Different Studios, same battle.

[greengiant]

Hi all,

So as we know, some theaters of war are very popular, often being recreated through different titles. As an example, DC Barbarossa and GG WitE. Obviously the levels of complexity here are vastly different (as do the time lines in that GG takes you much further), but I'm sure there are more examples out there where the level of detail and scope is more similar. So the question I have is thus: Have you purchased a game before that focuses on a campaign or battle that was already covered in a different game? If so, why reasons led you to purchasing the other title?

Just to be absolutely clear, I am in no way knocking doing this. In fact, I own two games that do focus on the same operation. For me, the review of DC Barbarossa (had never played any of the DC games before but was vaguely familiar with the engine thanks to ATG by the same studio) convinced me to purchase it. The game I already had approached things from your more standard war game way of doing it; very little political intrigue or anything like that; just the nuts and bolts needed to simulate a war/battle. DC introduced me to a very unique way of tackling political issues that had a massive impact on the eastern front. Hell, it was because of Hitler and his cronies arguing over what to do next after their first few victories that became a major contributing factor in their defeat and consequently being pushed all the way back home. DC Barbarossa also completely eliminated the air control factor. At first I was a little shocked about this one until I read the dev notes; essentially there really was no air war at the beginning. It was a turkey shoot/slaughter at the hands of the Germans since the Soviets were literally sending out guys with zero flight experience and had just been handed the keys to the ignition and told 'go fight those dudes', and when they were not flying the planes were all nicely parked/clumped together on airfields just begging to be bombed out of existence.

Anyways, for me, this was an instant purchase after reading up on it despite having a different title covering the same campaign.

So, what were your reasons for purchasing a second/third game that covered the same bit as another game did?

[Jarhead0331]

Because I'm a wargaming whore who pretty much purchases anything new that even tangentially involves military conflict. Most remain unplayed. Sorry I do not have any more meaningful feedback on this topic.

[Dammit Carl!]

In much the same way that I have purchased several pen and paper RPGs covering the same subject (i.e. Star Wars, Star Trek, etc.), I personally find it interesting to see how a designer/company puts their stamp on things in terms of mechanics, "flavor," and so on with the background material being the common starting point.

[greengiant]

In much the same way that I have purchased several pen and paper RPGs covering the same subject (i.e. Star Wars, Star Trek, etc.), I personally find it interesting to see how a designer/company puts their stamp on things in terms of mechanics, "flavor," and so on with the background material being the common starting point.

In a way I suppose that would be my reason too.

Because I'm a wargaming whore who pretty much purchases anything new that even tangentially involves military conflict. Most remain unplayed. Sorry I do not have any more meaningful feedback on this topic.

Not at all, I asked for other users reasons and you shared yours. I'm the same with pinball video games; I see pinball game, I buy pinball game.

[ArizonaTank]

All wargames are basically the designer's interpretation of historical events. So they are all different in some way. I very much enjoy playing with those differences.

[Pete Dero]

Because I'm a wargaming whore patron.

I guess I always want to believe the next one will be the best one.

[Gusington]

Pinball! A greengiant of wealth and taste.

[Zulu1966]

Because I'm a wargaming whore who pretty much purchases anything new that even tangentially involves military conflict. Most remain unplayed. Sorry I do not have any more meaningful feedback on this topic.

100% ditto

[FarAway Sooner]

Because I'm a wargaming whore who pretty much purchases anything new that even tangentially involves military conflict. Most remain unplayed. Sorry I do not have any more meaningful feedback on this topic.

100% ditto

Technically, I think Jarhead should describe himself as a wargaming John, but that conversation starts to turn squishy in a hurry.

[Jarhead0331]

Because I'm a wargaming whore who pretty much purchases anything new that even tangentially involves military conflict. Most remain unplayed. Sorry I do not have any more meaningful feedback on this topic.

100% ditto

Technically, I think Jarhead should describe himself as a wargaming John, but that conversation starts to turn squishy in a hurry.

:DD

[greengiant]

Pinball! A greengiant of wealth and taste.

Hehe, nice to meet a fellow pinball addict. For when I get home from a day so hectic that my brain has turned to mush, pinball it is! I've been trying to master one of the Williams tables in FX3 for a while now, but it is really kicking my behind.

[Gusington]

When I am retired and living in an estate on Corsica, one of my game rooms will be devoted to pinball and 1980s arcade video games.

[Sir Slash]

Galaga kept me off the streets at night. It also damned near made me bankrupt.

[jamus34]

When I am retired and living in an estate on Corsica, one of my game rooms will be devoted to pinball and 1980s arcade video games.

Roadblasters FTW

I'd love to have a dedicated silverball machine. Maybe some day.

[Destraex]

I enjoy both variety including new theatres and armies as well as ever better games with better more realistic mechanics. So the same theatre can be repeated in this way many times over. Add to that that as you say, games keep coming out on the same theatre, so I have little choice some times. Another reason is graphics and friends. If I find a definitive game, which rarely happens, I stick with it for many years. But I am yet to find something really definitive that could not be improved upon in some way. The dream of 1:1 10v10 pvp or coop napoleonice realistic real time but slow enough to play with realistic (scourge of war style) messages and HITS "breath" that also has amazingly nice 3D graphics with weather effects that affect each soldier and orders delay as well as being amazingly fun for instance just has  never been there. They have all been too gamey, too cheap and nasty but with great mechanics or we have just been missing the computing power to pull it off.

So every now and then I give things a go. Star Citizen, Steel Division 2 and a few others come close to a good mix of multiplayer, graphics and depth of mechanics without beeing too dry. But the perfect game for me would probably be a AAA graphics, scourge of war style (but more detailed) 1:1 system with a great multiplayer interface. NOT GOING to happen I do not think. Add to that that I would love strategic layers all the way from tactical all the way up to the top. Something you could choose on any given day... i.e. I don't want to do the political layer for example, just put me in charge of the army.