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Digital Gaming => Computer Gaming => Topic started by: -budd- on February 19, 2014, 09:46:07 PM

Title: John Tillers campaign series update at Matrix
Post by: -budd- on February 19, 2014, 09:46:07 PM
For those that own John Tillers campaign series from Matrix the long awaited 2.00 patch is out. Announcement is due tomorrow but it's available in the members area. The description reads like the 104 and even mentions the 104 but the post date and file name are recent and it worked fine for me.

Here's a link to the developers diaries     http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=3502727
Title: Re: John Tillers campaign series update at Matrix
Post by: Bison on February 19, 2014, 09:47:45 PM
Nice!
Title: Re: John Tillers campaign series update at Matrix
Post by: Apocalypse 31 on February 19, 2014, 10:13:30 PM
I wish someone would post a let's play or some kind of video aar. There is absolutely no video media associated with this game.
Title: Re: John Tillers campaign series update at Matrix
Post by: jomni on February 20, 2014, 01:43:19 AM
Nice. This is permanently installed in my hard drive.
Title: Re: John Tillers campaign series update at Matrix
Post by: Philippe on February 20, 2014, 09:02:52 AM
Out of curiosity, was Tiller & Co. involved in producing the patch in any way, and what exactly does it do?

I'd be curious to see a compare and contrast with Tiller's current games, particularly the Napoleonic ones.
Title: Re: John Tillers campaign series update at Matrix
Post by: Tuna on February 20, 2014, 09:53:03 AM
Doesn't download for me, error's out.. Budd in the message thread on the post, you state that it's available in the Members area? When I go there, I see a download from 2007 (manual) and that's it.. am I missing something?
Title: Re: John Tillers campaign series update at Matrix
Post by: SgtRock on February 20, 2014, 11:53:01 AM
One thing you can say about Matrix Games, their games just keep on giving! :)

It's too bad, there's no graphic updates, the 2D counters are just too small for any res greater than 800x600. There seems to be some discussion of the possibility of future graphic support in the future from Slitherine & Lordz Studio, that would be great. Maybe Matrix has future plans for this series?

Try this

John Tiller's Campaign Series Update v2.00 (213 MB)
http://www.matrixgames.com/products/318/downloads/John.Tiller%27s.Campaign.Series

Update:
The 3D graphics still look good even at 1920 X 1080, I wish the buttons on the bottom menu were bigger, they seem to have gotten smaller, maybe because there are now more of them, glad there are hot keys.

Only quip so far, when you select units through the reinforcement popup box, they are not automatically selected (highlighted) and you have to manually select them.
Title: Re: John Tillers campaign series update at Matrix
Post by: -budd- on February 20, 2014, 01:57:24 PM
There is a modern war version they have been working on for awhile. As far as i know tiller had nothing to do with this or any future games to come. They have really done alot of work on this game, i haven't had a chance to get into it to deeply yet but it sure is nice to have hot keys for just about everything.
Title: Re: John Tillers campaign series update at Matrix
Post by: berto on February 20, 2014, 02:40:51 PM
Quote from: Philippe on February 20, 2014, 09:02:52 AM
Out of curiosity, was Tiller & Co. involved in producing the patch in any way, and what exactly does it do?


John Tiller & co. were not involved in the update in any way, except to have designed and coded the original game series.  We are and were entirely on our own.

Nothing concise yet, but for an account of the changes, try:  http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=3502727 (http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=3502727)
Title: Re: John Tillers campaign series update at Matrix
Post by: TheCommandTent on February 21, 2014, 06:37:06 AM
Was any more content added to the series or was this just updates, fixes and improvements?



Follow up question.  Has there ever been any additional campaigns released for the game? (East/West Front)
Title: Re: John Tillers campaign series update at Matrix
Post by: SgtRock on February 21, 2014, 10:51:10 AM
Release Notes:

V2.00 – Feb 12, 2014
•   Bug Fixes

◦   Fixed a legacy bug involving BunkerMorale (bunkers were mistakenly using TrenchMorale), and revised downward BunkerMorale from +4 to +3.
◦   Restored High Details to the Options menu.
◦   Fixed edmap & edit toolbars.
◦   Fixed an inherited edorg date bug.
◦   Fixed an inherited Battle Generator bug.
◦   Fixed inherited, legacy start & stop date bugs.
◦   Fixed the edmap horizontal banding and saw-tooth screen edge legacy bugs.
◦   If PBEM Replay is skipped, fixed bug where animation speed was set to slowest setting.
◦   Fixed an inherited frontend bug where, for the CS, earlier year pre-war GetDateValue() conversions were missing.
◦   Fixed an inherited bug where, for supply modifiers, dates outside a certain range might corrupt other game data, or worse perhaps even crash the game.
◦   Fixed the bug where edit failed to save A/I (aggressiveness) values.
◦   Fixed the Night Visible Hexes bug.
◦   Fixed the frontend Turns 0 bug.
◦   Fixed the phantom details button bug in the Damage Results dialog.
◦   Fixed several problems involving gliders.
◦   Fixed the edmap Elevation Max Height < 12 to 19 bug. For EF, WF & RS.
◦   Fixed the eforg Allied Bulgaria 'Unknown' nation bug.
◦   Fixed the edit window title bug.
◦   Fixed a bug involving potential crashes when selecting/deselecting Background Music or Background Sound.
◦   Fixed a bug where, for PBEM (and possibly also Hot Seat) play, Dynamic Day/Night & Visibility were inoperative.


•   Improvements

◦   The game engine now runs as a full-fledged, resizable, movable windowed application. Before now, the game engine was a fixed, immobile, full-screen application. (In future, the player will have the option to switch between the two game windowed/non-windowed (full-screen) modes.)
◦   Hot keys documented in-game in the Menu Bar options, also in the toolbar tooltips.
◦   Relocated and resequenced several of the Menu Bar options (in engine mainly, but also in edit, edmap & edorg).
◦   Variable Animation Speeds.
◦   Changed "slots" and/or "slot" designations for several nations: Australia, New Zealand, Communist Vietnam, Communist China, South Africa, Philippines.
◦   Merged the Campaign Series & Modern Wars codebases.
◦   Implemented File>New & File>Open in the game engine .exe.
◦   Added TEM & Morale modifiers to the unit Info Box display.
◦   Added new LayManyMines & Commando unit capabilities. (For now, ME & VN only.)
◦   Moved unit capability (graphical) display from the unit Info Box to (as text) the Unit Handbook.
◦   Variable highlight colors, available via the Options menu. Includes five new graphics .bmp files: StackHighlights1D.bmp, StackHighlights2D.bmp, BaseHighlights3D.bmp, BaseHighlights4D.bmp, BaseHighlights5D.bmp. Install them in the top-level game folder (alongside the game .exe's).
◦   New Continuous AI Play mode.
◦   New game engine toolbar.
◦   New Units menu options, and toolbar buttons, for: Banzai, Fire Smoke, Fire Starshell.
◦   New player-selectable A/I options: Aggressiveness, Audacious, Cautious, Shifting.
◦   New ai.ini AI configuration file.
◦   New Backup Saves option.
◦   New Test Trial Play mode.
◦   New -X NOENCRYPTION command-line option, permitting access to unencrypted data files (e.g., OOB instead of OBX) (for testing and solo play only, not for multiplayer).
◦   At the frontend Main Menu, selecting Edit Map takes you directly to the edmap EXE, bypassing the frontend Map Editor display (no more direct random map generation).
◦   The frontend Scenarios selection screen no longer displays Backup Saves versions.
◦   Reorganized the nation names & sides Msg strings.
◦   The screen-top main Menu is now fixed, and cannot be toggled off. Removed the Menu icon from the screen-bottom toolbar, and freed up the Ctrl-M hot key for other uses.
◦   With High Details in effect, the Damage Report dialog box now reports the firing side.
◦   Removed the Details/Delay toggle from the Damage Report. (One sets this in Options > Highlights.)
◦   With Extreme FOW in effect, High Details are unavailable.
◦   Removed several hard-coded numbers in edit, redoing them as macros instead (defined in misc.h).
◦   Added support for AlliedFinland & AlliedGermany.
◦   Added game-specific Results & Command dialog boxes.
◦   New feature: dynamic, designer specified day/night & visibility.
◦   Restored game-specific Damage Reports & Command Reports.
◦   For nations ID#s & Msg* strings, fixed many omissions, inconsistencies, and other faults.
◦   Implemented a flexible, full-featured logging facility, all EXEs (frontend.log, engine.log, edit.log, edmap.log, edorg.log, error.log, ai.log).
◦   Added a Redraw Display (Alt-D) menu selection (hot key), for fixing any graphics glitches and map display corruption.
◦   Added Jump Map (J) menu selection (& hot key) to edit & edmap.
◦   Like engine, edit & edmap now have all available hot keys annotated in the top-level menu, also in the status bar.
◦   Incorporated Warhorse's new terrain[12]d.bmp files, all regions. These support elevations from 0 to +19.
◦   Incorporated Warhorse's new Beach[12]d.bmp files. These show beaches in the proper sandy color.
◦   Coded in support for elevations > 12, also separate beach graphics.
◦   For all logging, added the option to show in-EXE message pop-ups indicating significant, noteworthy error conditions.
◦   Implemented a functioning in-game (for engine only) F1 General Help access of the CS Manual PDF file.
◦   On edorg launch, added a message box warning of data loading/processing delay.
◦   Redid the implementation of Variable Visibility (optional rule). (Note: Visibility varies only once per turn. The same Visibility applies throughout the turn, both sides, all phases.)
◦   In the engine, F2 now summons the EBOOK version of the game Manual (with table of contents), no longer the LIGHT version.
◦   Toned down some needlessly worrisome logging "errors".
◦   At the Status Bar, clarified use of the Unit Handbook icon.
◦   Due to a, for now, unfixable bug, retired Hot Seat Replay. Will be fixed and restored in future. (Standard & PBEM Replay remain intact.)
◦   Changed the WF window border & toolbar color to match the EF color. (Had been matching the tropical RS color.)
◦   Fine tuned the "duplicate ID" error messages in edorg.log.
◦   Further refined the error messages in edorg.log, adding file & line number where the error occurs.
◦   Improved (if not quite fixed) night shading in ZoomIn25 (3-key) map mode. Includes three new files: Gray3d.bmp, Gray4d.bmp, Gray5d.bmp.
◦   If a unit has no assigned Unit Handbook picture file, attempt to display any graphic defined in its bitmap3d field instead.
Title: Re: John Tillers campaign series update at Matrix
Post by: -budd- on February 21, 2014, 11:00:52 AM
Quote from: TheCommandTent on February 21, 2014, 06:37:06 AM
Was any more content added to the series or was this just updates, fixes and improvements?



Follow up question.  Has there ever been any additional campaigns released for the game? (East/West Front)

Haven't dug into to it real deep but i did notice boonie rats 3 market garden scenerios were added.
Title: Re: John Tillers campaign series update at Matrix
Post by: jomni on February 22, 2014, 08:38:19 PM
Where to download?  The auto updater fails with version 1.04, and it downloads 1.04 when when used with a fresh 1.00 install.

Never mind, I found it here.
ftp://ftp.matrixgames.com/pub/JohnTillerCampaignSeries/JohnTillerCampaignSeries-UpdateDR-v200.zip
Title: Re: John Tillers campaign series update at Matrix
Post by: Apocalypse 31 on February 23, 2014, 07:33:29 PM
Quote from: -budd- on February 20, 2014, 01:57:24 PM
There is a modern war version they have been working on for awhile. As far as i know tiller had nothing to do with this or any future games to come. They have really done alot of work on this game, i haven't had a chance to get into it to deeply yet but it sure is nice to have hot keys for just about everything.

Any further information on this modern game you speak of?
Title: Re: John Tillers campaign series update at Matrix
Post by: Nefaro on February 23, 2014, 10:10:39 PM
Quote from: Apocalypse 31 on February 23, 2014, 07:33:29 PM
Quote from: -budd- on February 20, 2014, 01:57:24 PM
There is a modern war version they have been working on for awhile. As far as i know tiller had nothing to do with this or any future games to come. They have really done alot of work on this game, i haven't had a chance to get into it to deeply yet but it sure is nice to have hot keys for just about everything.

Any further information on this modern game you speak of?

I believe they're using the final half-finished Arab-Israeli Wars one of the series.  Divided Ground IIRC.  I actually bought that one long ago but it was so damn buggy it was a write-off at the time and was never properly finished. 

Been hoping these guys can work some magic with it.  Dunno if there's been any news or whether it's still in the works. *shrug*
Title: Re: John Tillers campaign series update at Matrix
Post by: -budd- on February 23, 2014, 11:14:36 PM
here's what i found.

http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=3162153

http://forums.gamesquad.com/blog.php?98-Jason-Petho-s-Blog

none of its recent, maybe since 2.00 is out there will be more info.
Title: Re: John Tillers campaign series update at Matrix
Post by: Hot lead and dirty talk! on February 23, 2014, 11:30:56 PM
Slightly off topic- Is there any news about the new Panzer Battle's game?

I only know that is being worked on. Is there a general release date? What theatre is it etc.?  Any info or links would be appreciated as I know barely anything about the game except it is at platoon level.
Title: Re: John Tillers campaign series update at Matrix
Post by: Bison on February 24, 2014, 12:28:34 AM
Quote from: Hot lead and dirty talk on February 23, 2014, 11:30:56 PM
Slightly off topic- Is there any news about the new Panzer Battle's game?

I only know that is being worked on. Is there a general release date? What theatre is it etc.?  Any info or links would be appreciated as I know barely anything about the game except it is at platoon level.

Here's a good thread from theblitz.  http://www.theblitz.org/message_boards/showthread.php?tid=65518
Title: Re: John Tillers campaign series update at Matrix
Post by: Hot lead and dirty talk! on February 24, 2014, 03:06:55 AM
Thanks Bison
Title: Re: John Tillers campaign series update at Matrix
Post by: Jason Petho on February 24, 2014, 10:41:30 PM
QuoteI believe they're using the final half-finished Arab-Israeli Wars one of the series.  Divided Ground IIRC.  I actually bought that one long ago but it was so damn buggy it was a write-off at the time and was never properly finished.

Been hoping these guys can work some magic with it.  Dunno if there's been any news or whether it's still in the works. *shrug*

Good day.

Yes, we are working on three games.  Middle East, Vietnam and Cold War. (Titles are tentative).

We intend on releasing the Middle East gamethis June (ish). While it has a similar theme as Divided Ground, it is essentially a brand new game. The OOB's have been completely rebuilt from the ground up and span from 1948 to 1985. There are, at the moment, 50 brand new scenarios that cover the usual wars in Israel and surrounds but also includes some unknown battles depicting the fighting in Algeria in the 50's, the British in the Radfan in the 60's, the Egyptians in Yemen in the 60's, the border war between Libya and Egypt in 1977 and so on plus at least a couple of Linked Campaign Games. We are still working on components of the engine on how it will interact with more modern weapons, but for the most part the game is being playtested for release.

Vietnam will cover from the French in Indochina, through the civil war of the early 60's and the large American involvement in the 60's and early 70's. There are approximately 20 scenarios for that at the moment, with a goal of 50 and also a couple of Linked Campaign Games. We're hoping to release that for Christmas 2014.

Cold War will come in 2015 or 2016.

Hope this sheds some light.

Take care and good luck
Jason Petho




Title: Re: John Tillers campaign series update at Matrix
Post by: -budd- on February 24, 2014, 11:04:35 PM
Quote from: Jason Petho on February 24, 2014, 10:41:30 PM
QuoteI believe they're using the final half-finished Arab-Israeli Wars one of the series.  Divided Ground IIRC.  I actually bought that one long ago but it was so damn buggy it was a write-off at the time and was never properly finished.

Been hoping these guys can work some magic with it.  Dunno if there's been any news or whether it's still in the works. *shrug*

Good day.

Yes, we are working on three games.  Middle East, Vietnam and Cold War. (Titles are tentative).

We intend on releasing the Middle East gamethis June (ish). While it has a similar theme as Divided Ground, it is essentially a brand new game. The OOB's have been completely rebuilt from the ground up and span from 1948 to 1985. There are, at the moment, 50 brand new scenarios that cover the usual wars in Israel and surrounds but also includes some unknown battles depicting the fighting in Algeria in the 50's, the British in the Radfan in the 60's, the Egyptians in Yemen in the 60's, the border war between Libya and Egypt in 1977 and so on plus at least a couple of Linked Campaign Games. We are still working on components of the engine on how it will interact with more modern weapons, but for the most part the game is being playtested for release.

Vietnam will cover from the French in Indochina, through the civil war of the early 60's and the large American involvement in the 60's and early 70's. There are approximately 20 scenarios for that at the moment, with a goal of 50 and also a couple of Linked Campaign Games. We're hoping to release that for Christmas 2014.

Cold War will come in 2015 or 2016.

Hope this sheds some light.

Take care and good luck
Jason Petho


When ever your able how about some screen shots to wet the appetite. just wondering if there are any graphic upgrades in the map and units.
Title: Re: John Tillers campaign series update at Matrix
Post by: Jason Petho on February 25, 2014, 08:45:39 AM
Absolutely, I can take some screenshots from Middle East and Vietnam and post them here.

Give me a couple days.

Jason Petho
Title: Re: John Tillers campaign series update at Matrix
Post by: Jason Petho on February 25, 2014, 06:03:49 PM
Here are some screenshots I pulled today from both Vietnam and Middle East

Middle East

1982
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/22686607/Syria82_1.PNG)

(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/22686607/Syria82_2.PNG)

1968
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/22686607/Jordan68_1.PNG)

1977
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/22686607/Libya77_1.PNG)


1948
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/22686607/Etzion48_1.PNG)

Vietnam

1954
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/22686607/MangYang54_1.PNG)

1964
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/22686607/KienLong64.PNG)

(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/22686607/KienLong64_2.PNG)


1970
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/22686607/Crescent70.PNG)

(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/22686607/FSBRipcord.PNG)

(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/22686607/FSBRipcord_2.PNG)
Title: Re: John Tillers campaign series update at Matrix
Post by: -budd- on February 25, 2014, 06:46:19 PM
I cant see the images, don't know if anyone else can. Anywhere else to view them? Thanks for taking the time.
Title: Re: John Tillers campaign series update at Matrix
Post by: Grim.Reaper on February 25, 2014, 06:48:32 PM
Nope, don't see them.
Title: Re: John Tillers campaign series update at Matrix
Post by: Rayfer on February 25, 2014, 07:25:54 PM
Same here....can't see the screenshots.
Title: Re: John Tillers campaign series update at Matrix
Post by: Grim.Reaper on February 25, 2014, 07:31:36 PM
Its too bad since I really want to see what these will look like....I could really get into this time period.
Title: Re: John Tillers campaign series update at Matrix
Post by: ArizonaTank on February 25, 2014, 07:45:22 PM
This is great news!!!  Now just have to find my old install file.
Title: Re: John Tillers campaign series update at Matrix
Post by: Jason Petho on February 25, 2014, 08:18:55 PM
Fixed!

Jason Petho
Title: Re: John Tillers campaign series update at Matrix
Post by: Bison on February 25, 2014, 09:07:55 PM
Nice screenshots.
Title: Re: John Tillers campaign series update at Matrix
Post by: Apocalypse 31 on February 25, 2014, 10:24:43 PM
Can someone please post a gameplay video. Not a single gameplay video exists anywhere online for this game

I've come very close to pulling the trigger on Campaign Series, but I don't want to pick up another [Matrix] game that runs poorly.

Also, will the modern stuff be a stand alone or addition to the base game?
Title: Re: John Tillers campaign series update at Matrix
Post by: Tuna on February 26, 2014, 10:24:56 AM
Game runs fine, bear in mind that it is very old though. Came out before Tiller's current Panzer Campaign's... But I like the smaller format better, with the 3d view. I wish there was more mapmod stuff going on for the 2d stuff..

The new updates are very nice.. Windowed mode and more buttons on the tool bar for the different functions.
Title: Re: John Tillers campaign series update at Matrix
Post by: mirth on February 26, 2014, 06:51:52 PM
Thanks for the screenshots, Jason. They bring back some great memories of the past games in the series. I am looking forward to your new releases.

Time to reinstall my copy of the JT's Campaign Series and apply the 2.0 patch.
Title: Re: John Tillers campaign series update at Matrix
Post by: Jason Petho on February 26, 2014, 07:33:58 PM
Quote from: Apocalypse 31 on February 25, 2014, 10:24:43 PM
Can someone please post a gameplay video. Not a single gameplay video exists anywhere online for this game

I've come very close to pulling the trigger on Campaign Series, but I don't want to pick up another [Matrix] game that runs poorly.

Also, will the modern stuff be a stand alone or addition to the base game?

The modern stuff will be stand alone.

I'll work on putting together a few short videos that highlights how it functions.

Jason Petho
Title: Re: John Tillers campaign series update at Matrix
Post by: Jason Petho on February 26, 2014, 08:23:57 PM
http://youtu.be/0u2pmgl9BeE (http://youtu.be/0u2pmgl9BeE)

Here is the tutorial video from East Front, it's kind of pixelated... not sure why, it's my first time loading to YouTube.

It's a bit long, but gives you an idea how the game works.

Keep in mind, this is using the older User Interface - not much has changed except the buttons at the bottom.

Jason Petho
Title: Re: John Tillers campaign series update at Matrix
Post by: Rayfer on February 26, 2014, 08:31:52 PM
Quote from: Jason Petho on February 26, 2014, 08:23:57 PM
http://youtu.be/0u2pmgl9BeE (http://youtu.be/0u2pmgl9BeE)

Here is the tutorial video from East Front, it's kind of pixelated... not sure why, it's my first time loading to YouTube.

It's a bit long, but gives you an idea how the game works.

Keep in mind, this is using the older User Interface - not much has changed except the buttons at the bottom.

Jason Petho

Couldn't watch the video....says I need your permission?
Title: Re: John Tillers campaign series update at Matrix
Post by: Jason Petho on February 26, 2014, 08:33:24 PM
Try now?

Jason Petho
Title: Re: John Tillers campaign series update at Matrix
Post by: Rayfer on February 26, 2014, 09:23:58 PM
Fixed, works fine now.  Good one for anyone new to the game to watch and learn the basics.
Title: Re: John Tillers campaign series update at Matrix
Post by: Jason Petho on February 26, 2014, 10:31:00 PM
Excellent, that's good!

Wish it was a bit clearer, the video is included as part of the install and it looks fine.

Jason Petho
Title: Re: John Tillers campaign series update at Matrix
Post by: Apocalypse 31 on February 27, 2014, 09:43:29 AM
Quote from: Jason Petho on February 26, 2014, 08:23:57 PM
http://youtu.be/0u2pmgl9BeE (http://youtu.be/0u2pmgl9BeE)

Here is the tutorial video from East Front, it's kind of pixelated... not sure why, it's my first time loading to YouTube.

It's a bit long, but gives you an idea how the game works.

Keep in mind, this is using the older User Interface - not much has changed except the buttons at the bottom.

Jason Petho

I bit dated for my taste, but thank you for making the effort.
Title: Re: John Tillers campaign series update at Matrix
Post by: Jason Petho on February 27, 2014, 05:09:10 PM
No worries!

It's a classic. Like chess, it just doesn't appear to get old. Plus the full suite of editors allows pretty well anything the imagination can come up with.

Jason Petho
Title: Re: John Tillers campaign series update at Matrix
Post by: bob48 on February 27, 2014, 05:40:38 PM
The inclusion of French Indo-China would do it for me. Dien Bien Phu?
Title: Re: John Tillers campaign series update at Matrix
Post by: Jason Petho on February 27, 2014, 08:25:46 PM
French Indochina will be included in the Vietnam game, expected to come out Christmas 2014.

I have a handful of scenarios created already, included the infamous Mang Yang Pass.

Jason Petho
Title: Re: John Tillers campaign series update at Matrix
Post by: bob48 on March 06, 2014, 04:37:20 PM
Mobile Group 100?