different levels of detail even more so. I especially enjoy the lack of clarity – strategy and tactics can not be distilled into synthetic numbers.

For example, ASW capability is not arbitrarily treated in UV as a single composite number which can be displayed for all to see. If you really want to understand the capabilities of your ships, you need to study each class and get a feel (not exact) of their ASW strength. Mahan class DD’s have little or no ASW capability, Benham class some, Craven a bit more, and Bristol quite a bit. Also individual ships may get refitted with upgraded equipment that changes their capabilities. The same kind of feel needs to be developed for Flak, Gun, and Torpedo capability. I thoroughly enjoy developing and playing this incredibly complex game “by feel” rather than “by synthetic numbers”.

UV handles the fog of war well. Not knowing exactly who you are facing, who has been sunk, etc. adds a great deal to the game. I don’t even like the 2 month rule (maybe a future enhancement could allow it to be toggled off). How many operational carriers DO they have left? An important consideration for which there was no exact answer.

Although highly skilled players use the AI for target practice, I find the AI surprisingly challenging. I have made my share of mistakes and the AI has made me pay for many of them. As with most AI’s, it is better at defense than offense but has a nasty habit of pulling off a surprise whenever I get careless.

My only concern is that War In The Pacific not be issued too quickly because this could cause both gamers and developers to abandon UV, a game that is already great and yet has even more potential (bugs, balancing, and enhancements).

(in reply to David Heath)
Post #: 9
a vote of support (mostly) - 7/16/2002 11:03:21 PM   
brisd


Posts: 614
Joined: 5/20/2000
From: San Diego, CA
Status: offline 		UV is a great achievement in capturing the look and history of the struggle for the Solomons and New Guinea in WW2. It has given me MANY hours of great fun vs the AI and human opponents via pbem. During the first months of owning it I have watched the 2by3/Matrix team tackle each problem and I have supported their efforts to make a great game better. It is a great achievement in wargaming!

HOWEVER -

When a wargame has a major flaw in it that makes it unplayable for me. then I will speak out and have NO regrets in doing so. It is not a BUG, it is a design FLAW IMHO. It probably slipped through playtesting and will be corrected no doubt. It is not the end of the world and some people can overlook the issue and continue to play, bully for them. Looks like I am not alone in voicing concern over the issue and I am glad it is being fixed. A lesson learned, spend more time play-testing WITP?

My favorite wargames have been Gary Grisby games, esp. War in Russia and Pacific War. UV is a worthy successor to those games but at no time did I shelve those games due to not wanting to punch the computer after a combat result! :p

(in reply to David Heath)
Post #: 10
An awesome game - 7/16/2002 11:56:39 PM   
Spooky


Posts: 816
Joined: 4/1/2002
From: Froggy Land
Status: offline 		UV is probably the best wargame I have ever played.

Contrary to many posters in this forum, I am not a die-hard grognard :( so I was ready to trade off some historical aspects in order to get a better gameplay.

However, the UV developers have managed to combine a wonderful gameplay with a very accurate simulation of the Salomons & New Guinea battles :)

Moreover, the Matrix/2by3 team has always taken in account the players' remarks in order to tweak and improve the game.

To sum up, congratulations for this wonderful game ... and I am eagerly looking for WITP and hopefully the Med game ;)

Spooky

(in reply to David Heath)
Post #: 11
- 7/17/2002 6:29:13 AM   
Point Luck

 

Posts: 318
Joined: 4/27/2002
From: East Coast-US
Status: offline 		I feel this is one of the best games I played in my thirty years of wargaming. I've been waiting for a really exciting game based on the WWII Pacific Theatre campaigns. I don't have to wait anymore. Any little quirks ( not bugs) I may have incountered was easliy delt with by adjusting my tatics. I don't know any other game that allowed that kind of flexibility and remained enjoyable to play. The one more turn urge pretty much sums it up.

(in reply to David Heath)
Post #: 12
The best D*(*^ed wargame I've played... - 7/17/2002 8:04:29 AM   
RevRick


Posts: 2617
Joined: 9/16/2000
From: Thomasville, GA
Status: offline 		seriously! I've been playing for over 30 years as well - including some serious time with PacWar and longing for someone to help me set up the old SPI game in what was my War Room (actually had one in out old house!) Bugs, of course. Has anyone ever found a progam that didn't have something that was a little twitchy somewhere? With this size and complexity, and grognard depth, this game is a great achievement. I only get to play a little each day because of a number of things, but every time I get a chance, I'm on the prowl trying to find out which air group is running low on morale, which ships need to be docked for a few days, or longer, and worrying about carriers not being ready for the next Op.

Found out something! Don't send the PT boats anywhere near Shortland with the "React to enemy" button "ON" unless you want splinters flying worse than on a RN SOL at Trafalgar. Hmmm Doggies! Sank a tin can and lots of AG's, but paid the price,they did.

_____________________________

"Action springs not from thought, but from a readiness for responsibility.” ― Dietrich Bonhoeffer

(in reply to David Heath)
Post #: 13
Re: The best D*(*^ed wargame I've played... - 7/17/2002 8:49:41 AM   
FirstPappy


Posts: 744
Joined: 9/12/2000
From: NY, USA
Status: offline 		[QUOTE]Originally posted by RevRick
[B]seriously! I've been playing for over 30 years as well - including some serious time with PacWar and longing for someone to help me set up the old SPI game in what was my War Room (actually had one in out old house!) Bugs, of course... [/B][/QUOTE]

Dear Rev,
If your war room was in your old out house I would imagine there would be plenty of bugs!
Pappy

(in reply to David Heath)
Post #: 14
To newcomers without UV (yet) - 7/17/2002 2:57:17 PM   
Tuomas Seijavuori

 

Posts: 91
Joined: 1/29/2002
From: Espoo, Finland
Status: offline 		My 0.02 euros.

If you are looking for a new operational / theatre level wargame for the PC, there isn't any competition. The game is not buggy. If I've had any problems with UV it's been with using the user interface which isn't always intuitive (e.g. always set destination before loading troops, that kind of thing) and the lack of a printed manual. If those are the greatest problems I've encountered, the game has to be good quality overall. Prepare to print the thick manual and to read it once or twice, though. The game is about complex operations over a wide area, including supply of troops by sea, so it is harder than an average strategy game.

What are you waiting for? Buy it.

(in reply to David Heath)
Post #: 15
- 7/18/2002 1:24:49 AM   
Howard Mitchell


Posts: 449
Joined: 6/3/2002
From: Blighty
Status: offline 		I've been playing wargames for the last 25 years since my very first one, 'Fast Carriers' by SPI. And I have always concentrated on the Pacific.

UV is very good as both a game and a simulation. Like all PC games there are a few minor bugs, but nothing that hinders the game to any extent, and the degree of support provided by Matrix is very encouraging.

So, if you haven't already got it, STOP READING THIS AND GO AND BUY IT NOW.

You won't regret it.

(in reply to David Heath)
Post #: 16
- 7/18/2002 2:00:25 AM   
Sabre21


Posts: 8231
Joined: 4/27/2001
From: on a mountain in Idaho
Status: offline 		I have been playing wargames...board, computer, and RL for over 30 years...and have known but a few Pacific WWII wargames that I thoroughly enjoy. The old Pacific War and Flat Top boardgames, GG's Guadacanal and Pacific War, and now UV. Many other Pacific WWII games are OK while others are horrid...but it seems that GG continuously comes out with winners and I am looking forward to WITP. UV is an outstanding game, and with the ability to mod some of the map and wave files...makes it even better. If you are a fan of naval warfare or WWII Pacific Operations...this game is a must!!

Andy

(in reply to David Heath)
Post #: 17
Ya got to accentuate the positive.... - 7/19/2002 6:03:01 AM   
Ron Saueracker


Posts: 12121
Joined: 1/28/2002
From: Ottawa, Canada OR Zakynthos Island, Greece
Status: offline 		Guess we are all guilty of not posting the good as this is assumed. This (Pacific Theatre, with the Guadalcanal campaign period especially) is my favourite area of interest. And UV has been the finest game to tackle it yet, by a wide margin.;)

It is my sincere hope that prospective buyers spend more time on these forums than maybe they are, in order to properly judge both the game and the context of many threads. Given the fact that Matrix has such a devotion to their products, I believe the majority of the thread titles are intended to be of a constructive nature with the end result being an unsurpassed product.

Just remember newbies....there would not be this amount of activity on these forums if this game was not enthralling to the serious gamer! Use your plastic and purchase this game and support one of the few gaming companies which not only produces an excellent product, but actually gives a damm!

_____________________________





Yammas from The Apo-Tiki Lounge. Future site of WITP AE benders! And then the s--t hit the fan

(in reply to David Heath)
Post #: 18
- 7/19/2002 6:04:37 AM   
afenelon

 

Posts: 498
Joined: 3/25/2001
From: Belo Horizonte
Status: offline 		-The best wargame since the first TOAW (1998)
-The best wargame ever published among those focusing
-Pacific War Operations. It´s worth each cent of the US$90,00
-I paid for it. There are some bugs but they´re being fixed.
-Just one comment: I would like a more flexible and friendly
-scenario editor
-Just wondering how WiTP will be
Alexandre Fenelon

(in reply to David Heath)
Post #: 19
- 7/19/2002 9:47:11 AM   
FM_Freyland

 

Posts: 16
Joined: 1/20/2002
From: Michigan
Status: offline 		I just traded mine away for cash, sadly. Was really looking forward to PBEM'ing with a bud, too, but it was just sitting on the shelf doing nothing.

_____________________________

It is true that honesty is the best policy... however, by default, that implies dishonesty is the second best policy!

(in reply to David Heath)
Post #: 20
FM - 7/19/2002 11:05:00 AM   
Ron Saueracker


Posts: 12121
Joined: 1/28/2002
From: Ottawa, Canada OR Zakynthos Island, Greece
Status: offline 		Why, oh why? No time or something?:(

_____________________________





Yammas from The Apo-Tiki Lounge. Future site of WITP AE benders! And then the s--t hit the fan

(in reply to David Heath)
Post #: 21
- 7/19/2002 3:04:05 PM   
Raverdave


Posts: 6520
Joined: 2/8/2002
From: Melb. Australia
Status: offline 		[QUOTE]Originally posted by FM_Freyland
[B]I just traded mine away for cash, sadly. Was really looking forward to PBEM'ing with a bud, too, but it was just sitting on the shelf doing nothing. [/B][/QUOTE]


You would have to claw mine from my cold dead hand!

_____________________________




Never argue with an idiot, he will only drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.

(in reply to David Heath)
Post #: 22
- 7/19/2002 7:03:39 PM   
panda124c

 

Posts: 1692
Joined: 5/23/2000
From: Houston, TX, USA
Status: offline 		Ok I'll stop playing UV for a few moments to tell everyone this is a GREAT GAME. Now excuse me I have an invasion to plan.

(in reply to David Heath)
Post #: 23
Re: FM - 7/20/2002 11:09:28 AM   
FM_Freyland

 

Posts: 16
Joined: 1/20/2002
From: Michigan
Status: offline 		[QUOTE]Originally posted by Ron Saueracker
[B]Why, oh why? No time or something?:( [/B][/QUOTE]


Yes, a large part was that. And too much time trying to learn how. Plus, there probably is a certain amount of "I'm retarded" in there as well. The final straws were the large number of problems people were having and the not always clearly-defined game mechanisms. Why try to learn a game with your limited time when it sounds like basic concepts are working only questionably? I really wanted to get into UV, but I just couldn't.

Oh, as an interesting side note: As the theatre is somewhat limited, after reading enough posts, I had already started getting my fill of the game. How many times can you invade Lunga? In the spirit of text, I had done so roughly 20 times. Could not see myself devoting so much time to just do it personally.

Jonathan

_____________________________

It is true that honesty is the best policy... however, by default, that implies dishonesty is the second best policy!

(in reply to David Heath)
Post #: 24
- 7/21/2002 1:46:06 AM   
dgaad

 

Posts: 864
Joined: 7/25/2001
From: Hockeytown
Status: offline 		Buy the game. Do not think about it. Just buy it.

_____________________________

Last time I checked, the forums were messed up. ;)

(in reply to David Heath)
Post #: 25
- 7/22/2002 1:07:38 AM   
pasternakski


Posts: 6565
Joined: 6/29/2002
Status: offline 		[QUOTE]Originally posted by FM_Freyland
[B]I just traded mine away for cash, sadly. Was really looking forward to PBEM'ing with a bud, too, but it was just sitting on the shelf doing nothing. [/B][/QUOTE]

(in reply to David Heath)
Post #: 26
Awesome Game - 7/26/2002 12:56:36 PM   
Caltone


Posts: 651
Joined: 9/5/2001
From: Raleigh, NC USA
Status: offline 		Congratulations Matrix and 2by 3. This is one of the funnest and most addictive games I have ever played.

I play alot of wargames starting from the late 70's. I also enjoy other genres. Since UV came out, it has taken HUGE amounts of my time, much to the dismay of my spouse.

My wife hates you but I love ya :D

(in reply to David Heath)
Post #: 27
- 7/28/2002 1:32:22 AM   
Hub

 

Posts: 20
Joined: 7/26/2002
From: Prince George, BC
Status: offline 		I have played computer games since 1981, and I played boardgames for years before that. I own over one hundred computer games right now, and UV would be rated close to the top, if not The Top, if I had to rate them all. The patches and upgrades are a fact of life in a game as complex as this- any other game of similar complexity will have them too. I consider it more as an evolutionary process than a bug hunt. Buy this game- it is fun, it is educational, and it will last you for years.

(in reply to David Heath)
Post #: 28
- 7/28/2002 2:52:20 PM   
Oliver Heindorf


Posts: 1911
Joined: 5/1/2002
From: Hamburg/Deutschland
Status: offline 		I like this game very much !

There are a few minor things where I have to be carful ( the handling of transports/loading supplies etc. )

but overall its worth the money & time !!! :)

_____________________________


(in reply to David Heath)
Post #: 29
Gary Grigsby - should I say more????? - 7/31/2002 9:09:05 AM   
Long Lance


Posts: 274
Joined: 7/31/2002
From: Ebbelwoi Country
Status: offline 		Hi Folks,

to tell you how brilliant UV is, just let me list some drawbacks of PacWar, in my eyes the game of the games when first released (and it still is a real great game):

Target selection:
Do you remeber Bettys firing their guns on PCs instead of Torpedoes against BBs? In UV, there's a realistic target selection. They don't always attack what you want, but they choose somehow realistic targets.

Vals:
Do you remember the nearly useless Vals? Ineffective against Carriers, sinking APs after half a dozen bomb hits? In UV, the Val is a deadly weapon, as it was (at least during 1942)

Surface Combat:
Put all your BBs in one TF. As Jap, add Kitakami and Oi. You'll win every battle, even without Tanaka. In UV, smaller TFs have a chance, depending an leader ability, to do great damage to bigger TFs. Like it was in the PTO (and every naval war).

Carrier Battles:
Send an US CV-TF to Midway, Reaction Range 15. Sooner or later the Jap CVs will be doomed. No chance to win with this chicken-hearted sniper tactic in UV.


Is there anyone, who thinks PacWar isn't -until UV appeared- the best strategic game covering the PTO? And a real great game, despite the drawbacks (an there were even more)?

Of course, even UV isn't perfect. No game will ever be. The interface is not too comfortable. The weather effects are perhaps modelled too strong. US transport Capcity in my eyes is too small. But you'll find no better strategic game AND carrier battle simulator like it.

It's simply great.

It's a real Gary Grigsby Game

You already could have bought it, but you're wasting your time reading my stupid statement.

So BUY IT!!


BUY IT NOW!!

(in reply to David Heath)
Post #: 30
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