Middle East campaign series releases sep. 24

[Jarhead0331]

My skirt is starting to blow.

[Jason Petho]

Hahahah that's awesome

[PAK]

Would be even more cool, if those counters were introduced into the JTCS.  They look fantastic ! O0

[berto]

We fully intend to back port "those counters".  But we will be unbundling the older games into separate, standalone WF 3.0, EF 3.0 & RS 3.0, you should know.  Of course, Rome Wasn't Built in a Day.

[Bison]

We fully intend to back port "those counters".  But we will be unbundling the older games into separate, standalone WF 3.0, EF 3.0 & RS 3.0, you should know.  Of course, Rome Wasn't Built in a Day.

Hmm...would it just be a counter update? 

[berto]

In an ongoing DAR (http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=3940494; opponent's DAR here: http://grogheads.com/forums/index.php?topic=14980.0),  plotting Egyptian airstrikes and artillery:



Displaying the on-counter unit stats available in the forthcoming ME 1.01.

[berto]

We fully intend to back port "those counters".  But we will be unbundling the older games into separate, standalone WF 3.0, EF 3.0 & RS 3.0, you should know.  Of course, Rome Wasn't Built in a Day.

Hmm...would it just be a counter update?

No, much more than that, a complete revamp of each game.  In addition to the new counters, also incorporating the many, many new features and improvements in Middle East, and the subsequent Vietnam game.  New scenarios and artwork too.  Well worth the wait.

[spelk]

When is the counter update scheduled in?

[Grim.Reaper]

I believe enhancements coming in next update which estimated to be end of November.

[Jason Petho]

That is correct, Grim.Reaper!

[Grim.Reaper]

Played all the tutorials yesterday and enjoyed it a lot.  Some reason, really loving the helicopter use and mechanics....like using them to transport, but also blowing up stuff:)

[Jason Petho]

Glad you're enjoying them!

It was a challenge to keep them simple, but take them to whole new heights (pun intended) in order to improve the game play.

When you get comfortable, I'd recommend playing The End in the Sahara as Side A (French), it is a good combined arms scenario with ground forces and helibourne forces.

Then play it against a human for more of a challenge.

[PAK]

We fully intend to back port "those counters".  But we will be unbundling the older games into separate, standalone WF 3.0, EF 3.0 & RS 3.0, you should know.  Of course, Rome Wasn't Built in a Day.

So if version 3.0 WF, EF and RS are separately sold, what will be the price? And will the owners of Matrix JTCS be able to get any discount?

[berto]

We fully intend to back port "those counters".  But we will be unbundling the older games into separate, standalone WF 3.0, EF 3.0 & RS 3.0, you should know.  Of course, Rome Wasn't Built in a Day.

So if version 3.0 WF, EF and RS are separately sold, what will be the price? And will the owners of Matrix JTCS be able to get any discount?

Can't say, because we don't set the price; Matrix/Slitherine do.  Can't say about any discounts either.  We are talking here about games to be released over the course of several years from now.

Remember:  These games will be substantially revamped.  They will not be mere repackaging of the old JTCS.  So much of the data, graphics included, are being reworked.  New code is being written, and old code is being overhauled.  The game engine etc. continue to evolve incrementally.

...

Speaking not to you or anybody in particular, some general comments:

From a marketing perspective, and financially, it is entirely unfeasible to sell, at less than premium price, a game bundle with well over 700+ scenarios (officially supported; and the entirely new scenarios planned; not counting the many 100s more available from elsewhere).  Even when unbundled, each of WF 3.0, EF 3.0 & RS 3.0 will have 200+ scenarios apiece.  That, and with all the game play & OOB & map & graphics & other improvements we have planned, is it not right and proper that M/S sell them as they would any new mid-priced game?

Bottom line:  If former customers, who have been enjoying freebie upgrades of the original JTCS for years; if such customers can't accept the new marketing/pricing model; and if we can't attract enough entirely new customers -- that spells the end of the Campaign Series.  Finis.  There will be no more freebie updates (we don't follow the DLC model).  And there would be no new games.  There would be no incentive for the Dev Team to slave away producing them, and no incentive for M/S to publish them.  A Labor of Love mentality can only take us so far.  M/S' gotta pay its employees, the Devs too gotta eat, not to mention otherwise have a Real Life outside of CS.

[Barthheart]

Well said Berto.  O0