Just ordered it [Archive] - GameSquad Forums

morphin

19 Jan 06, 17:14

Hi

I now have ordered this game and while waiting (i think a have to wait a few month for the new version to come) i read the new manual and i must say it is very, very interesting and promising. :)

Andy

Wodin

22 Jan 06, 09:49

Its a game to keep hold of and wait. Wait as eventually the game will work the way it was supposed to and then you will have a classic on your H/D.

Im waiting for POA 2 WW2.

With that in mind.....

Any news on the WW2 version?

blackdeath

23 Jan 06, 12:44

Wodin

23 Jan 06, 13:10

Not a mod.

A new game by Scott.

Nicholas Bell

24 Jan 06, 13:14

ww2 mod???? That would be so great...cant be that hard to generate a new database and icons....who is working on this? Is it a vendor project? Id pay for that update as a expansion pack any day. (but please dont charge us..lol)

It is much more difficult than you think to create the database. And the artwork for the counter icons, well, just the shear number of them takes time. (Not that I really care as I prefer symbols to icons). There is a team working on it. I am doing the maps and terrain symbols. It takes over a month to create one map. And it will be a full cost stand alone game, as noted above already.

Double Deuce

24 Jan 06, 13:55

Does anyone know of a place where you can actually get a copy of POA-2 without having to wait for its re-release? Other than Ebay.

Binder

25 Jan 06, 07:34

Does anyone know of a place where you can avcyually get a copy of POA-2 without having to wait for its re-release? Other than Ebay.

Go to NWS. They are the best place to find & buy wargames.

http://store.navalwarfare.org/

thewood

25 Jan 06, 12:26

It is much more difficult than you think to create the database. And the artwork for the counter icons, well, just the shear number of them takes time. (Not that I really care as I prefer symbols to icons). There is a team working on it. I am doing the maps and terrain symbols. It takes over a month to create one map. And it will be a full cost stand alone game, as noted above already.

The fact it takes a month to make a map worries me a little. If it takes a month to make a map, even with all the bugs worked out, this game will not last an incredibly long time. If we had an easier tom use map-making tool, we would have scenarios all over the place.

Cougar_DK

25 Jan 06, 14:38

Yes the maps is a problem. I even talked to Scott about making a random map generator for POA2, but he told me I couldn't be done. I told him that I would like to take a shot at it, but he refused to tell me about the file formats etc.

So I dropped it again.

My goal was NOT to aim at a generator like the one we have in WinSPMBT, but a tool that could do the hard work, i.e. taking care of the heights, making some town/wood areas, filling out the different textures for clear and the like. And then letting the user polish the map afterward.

Nicholas Bell

25 Jan 06, 15:37

The fact it takes a month to make a map worries me a little. If it takes a month to make a map, even with all the bugs worked out, this game will not last an incredibly long time. If we had an easier tom use map-making tool, we would have scenarios all over the place.

It's not a matter of making the tools easier, it's the analysis and data entry that takes the time. The maps I have created contain from 7-15,000 hexes. Elevation, base terrain type, vegetation, structures, roads, waterways, etc all have to be entered for each hex. The mapeditor has been improved to make this process a little easier, but it does change the fact that no program can read elevations and terrain off the scan of a topo map. In fact, many POA2 users can't read a topo map. The fidelity of the engine depends on realistic and accurate assessment and input of the data.

I am attempting to get as many maps as possible done before the game is released, and we've got some time before that happens. The scenarios and terrain I am doing will be representative of many regions, and large enough 6-8 x 8-12 km in size, to provide a wide variety terrain on which to create additional scenarios.

Of course if one wants to create a smaller map, the time to construct it is greatly reduced.

Scott acknowledges that maps are a problem, but there is no way _he_ can program a maptool which generate maps automatically. However, he is considering my suggestion to include a geomorphic map in the program. The terrain would of course not be "real" but I would base it on actual topography and morph the map connection points. Those familiar with Panzerblitz or ASL will understand immediately what this would be like. This would increase the number of map possibilities considerably.

Another thing I want Scott to consider is linking the terrain elevation color coding to the elevation. Currently the elevation colors are linked to the elevations which are unlimited and in 1 meter increments. If the elevations are reduced to "levels" and linked to the terrain color, one could input the elevation much easier - and more easily understood by users - by placing the appropriate color. That is, one would paint the elevations in the mapeditor rather than inputting them by reading the underlying topomap. In effect, this is reverting to the map system used in Tigers on the Prowl/Panthers in the Shadows from 10 years ago and would limit the number of elevation levels to 20.

No matter what, I have to say the maps are much better looking, and more functional than those in POA2. And of course they based on actual WW2 1:50,000 and 1:100,000 scale maps. It's really fascinating to read a divisional history and be able to follow the described battle on the same map the actual commanders used. In fact, I found one in the collection which has German unit markings and boundaries on it! Someone goofed and didn't use an overlay.

WNourse

30 Jan 06, 05:21

Nicholas Bell

31 Jan 06, 13:25

Would the maps from the WW2 version work with the modern version of POA? I also really like the idea of geomorphic maps - most of what I do is scenario generator stuff, so specific locations don't matter so much as variety.

The WW2 program is going to work differently in how it displays maps, so my guess is that unless Scott retro-fits POA it won't work. POA2 maps will work in the new program, with a little tweaking of terrain data.

liuzg150181

01 Feb 06, 08:17

I am more concerned with.........when will the POA WW2 be out?

Nicholas Bell

01 Feb 06, 11:48

I am more concerned with.........when will the POA WW2 be out?

Not fast enough for anyone, I'm sure. Not even HPS. I really have no idea, and even if I did, I couldn't say. It will announced when Scott decides to announce it's ready for sale.

19Echeaux

10 Mar 06, 11:30

For the above poster who asked where to find a copy of POA2 aside from Ebay:

I got a new, shrink-wrapped copy at Chips and Bits for $49.99 plus shipping, got my game in three days. WOW!

The only complaint I might have is the small amount of scenarios available. I've only seen the scens available through the HPS website. Any suggestions?

Glad to join the family of POA2 players, and sincerely looking forward to the release of the new version.

From the Rockies...