World in Flames (Matrixgames) looking for beta testers (multiplayer)

[Grim.Reaper]

According to my tracking info...should receive mine on Thursday....but doesn't matter, darn xmas gift where I can't look at or play until then:(

[Grim.Reaper]

Maybe hope for you yet jd.....seems like some kind of announcement next week on physical vs  download option.  It will be interesting to see what they do, if anything.

http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=3476048

[JudgeDredd]

Thanks for the heads up GR but I'm afraid as an impulse buyer that ship has sailed.

1. No AI
2. AI but "paid for" expansion (with NO idea how much....could be another £100 - who knows what Matrix/Slitherine will charge except them and their figures)
3. No Fog of War
4. A HUGE time sink
5. There are some massive knobs on that forum - people I seriously doubt I'd have anything to do with on "internet" life let alone real life
    The second post on that announcement is telling Erik not to change his stance and there's others who insist the game is a boardgame...even though it's a computer game!
    Not people I would choose to mix with
6. I'm sick to death of the use of "chanting", "crying", "screaming", "stamping their feet" etc to describe people requesting a change to the ridiculous stance Matrix/Slitherine took on this game
7. My problem isn't the price of the product but the shipment costs...not something that I would escape as I still want the manuals...unless the option they come up with was to buy the game and have the manuals delivered free of charge or have them delivered when the euro depot opens

Those are 7 reasons why the game just doesn't fit.

I really, really do not "take" to the community that bought the game. I've read WAY too many posts over there from people who clearly don't leave their room and I wouldn't like to buy a game where I'd be reliant to play it on people like that.

Don't get me wrong - as an impulse buyer I was feeling the pull, especially with those beautiful manuals...but Matrix/Slitherine aren't interested in people who chuck money at them (which is awful nice of them).

Given the reasons above, I do believe I have dodged the preverbial bullet.

[jomni]

I already started playing Barbarossa mini scenario and I'm getting beaten badly on both sides (I'm lousy playing the Germans and Soviets).
I still have to learn to distinguish between good attacks and stupid attacks.

[Grim.Reaper]

I am not giving up on you yet jd:). But your points are good and some that I especially had at the start about no ai.   To be honest, I would not have purchased myself if I did not receive this as a gift.  Perfect definition of a gift for me.....a want that I likely would never buy myself.

But as a fellow impulse buyer, I am impressed you made it through the most difficult time which is the first week after release.  If we really sit back and wait to hear about games a little more versus immediately jumping in, would save us some money and time for games we likely will hardly play:)

I gotta start showing that same kind of restraint....

[jomni]

I've learned to live with no AI.  So it's all a matter of making the best move depending on the situation.
Because the game has no Fog of War, there is no element of surprise that may be negated when you play hot-seat against yourself.

Anyway, just wait a while and AI will be coming anyway.  Whenever that is.

[Tuna]

I've learned to live with no AI.  So it's all a matter of making the best move depending on the situation.
Because the game has no Fog of War, there is no element of surprise that may be negated when you play hot-seat against yourself.

Anyway, just wait a while and AI will be coming anyway.  Whenever that is.

Just put yourself in a daze when you play the other side.. You know like when you try and look at those ole Magic Pictures and your slightly cross your eyes.. It will be like self made FOG.

[GJK]

Just out of curiosity, I googled "world in flames solitiare" and found an old FAQ/Q&A for the boardgame version.  In it is a small section on "Solitaire Play".  I'll copy/paste here for the heck of it.  I particularly noted the part about "not playing the game with less than 4 players" part:

Solitaire Play

Q WI>I noted that on the WiF deluxe edition box it says it is highly suited to solitaire play. I haven't bought it, but would like to know to what extent t is true, and also how much space is required for play. I realise the full game would be beyond me due to lack of time/space, but are there small 'one board scenarios playable solo in a reasonable amount of time and space?

WI>Thanks in advance for any help

Hi Colin,

This has been the claim as long as I've been playing WiF. While I know of people playing solitaire WiF, I think claiming it is highly suitable is absurd. Frankly, I don't like playing with fewer than 4 people, and prefer 6 players.

Russ Craft

Ans: I don't understand how someone can play WiF solitaire this has always been a riddle to me. As in many other strategy games you have to exploit the mistakes the other do. Like the US player did in our current game when he found an unoccupied city in Japan to stage a second invasion and build another beachhead. Had the Japanese player known the plans of the US player he could have placed a unit there.

Playing with yourself leaves out the surprise of unforeseen enemy actions and the fun negotiating part (like with peace, lend lease etc.). We usually play with four, sometimes five players. I have played with two players only but that isn't half as funny.

Ans: I know lots of people who play WiF solitaire. Highly solitaire means all bits are face-up to all players. Thus you have "perfect" information on dispositions. What you don't have "perfect" info on is weather, length of turn etc., which is always handled contemporaneously by a die roll, so no-one has advance or hidden warning of any of these critical rolls. Only US entry, and Garrison ratios will be known to the enemy that should not be known, and you can even devise your own house rules for these events that still lead to an element of tension (e.g. you can't look at US entry until you as the US wants to do something, at which time you turn over the chits one at a time (1939 first, then 1943, then 1942, 1941 and finally 1940) until the right amount has been reached).

Thus, with none or minimal changes, one player can handle both sides with minimum down-time. You will not often "trick" yourself, to be sure, but sometimes you will think of some operation on the spur of the moment, which you as your opponent had not foresaw in that impulse. In fact, I enjoy a good game of WiF solitaire myself from time to time. You wouldn't believe what a refreshing change it is to play someone competent, after having to play with Greg for 13 years:-) Date: 05/03/98

[BanzaiCat]

I played it a few times solitaire many, many years ago when I first bought it (1988? I can't recall.) But it didn't hold my interest. I was more into TR. Never got into any of the expansions for WiF.

I love that they've taken the angle they have on the manuals. It's good to know there's still someone there interested in producing manuals well. Hopefully they pay well whomever took care of that, unlike in the past.

I have zero interest in sinking any time into this, though. The price is way too prohibitive for me, and the time required to get into it again is just as much. Maybe a few years down the road, but right now, no way.

[JudgeDredd]

Seems there's still no word from Matrix re the solution - given Erik mentioned looking into the issue two weeks ago!


AND...come on! It's awful quiet in here - so I'm going to go ahead and assume the game is just too big for all you lot - but you're too hardcore to admit it and be ridiculed by your fellow grog peers.

So - this is a one time offer - £10 to anyone who PM's me to offer me their game. I'm not going to buy more than one - so first come first serve and I promise your fellow grogheads will not find out about it!  ;D

[undercovergeek]

Seems there's still no word from Matrix re the solution - given Erik mentioned looking into the issue two weeks ago!


AND...come on! It's awful quiet in here - so I'm going to go ahead and assume the game is just too big for all you lot - but you're too hardcore to admit it and be ridiculed by your fellow grog peers.

So - this is a one time offer - £10 to anyone who PM's me to offer me their game. I'm not going to buy more than one - so first come first serve and I promise your fellow grogheads will not find out about it!  ;D

you want it so bad!!!!

you would get it and not tell us after all this

[Grim.Reaper]

I still have a month before I get to play....the box is nicely wrapped under the tree to torment me....darn Xmas gifts!!!

[undercovergeek]

but youve downloaded the digital copy and played the tutorials yeah?

[JudgeDredd]

I am over the "urge"

But the game still intrigues me. There are mechanics in the game I think I really like...but still...solo play and an expensive AI module still does put me off and there's zero chance of me buying it with £30+ on postage.

Now - here's the thing. If I am going to buy this, it needs to be "soon". The window on that is closing. I will definitely get to the stage where £100 for a game is ridiculous and I won't buy. But here's the thing...one of the things stopping me buying it is no AI. But I can guarantee - without a shadow of doubt - that there's NO WAY I'll get this game when they release the AI...because then you are talking £100 + AI module - and I simply will not spend that on a game.

So - the sooner they sort out netplay and pbem and the sooner they get a distribution centre in place which means I can get my manuals BUT I won't be paying 1/3rd of what the game costs me in postage - then the more likely I will be to buying it.

And if they get that all in place and I still don't buy - then it'll be a goner. I just won't pay £100+AI module. That kind of seems a bit daft because the likelihood is if I had the game before the AI module, I would buy the AI module...therefore spending the amount anyway. But buying it in installments is less of a mental block for me.

Still...£10 to the first one to give in and admit he's bitten off more than he can chew. £10 and for that you recoup some money AND save your dignity.

GR - you're excluded for obvious reasons until next year - but I expect to see impressions and AARs from you (as I do the rest).  ;D

[JudgeDredd]

but youve downloaded the digital copy and played the tutorials yeah?

I know - I tried explaining to him but he's taking this "gift" thing way too seriously!