Ask Don Gilman...

[Ivan Rapkinov]

I'm at the stage of organising a time to interview Don Gilman of AGSI, and this thread is for those in the community to post questions they want answered (within reason)

so please post away :)

[Herman Hum]

Will the official AGSI Harpoon 3 DB be re-worked substantially?

[Reckall]

* What is the current level of contribution by Larry Bond to computer Harpoon?

* How will the deal with Matrix Games influence the development of the Harpoon line?

* Recently many publisher, both of niche and mainstream games, have stuck deals with the military agencies of various nations - and AGSI is one of them. How this renewed interest by the military is influencing the growth/development of computer games?

* Regarding "The Next Harpoon", is AGSI going to keep the 3D look originally developed for H4, or they will go for a 2D map and "counters" like TacOps? (I would like more the latter, if this means to concentrate efforts on accuracy and DB design).

* Also re: "The Next Harpoon", will the engine/AI allow for some truly theatre-level scenarios, like, for example, a campaign covering the first week of a war in WestPac or so?

More when I think of them!

[Herman Hum]

Will we ever see a full list of known Harpoon Classic and Harpoon 3 issues as displayed for other games on Matrix forums?

[Ivan Rapkinov]

Please restrict your posts in this threads to QUESTIONS for Don - I don;t want to have to sift through to find the actual questions :D

ie. non-question related posts will get the big chop :devil:

[Reckall]

* Will The Next Harpoon feature a more detailed land combat system (not something like TOAW, of course, but a database of weapons and equipment that can be loaded on ships, placed in crucial points or maybe airdropped - with some algorithms to solve the land combat)?

[The point is that it would be cool, for example, having to reinforce a beach-head while the Marines are trying to hold it, with the possibility to see reports about how the ground fighting is going!]

* Are there plans for a future multiplayer edition of Harpoon Classic Gold, too? (some users see this incarnation of Harpoon as the more "friendly" for the newbies).

* Recently some user-made DBs have covered naval warfare in the 60s and '70s - a period still not officially portrayed in the Harpoon line. Are there plans to officially cover the whole 1960-2010 period in The Next Harpoon?

* Some other games on the market are giving to third-part modders the opportunity to change/improve the AI behavior (an example is “Dangerous Waters” and its system of editable “doctrines”). Will TNH offer such an opportunity to the players?

[uncleharpoon]

This is a really busy time of year for Ivan (Origins) and me (we have 3 products in Beta Test, plus my day job).

Ivan, Matrix and I have agreed to do the interview, but due to the above timing - it will be AT or AFTER Origins. :)

[Marines]

Don's here? Hurrah!

If at all possible, I would like to see Hermans' and Reckalls' questions answered. Again, if at all possible...

[CV32]

Me too, but I'm not particularly hopeful. I'd love to be wrong ... :whist:

[uncleharpoon]

I'm back and since Ivan hasn't contacted me or Matrix, I'm going to post an update here and at AGSI regarding current and future plans for the Harpoon family of products.

[uncleharpoon]

We are a few releases from RC1 on both Harpoon 3 Advanced Naval Warfare and Harpoon Classic Commander's Edition.

We are dealing with Class B (Major) and Class C (Minor) defects at this point. We aren't finding many new Class A (Crash) bugs.

The games are feature complete, and have been for some time. So any good ideas are going to have to wait for the next release in 2006.

After releasing these will do at least one maintenance release for each product while we catch our breath and start spinning up on the next release.

Depending on how our Military sales go for Harpoon 3 Professional, we will pick our next features on the path to TNH (aka Harpoon 4). Since I have to plan for worst case, you can expect several releases between 3.7 and 4.0. Again, I will NOT state if we are doing the Harpoon 4 rule set, new database structure, or the new User Interface first, second or third. because I don't know right now.

Other (commercial) features on our list include Search and Rescue, Campaigns, improved Mines, a real Logistics Model, limited land warfare modeling, unmanned vehicles, blimps, mission planner, strike planner, new maps, and features that support tournament play.

Now, as far as the community is concerned, there has been some changes in our programming staff, and our support staff. I'm down to available, reliable, stable, mature, and manageable types (mostly with no social life). While that characteristic isn't going to change w shipment of 3.7, the faces will. It's damn difficult to ship a game, even if you are semi-volunteer (yeah, the top folks make what amounts to beer money). They usually want a break after shipping a product. So when we ship 3.7 there will be opportunities for folks to step in and provide support via Matrix games, to publish new databases and scenarios that utilize the new game features, and just maybe figure out a way to experiment with completive play. Or maybe, they want to help w QA on the maintenance releases or get in early on the 3.8 version....

Finally, if you want to make a difference, come take your defect lists and bring them to the AGSI forums (Not HULL, not Harpoon HQ). Take a look at the Wiki for how we test, and how to see our official bug list. If you can confirm a bug fixed, or help us nail a bug, this is the time to chip in. When we hit RC1 - we will pretty much have closed the window on adding names to the credits. This is the time to make the difference in the quality of this product - and get the only recognition that counts - your name in the credits.

So come visit:
http://forum.advancedgaming.biz/ for the Forums (where you report NEW or confirm FIXED defects.

http://mediawiki.advancedgaming.biz for instructions, access to the defect lists, etc.

[Blackcloud6]

Please forgive me for this basic question, but after reading up on Harpoon, I'm not clear on what the difference is in Harpoon 3 ANW and Harpoon Classic Commanders Edition. Can you enlighten me?

[Sunburn]

H3 ANW is the latest member of the family that started with Harpoon 2 back in 1994 and progressed to H2 Multimedia (1995), H2 Admiral's Edition (1996) and H3 (2001).

HCCE is the latest member of the family that started with Harpoon 1 back in 1989 and progressed to Harpoon Classic (1993/4?), Harpoon Classic 97 (1996) and Harpoon Classic 2002/2003.

Long story short, H3 ANW is the one that looks like this:

http://www.harpoonhq.com/images/h3screen02.gif

While HCCE is the one that looks like this:

http://www.harpoonhq.com/images/h97screen01.jpg

[Blackcloud6]

H3 ANW is the latest member of the family that started with Harpoon 2 back in 1994 and progressed to H2 Multimedia (1995), H2 Admiral's Edition (1996) and H3 (2001).

HCCE is the latest member of the family that started with Harpoon 1 back in 1989 and progressed to Harpoon Classic (1993/4?), Harpoon Classic 97 (1996) and Harpoon Classic 2002/2003.


Thanks, OK I get the graphics difference and development history but what is the difference in game play?

Do they cover different levels of the fight, is one more or less detailed than other?

Just looking at them, they semm like they cover the same thing but just look different.

Is Matrix still going to put out a new version of HCCE later this year?

[Herman Hum]

Take at look at this thread: Harpoon 3 Or Harpoon Classic (http://www.xtreme-gamer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37918)

My favorite analogy is American Football vs. Canadian Football. Both look the same and have similar history, but they play out quite differently even when they share the same principle and goal line.

HCCE is planned for release later this summer. :smoke:

[Poor Old Spike]

Hi anybody out there,
I bought Harpoon 2 about 3 years ago by download, but later after upgrading my PC (new hard drive etc) I never bothered to re-download it and basically forgot about Harpoon completely.
But now I'd like to download it again (remember I already paid for it 3 years ago) but have lost the download code or whatever its called.
Also I'm not sure whether it was H2 or H3, can you help?
Thanks

[Herman Hum]

I bought Harpoon 2 about 3 years ago by download, but later after upgrading my PC (new hard drive etc) I never bothered to re-download it and basically forgot about Harpoon completely.
But now I'd like to download it again (remember I already paid for it 3 years ago) but have lost the download code or whatever its called.
Also I'm not sure whether it was H2 or H3, can you help?

Are you sure that you bought it via eDownload?

AFAIK, Harpoon 2 was sold exclusively in boxes at retail stores (with nice manuals :)) and Harpoon 3 was sold via DL (or else they mailed out CDs).

If you are certain that you purchased Harpoon 3, you can contact AGSI at:

sales@advancedgaming.biz

If you only purchased Harpoon 2, you are out of luck as they went out of business years, ago.

[eds]

Hi anybody out there,
I bought Harpoon 2 about 3 years ago by download, but later after upgrading my PC (new hard drive etc) I never bothered to re-download it and basically forgot about Harpoon completely.
But now I'd like to download it again (remember I already paid for it 3 years ago) but have lost the download code or whatever its called.
Also I'm not sure whether it was H2 or H3, can you help?
Thanks

Spike, I did very much the same thing, i didn,t back up my LOK and KEE files either.
When i tried to re register, they never replied

[Poor Old Spike]

Okay let's see if they'll reply to me, I just mailed the address HHum gave.. ;)
Mine must have been H3, I remember I had H2 in a box long before that.

[Poor Old Spike]

Wow that was quick, I just got the following reply.. :)
I gather I have to send cash, but that's me out then because I haven't got a cred card to be able to send money, my bank won't let unemployed scum like me have one, ha ha ha.. :)

Hi Mick

We switched our publishing over to Matrix Games over a year ago. We sent out several emails asking people to upgrade for a discount. Support for the PC version stopped in December of 2006.

Every 3-5 years we have to charge for a new version to keep the programmers employed (as the game is such a niche product). We feel $10 to $15/yr is a fair price to help us keep the game alive. It's not like we get rich or something - our coders make 1/2 of industry scale and have no health care benefits.

Since we shipped v3.7 with Matrix we have provided a FREE v3.8 upgrade - so we are true to our word, and have committed to an addition 2-4 updates per year for the next couple of years.

Would you please help us keep this game alive buy buying a new license at Matrix Games?
http://www.matrixgames.com/games/game.asp?gid=323


Thank you!

Don

[Herman Hum]

Wow that was quick, I just got the following reply.. :)

[snip]

At least you got one.

The more things change, the more they stay the same...

[Herman Hum]

I gather I have to send cash, but that's me out then because I haven't got a cred card to be able to send money, my bank won't let unemployed scum like me have one, ha ha ha.. :)

Hold on, now. The Matrix Online store (http://www.digitalriver.com/dr/v2/ec_MAIN.Entry?CID=0&CUR=826&SP=10007&SID=50505&DSP=0&PGRP=0&ABCODE=&CACHE_ID=0) says that it accepts:

European Bank Transfer
Giro
Money Order

So, what's your problem? It looks like Matrix is willing to accommodate your payment.

There's even a fellow willing to sell you his copy of ANW second hand:

http://www.gamesquad.com/forums/showthread.php?t=68387

[Poor Old Spike]

Okay i'll ask around my bank and post offices..
But I certainly don't like the idea of having to pay for another download of something that i've already paid for..
I guess having a solid disk in your hands is the best bet, I mean a disk is forever, but a download is like a fleeting will o' the wisp and once gone from your hard drive can only be downloaded again if the producer demands another payment..

[Herman Hum]

Just so that you are clear, you are buying Harpoon3: ANW from Matrix. This is not the same Harpoon 3.6.3 that was sold directly by AGSI (and which you probably had). You are not re-purchasing exactly the same thing.

If money is tight for you, you might contact that fellow who is trying to sell his game second-hand. Also, you might consider just purchasing the eDownload version and then burning your own CD for a backup.

The CD option from Matrix comes in a little plastic holder, but is the same as if you just did eDownload and burned your own CD.

AFAIK, Matrix offers you some long-term assistance in that you can re-download material in the future if you have proof of purchase, e-mail, etc.

[Poor Old Spike]

Another thing about the download, disappointingly there were no movie animations and sound effects of whooshy missile launches, exploding ships, aircraft launching,choppers chopping, CIWS's rasping etc like there were with the disk version.
I remember contacting the download people (matrix?) about it and they said the download would have been too big if the animations and sound files were included on it..
Anyway thanks for your clarifications guys, I just thought i'd ask if i can get a free replacement for my lost H3 download and now that I know I can't i'll stick with H1 for a while longer, i only got it recently anyway and it looks good enough.. :)

[Herman Hum]

Another thing about the download, disappointingly there were no movie animations and sound effects of whooshy missile launches, exploding ships, aircraft launching,choppers chopping, CIWS's rasping etc like there were with the disk version.
I remember contacting the download people (matrix?) about it and they said the download would have been too big if the animations and sound files were included on it..
Anyway thanks for your clarifications guys, I just thought i'd ask if i can get a free replacement for my lost H3 download and now that I know I can't i'll stick with H1 for a while longer, i only got it recently anyway and it looks good enough.. :)

You seem to be confusing the versions and their providers.

Yes, there was a discrepancy between eDownload and CD disk for Harpoon 3.6.3 when it was distributed by AGSI years ago. This version is no longer available from AGSI and was the one you had.

The Harpoon3: ANW version currently distributed by Matrix has exactly the same 87mB (or so) file if you get it via eDownload or CD disk delivered by mail. All the "whooshy" goodness regardless of how you get it. :D

If you prefer the Harpoon 1 (a.k.a. Harpoon Classic) type of game, you are in luck because they say that there will be a new edition for it, too, and it is planned for the end of July. It is a huge difference from the one you currently have. Just one look at the area ECM effect is enough to make it stand head and shoulders above previous HC versions, IMO.

I hope that you post up your After-Action Reports regardless of the version/edition you decide to play.

[Poor Old Spike]

You seem to be confusing the versions and their providers.............................
I hope that you post up your After-Action Reports regardless of the version/edition you decide to play.



Yes that's another thing, there are so many versions of H and so many battlesets and updates that I haven't a f***** clue what's what..
As for AAR's, dunno bout that because I never touch anything except the very smallest scenarios, and in fact i also plan to build my own simple little things, say a couple of frigates on each side with maybe a chopper or two or a fighter-bomber thrown in.
But if I run into too many bugs i'll wipe H off my hard drive for good rather than waste any more time on it.
I mean its been released around 15 years and from what I've heard the bugs in it are still as thick as fleas on a hound dogs back.
Sorry, but that just ain't good enough.. (insert sombre-face smiley here)

[kdalton]

Is this still going to happen?

I just checked both AGSI and Matrix and there is nothing new.

EDIT: Just found news item dated 8/3 on the AGSI site. Okay. Now I get to ask some other questions....