I’ve come here because I recently bought TC2M and was over at MadMinuteGames with questions and suggestions. But first, congrats to you all for this brilliant game especially Norb. I’m really enjoying playing it and watching the battles unfold reminds me of the movie Waterloo by Sergie Bondarchuk. So thanks and well done.
So I have a few Mini-map and End of Battle stats questions and suggestions that started out relating to TC2M but they are relevant to the new game. The usual disclamer applies to what I have to say as I dont mean to offend or repeat what others might have said.
Mini-map
Is there any way of having the game record the mini-map movements through-out a battle so that it can be played back later? This would be very interesting to watch and discuss later.
A simple way to do this recording/playback would be:
There has to exist in the game a routine or piece of code that sends/records all unit movement coordinates and details for use by the 3D environment and the mini-map. So all you have to do is add a small amount of code to this routine that when a timer is reached then send those unit details and coordinates to an external txt file. This could be done every certain number of minutes depending on the scenario length.
Then anyone of us here could right an external application to play back the recorded information on the scenarios map. I’d be willing to give it a shot if only I had that txt file. Come to think about it – it would be simple enough to do as the mini-map code already exists within the game.
Also:
- An “nice” idea would be to increase the size of the mini map (and maybe with the ability to zoom in a little bit) so that the icons are less cluttered looking and it would be great if the unit/brigade/division icons somehow signified the current status of the unit so the player could quickly find hot spots on the map but I guess this should only be capable of being done if a certain level of commander is within range of the unit or higher levels of commanders can actually see the them or get reports by courier..
-Be able to right double click on a unit in the mini-map and have it selected on the battlefield.
End of Battle stats
Is there a way of extracting the OOB stats that appear at the end of a battle so that they could be put into a table or graph or histogram to allow comparison with the two opponents stats side by side?
A graph over time that would show the ebb and flow of control/power on the battlefield as the game progressed, plus a score comparison over the length of the game would be great.
Also you’d be able to tell at a glance how many units on each side were routed or surrendered, how many generals etc were killed and artillery lost etc.
This info has to be stored in the (auto) save file….. Does anyone know to extract/read this information from the save files?
(BTW this is in no way a criticism of the current End of Battle report which is great, feels authentic and adds to the immersion of the game…. My idea would be an additional feature)
Other things:
In the new game will the player have to resupply his troops/artillery manually?
Regarding the reluctance to sell the game DVD through the shops:
It could be sold over the net at higher price, thus avoiding shop distribution while Steam could be used to activate the game.
I prefer to own a hardcopy of what I buy. I bought TC2M both from Gamersgate (to get playing the game asap) and from Amazon so that I would have a hardcopy.
Regarding a printed manual:
If the game is sold by download only then no one gets a printed manual so I’d say don’t feel it necessary to give a manual with the DVD. Nowadays everyone has access to a printer.
Does the ARW code name stand for American Revolutionary Wars?
An idea for way down the line would be to be able to take control of any or the individual soldiers and fight on the ground level FPS style. The player doing this would have to follow orders and do what everyone else in his unit is doing because if he didn’t then he would end up exposed and dead soon enough. Or maybe the player would choose to be in charge of a unit and everyone in the unit would follow his lead. Imagine taking over the firing of a 12lb cannon or rushing to get canisters loaded or charging a line of infantry while in a cavalry unit or trying to keep up with the formation movements of the other infantry men in your unit. Of course the player could only dip in and out of this “Take Control” point of view as the full battle would still need his attention. It would be a great fun feature and add a completely new FPS element to the game. I know… it’s not going to happen anytime soon but maybe sometime in the distant future.
Anyways, that’s enough of that. Thanks for reading (if you still are)
Laters
MD
