Should I buy it ? (Full Version)

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nukkxx5058 -> Should I buy it ? (1/13/2008 4:02:36 PM)

Simple qestion, complex answer I guess.

What do you guys think?



praem -> RE: Should I buy it ? (1/13/2008 5:09:50 PM)

If you have the time to play PBEM, sure. If you intend to play solo - dont buy until some later patches has implemented an AI worth anything.



zenmaster -> RE: Should I buy it ? (1/13/2008 10:09:40 PM)

I concur.
The AI is fair at best at the moment.
I suspect in a couple months it should improve.



baboune -> RE: Should I buy it ? (1/13/2008 11:50:58 PM)

Dont buy it .. wait.. At this point it is not worth the asked price.

UI is bad and AI makes the game unplayable solo.  Plus you must know EiA before to play this one.



AndrewV -> RE: Should I buy it ? (1/14/2008 2:07:25 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: baboune

UI is bad and AI makes the game unplayable solo. Plus you must know EiA before to play this one.



I don't think its quite that bad.

The UI is clunky and some aspects aren't intuitive.
The AI is totally inept and won't challenge a competent player.
There isn't a tutorial (or even a getting started guide), so if you don't know EiA, you'll need to read the manual to get started.




gwheelock -> RE: Should I buy it ? (1/14/2008 2:10:12 AM)

Actually; at this point - I consider the AI AS the turtorial.



AndrewV -> RE: Should I buy it ? (1/14/2008 2:15:43 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: gwheelock
Actually; at this point - I consider the AI AS the turtorial.

Providing an opponent to play against whilst you learn the game/UI does seem to be the AI's greatest utility.



zaquex -> RE: Should I buy it ? (1/14/2008 2:49:47 AM)

The learning curve is steep, but once you begin to understand the mechanics its rather simple. The manual is more for learning how EiA works than to learn to fight the somewhat uninutive UI. It would probably have been better for most players with the opposite focus.

Nevertheless EiA is in my oppinion maybe the best multiplayer grand strategy game ever created, the mechanics are beutifully arbitrated to a simple system, still retaining a more realistic and exciting feel than most 10 times as complicated games. The minimal micromanagement lets you concentrate on important things like strategy and diplomacy. The randomnes of the land combat system is just about right, to never be completly sure you will win a battle. There are no sure 5-1 odds tables and Pyrrhus victories is definatly not unheard off. To outsmart your opponents and to be able to interpret the combat tables takes some skill/knowledge, but at least in a face to face game, social and diplomatic skills are probably more important to win the game than being a strategic mastermind.

Its also very well balanced and its possible to win as any major power.

As a computer game EiANW has great potential and given the support of the players and a bit of time to develop and mature EiANW has all chances to become one of the best strategy titles you ever bought.   




YohanTM2 -> RE: Should I buy it ? (1/14/2008 4:42:15 AM)

I owed this to my brother for Xmas 4 years ago so bought it for him but not for myself yet. He is a solid gamer (probably the best CEAW gamer in the world, he almost never loses) and loves the board version of EiA.

He reports:

1) game is unplayable in pbem right now due to fleet bugs mainly
2) as expected AI is very limited, and unlikely ever to improve much

I am waiting for at least the first 2 patches (my new rule after CEAW) to see what happens but hope they get it playable.



baboune -> RE: Should I buy it ? (1/14/2008 11:17:48 AM)

Point is: You love EiA and are a hard core EiA gamer, chances are you might well be patient enough to play PBEM and then find a use for this game (as it is today).  If not then do not buy it.



pzgndr -> RE: Should I buy it ? (1/14/2008 4:20:53 PM)

quote:

UI is bad and AI makes the game unplayable solo. Plus you must know EiA before to play this one.


I'll disagree on all three points, but that's just my humble opinion. The UI is OK; it takes some getting used to and finding where things are, but it's fine. It can be improved, but it's not "bad." As a newbie, I'm finding the game is quite playable solo. After a month now I'm not exactly challenged anymore by the AI on hard settings, but I'm finding myself to be my own worst opponent trying to juggle things. There are still concepts I am trying to fully grasp. Lastly, as a newbie who never played EiA before, I'm doing OK with it. It just takes time to read and understand the rules, get several games under your belt, read the rules some more, and go at it again and again. I've been playing the different major powers and learning something new each time. The AI has its issues, but the game is playable and I've been enjoying it.



AresMars -> RE: Should I buy it ? (1/14/2008 4:24:57 PM)

As nukkxx is asking for opinions, there can be NO wrong answer, Only lots of disgreement.

MY answer to nukkxx would be the following;

Read the forums and form your own opinion.

In this way you are an informed buyer and any decision you make, YOU will be comfortable with.

After all it is YOUR money!







Grapeshot Bob -> RE: Should I buy it ? (1/14/2008 4:34:01 PM)

Here is my 2 cents:


Wait for a patch or two.

Then check the forums before you buy.



GSB



KenClark -> RE: Should I buy it ? (1/14/2008 4:57:12 PM)

My opinion is that even if the game sucked, it's EiA and EiA deserves your $$$ support.  The more people who buy it provides Matrix with the resources to fund patches and upgrages.  So I would say buy it but realize that it is not a perfect game.



baboune -> RE: Should I buy it ? (1/14/2008 5:18:50 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: KenClark

My opinion is that even if the game sucked, it's EiA and EiA deserves your $$$ support. The more people who buy it provides Matrix with the resources to fund patches and upgrages. So I would say buy it but realize that it is not a perfect game.


lol... This game price for Digital Download PC (40,99 EUR) ... More expensive than say CoH:Opposing Fronts... That sort of comments, KenClark, gives me the idea to create a game and call it "Empires in Arms 2", so that I can charge you 100 euros for the map and then say dont worry I will implement the rest later.

Honestly, if the game does not sell enough copies (which IMO is quite possible) why would Matrix pay someone to improve it? My opinion is that short of a few bugs here and there, what you are buying today is what you will get tomorrow. If I am wrong, please, can Marshall or any Matrix responsible comment on Matrix's long term commitment to support this game?



AresMars -> RE: Should I buy it ? (1/14/2008 5:33:06 PM)

baboune - ROFL!

You will need to figure out how to get the rights to use the Empires in Arms name and Matrix beat you too it....  :P

I would also be curious to hear what Matrix has to say on the long term commitment, but so far, they are responsive.....

But I bought the game and I love EiA, so I also plan on being part of helping the ongoing support for the game as long as it exists...




Soapy Frog -> RE: Should I buy it ? (1/14/2008 6:46:32 PM)

I agree that I feel like I am essentially "investing" in the future of EiA as a PC game. I wish to see it fixed, finished, and improved.

My fondest desire at this point is to heave all the EiH crap overboard and stick to the classic rules (errata incl.).

Not that EiH is crap, actually it's quite interesting and good, but I feel that it has implemented in an extremely halfassed way, and other changes to the core functioning of the game made without proper thought to consequences.



Grapeshot Bob -> RE: Should I buy it ? (1/14/2008 6:47:47 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: KenClark

My opinion is that even if the game sucked, it's EiA and EiA deserves your $$$ support.



Excuse me while the coke I was drinking shoots out of my nose.

But I have to disagree with this statement. I owe EiA precisely nothing. EiA, in point of fact, owes me something.

Matrix Games is a commercial enterprise because it charges money for its games. If the game was intended as a PBEM platform with an AI designed to help a player learn to move the pieces around it would have been marketed that way.

In any case I believe that the developers are people of good intent and the game will be supported and improved.

I'm willing to wait for patches.



GSB



pzgndr -> RE: Should I buy it ? (1/15/2008 3:35:32 PM)

quote:

I agree that I feel like I am essentially "investing" in the future of EiA as a PC game. I wish to see it fixed, finished, and improved.


I would hope this to be everyone's thought. EiAers are a small niche community within the relatively small wargaming community. You simply cannot expect the same time and resources to go into development of such a niche game compared to the huge revenues and budgets of mainstream games. Patience is necessary. Audience participation helps.

I'd be curious to know just how big the active EiA community has been recently, based on members in various EiA and EiH forums. A couple hundred? More? Matrix has an opportunity here to significantly expand the number of EiA players. Many like myself have been interested over the years but the game being out of print and the greater lure of PC gaming over board gaming have been barriers to entry. But as a computer wargame it has to provide a decent computer opponent, else a passive VASSAL pbem program (which already exists) is wholly sufficient.

Now's the chance for folks to jump in. Veteran players are needed to help with final developments and enhancements. They are also the ones best qualified to identify AI strategy weaknesses and recommend improvements which will benefit everyone. New players should go ahead and get involved. The learning curve is steep enough that the initial weaknesses in the game are minor by comparison. Planned game enhancements are likely to outpace the newbies until they are up to speed and ready for pbem opponents.

This is a fun game. It should ultimately be fun for everyone: pure pbemers, pbemers with one or more AI opponents, and solo gamers. Right now it is an investment in the future. If you're interested in playing EiA but unwilling to get the game, how will Matrix know you are out there??



baboune -> RE: Should I buy it ? (1/15/2008 3:49:49 PM)

Pretty good post pzgndr!
Long life to EiA!



Marc von Martial -> RE: Should I buy it ? (1/15/2008 4:53:13 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: baboune
....any Matrix responsible comment on Matrix's long term commitment to support this game?


We are Matrix Games. That should be answer enough [;)]



isandlwana -> RE: Should I buy it ? (1/17/2008 4:33:26 PM)

Anyone with experience with 1.01 have any comments with how improved the game is?  Are most bugs solved and are PBEM games currently playable beyone the first few turns?



Jimmer -> RE: Should I buy it ? (1/18/2008 8:06:38 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: isandlwana

Anyone with experience with 1.01 have any comments with how improved the game is?  Are most bugs solved and are PBEM games currently playable beyone the first few turns?

It's an order of magnitude better. I haven't had a full-game crash since installing it.

Plus, many of the interface gotchas are corrected. There even seems to have been some slight upgrades to the AI, despite them telling us it wasn't a priority.



GZEPKA -> RE: Should I buy it ? (1/19/2008 7:32:57 AM)

I would buy it if you can, cost about one night out at a nice restruant or 5 trips to McDonalds for two; and is better for your wast.  If you never played either of the two EIA boardgames or Empires in Harm; you will enjoy playing and learning about this truly unique wargame' people still  talk about how they played various games of it decades ago. The Matrix EIA AI if you are not a vetern Eia play will give you enough of a challenge, at least once for each of the countries.  I am sure Matrix will continue to improve the AI and varous other aspects of the game.  The big thing that we are promised is a senario editor, it hopefully will allow some of us to make senarios similar to what was in the Avilion Hill version, and the one published in their and other wargame magazines; and make them available to us.  It would be nice to play some of those two and three player games.  In my opion, there is excellent replay value in this game already and this will improve it.  It seemed to take me about 30 hours to play a game in its current grand campaign senario, so you can see it is value per the amount played.



Titanwarrior89 -> RE: Should I buy it ? (1/19/2008 7:56:21 PM)

Pbem can be very, very slow.   [:(]   Not the game its self but getting 7 players together and on the same sheet of music.  So.............................Buy it now and learn, matrix has always worked hard to update.  The price probley will not go down anytime soon.


PS:   ALamo guys I want a turn.............[:(]



Gravit -> RE: Should I buy it ? (1/20/2008 10:34:08 PM)

I have not been impressed with this beta release at all, especially at the price I paid!!!



zaquex -> RE: Should I buy it ? (1/20/2008 11:37:54 PM)

its a beta...



Grimrod42 -> RE: Should I buy it ? (1/21/2008 4:45:00 PM)

It really depends on if you can afford it...
right now the game is not really playable agaisnt the AI and PBEM is a little wonky due to some of the rule implemetations.

but if you have money to spare and want to work to improving the game ... go right ahead.
otherwise wait



nukkxx5058 -> RE: Should I buy it ? (1/21/2008 7:03:38 PM)

OK ! thank you for your responses guys !

I actually just decided to buy it. I am currently downloading. In fact I was waiting for this game from the early beginning, at least 5 years from now ...

I couldn't resist the temptation to have it. I hope I won't regret.
I'll let you know :-)




Grapeshot Bob -> RE: Should I buy it ? (1/21/2008 9:29:03 PM)

I'd like to formally welcome our latest beta tester.



GSB



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