Are you ready for the Desert War?

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Are you ready for the Desert War? - 5/16/2017 7:25:41 AM

Daniele

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Joined: 2/7/2015
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[North Africa] was the only theatre where the principles of motorized and tank warfare, as they had been taught theoretically before the war, could be applied to the full-and further developed. It was the only theatre where the pure tank battle between major formations was fought." -- Field Marshall Erwin Rommel

Matrix Games is very proud to announce a new wargame is in the making, Desert War 1940 � 1942!

Take the lead of the Italian-German forces or the Commonwealth and relive the key moments of the war!

In Desert War, your main concern will be the safety of your supplies! Make sure to not overstretch your lines and be prepared for enemy incursions within your perimeter!

The game employs a WEGO system that will make you plan your moves very carefully: will you wait for reinforcements, leaving the initiative to the enemy or will you try to exploit his mistakes, possibly risking your entire frontline?

The choice is yours!

Get more information about Desert War 1940 � 1942 from its official product page!

< Message edited by Daniele -- 12/16/2019 12:04:51 PM >

Post #: 1

RE: Are you ready for the Desert War? - 5/16/2017 1:24:30 PM

jamespcrowley

Posts: 424
Joined: 6/10/2003
From: Chichester UK
Status: offline

This is an interesting one!

Spotted this several years ago as a free game but lost touch with it and finally forgot all about it.

Good to see it re-emerge, hopefully fully fleshed out, particularly in the AI department.

More scenarios now but has lost 1943 so no Americans this time round. Something for later perhaps?

Looking through the last iteration of the manual, I can't see a reference to scale of map or duration of turns.

Looks to be about 4-5 miles per hex and maybe four turns (of 3-4 hrs per turn) per day?

Hopefully the scenarios will have some internal variations - in set-up at least - to allow replayability.

Looking forward to this one because of the theatre and WEGO. Hope it lives up to expectations.

_____________________________

Cheers

Jim

(in reply to Daniele)

Post #: 2

RE: Are you ready for the Desert War? - 5/16/2017 3:39:12 PM

Phoenix100

Posts: 2826
Joined: 9/28/2010
Status: offline

WEGO is fantastic. Look forward to this for that - much more realistic. But key to this will be the AI and the map. The maps shown in the (very few) screenshots look lacking in detail, but maybe that's because I can't judge the scale too well. I hope to God there's an option to switch off the hexes. I hate hexes. Many like, many hate - it's nice to have a switch (as in WitE and WitW, all the JTS games etc).

Is the scale of the map not more like WitW (10 miles per hex) than the 4 to 5 miles suggested above? If it is only 4 to 5 miles then I would hope for more detail, otherwise the map might as well be blank. The desert is a bit like that, of course, but even so. And, for my taste, I would like a map that looked like...well, a map...as naturalistic as possible. Can't we have normal, top down 2d map representations of towns (like Tobruk) etc. for example? Instead of those little 3d pics. The pics don't match the nice Nato type unit symbols. Either 2d or 3d, I think (and for me, always, 2d). Just my tuppence worth.

What's the unit scale - division?

< Message edited by phoenix -- 5/16/2017 3:43:12 PM >

(in reply to jamespcrowley)

Post #: 3

RE: Are you ready for the Desert War? - 5/16/2017 5:06:04 PM

Saint Ruth

Posts: 1070
Joined: 12/16/2009
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: James Crowley

This is an interesting one!

Spotted this several years ago as a free game but lost touch with it and finally forgot all about it.

Good to see it re-emerge, hopefully fully fleshed out, particularly in the AI department.

More scenarios now but has lost 1943 so no Americans this time round. Something for later perhaps?

Looking through the last iteration of the manual, I can't see a reference to scale of map or duration of turns.

Looks to be about 4-5 miles per hex and maybe four turns (of 3-4 hrs per turn) per day?

Hopefully the scenarios will have some internal variations - in set-up at least - to allow replayability.

Looking forward to this one because of the theatre and WEGO. Hope it lives up to expectations.

Hi, yes, the "Desert War 1940-43" has morphed into "Desert War 1940-42" ;) so no Tunisia. And yes, perhaps later. We'll see how it goes.
Scale is 2 miles / 3.2 km per hex and 3 turns per day.
Map of the largest scenario is 220 x 118 hexes, but the map that the scenarios were created from (344 x 118 hexes) is also included for those who want to make their own scenarios.

(in reply to jamespcrowley)

Post #: 4

RE: Are you ready for the Desert War? - 5/16/2017 5:19:23 PM

Blond_Knight

Posts: 1031
Joined: 5/15/2004
Status: offline

I see he's disabled the download for Desert war and Peleliu on his site. Sure glad I backed those up myself. But I'll still buy this version.

(in reply to Saint Ruth)

Post #: 5

RE: Are you ready for the Desert War? - 5/16/2017 5:38:58 PM

Saint Ruth

Posts: 1070
Joined: 12/16/2009
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: phoenix

WEGO is fantastic. Look forward to this for that - much more realistic. But key to this will be the AI and the map. The maps shown in the (very few) screenshots look lacking in detail, but maybe that's because I can't judge the scale too well. I hope to God there's an option to switch off the hexes. I hate hexes. Many like, many hate - it's nice to have a switch (as in WitE and WitW, all the JTS games etc).

Is the scale of the map not more like WitW (10 miles per hex) than the 4 to 5 miles suggested above? If it is only 4 to 5 miles then I would hope for more detail, otherwise the map might as well be blank. The desert is a bit like that, of course, but even so. And, for my taste, I would like a map that looked like...well, a map...as naturalistic as possible. Can't we have normal, top down 2d map representations of towns (like Tobruk) etc. for example? Instead of those little 3d pics. The pics don't match the nice Nato type unit symbols. Either 2d or 3d, I think (and for me, always, 2d). Just my tuppence worth.

What's the unit scale - division?

At the moment you can't switch them off, but sure, I can look at that.
Scale as 2 miles per hex and units are Battalions / Companies / Platoons.
The map is designed like that as there are different zoom levels so too cluttered when zoomed in means yuo can't make out the wood from the trees (or the sand from the gullies ;)) when zoomed out. ;)

(in reply to Phoenix100)

Post #: 6

RE: Are you ready for the Desert War? - 5/16/2017 5:39:45 PM

Saint Ruth

Posts: 1070
Joined: 12/16/2009
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Blond_Knight

I see he's disabled the download for Desert war and Peleliu on his site. Sure glad I backed those up myself. But I'll still buy this version.

(in reply to Blond_Knight)

Post #: 7

RE: Are you ready for the Desert War? - 5/16/2017 5:53:09 PM

stormbringer3

Posts: 875
Joined: 7/26/2007
From: Staunton, Va.
Status: offline

This title is under coming soon. Any guess as to an eta? I completely understand that if a guess is given, it can change many, many times.
Thanks.

(in reply to Saint Ruth)

Post #: 8

RE: Are you ready for the Desert War? - 5/16/2017 6:08:45 PM

Phoenix100

Posts: 2826
Joined: 9/28/2010
Status: offline

Thanks Saint Ruth. I will certainly buy it, because there is a complete dearth of wego games, and I think it's the best system, for this kind of scale. Sorry I missed getting the freebie from the site to try it out (as Blonde Knight notes, it seems to have been taken down). But as for map detail, I would heap praise upon the CSME maps (also a Matrix title), which (designed by a cartographer, I believe) are beautiful, informative, clear and natural, with ample detail. Yours - at present - look very sparse and simplistic (no offence meant, since you intended it that way) by comparison, imho, and I don't know why if they can produce gorgeous maps with a nice level of detail it can't be done in other titles? The interaction between the map and the units is absolutely key, is it not, and if there's only the barest details in the map then it's an impoverished interaction. Your maps look to have slightly less detail than the WitE and WitW maps and yet they are a much closer scale. They are not the same scale as CSME, of course - so that much detail isn't needed - but if you're going down to Bn level and 2 miles per hex then I think you should have more detail than WitW, especially if you're doing 3 turns a day. And those little 3d town tiles aren't as good as you can get, I assume. Why not a decent serious map graphic? They look like toys. Lol. All these games are toys, of course, but it's not always helpful to be reminded of that. All meant helpfully, and just my relatively worthless opinion. The counters look great, by the way.

< Message edited by phoenix -- 5/16/2017 6:14:04 PM >

(in reply to stormbringer3)

Post #: 9

RE: Are you ready for the Desert War? - 5/16/2017 6:25:14 PM

kipanderson

Posts: 394
Joined: 8/27/2001
From: U.K.
Status: offline

Hi,

fantastic to see things reach this stage.

Looking forward to its release

.

All the best,
Kip.

(in reply to Phoenix100)

Post #: 10

RE: Are you ready for the Desert War? - 5/16/2017 6:39:36 PM

Franciscus

Posts: 809
Joined: 12/22/2010
From: Portugal
Status: offline

I will also follow this with interest, I can't get enough of North Africa campaign games. Glad it's Wego, too.

I see the unit's scale is small, Battalions / Companies / Platoons. I haven't tried the "free version", and I rather prefer operational level wargames, (like DC:B) although I also enjoy squad level games (ToTH)

I am rather intrigued how the gameplay will be, at the battalion level with such relatively large scale map and what appears (by one of the screenshots) three turns per day...?

Sad it does not have a grand campaign scenario, but for that I will wait for TOAWIV and also wait for the completion of Schwerpunkt's WWIIE North Africa scenario (Naval AI still almost inactive...)

Regards

_____________________________

Former AJE team member

(in reply to kipanderson)

Post #: 11

RE: Are you ready for the Desert War? - 5/16/2017 6:49:52 PM

Blond_Knight

Posts: 1031
Joined: 5/15/2004
Status: offline

I gave up waiting on Schwerpunkt's WWIIE to be fixed/completed. Glaciers have moved faster.

(in reply to Franciscus)

Post #: 12

RE: Are you ready for the Desert War? - 5/16/2017 6:53:56 PM

Franciscus

Posts: 809
Joined: 12/22/2010
From: Portugal
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Blond_Knight

I gave up waiting on Schwerpunkt's WWIIE to be fixed/completed. Glaciers have moved faster.

I have not given up, and enjoy the small scenarios, but for sure, Ron is taking his time...

< Message edited by Franciscus -- 5/16/2017 6:55:47 PM >

_____________________________

Former AJE team member

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Post #: 13

RE: Are you ready for the Desert War? - 5/16/2017 7:15:52 PM

Saint Ruth

Posts: 1070
Joined: 12/16/2009
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: stormbringer3
This title is under coming soon. Any guess as to an eta? I completely understand that if a guess is given, it can change many, many times.
Thanks.

Not decided fully yet. Beta should be starting soon so this year I hope!

(in reply to stormbringer3)

Post #: 14

RE: Are you ready for the Desert War? - 5/16/2017 7:25:28 PM

Saint Ruth

Posts: 1070
Joined: 12/16/2009
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: phoenix
Thanks Saint Ruth. I will certainly buy it, because there is a complete dearth of wego games, and I think it's the best system, for this kind of scale. Sorry I missed getting the freebie from the site to try it out (as Blonde Knight notes, it seems to have been taken down). But as for map detail, I would heap praise upon the CSME maps (also a Matrix title), which (designed by a cartographer, I believe) are beautiful...all meant helpfully, and just my relatively worthless opinion. The counters look great, by the way.

Cheers phoenix. all opinions welcome.

But a bit late to change the map as it's a big PNG file...

(in reply to Phoenix100)

Post #: 15

RE: Are you ready for the Desert War? - 5/16/2017 7:26:02 PM

Saint Ruth

Posts: 1070
Joined: 12/16/2009
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: kipanderson
Hi,

fantastic to see things reach this stage.

Looking forward to its release.

All the best,
Kip.

Thanks Kip!

(in reply to kipanderson)

Post #: 16

RE: Are you ready for the Desert War? - 5/16/2017 7:42:27 PM

Saint Ruth

Posts: 1070
Joined: 12/16/2009
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Franciscus

I will also follow this with interest, I can't get enough of North Africa campaign games. Glad it's Wego, too.

I see the unit's scale is small, Battalions / Companies / Platoons. I haven't tried the "free version", and I rather prefer operational level wargames, (like DC:B) although I also enjoy squad level games (ToTH)

I am rather intrigued how the gameplay will be, at the battalion level with such relatively large scale map and what appears (by one of the screenshots) three turns per day...?

Sad it does not have a grand campaign scenario, but for that I will wait for TOAWIV and also wait for the completion of Schwerpunkt's WWIIE North Africa scenario (Naval AI still almost inactive...)

Regards

Well, the "Enter Rommel" scenario is 41 turns so 2 weeks, so lots of time and space for manoeuvre.
Yes, I know what you mean about a grand operational level game. I originally had the intention of doing something like that, but this isn't my day job so it evolved in another direction. The big problem with a game of the entire Desert War is that, as you know, not a lot happened for a long time while they were building up supplies, training etc, so there short burst of intense activity followed by long delays (which drove Churchill to distraction). So this game just concentrates on the "bursts of activity".
So, it'd be great to do, but it's not this game.

(in reply to Franciscus)

Post #: 17

RE: Are you ready for the Desert War? - 5/16/2017 7:45:51 PM

Alan Sharif

Posts: 1108
Joined: 8/1/2001
From: UK.
Status: offline

So looking forward to this.

_____________________________

A Sharif

(in reply to Saint Ruth)

Post #: 18

RE: Are you ready for the Desert War? - 5/16/2017 8:30:34 PM

waverick

Posts: 28
Joined: 5/29/2010
Status: offline

Congratulations on your determination!

And hooray for a Java written wargame! (Any JavaFX in it?)

_____________________________

https://twitter.com/3qcgames

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Post #: 19

RE: Are you ready for the Desert War? - 5/16/2017 8:46:00 PM

Franciscus

Posts: 809
Joined: 12/22/2010
From: Portugal
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Saint Ruth

quote:

ORIGINAL: Franciscus

I will also follow this with interest, I can't get enough of North Africa campaign games. Glad it's Wego, too.

I see the unit's scale is small, Battalions / Companies / Platoons. I haven't tried the "free version", and I rather prefer operational level wargames, (like DC:B) although I also enjoy squad level games (ToTH)

I am rather intrigued how the gameplay will be, at the battalion level with such relatively large scale map and what appears (by one of the screenshots) three turns per day...?

Sad it does not have a grand campaign scenario, but for that I will wait for TOAWIV and also wait for the completion of Schwerpunkt's WWIIE North Africa scenario (Naval AI still almost inactive...)

Regards

Well, the "Enter Rommel" scenario is 41 turns so 2 weeks, so lots of time and space for manoeuvre.
Yes, I know what you mean about a grand operational level game. I originally had the intention of doing something like that, but this isn't my day job so it evolved in another direction. The big problem with a game of the entire Desert War is that, as you know, not a lot happened for a long time while they were building up supplies, training etc, so there short burst of intense activity followed by long delays (which drove Churchill to distraction). So this game just concentrates on the "bursts of activity".
So, it'd be great to do, but it's not this game.

Thank you for taking the time to comment on my post.
I understand your reasoning and appreciate your effort !
Your game looks like a first-day buy for me.

Regards

< Message edited by Franciscus -- 5/16/2017 8:47:10 PM >

_____________________________

Former AJE team member

(in reply to Saint Ruth)

Post #: 20

RE: Are you ready for the Desert War? - 5/16/2017 9:10:19 PM

Saint Ruth

Posts: 1070
Joined: 12/16/2009
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: weertj

Congratulations on your determination!

And hooray for a Java written wargame! (Any JavaFX in it?)

No JavaFX in it! It's all Java Swing. I started this way way back in 2003 so no javaFX then!

(in reply to waverick)

Post #: 21

RE: Are you ready for the Desert War? - 5/16/2017 9:11:36 PM

Saint Ruth

Posts: 1070
Joined: 12/16/2009
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Franciscus
Thank you for taking the time to comment on my post.
I understand your reasoning and appreciate your effort !
Your game looks like a first-day buy for me.

Regards

Thanks Franciscus!

(in reply to Franciscus)

Post #: 22

RE: Are you ready for the Desert War? - 5/16/2017 9:14:22 PM

Michael T

Posts: 4443
Joined: 10/22/2006
From: Queensland, Australia.
Status: offline

After almost 12 months of nothing new at this site that excited me, finally a cool looking game on my favorite subject. Thanks matrix, bring it on :)

_____________________________

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Post #: 23

RE: Are you ready for the Desert War? - 5/16/2017 11:22:38 PM

Deathtreader

Posts: 1039
Joined: 4/22/2003
From: Vancouver, Canada.
Status: offline

Will for sure be on my "must buy" list.

Very glad it didn't drop by the wayside!

Rob.

_____________________________

So we're at war with the Russkies eh?? I suppose we really ought to invade or something. (Lonnnng pause while studying the map)
Hmmmm... big place ain't it??
- Sir Harry Flashman (1854)

(in reply to Michael T)

Post #: 24

RE: Are you ready for the Desert War? - 5/17/2017 1:10:38 AM

klhbekool

Posts: 154
Joined: 3/3/2007
From: United States
Status: offline

I'm ready I'm ready I'm ready

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KLH

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Post #: 25

RE: Are you ready for the Desert War? - 5/17/2017 12:59:47 PM

coach3play4

Posts: 123
Joined: 8/26/2000
From: usa
Status: offline

just a few weeks ago i was trying to find a really old (1985 or so) game decision in the desert, or rommell. got some good tips and tried a few. so im so excited about this effort. the key to me on AI is supply - if the ai does a good job the game will work.
I'd pay to be a tester here!

(in reply to Daniele)

Post #: 26

RE: Are you ready for the Desert War? - 5/17/2017 1:31:55 PM

LeeChard

Posts: 1099
Joined: 9/12/2007
From: Michigan
Status: offline

The unit scale and time/turn sound very interesting.
It should help model the fluidity of motorized combat well.
This game just shot to the "check daily" forum list

(in reply to coach3play4)

Post #: 27

RE: Are you ready for the Desert War? - 5/17/2017 6:20:33 PM

jamespcrowley

Posts: 424
Joined: 6/10/2003
From: Chichester UK
Status: offline

I noticed that in the screenshot for the 'Battle of Sollum - Operation Battleaxe' the scenario lists only the Allied side (attacker) as a single player option.

Is this generally the same for all the scenarios i.e. no AI for the attacking side? if so that will be a little disappointing.

Perusing the 2016 on-line manual, I really like the idea of delayed units but could see no mention of units getting lost. Is that aspect covered within the 'delayed' feature?

Also no direct mention of Morale but I'm guessing this is covered within the readiness feature?

Have to say this title looks to have a lot of promise; any chance of a small AAR?

_____________________________

Cheers

Jim

(in reply to LeeChard)

Post #: 28

RE: Are you ready for the Desert War? - 5/17/2017 9:21:50 PM

Saint Ruth

Posts: 1070
Joined: 12/16/2009
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: James Crowley
I noticed that in the screenshot for the 'Battle of Sollum - Operation Battleaxe' the scenario lists only the Allied side (attacker) as a single player option.

Is this generally the same for all the scenarios i.e. no AI for the attacking side? if so that will be a little disappointing.

Perusing the 2016 on-line manual, I really like the idea of delayed units but could see no mention of units getting lost. Is that aspect covered within the 'delayed' feature?

Also no direct mention of Morale but I'm guessing this is covered within the readiness feature?

Have to say this title looks to have a lot of promise; any chance of a small AAR?

Hi, all scenarios should have AI for both sides. When that screen shot was taken, the AI was only done for one side (I never noticed it was in screenshot!).

I'm not sure what you mean by units getting "lost"? You always know where your units are, but not the enemies of course. As its WEGO, the orders you give might not be carried out of course, because of C&C delay, or enemy action, or delayed by other units getting in the way etc.

Yes, we decided not have an explicit extra unit attribute for morale, as its effects are really covered in readiness and quality.

And yes,

, planned to do AAR...

< Message edited by Saint Ruth -- 5/17/2017 9:22:24 PM >

(in reply to jamespcrowley)

Post #: 29

RE: Are you ready for the Desert War? - 5/18/2017 6:50:30 AM

76mm

Posts: 4688
Joined: 5/2/2004
From: Washington, DC
Status: offline

Hi Saint Ruth, very glad to see that this game is finally coming out!

What can you tell us about the "modability/editability" of the game? Can we create new graphics, new units, revise unit strengths, new maps, etc.?

(in reply to Saint Ruth)

Post #: 30