I found the AACW demo and spent hours reading the tutorials. So what I'm I missing here?
I started playing the campaign and found I had a large stack and a few small forces to play with while many generals & forces were unable to move.
The opposition had plenty of troops running quickly over the map while I am mostly sitting still. On either side I could not build my army under HQ the buttons were greyed out. Many buttons were greyed out the entire time.
On the Rebs side Gen Lee appeared in a city but I could not move him or use him for anything. The US Troops walked all over the southland with little to stop them. It would allow me to choose the general of the Army but nothing else. I could merge troops under a one star general but no higher. I had many large penalties with my forces.
Is there a lot of known bugs in the demo? I had many strange things happening. And never had use of many troops. I Got ripped apart quickly though I did win once or twice due to MPs. It's Frustrating
Railroads were out up north without enemy in the area. My troops were not allowed to repair the RR. It took months to bring some troops form NY.
This game is extremely complex.
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Gray_Lensman
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constructive criticism:
I do not expect a demo to have a 'full campaign' but do expect one to display a good working order that would entice me to buy the game. This demo left me frustrated as the enemy ran all over the countryside and I Had little to repel his assault. All the bugs led me to think the programmers didn't care much about the game mechanics. I've seen far too many games that were rushed on the market. Perhaps a better demo would sell more games. The actual game may be better but the demo did not leave me wanting more.
I do not expect a demo to have a 'full campaign' but do expect one to display a good working order that would entice me to buy the game. This demo left me frustrated as the enemy ran all over the countryside and I Had little to repel his assault. All the bugs led me to think the programmers didn't care much about the game mechanics. I've seen far too many games that were rushed on the market. Perhaps a better demo would sell more games. The actual game may be better but the demo did not leave me wanting more.
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Gray_Lensman
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I was NOT looking for a freebie.. Poor response.Gray_Lensman wrote:AACW is 3+ years old. The demo is almost as old and its intent was to teach player/gamers the rudimentary game mechanics, NOT to give a free game away. It serves this purpose quite well and contains NO bugs, but is quite limited in its scope as stated twice now. Most player/gamers are quite satisfied with the game which you can find out by perusing this web site.
I do low level programming and graphix and can make similar games though not so complex by myself. I was only using the demo to see how well the game works and if I want to buy it.. I have a huge collection of games.
I can buy the set of 3 games for less than $15 USD.
It don't appear worth it according to the demo which is very disappointing.
I was only trying to give constructive criticism. NCP Demo looks nice but I want waste my time reading up on it.
In the demo, you should start with the 2 tutorials (already done it seems) then the Shiloh scenario. Only when you are confident with it you should move into the demo campaign.
The demo campaign is made of the first 12 turns of the war, and can be played with both side. Indeed, the enemy will be rather reactive as each will try to maneuver the other. This is what can lose you. You can get a better game experience with these settings:
a) ask the game to focus on each enemy move, when he enters a new region.
b) once a turn is done, use the replay and do a step by step until you understand clearly what has happened.
Again, the game is simultaneous turn based, so you may feel that everything is happening at once... And except if you get a crash, you can take for granted that the demo is bug free regarding all game logic, the game is very stable and is for some regarded as a classic now about the ACW
... Definitively not some quick and dirty work by a developer in hurry, believe me, more a labor of love from a full team of people, with the precious help of many volunteers.
The demo campaign is made of the first 12 turns of the war, and can be played with both side. Indeed, the enemy will be rather reactive as each will try to maneuver the other. This is what can lose you. You can get a better game experience with these settings:
a) ask the game to focus on each enemy move, when he enters a new region.
b) once a turn is done, use the replay and do a step by step until you understand clearly what has happened.
Again, the game is simultaneous turn based, so you may feel that everything is happening at once... And except if you get a crash, you can take for granted that the demo is bug free regarding all game logic, the game is very stable and is for some regarded as a classic now about the ACW
... Definitively not some quick and dirty work by a developer in hurry, believe me, more a labor of love from a full team of people, with the precious help of many volunteers.
Hofstadter's Law: "It always takes longer than you expect, even when you take into account Hofstadter's law."
Pocus wrote:In the demo, you should start with the 2 tutorials (already done it seems) then the Shiloh scenario. Only when you are confident with it you should move into the demo campaign.
The demo campaign is made of the first 12 turns of the war, and can be played with both side. Indeed, the enemy will be rather reactive as each will try to maneuver the other. This is what can lose you. You can get a better game experience with these settings:
a) ask the game to focus on each enemy move, when he enters a new region.
b) once a turn is done, use the replay and do a step by step until you understand clearly what has happened.
Again, the game is simultaneous turn based, so you may feel that everything is happening at once... And except if you get a crash, you can take for granted that the demo is bug free regarding all game logic, the game is very stable and is for some regarded as a classic now about the ACW
Thanks Phillipe
There's no doubt that lots of time went into the games. The demo did not display a good demonstration. Demos are important to potential buyers, imo. That is/was my concern and the reason I signed up to offer some constructive critiicism. Normally when a demo disappoints me and probably most people it's quickly uninstalled and forgotten. For some reason I took the time to visit this forum to see what others say about the game.
I believe in supporting game designers who put in the time to making the games we love. As a civil war buff and a strategy gamer I may purchase the game later on but only because of the members here. Had the Demo grabbed me... I would be playing the full version at this very moment.
Cheers!
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Gray_Lensman
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W.Barksdale
- AGEod Grognard
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Hi!
This game is quite complex you are right. A model for this conflict has to be. Once you get the hang of things I am sure that you will agree AGEOD really nailed this game. I highly suggest picking up the full version. Trust me when I say you will not be disappointed.
This game is quite complex you are right. A model for this conflict has to be. Once you get the hang of things I am sure that you will agree AGEOD really nailed this game. I highly suggest picking up the full version. Trust me when I say you will not be disappointed.
"Tell General Lee that if he wants a bridge of dead Yankees I can furnish him with one."
-General William Barksdale at Fredericksburg
-General William Barksdale at Fredericksburg
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Pat "Stonewall" Cleburne
- General of the Army
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I don't particularly like really complex war games. I'm not a hardcore grognard. I really love this game though. I actually played a not so legal version of the game first. It only took a few hours before I was researching and finding out where to buy it from though. Also, the game has changed a ton since the demo version. This game isn't particularly strong at small scale scenarios IMO. It's much better suited to full scale, 2 theatre campaigns. I think I played the Shiloh tutorial scenario once, then I was onto the grand campaign immediately. I would recommend the game if you're at all interested in a strategic simulation of the ACW.
I agree with previous posts :
- This game is most interesting with large scenarios : you have to developp a plan of operation and deal with results of your strategy.
- You need time to master all the rules but it's worth the effort.
- $15 USD for 3 games ! Do not hesitate, it's a bargain.
I'd like to add that AACW has all its value in PBEM : even if AI is decent and better than in other game, nothing can be compared with the thrill of a game against a human opponent.
- This game is most interesting with large scenarios : you have to developp a plan of operation and deal with results of your strategy.
- You need time to master all the rules but it's worth the effort.
- $15 USD for 3 games ! Do not hesitate, it's a bargain.
I'd like to add that AACW has all its value in PBEM : even if AI is decent and better than in other game, nothing can be compared with the thrill of a game against a human opponent.
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Pat "Stonewall" Cleburne
- General of the Army
- Posts: 639
- Joined: Sun Mar 22, 2009 7:46 pm
- Location: Kentucky
I don't want to disparage people working at Fireaxis (we are mere ants compared to them, haha) but my bigger Civ IV games have the AI takes something like 10 mn to play...
So 1 mn for a big game of AACW seems ok-ish to me
So 1 mn for a big game of AACW seems ok-ish to me
Hofstadter's Law: "It always takes longer than you expect, even when you take into account Hofstadter's law."
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