what is the next step for winspww2?
 

what are the future plans for winspww2? will there ever be graphical changes or even a strategic map? 1-4 players?
just curious thats all:)

Re: what is the next step for winspww2?
 

Game upgrades like you describe would require a nearly total re-write of the game code and if we were going to do that it wouldn't be "SP" any more and there ABSOLUTELY would NOT be a "free" game.

Don

Re: what is the next step for winspww2?
 

You need to understand that WinSPWW2 and WinSPMBT are made by just a two man team that is basing their work on the old Steel Panthers 2 game released in 1996. That game engine is old and it has alot of limitations as to what can and can´t be done with it. Though I am amazed at how much they have been able to improve it.

Re: what is the next step for winspww2?
 

i am not saying i want the game changed at all, i was just curious as to what the next step is to winspww2 and if they are any long term plans for it?
i have never played any other sp apart from this one and winspmbt so cannot compare them but as far as i have read here on the forum there has been alot of progression with the game.

keep up the good work :D

Re: what is the next step for winspww2?
 

I for one am curious about the future of Don and Andy. You guys have been at it a long time - do you foresee retirement coming? What would become of the game after you guys are done with it?

Re: what is the next step for winspww2?
 

The only engine improvement I would like to see...and have no idea if this could be accomplished, would be to update the graphics engine to support 24/32bit graphics instead of the current 8bit (I believe it is 8bit)....basically more colors for the map and units. Though sadly, I imagine if it were possible it would have already been done.

I am content with OOB fixes and minor corrections going forward. I am amazed that the team has been able to continue to improve and enhance the game beyond just these basic corrections with almost patch. Camo does an outstanding job.

Re: what is the next step for winspww2?
 

The custom 256 colour palette is a central component of the game code. Changing that changes everything.

Don

Re: what is the next step for winspww2?
 

Any plans to next version of MBT and WW2? Maybe 2013?

Re: what is the next step for winspww2?
 

The next upgrade for both games will likly be released in March 2013

Don

Re: what is the next step for winspww2?
 

Ok thanks in advance Don:)!

Re: what is the next step for winspww2?
 

This is a good thread! Answering a lot of my questions!

Just putting my own two cents in - rather than big changes in basic procedures - such as resolving combat - I would like to see some 'tweaks' to the interface. Specifically, the ability to use formation commands for more than just Opportunity Fire or movement. For example, I would like to see the ability via a menu to select an entire formation to appear as a reinforcement on a given turn - setting the probablility of appearence as well for the entire formation.

Thanks again for a great game!

Re: what is the next step for winspww2?
 

I would be happy with better support for window 7 and 8.

and an all encompassing patch for 5.0.

Re: what is the next step for winspww2?
 

Please detail what "better" support you could want for win 7 as it works perfectly on our Win 7 test machine. As for Win 8 the ONLY report we have so far is the Beta worked great with the game.

An "all encompassing patch" for both games already exists but I cannot say at this time when it will be released.


Don

Re: what is the next step for winspww2?
 

is it possible to completely resolve the issue with program file path, or the issue with alt tabbing in full screen mode?

nice to hear that an mega patch is in the work.

Re: what is the next step for winspww2?
 

With the program file path issue, you can simply install the game outside of Program Files folder. Also if you turn off the anoying Windows UAC feature you can install and run the game fine even from the Program Files folder.

If you want to play the game in full screen and use alt+tab you could try the alternate fix that I posted here:
http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/showthread.php?t=49236
I have not gotten any feedback as to how it works yet for others but on my own Windows 7 machines it worked.

Re: what is the next step for winspww2?
 

Once we are able to co-ordinate the change over ALL versions of the game will be set up to install outside program files.

However, The "program files" issue ONLY affects people who DON'T know the game should be installed outside program files when using win7. If you know it should be installed outside program files there is no reason NOT TO install it outside program files.

Also, I can think of no reason why anyone would need to alt-tab out of full screen mode . If you need to move between programs use windowed mode set to desktop mode and any "issue" will be resolved and if you are using the free version then maybe it's time to upgrade.


Don

Re: what is the next step for winspww2?
 

I wonder if the screen scrolling works as fluently in "windowed mode set to desktop mode" as in a real full screen mode? I have played the free version in a 800x600 window with the desktop resolution also set to 800x600.
http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/showt...t=47170&page=3
This fills the screen with the game window but it is still a window and the scrolling is not as good as in the full screen mode. Maybe it works better in the CD version?

Re: what is the next step for winspww2?
 

I can tell you unfortunately in CD version the scrolling is just as bad when set to desktop resolution, because some weird cursor behavior on edge of window oftentimes just stop your scrolling at all. It's all just the same whether 800x600 windowed or desktop windowed, when you move the cursor "too fast" to the edge it will stop scrolling at all. Besides, the "movement sensor pixel" area is really obscuring some buttons on the map editor. You can't click the button without triggering an annoying map scroll. If the pixel area is set to low, the map stops scrolling now and then.

Currently, nothing beats the smoothness and hassle-free scrolling in the full-screen mode. Nuff said.

Re: what is the next step for winspww2?
 

This may be what you observe but don't you think if *WE* saw what you claim to see that we wouldn't have fixed it ??

I have NEVER experienced ANYTHING like you describe when I scroll the game and when Andy gets back he can confirm this with both his XP and win7 computers so it's not the game....it's the way you have it set up and BECAUSE every system is different we added adjustments so players can fine tune the game to suit their system

Have you made any attempt to adjust the scroll speed or opened up CAMOGAME.INI to adjust Scroll sensitivity ?

I get JUST A LITTLE PI**ED OFF when people make blanket statements like "in CD version the scrolling is just as bad" when I *KNOW* it works just fine in all our development machines and NOBODY else is making or has made claims like this.


Don

Re: what is the next step for winspww2?
 

The vision I have for the game is to make it a web based game where folks play the game directly through a browser with real-time (or as reasonable as possible) updating of events. Players could also play live, online head-to-head, and even utilize game and/or turn time limits if desired similar to playing online chess.

Just my wish list.

Re: what is the next step for winspww2?
 

How boring would that be? - like chess or snooker but even more so as you wait 1-2 hours for your opponent to finish his turn with no input whatsoever from you.

The game is PBEM precisely so that each player can take his requisite time without the other side having to hang around waiting awake at 3AM Finnish time, while his Japan-based opponent is on his own clock, whatever the time difference may be on the other side of the world.

Online type games are only relevant for instant-gratification arcade shooters, or maybe real time flight sims, and the players require to be on the same clock cycle.

PBEM decouples the players from having to both be present and connected - and if the internet goes down, the email can wait a while.

Andy

Re: what is the next step for winspww2?
 

You're entitled to your opinion.

I see values in being able to play head-to-head and PBEM through a connection to a server. I also see value in having a choice to utilize a per turn and/or per game timer.

Re: what is the next step for winspww2?
 

Of course I have an opinion, since I develop this thing!.

I could write a real-time engine for an entirely new game system, but there are already plenty of those out there, for section level (Medal of honour etc) and tanks. If you want real-time tank simulation then Steel Beasts is probably your best bet: http://www.esimgames.com/

Re: what is the next step for winspww2?
 

In chess, the average move takes a couple of minutes (although some turns may take a lot longer), and most games are over within 2 hours, so chess is well suited for head-to-head play.

A Steel Panthers turn, just for one side, usually takes about 30 minutes or more to play. If a game lasts 24 turns that's 24 hours of play. Because of this Steel Panthers is not well suited to 'head to head'.


If you want to play a fast human vs human game of Steel Panthers, I recommend:

- Small forces sizes
Perhaps only a reinforced company each.

- An opponent who says they can play at least one turn a day

- An opponent who is not playing other PBEM games
Obviously a player who's playing multiple games will not get back to you as quickly.

- An opponent in your time zone
I've found they are more likely to have similar free time. You may be able to send a couple of turns back and forth in an evening; but if they're in Europe and you're in North America you'll send a turn in the evening and they're already asleep and won't get back to you until the next day.

- Use email that notifys you that mail has been received.
I had my mail set up so a carrier pidgeon coos when I get mail. So if I'm somewhere in the house I know when I get mail.


I think the shortest PBEM game I've played has still taken around 10 days to complete. With the average being around 3 or 4weeks.

Cross

Re: what is the next step for winspww2?
 

Spledge, you do know that SPWAW has an online play feature?

I used to play that game alot online with a friend. The gameplay in SPWAW is much faster and more "arcade". There is also that op-fire confirm thing in the game. So when the opponent was taking his turn you would be sitting there and watching his moves in real-time. And when his unit got within firing range of your unit it would pop up with a fire back Yes/No dialog.

We used to play those SPWAW online games like a real time strategy. There was very little thinking involved and we just moved our units fast and without much thought. Consequently the matches were quite fast (in Steel Panthers standards) and causualty heavy. Even so it was common for a game to take 6-8 hours. Ofcourse there was a possibility to save that online game anytime and continue later so we did not need to play a large game to the end in one day.

The system that SPWAW game uses was originaly developed for the Steel Panthers 3 Campaign Disk. It was called SP3 Online. There used to be a server on which you could find games and play against strangers too.

That all said these games (WinSPMBT / WinSPWW2) play so different compared to SPWAW that I doubt a similar online game system could be developed for them. A major part in making the online game work on SPWAW was due to it´s manual op-fire confirm system and a streamlined faster more arcade style of game play. Still there were alot of bugs in that SPWAW online game.

Re: what is the next step for winspww2?
 

Yeah head-to-head online feature could be cool:). I remember times when I played SPWAW vs. my relative. We had quite small amount units (maybe 2000-3000 points/side?) and games lasted about 1-2 hours (if my memory works). And we communicated each other via game's message option all time.

Re: what is the next step for winspww2?
 

Thanks for the recent replies and suggestions. Initially, I must admit to feeling slammed for expressing my opinions, different as they may be for some folks.

Hopefully I'll get the game WinSPWW2 game installed soon (Previously played earlier versions of the family of this game.) and we can engage in some lively though fun battles.

Thanks again.