Le Tondu
Posts: 564
Joined: 10/2/2001 From: Seattle, WA Status: offline
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Sumter, First you have I-GO-U-GO games. These are also called turn-based games. First you move, then I move, then you shoot, etc.... This type of game has been around forever. We know it well. Chess is a famous example. We-go is seperate from turn-based games. Some say it is a compromise between turn-based games and those clickfests called "realtime" strategy games. I say it is a fair compromise indeed. At the end of the last century, a truly ground breaking game for the computer came out called COMBAT MISSION. This game presented a 3D World War II battlefield that uses what the designers called we-go. See more about it here http://www.battlefront.com/index.htm It has been noted elswhere that some table top boardgames used something similar for their gameplay. We-go on the outside looks and acts like all the units are moving at the same time when technically speaking they aren't. What both players do is plot their units moves and actions. (Mortar teams aim and then fire mortars. Infantry run, walk, assault, etc... Tanks button up aim at another tank or area fire, etc...) When the players are done they then hit something called the "GO" button and watch on their own computer the results of their efforts and plannings. During this time, the game operates similar to a real-time game for a set amount of time that both players get to watch. No input into the gameplay is possible when this happens. You just watch the replay of the turn. The replay for CM played for a minute. This game (BoN) will replay for 15 minutes I believe. Each unit and each action perfomed by each unit happens in tiny increments called impulses. A poor example : Tank A moves a tiny bit and then tank B moves and then tank Z moves and when a unit spots an enemy unit, it fires upon it --if it can. The plotted actions continue until the end of the set time period where you can replot, retarget, etc.... --or rewatch the replay. Naturally, the plotting of actions by units must be very flexible and comprehensive. There are different levels of the game's AI that control the different things like targeting, meleeing, etc.... Opposing units meet where they meet and one is not always sure where that will happen --like in real life. On appearances no one side gets to move without the other side moving as well --also like in real life. Fog of War and Line of Sight can have various levels that the players get to pick. Thanks to the advances in computer hardware and software this is all possible. I highly recommend downloading a Demo of one of the three COMBAT MISSION games that you can reach via " DOWNLOADS" button at the above page. It will give you the best opportunity to really understand what we-go is all about. Enjoy. Rick
< Message edited by Le Tondu -- 10/26/2005 9:47:17 PM >
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Vive l'Empereur!
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