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#11
Computer Gaming / Re: Crown Wars: The Black Prin...
Last post by Gusington - Yesterday at 03:17:55 PM? That quoted post is from February.
#12
Computer Gaming / Re: Crown Wars: The Black Prin...
Last post by al_infierno - Yesterday at 03:03:01 PMQuote from: Gusington on February 09, 2024, 10:53:37 PMHoly crap - nice. Thanks Trek.
How are you acting like you haven't seen this before when you literally commented on a thread for the exact game not a couple weeks ago?
#13
Computer Gaming / Re: Strategy is not hip
Last post by Jarhead0331 - Yesterday at 03:01:34 PM^Very interesting and thought-provoking perspective.
Intriguing to think that "our" numbers have not really changed.
What about viewing the changes within the industry from the developer perspective? If "our" numbers have remained relatively constant, why wouldn't developers continue to make the same kinds of complex games to appeal to the traditional crowd. In other words, following the logic from your post, wouldn't the influx of new gamers with different tastes simply result in more developers making games to suit those tastes, rather than a sum total decline in the kind of complex strategy games we love from the Golden Age?
Intriguing to think that "our" numbers have not really changed.
What about viewing the changes within the industry from the developer perspective? If "our" numbers have remained relatively constant, why wouldn't developers continue to make the same kinds of complex games to appeal to the traditional crowd. In other words, following the logic from your post, wouldn't the influx of new gamers with different tastes simply result in more developers making games to suit those tastes, rather than a sum total decline in the kind of complex strategy games we love from the Golden Age?
#14
Computer Gaming / Re: Strategy is not hip
Last post by Silent Disapproval Robot - Yesterday at 01:49:10 PMStrategy's been on the decline since the late 90's, I'd say. Wargames, flight sims with 100+ page manuals, and Civ type games were the norm until Windows 95 came out. Once PCs became easier to use (no more DOS 6.22 boot disk fiddling to free up memory), the hobby became more accessible and you got less nerdy types entering in. Eventually, they dwarfed the numbers of us hard-core nerds and game developers followed the market.
Once console games took off and cross platform ports became the norm, it was all over. I don't know if we hard-core enthusiasts are staying at the same numbers or declining as we grey out of the hobby, but we're definitely a niche market. (Even worse in the boardgaming community these days. Wargamers are a niche within a niche).
I still remember living in Japan and getting my hands on a copy of PC Gamer. They were raving about Worms, Warcraft II, and Homeworld.
I eagerly bought a copy of Homeworld from the import store. Installed it, played it for about 2 hours, decided it was just an RTS click fest with green HP bars, and deleted it in disgust. Sold it for a loss the next week.
I realized that I was no longer the target audience for gaming media like PC Gamer and I'd have to stick to niche developers.
Interesting that Homeworld and Warcraft are now remembered as deep strategy titles as I can still recall grogs railing against them (me included) for being dumbed down click-fests.
Once console games took off and cross platform ports became the norm, it was all over. I don't know if we hard-core enthusiasts are staying at the same numbers or declining as we grey out of the hobby, but we're definitely a niche market. (Even worse in the boardgaming community these days. Wargamers are a niche within a niche).
I still remember living in Japan and getting my hands on a copy of PC Gamer. They were raving about Worms, Warcraft II, and Homeworld.
I eagerly bought a copy of Homeworld from the import store. Installed it, played it for about 2 hours, decided it was just an RTS click fest with green HP bars, and deleted it in disgust. Sold it for a loss the next week.
I realized that I was no longer the target audience for gaming media like PC Gamer and I'd have to stick to niche developers.
Interesting that Homeworld and Warcraft are now remembered as deep strategy titles as I can still recall grogs railing against them (me included) for being dumbed down click-fests.
#15
Computer Gaming / Re: Crown Wars: The Black Prin...
Last post by Grim.Reaper - Yesterday at 01:43:11 PMQuote from: Gusington on Yesterday at 09:39:16 AMDefinitely still interested and loitering with intent over the purchase button.
Seems like not a lot of great feedback, everything from optimization not being great and not liking the controls. No involvement from devs that I can see. I won't have a chance to really play until next week but it might be one of those wait and see things for people who haven't bought yet. Surprisingly, the download was tiny, like 6.8GB with expected footprint of 14GB. Very small for games these days....
#16
Computer Gaming / Re: Strategy is not hip
Last post by Skoop - Yesterday at 10:55:44 AMQuote from: jamus34 on May 22, 2024, 06:18:42 PMWaiting for the big screen release of "Ass"
(For you Idiocracy fans)
With the way the 2024 election is going, I wouldn't be surprised if 2028 election will put the Terry Crews idiocracy character in the White House.
#17
Digital Gaming AARs / Re: All the colors of the RAIN...
Last post by Tripoli - Yesterday at 10:18:23 AMAfter a 3+ month hiatus, I'm back to this AAR. When I last left the AAR, war with Italy was brewing, and the Naval War College was asked to update the war plans. Here's what they came up with:
Strategic Situation: Italy has bases only in the Mediterranean and a single base on the Red Sea at Eritrea. Eritrea has a base capacity of only twenty, as well as an airfield. Italy has no allies and is unlikely to get any allies in the next three years.
In contrast, the US has no bases in the Mediterranean, but has Djibouti, within amphibious striking distance of the Italian base at Eritrea. These two bases are the only facilities in the world that either Italy or the US can invade. Djibouti has a capacity of forty and an airfield. This gives the US a slight basing advantage in the region, and a similar airborne scouting capability.
The lack of any US bases in the Mediterranean gives Italy a decided advantage in this region. Further, the lack of any USN airbases in the Mediterranean gives Italy a decided scouting advantage in its home waters. Outside of the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean areas, the strategic positions are reversed, with the US having a definite advantage because of superior bases and airbases. Like Italy, the US has no allies and is unlikely to get any allies in the next three years. Finally, the inability of the US to invade any Mediterranean targets means that there is little reason to move major fleet units to contest this region.
Force Comparison: The US has only 76% of Italy's fleet tonnage but has 2.5 times the tonnage in terms of commissioned battleships. However, Italy has commissioned an additional six battlecruisers. When these are added to the Italian tonnage, the Italy has a 6% lead in capital ship tonnage. The USN has only fourteen heavy cruisers compared to Italy's 18, but the US cruisers average about 750 tons greater displacement. The two sides are almost identical in light cruiser tonnage and numbers. The Italian navy has eighty-one destroyers compared to the USN's 60. However, the USN destroyers average 750 tons displacement compared to a mere 458 tons for the Italian navy. Italy has more airships, but no air capability outside of the Mediterranean and Red Sea areas. With 23:17 superiority in submarines, the US has a slightly more capable submarine fleet.
Italian vessels are likely to be technologically inferior to ships. US Battleships are significantly larger, with an average displacement of 26,500 tons, compared to the average Italian displacement of only 20,150 tons. The latest information known about Italian battleship, the VITTORIO VENETO has 10x13", and 14x4", but the Italians invented 14" guns in 1908, so some battleships may be equipped with them. There is no information on Italian training emphasis, so it is likely that the US has equivalent training in torpedo and night fighting, while being superior in gunnery. USN officers are also more likely to be superior compared to the Italian officers, due to their combat experience, and the naval academy training.
War Objective and Strategy: Based on this, the US war aim will be to fight a limited war, with the following war aims, in order of priority: 1) an early war end; with 2) seizure of the Italian base in Eritrea. To accomplish this strategy, the US will forward deploy the entire Pacific Fleet to the Philippines to support offensive operations in the Indian Ocean/Red Sea area, aimed at capturing Eritrea. A decisive daytime fleet battle will be waged in the Indian Ocean/Red Sea area to both seize Eritrea and to deal a psychologically destructive blow to the Italian population with the aim of quickly brining Italy to negotiate an end to the war.
To support this strategy, the Pacific Fleet will be reinforced with all the dreadnoughts and the most modern cruisers. Meanwhile, the pre-dreadnoughts and older vessels will be transferred to the Atlantic Fleet, which will adopt a defensive posture in the East Coast/Caribbean. Heavy USN fleet units will avoid entering the Mediterranean, as the superior Italian basing and airborne scouting capability in the region too risky for the limited strategic gains achievable by such a deployment, at least until the Italian fleet is significantly reduced.
By itself, it is unlikely that a single fleet action in the Red Sea will drive Italy to negotiate an end to the war. Further, with the loss of Eritrea, it is unlikely that the Italian fleet can be lured into a second action outside the Mediterranean. Because the strategic environment in the Mediterranean makes deployment of heavy USN surface forces too risky, the USN will adopt a commerce raiding strategy based on the deployment of surface raiders globally outside the Mediterranean, and a heavy deployment of submarine forces inside the Mediterranean.
In preparation for this strategy, the USN base at Djibouti will be expanded and fortified. Additionally, a crash submarine building program will expand the USN fleet to at least thirty units. A complementary crash ASW program will build cheap corvettes to protect USN fleet units and commerce against Italian submarines.
War Plan RAINBOW GREY-1913
Strategic Situation: Italy has bases only in the Mediterranean and a single base on the Red Sea at Eritrea. Eritrea has a base capacity of only twenty, as well as an airfield. Italy has no allies and is unlikely to get any allies in the next three years.
In contrast, the US has no bases in the Mediterranean, but has Djibouti, within amphibious striking distance of the Italian base at Eritrea. These two bases are the only facilities in the world that either Italy or the US can invade. Djibouti has a capacity of forty and an airfield. This gives the US a slight basing advantage in the region, and a similar airborne scouting capability.
The lack of any US bases in the Mediterranean gives Italy a decided advantage in this region. Further, the lack of any USN airbases in the Mediterranean gives Italy a decided scouting advantage in its home waters. Outside of the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean areas, the strategic positions are reversed, with the US having a definite advantage because of superior bases and airbases. Like Italy, the US has no allies and is unlikely to get any allies in the next three years. Finally, the inability of the US to invade any Mediterranean targets means that there is little reason to move major fleet units to contest this region.
Force Comparison: The US has only 76% of Italy's fleet tonnage but has 2.5 times the tonnage in terms of commissioned battleships. However, Italy has commissioned an additional six battlecruisers. When these are added to the Italian tonnage, the Italy has a 6% lead in capital ship tonnage. The USN has only fourteen heavy cruisers compared to Italy's 18, but the US cruisers average about 750 tons greater displacement. The two sides are almost identical in light cruiser tonnage and numbers. The Italian navy has eighty-one destroyers compared to the USN's 60. However, the USN destroyers average 750 tons displacement compared to a mere 458 tons for the Italian navy. Italy has more airships, but no air capability outside of the Mediterranean and Red Sea areas. With 23:17 superiority in submarines, the US has a slightly more capable submarine fleet.
Italian vessels are likely to be technologically inferior to ships. US Battleships are significantly larger, with an average displacement of 26,500 tons, compared to the average Italian displacement of only 20,150 tons. The latest information known about Italian battleship, the VITTORIO VENETO has 10x13", and 14x4", but the Italians invented 14" guns in 1908, so some battleships may be equipped with them. There is no information on Italian training emphasis, so it is likely that the US has equivalent training in torpedo and night fighting, while being superior in gunnery. USN officers are also more likely to be superior compared to the Italian officers, due to their combat experience, and the naval academy training.
War Objective and Strategy: Based on this, the US war aim will be to fight a limited war, with the following war aims, in order of priority: 1) an early war end; with 2) seizure of the Italian base in Eritrea. To accomplish this strategy, the US will forward deploy the entire Pacific Fleet to the Philippines to support offensive operations in the Indian Ocean/Red Sea area, aimed at capturing Eritrea. A decisive daytime fleet battle will be waged in the Indian Ocean/Red Sea area to both seize Eritrea and to deal a psychologically destructive blow to the Italian population with the aim of quickly brining Italy to negotiate an end to the war.
To support this strategy, the Pacific Fleet will be reinforced with all the dreadnoughts and the most modern cruisers. Meanwhile, the pre-dreadnoughts and older vessels will be transferred to the Atlantic Fleet, which will adopt a defensive posture in the East Coast/Caribbean. Heavy USN fleet units will avoid entering the Mediterranean, as the superior Italian basing and airborne scouting capability in the region too risky for the limited strategic gains achievable by such a deployment, at least until the Italian fleet is significantly reduced.
By itself, it is unlikely that a single fleet action in the Red Sea will drive Italy to negotiate an end to the war. Further, with the loss of Eritrea, it is unlikely that the Italian fleet can be lured into a second action outside the Mediterranean. Because the strategic environment in the Mediterranean makes deployment of heavy USN surface forces too risky, the USN will adopt a commerce raiding strategy based on the deployment of surface raiders globally outside the Mediterranean, and a heavy deployment of submarine forces inside the Mediterranean.
In preparation for this strategy, the USN base at Djibouti will be expanded and fortified. Additionally, a crash submarine building program will expand the USN fleet to at least thirty units. A complementary crash ASW program will build cheap corvettes to protect USN fleet units and commerce against Italian submarines.
#18
Current Events / Re: Russia's War Against Ukrai...
Last post by Uberhaus - Yesterday at 10:13:19 AMQuote from: Jarhead0331 on Yesterday at 08:56:05 AM^What is the motive behind the "purge"? Isn't the Russian military finally making measurable strategic gains?
I'm going to have to be brief, I have to rush off for training. Maybe I'll need to add something later.
The Russians are saying that the senior officers are being arrested for corruption. Shoigu's friendship w/ Putin probably saved him and such a move would be a threat to others in the kleptocracy. Rosenberg states that it is for the reasons Prigozhin staged his mutiny, incompetence and corruption, however, R states that Putin won't be told what to do.
Obviously, the purge is not for Stalin's reasons, they're not a threat to Putin's leadership. They're incompetence is well documented and the corruption is well known but personally, I think Putin wants major reforms so that the military isn't lacking for its equipment and ability in the future. With the leaked document on Russia's borders at sea, it looks like the Russians will keep pushing, not respecting the rule of law.
With Western equipment beginning to arrive and how it will impede the Russian offensives, there may be a connection to failed promises by the leadership but that's just speculation.
Not my best response, but I'm pressed. Excuses, excuses.
#19
Computer Gaming / Re: Crown Wars: The Black Prin...
Last post by Gusington - Yesterday at 09:39:16 AMDefinitely still interested and loitering with intent over the purchase button.
#20
Current Events / Re: Russia's War Against Ukrai...
Last post by Jarhead0331 - Yesterday at 08:56:05 AM^What is the motive behind the "purge"? Isn't the Russian military finally making measurable strategic gains?