First, let me start by saying how sincerely impressed I am with AACW as a software game and with the programmers, modders, and gamers who participate in this forum. I am in awe of the work that Gray puts into this game.
My sense is that, because the demographic skews a bit older
apy: the participants tend to be much less shrill and much more thoughtful/civil in replies than in other forums/blogs/etc. I have been waiting a LONG time for a successful ACW game and in my opinion this is a very nicely executed game with a very active modder/support community.
But I would respectfully suggest/remind folks that the current way that complex gaming software is developed/marketed is both exciting/innovative for its collaborative aspects and completely back-assward.
For example, I (AKA "customer"
) paid $50 for a game with a somewhat useless and out-of-date game manual. That's as harsh as I am going to get because I've been software gaming for many years and know the drill when it comes to patches/updates, etc. Like most people, I choose to wear my "grognard community member" hat instead of my "customer" hat when I log in here.
But not everyone "knows the drill." Even younger players who, unlike me, grew up with the post-release mod/patch marketing model can get lost navigating forums. For example, the other day I had a question about corps synchronized movement and tried to search "simultaneous movement" because I didn't know the proper terminology. This is a complex game and a complex forum with thousands and thousands of threads/posts.
One suggestion I would make is to recruit experienced players to help create a series of
very short (<10 sec) video tutorials uploaded to this forum or to YouTube under an Ageod AACW account. Cell phone/digital camera quality video is fine. Windows Moviemaker allows you to add an audio track so one video could be used for tutorials in Spanish, French, German, etc.
Video demos of basic land, river, and sea movement. Creating divisions, corps, armies. Battle results screen. What info tooltips provide.
In short, help beginner players access the basic game mechanics and terminology. There is a WEALTH of helpful info already here but I think it's just too much to ask of newcomers -- and sometimes even not-so-newcomers -- to always know/remember the "rules" of game forum posting. Taking that approach will just make everyone cranky and miserable and at worst it could turn some people off to a very fun hobby.
Gray, I hope there's a warm-weather vacation in your future, hopefully to someplace tropical.
and remained of the region. IMHO this is better for you that to have to chase him around Maryland!
