Naval War Arctic Circle - (for Greybriar) Q & A

[Huw the Poo]

I downloaded the demo of Harpoon and immediately got a message saying it had expired!

[Toonces]

I only dabbled in NWAC, but what it really did is make me hungry to boot up Harpoon again.

I've heard NWAC called "a more detailed Defcon" and I would agree with that.  It's not a substitute for Harpoon at all. 

@Kushan, I hear what you are saying about locking down the DB, but I have to respectfully disagree with you.  I have been digging into the Harpoon DB a bit recently and it is quite remarkable.  What I come away with, ultimately, is a feeling that a lot of really smart people have spent a lot of time vetting the data in there...it doesn't seem like best guesses.   I like that for this type of game.

Too often I have seen in Falcon and other games where folks have wanted to mod the DB because something didn't "feel right" with no real corraborating evidence.  That is no way to work a database.  While you might want to create fantasy land, others will say X missile should be more lethal, or is too lethal, or Y radar should be able to detect something further out, or not so far, with no supporting evidence.  This can really wreck a game.  So, as painful as it is, I actually prefer to have a locked DB, but full access to the mission editor.

[undercovergeek]

I've heard NWAC called "a more detailed Defcon" and I would agree with that.  It's not a substitute for Harpoon at all. 

Ha.... Nail on head, I never thought of it like that and its spot on.... Which is why at 5 pounds it was a steal

[Herman Hum]

I downloaded the demo of Harpoon and immediately got a message saying it had expired!

If this is the demo you downloaded, you might be able to get around the expiration date by simply (temporarily) re-setting your system clock to an earlier date.  Try Jan 1, 2011 or 2010.

http://www.computerharpoon.com/downloads/2011/Public/ANW/Harpoon3ANW-SetupRelease-v3101_Timeout_20110310.exe

[Herman Hum]

Too often I have seen in Falcon and other games where folks have wanted to mod the DB because something didn't "feel right" with no real corraborating evidence.  That is no way to work a database.  While you might want to create fantasy land, others will say X missile should be more lethal, or is too lethal, or Y radar should be able to detect something further out, or not so far, with no supporting evidence.  This can really wreck a game.  So, as painful as it is, I actually prefer to have a locked DB, but full access to the mission editor.

I respectfully disagree.  Why should anyone care what someone else was doing on their own machine?  There were some players making a War of the Worlds scenario in Harpoon.  I just chuckled at it and immediately ignored the scenarios.  But, that shouldn't stop those who want to try something like that from doing so.  Just because your perception of reality differs from mine does not make one of us wrong/right.  Being forced to play a game in just one way is never a good idea, IMO. 

Harpoon tried to force players to do this a number of ways by eliminating player control.  The players rebelled and complained with good reason.  Why bother playing a scenario when there isn't only one possible outcome?

[Huw the Poo]

If this is the demo you downloaded, you might be able to get around the expiration date by simply (temporarily) re-setting your system clock to an earlier date.  Try Jan 1, 2011 or 2010.

http://www.computerharpoon.com/downloads/2011/Public/ANW/Harpoon3ANW-SetupRelease-v3101_Timeout_20110310.exe

Yeah that's the one.  Alright, I'll give it a try.  Thanks!

[Nefaro]

I downloaded the demo of Harpoon and immediately got a message saying it had expired!

Good God.


I had thought they fixed their F-up.  Evidentally not.  :(

[Herman Hum]

God Forbid, that the company would actually allow someone to try out their game before thinking about a purchase!

[Toonces]

I don't want to get into a big argument about this, but I don't see how locking the DB suddenly makes it such that the game can only be played one way. 

[Herman Hum]

I don't see how locking the DB suddenly makes it such that the game can only be played one way.

Then allow me to elaborate how this might be the case.  There is a perfect example of this between Harpoon and NWAC.

In both games, there are SS-N-26 Onyx, SS-N-22 Sunburn, and Kh-22 Burya missiles.  In Harpoon, these weapons may be fired on Bearing-Only-Launch mode.  This means that they do not need a specific target and can be fired at a point in space whereupon they activate and search for a target.  However, in NWAC, they are not given the BOL capability. 

So, which game is 'right'?  I don't know.  I always assumed they had BOL capability from what I played in Harpoon.  However, the NWAC guys may have found evidence to the contrary.

Because neither Harpoon nor NWAC databases are locked, a user can simply change things to what he feels is correct and carry on.  With a locked database, he is forced to play according to the perception of reality for that specific database author, right or wrong.

[Huw the Poo]

The demo situation for Harpoon is ridiculous.  The game is expensive enough as it is - and yes, I know there are arguments for that price, blah blah - but I'm simply not going to buy a game at that price without trying it first.

Anyway, it was only a thought.  I wouldn't be in a position to buy it for a long time anyway.

[Greybriar]

I don't even know what NWAC is.  :P

[Staggerwing]

Naval War Arctic Circle published by Paradox

On sale at Steam for 12 bucks US until tomorrow afternoon.

[Herman Hum]

A demo is available: http://store.steampowered.com/app/200050/

Make sure you are okay with the current state of the game.

[mirth]

^It's decent enough for 12 bucks or even the 20 I paid at release. The lack of saving your game is perhaps the most irritating thing.