Gilmer
Posts: 1452
Joined: 7/1/2011 Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Joel Billings quote:
ORIGINAL: H Gilmer On the War in the East forums they said they are working on WiTE 2 right now. My perception as a long time developer of serious wargames is that Matrix is alive and well. The combining of Matrix and Slitherine has led to what was hoped, a place producing many different kinds of games, where they can continue to build a market for all kinds of generally more serious strategy games. Slitherine has a better developed marketing department, while the core management of the combined company includes people that like and play serious wargames and more playable strategy/war games. Keeping this going, growing, and paying the bills is not an easy thing to do, but so far Slitherine/Matrix seem to be making as good an attempt at it as anyone. Things can always change, but from my viewpoint, it's so far so good. As for 2by3, we are currently working on Steel Tigers and War in the East2, while also actively supporting WitW (and with great help from some of the community, WitE1). These are big projects, and they will take time. Steel (tactical WWII) is being done with the help and involvement of Matrix development staff. At it's core, we want this to showcase Gary's talent with game design, combat and AI logic, along with Matrix/Slitherine's talent with art and interface. If we get it right, it will be, like the original Steel Panthers series, something that will interest die hard wargamers and casual wargamers alike. War in the East2 is also going forward, and we feel it will be an improvement over both WitE1 and WitW. At the moment we can move both projects forward. At some point we may find that one will be delayed by needed work on the other, but we're trying to keep that interruption to a minimum. We are mostly limited by the fact that at the moment we have 2 core programmers (not counting Matrix support, which is a major plus on Steel), one of whom is part time, and these are big projects. Of course both of these games also depend on a legion of dedicated hobbyists that provide the data that drives the games. This is where the Matrix forums and community have helped us over the years find those talented individuals that enjoy working on these projects. As far as I'm concerned David Heath did the wargame industry a big service when he started Matrix and began building this community. I thank him for that, and with luck this community will continue to grow. Wow, I received a very long and nice reply from Joel. Thank you. I am glad you confirmed a WITE2 again. It will be a must buy. Steel Tigers, I'll keep my eye on. I had Steel Panthers, but it just did not hold me as well as some of the others seem to have been held, but that may be because I didn't understand it as well as they did. I also learned that the most recent patch on WITE had new units? Nice for an old game to still be getting patches like that.
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"Venimus, vidimus, Deus vicit" John III Sobieski as he entered Vienna on 9/11/1683. "I came, I saw, God conquered." He that has a mind to fight, let him fight, for now is the time. - Anacreon
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