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Ostfront -> RE: Matrix Games Secures Rights to Publish Talonsoft Line (10/11/2005 5:45:42 AM)
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I've been waiting five years for someone to buy up Talonsoft so they can continue developing the concept behind the Campaign Series. Because I am extremely patient, I don't mind at all the IGo/UGo turn-based system. This is because I am interested in wargames that combine extreme realism with massive scale. I want to be in the command level of a Patton, Zhukov or Bock, controlling a theatre of operations. The many first-person squad-level shooter games don't appeal to me, as they place the emphasis on physical reaction time rather than long-term strategy, and are small in scale. I get the greatest kick from creating my own scenarios, and maximizing the scenaro building engine's capabilities; which are still far beyond any other games I have seen. I am currently building a scenario that will pit 54 Russian CORPS vs. 21 German, and would last a scale 18 days! Should a team of Matrix programmers wish to upgrade the Campaign Series, here is a ( incomplete ) list of suggested improvements:
1- So far there appears to be no limit vertically to the number of
hexes you can have ( my biggest scenario is 2100 hexes high ),
but there seems to be a fixed horizontal limit of 512 hexes. I would
like to see this expanded to at least 1200.
2- The quality of the graphics, of course. Many more building types
should be available, to relieve the visual monotony. The ability to
have German-style structures in East Front like they are in West
Front. Better smoke, explosion and moving water graphics, and
much better rendered detail. Some structures are downright UGLY,
particulary bridges. Bridges should be expandable with lengthened
pillars to fit the depth of the gap they are spanning.
3- More realistic and expanded equipment for each nationality. I can't
figure out why the Russians have landing craft that can carry tanks,
but not the German. Armoured trains that can move on more
realistic railroad systems, including in some cases massive
railroad guns like 'Anzio Annie' or even 'Gustav Schwere'.
4- Expanded Fortification structures like those at the Maginot Line,
the Stalin Line, the Atlantic Wall or the West Wall, with tunnel
systems through which units can move.
5- Increased capability of air and sea units. Warships of all historical
types that can move on ocean, lake or river terrain. Aircraft that
can do realistic damage to ground targets as well as each other,
with attention paid to historical capabilities of each aircraft type.
Anti-aircraft guns that can actually hit their targets.
6- More realistic capability for certain ground units. Engineers that can
also BUILD pontoon bridges ( taking much longer, of course ) in
addition to destroying them, and can do other tasks such as
improving existing fortifications or helping tank crews dig 'hull
down' entrenchments for their AFV's, or cut down trees to build
bunkers or 'courderoy roads'; or even in extreme circumstances,
blowing up dams to flood territory the enemy must pass through.
Artillery that can control sections of terrain with harrassing fire
even during the opponent's turn. Flamethrowers that actually
visually burn their target in flames, and mines that actually
blow 'up' their victims. Tanks that burst into flames when hit
by a big enough shell, or 'tip their hat'.
7- For scenarios lasting more than a few hours, alternate periods of
night and day, with different weather conditions for long scenarios.
8- An extensive and historically accurate selection of leader's pictures
that you can use, rather than the current random unidentified
pictures. Many of us know what Zhukov, Guderian, Montgomery
or Yamashita look like, and don't like the random images.
9- A more comprehensive supply system, where front-line troops
are not only affected by their distance to their supply dumps, but
also by the condition of their nation's factories, infrastructure and
strategic materials. Example, if the Germans lose one of their
synthetic oil refineries, more of their vehicles will have to sit, and
more horse-drawn transport will have to be used.
10- The ability for Americans to be on the same scenario as the
Russians and British, or the Chinese and Japanese.
I also should suggest that any upgrades occur in gradual phases, so that those like myself, who have spent countless hours creating large scenarios, can have these old EastFront II v 1.3 files accepted by the new program. Then we can use the new scenario editor to update what we have already created to fit the new program. I realize this may not be possible, but it would save a lot of agony. Some kind of 'interpreter' program that can recognize the basic elements in a hex, and extrapolate them onto the new platform.
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