Love the upcoming release of Waterloo, but...

[garyknowz]

Hello Gents!

Firstly, I’ve not yet come out to support the development of Waterloo, but I wish to do so now. I LOVE the idea and fully support it, especially the campaign element. Napoleonic Wars have heretofore been sadly neglected in PC gaming. My only plea would be to remember us ACW historians/enthusiasts/gamers/or wherever category we fit into. I’ve been following Norb’s projects since well before the First Bull Run over a decade ago, and still itching for some battles mentioned in the past. I know the executive structure has changed a few times over the years---for the better in large part. But I’m getting a touch concerned that I may never relive (however that can be defined) some major battles my ancestors fought in. That is, if we wait for a full game release.

So I ask you to throw us a bone. Just a map or two of actual major battlefields at $10 or so each to keep the wolves at bay. The community can work out the OOBs and scenarios. I’ll even dare try to figure it out myself with my -0 competence in modding. And it makes good business sense. It stokes the fire in the community, which is a huge task, and it contributes additional capital toward ongoing projects. Hell, I’ll even gift these to some people if they wished just to boost sales. This is the greatest gaming company I’ve ever encountered, and will bust my ass to keep it going in any way I can, because I know I’m not competent to help in any other way. I’m a political scientist, and already prepared to ram my head through my fireplace hearth given the current partisan polarized dynamics. [YES, my suppressed rage is too much for first person shooters, I need thousands to KILL!!! BUAHAHAHAHA]. Lol.

So please consider working on a map or two. Easy ones might include Fredericksburg or Wilderness. Shiloh would be awesome! I know many folks would be willing to pay for it. Just my thoughts.

All the best to you fine folk working so hard to fill a void in the gaming world!

Best,
Gary Knowlton

[Ingles of the 57th]

Agreed wholeheartedly.

I would pay big bucks gladly for all and every additional map-pack made available. Not at all worried about scenarios ..... I only ever play them once before retreating to Sandbox.

I have always thought that one of the strengths of TC2M and the subsequent weakness of SOWGB was the willingness (or not) to allow mapmaking. I am fully aware of the commercial decision behind it but it has seemed a big shame.

I am hoping that, with the advent of SOWW, the modding restrictions on SOWGB might be eased just a bit. It still has great unrealised potential, having avoided many keynote battles, and with a bit of help could exist profitably alongside SOWW for quite a long time to come.

I speak as one dedicated back-gazer who still holds a slight, albeit very slight, preference for TC2M which has soldiered on splendidly for years and still remains for me the best bet for the therapeutic killing of a few hundred before breakfast to start any day on a positive note.

Geoff Laver
Late of her Britannic Majesty's 57th Regiment of Foot

[Saddletank]

NSD have clearly said they will not be doing any more work on SoW:GB. They are too busy on the next project.

Think of this as being like SoW:GB compared to TC2M - did Norb do any more projects on TC2M after SoW was released?

Thing is, once we get the WL engine then NSD can build future games around that. It might be an ACW game... it might not, but I expect it to be very good if Norb and the guys continue to focus on gameplay as the most important factor (especially placing it higher on the list than visuals).

[Little Powell]

We have stated many times that anyone that wants to make maps is more than welcome to. They can join our map mod team which gives them access to everything they need to make quality maps.

The invitation is open... Want more maps? Make them.

[garyknowz]

NSD have clearly said they will not be doing any more work on SoW:GB. They are too busy on the next project.

Think of this as being like SoW:GB compared to TC2M - did Norb do any more projects on TC2M after SoW was released?

True enough. But Norb opened up map production to the community once he and Adam moved on from the MMG project, and the community is STILL running with that ball a decade later. It sounds like the team is open to something similar by what Matt is saying.

[the reb]

So am I hearing there will be no more perhaps at least for now) SOW Civil War, War Between the States, the Blue and Gray, etc, Game Releases?

Will there be a Scenareo Generator release sometime soon for SOW Civil War, War Between the States, the Blue and Gray, etc, Game Releases?

the reb....

[Stellar Duck]

We have stated many times that anyone that wants to make maps is more than welcome to. They can join our map mod team which gives them access to everything they need to make quality maps.

The invitation is open... Want more maps? Make them.

Being new here, I wasn't aware of that.

I'm curious, how does that work? Not that I have any competences myself, but I'm curious about the structure of it.

[Ingles of the 57th]

I would really love to assist in making maps but there is no way that I have (nor will I ever acquire at my age) the skill to do so. Probably only 2% of the the total forum members could.

It seems to be the philosophy of this world that, if you can't do something yourself, pay someone else to do it. Waiting for a small, albeit dedicated, village industry to come up with the goods, free of charge, can be a bit frustrating ....... especially when you haven't many years left..

I am put in mind a vision of turning up at an airport seeking to buy an air ticket only to be told "Pop over there to the hanger, will you, and give them a hand to build the plane.

Sell a succession of supplementary maps to back up SOWGB and it will remain viable for years to come. Sandbox is everything, scenarios are trivial, unreal and really quite unnecessary.

Geoff Laver
Late of Her Britannic Majesty's 57th Regiment of Foot

[Little Powell]

Being new here, I wasn't aware of that.

I'm curious, how does that work? Not that I have any competences myself, but I'm curious about the structure of it.

Basically, 75% of the work is done in a graphic editing program (like Photoshop), and the other 25% is done in our proprietary graphics engine, Power Render (Lstudio is the map piece of the engine). Photoshop is used to draw the terrain features (roads, streams, fields, etc,) and Lstudio is used for the height field, and to place the 3D buildings.

To become a map maker, you need to be pretty savvy with the graphics editing program, and be able to dedicate the time and patience. Simple maps can take a couple weeks to make, where the more complex maps can take several months or even years to complete.

I'm currently advising a former GB designer, working to get him up to speed. Hopefully he'll be making maps in the near future.

And also, we are releasing a free mini-map pack very soon that will keep you busy for a while. It was part of a special side project we did a year or so ago.

[Stellar Duck]

Thank you!

Very fascinating stuff!

As I said, I've no real skills and just a big interest in maps (cartography in general I guess) and how games get made, so this was really cool.

I imagine that a lot of reference material is needed? After writing my post above I started wondering at the level of knowledge one would need to make a map. Specifically something like the heights you mentioned. So, I started with the Battle of Belmont as that was relatively simple and not too large and started looking at maps of it and realised that most of the ones I could find were rather useless when it comes to details and heights. So, it's a combination of various resources you need I suppose?

Endlessly fascinating!

Also: hooray for map packs!