"What the heck!? It seems identical to ACOW!"

Matrix Games Forums

Forums Register Login Photo Gallery Member List Search Calendars FAQ

My Profile Inbox Address Book My Subscription My Forums Log Out

"What the heck!? It seems identical to ACOW!"

View related threads: (in this forum | in all forums)

Logged in as: Guest

Users viewing this topic: none

Printable Version

All Forums >> [Current Games From Matrix.] >> [World War II] >> Norm Koger's The Operational Art Of War III >> "What the heck!? It seems identical to ACOW!"

Page: [1]

Message

<< Older Topic Newer Topic >>

"What the heck!? It seems identical to ACOW!" - 6/12/2006 12:17:03 PM

fbastos

Posts: 827
Joined: 8/7/2004
Status: offline

Don't throw the tomatoes yet, for I have seen the Ligh. But my first reaction was "What the heck!? It seems identical to ACOW!" - and others may react the same way and will come here looking for a sympathetic fellow. So read on, oh Doubter, for I went to the borders of desillusioment and came back a Believer - and so will you.

First, I had to forget about the "III" on the title; I think that this release would more precisely be "TOAW ACOW Matrix Edition", but the "III" created so much expectative that running the game the first time was a turn down. I also had to ignore the new graphics (I didn't like them at all). Just forget about both of them, dear Doubter, and you will be ready for the good stuff.

For one thing, I loved the new soundtrack - super! Then it took me 20 hours in the Overlord 44 game to recognize that disruption and reorganization are much better done here than previous versions - some nice tuning there. And the unit stats on the right side are really useful too. And there's some additional tweaking here and there that may entertain some, but didn't grab me.

Yet, I'm sure that a resilient Nonbeliever will not find any of that enough to justify spending $40.00 in a refitted an old game, when a brand new game costs about that. Nonbeliever is probably right should Matrix be your regular company, but here comes the kicker: you got to take Matrix as a special relationship case and can't compare such relationship with paying $50 for a box with Civ IV. You can't, because no matter how much you ask, Firaxis will never answer you e-mails, and Sid Meier will never take any of your ideas for Civ V.

Therefore, enlightenment came when I changed my view of the $40, away from a purchase of a boxed game to the price of rewnewing a partnership with Matrix. The results of that partnership have been mixed, and I'm specially pissed off that I'm getting older and older and Steel Panthers IX (=Combat Leader Cross of Iron or whatever) is never released, but Matrix has been good to me with Pacific War and SPWAW, so I (for now) keep my faith and remain a Believer.

F.

< Message edited by fbastos -- 6/14/2006 4:41:59 AM >

_____________________________

I'm running out of jokes...

Post #: 1

RE: "What the heck!? It seems identical to ACOW!&q... - 6/13/2006 1:32:58 AM

FlipTrac_511

Posts: 324
Joined: 5/24/2006
Status: offline

Thanks for that info fbastos.� I have bought all the�original iterations of the TOAW series but sadly have never played them thoroughly.�It seems with each computer upgrade, the current TOAW release would seize to work.� It's sad that I've spent so much money on the series and spent little time with it.� But�I was desperate to get�a release�to work reliably under WinXP and ultimately got a hold of ACOW.� Now, after I heard of TOAW3, I've been wondering what the differences were.� So thanks for posting specific changes in TOAW3.� The FAQs and release info that I've read thusfar do mention the changes and improvements, but it was vague as to whether those changes were exclusive to TOAW3 or a cumulative collection of improvements since the original TOAW.

< Message edited by FlipTrac_511 -- 6/13/2006 1:34:31 AM >

(in reply to fbastos)

Post #: 2

RE: "What the heck!? It seems identical to ACOW!&q... - 6/13/2006 1:42:38 AM

jungelsj_slith

Posts: 244
Joined: 2/16/2004
Status: offline

I think a lot of the TAOW vets will notice more changes than I have, but I'm more of a casual wargamer. I can't say that I've thoroughly memorized the system, but have played it before. Here are the changes that I've noticed:

-new map graphics. This is probably the most substantial change for me. They're cleaner/clearer than ACOW, so I actually pay attention to terrain now. I generally didn't think about what terrain I was attacking into or defending from in ACOW because the terrain graphics were a bit more 'realistic' and muddy.

-proficiency/readiness/organization display. Subtle but nice nonetheless. I think there's a lot more that could have been done with the UI, and I hope that more, larger changes are made.

-a better attacking PO. I don't know if I would have noticed this if someone had not told me, but apparently the PO is supposed to be a lot better.

-new anti-armor modeling. Same as above, really. I'm glad that a more realistic algorithim is being used, but can't say that I've noticed a big change. I generally see a very small number of tanks destroyed by fire. The only time I see big 'losses' is when a unit is surrounded and captured.

Read some of the other threads here about the scenario selection. Personally, I can't say that I'm very happy with it - I'm playing the same scenarios that I played in ACOW, but I'm hoping the users will create new scenarios. Bummer that it has to be like that.

So in conclusion, I can't say it was really worth $40, for me, but I'm banking on matrix maintaining their promises for what TAOWIII is/was supposed to be, and continuing to patch the game. It's gotten me back into TAOW, so that's good.

(in reply to fbastos)

Post #: 3

RE: "What the heck!? It seems identical to ACOW!&q... - 6/13/2006 4:52:57 AM

Erik Rutins

Posts: 37503
Joined: 3/28/2000
From: Vermont, USA
Status: offline

I definitely recommend reading these interviews as well for an idea of the process and changes behind TOAW III and the plan ahead:

http://www.armchairgeneral.com/articles.php?p=2658&page=1

http://www.armchairgeneral.com/articles.php?p=2649&page=1

http://www.armchairgeneral.com/articles.php?p=2680&page=1

Regards,

- Erik

_____________________________

Erik Rutins
CEO, Matrix Games LLC

For official support, please use our Help Desk: http://www.matrixgames.com/helpdesk/

Freedom is not Free.

(in reply to jungelsj_slith)

Post #: 4

RE: "What the heck!? It seems identical to ACOW!&q... - 6/14/2006 5:23:07 PM

jbunnelle

Posts: 166
Joined: 2/25/2002
From: United States
Status: offline

The new graphics make it much easier to ascertain hexsides. Feels much less cluttered than before, although I suspect many new gamers might be turned off by it. But it just reminds me of "France 1940" and "PanzerBlitz". Ahhh.....

(in reply to Erik Rutins)

Post #: 5

RE: "What the heck!? It seems identical to ACOW!&q... - 6/14/2006 6:10:37 PM

golden delicious

Posts: 5575
Joined: 9/5/2000
From: London, Surrey, United Kingdom
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: jbunnelle

The new graphics make it much easier to ascertain hexsides.

You do know you can toggle hexsides on and off- both in TOAW III and in COW?

_____________________________

"What did you read at university?"
"War Studies"
"War? Huh. What is it good for?"
"Absolutely nothing."

(in reply to jbunnelle)

Post #: 6

RE: "What the heck!? It seems identical to ACOW!&q... - 6/14/2006 10:07:20 PM

Dr. Foo

Posts: 666
Joined: 8/31/2004
From: Honolulu, Hawaii
Status: offline

Yes, the PO is very agressive, much more then it was in COW. At times the PO would just stop attacking and sit there static while I manuvered to its rear, not so anymore. The PO is more capable of countering your movement and pressing the attack. It makes for much more enjoyable games.

_____________________________

*Warning: Dr. Foo is not an actual doctor.
Do not accept or follow any medical advice*

(in reply to golden delicious)

Post #: 7

RE: "What the heck!? It seems identical to ACOW!&q... - 6/14/2006 11:31:01 PM

ralphtricky

Posts: 6685
Joined: 7/27/2003
From: Colorado Springs
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Dr. Foo

Yes, the PO is very agressive, much more then it was in COW. At times the PO would just stop attacking and sit there static while I manuvered to its rear, not so anymore. The PO is more capable of countering your movement and pressing the attack. It makes for much more enjoyable games.

Thanks.

Just wait until people start designing scenarios for the new PO/AI...

Ralph

(in reply to Dr. Foo)

Post #: 8

RE: "What the heck!? It seems identical to ACOW!&q... - 6/15/2006 4:12:02 PM

jbunnelle

Posts: 166
Joined: 2/25/2002
From: United States
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: golden delicious

quote:

ORIGINAL: jbunnelle

The new graphics make it much easier to ascertain hexsides.

You do know you can toggle hexsides on and off- both in TOAW III and in COW?

Yeah, I know, I always leave them turned on. But before, the old graphics would intrude a bit into other hexes in an attempt to make it smoother and more organic. It definitely looked good but sometimes became confusing on certain types of maps.

(in reply to golden delicious)

Post #: 9

Page: [1]

All Forums >> [Current Games From Matrix.] >> [World War II] >> Norm Koger's The Operational Art Of War III >> "What the heck!? It seems identical to ACOW!"

Page: [1]