KICKSTARTER IS ACTIVE FOR "COMBAT OPERATIONS"

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kohlenklau

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The kickstarter is active!



Please swing by and make a donation if you evaluate this as a worthy venture!



Thank you for your consideration and please spread the word to any other war gaming websites out there.
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https://www.kickstar...ations/comments

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My own editorial comments:



I bought my first PC (a 486 I think...and a huge CRT monitor) in around '93 or '94 to play Operation Crusader. I was always a sucker for cool box art.

<Oh my gosh, that is an analogy to why I married my ex-wife!!!>

Many of you will predate me on that first PC date but my point is I delved into the PC aspects of wargaming fairly steadily until 9/11. Then boom!

I was in the military and my entire world changed and I just dropped the entire hobby. Really. Like a rock. I think I had just played some of my first online games of Close Combat.

It was against a Canadian guy and he expressed his sad feelings and condolences about 9/11 and I think I never even got to respond. I was gone and busy for years. No hobby.

The next 8 years went by in a blur and so I missed the entire CMSF, CMC and pre-CMBN era of wargaming. Finally I retired and happily rediscovered my old hobby.



So, keypoint, I wasn't around to feel the excitement and hope of CMC on the upswing and then later the sadness and pain when CMC failed....

Am I qualified to do a complete analysis and comparison of CMC versus this new game concept asking for donations to give it life?

I wish I was, but I am not.



This game is asking to be given life to first be created as a standalone, playable, enjoyable Operational layer game. Maybe on the surface not so unlike several others of the genre.

But hidden beneath that thin, glossy veneer is a deadly beast of great potential.



Every time I rattle off to Matt something I hope should be in his game, his resistance is all financially based.

He really has in his heart the desire for this to evolve into the ultimate OP+TAC lash-up.



We need money. Bottomline. Donate and this game can see the light of day and move forward.
 
I had some thoughts in another website forum to answer in my opinion the questions or comments quoted below:



Quote

Until the link with cm is developed, this potential game is no better than the tiller games that people are using now.

and Quote

Maybe you can explain what sets this apart from what others are doing now for Free with other programs?

UnQuote

***************

Here are my thoughts in response to those type questions copied from that other website:



I have participated in 2 and organized 3 CMPzC Operations that combined JTS Panzer Campaigns with a CM title.

Matt does have an opportunity to create a better way than CMPzC.
Even without the BFC direct link, there is potential that his Combat Operations game could be written to include several key features that would make it much better versus using John Tiller.

1. CO should include a simple internal headcount tracker to allow a single place to enter the post-CM battle results. (JTS requires external software or ol' pencil and paper).

2. The CO operational map will reflect actual dimensions that can go towards developing or adhoc selecting a CM battle map. It can export an overlay cropped specifically to support the CM map editing. 2 adjoining CM maps being produced will have excellent to perfect match up at the edges.
(JTS has the hex system derived from the actual terrain and development of the CM battle map is then a liberal process with limitations on tactics and continuity across hexes).



EDIT: To clarify, the JTS hexes are those typical generic types: Forest hex, village in open hex, clear hex, rough hex. Difficult to then cross over to a CM map. An entire 1km x 1km hex made generic but in a way to make the overall Panzer Campaign maps somewhat pleasing to the eye and run THAT game's engine. Like a boardgame map I suppose...



2.a. CO Maps are editable and any WW2 battle area could be created in detail. (JTS maps are not editable. You can only crop out from what they have already made. I had to substitute an area of Crete to be Ortona in Italy!)

3. The specific CM OOB's can be optionally used in the CO scenarios so no adjustments are needed in initial creation or to apply losses.
(JTS requires some creative assumptions to create the unit to match CM and when you apply losses.)

4. CO could use the same air power or artillery combinations that CM uses. (JTS air power and artillery strength must be edited to match typical presence in a CM battle.)

5. CO tactical battle objectives could be available to match the CM objectives. Exit? Occupy? Destroy enemy units? (JTS has an assault system which does not match well to the creation of a CM battle.)

6. CO could have an internal AAR system to produce a battle report that could be available on the Buckeyebg.com website or posted elsewhere. (JTS is a lash up. Bubblegum and baling wire. The AAR is something that falls through the cracks right away because it DOES take effort. But if folks do not see the fun, then they are not inclined to participate and the popularity of this genre of "OP+Tac" doesn't go upwards....)

7. CO must have editable saved game files. (JTS does have great capability here but not perfect.)

Bottomline, I am pretty sure right now I am the most experienced person out there combining CM and JTS PzC and I see that there is definite potential here that CO COULD make the process better/easier/simpler for me or I would not back it up.

Then if someday BFC can provide a direct link to create a battle...whoa Nelly!


Anyway, these criticisms or doubts are very natural and understandable. 2 years ago I shot some of the same general distrust or disbelief at Matt and only recently after 2 years of actually hands on using the CMPzC lash up with JTS Panzer Campaigns in great detail as the organizer handling all the aspects of the operation do I see the opportunity that exists here if the community supports the development of CO via kickstarter.
 
I understand what you are asking for. I have asked them to get that ASAP...

...like FRAPS capture of what you see on the screen.

Some folks are willing to donate to bring the game to life knowing that it may not be so far along as that...but will get there.

You have to decide for yourself. But we'll see what they can show. :D

**************

So, Orville and Wilbur have these plans to build a flying machine but need money. They decide to use kickstarter to raise the money for the wood and canvas and those old time caps they had to wear.



Some guy says, "I want to see the plane first..."



The money is needed to build the plane dude!



Maybe not the best analogy but it is in response to some folks who want to see a full up beta version with graphics and sounds to show them BEFORE they will donate to support the development.



Kickstarter has some risk. Please read up on it.



But Matt is a commissioned officer in the US Air Force. He is not some real estate scumball who will be in Mexico spending your donation on booze and broads.



He has already spent several thousand of his own money on this and volunteers have spent their own time uncompensated.



Now we need to escalate up to the paid workers with a contract of what they will do and performance specs.



You want polished UI and graphics and advanced AI. Cha-ching. It costs money.



I am gonna go and sift through that older thread and track down any folks who WERE interested before and make sure they know we are live. People come and go in the forums.



We have hit some other websites as well.



Anybody who can donate, thank you, please drop a post here if you donate so we can thank you.
 
@eniced73

Alright, I respect what you are asking to see and I am pinging on them and encouraging them to produce a YOUTUBE video.
I would not want you to donate your hard earned $500 without being absolutely assured this was not a Nigerian Scam. ;)
 
Here is Matt's answer...

Clearly you (or they) are NOT checking our CO forum! I sent this last night addressing this very issue...;-) Feel free to use the two pieces of info as a template to your response. Let me know if you have questions...
"One point I wanted to make was regarding our donation level. $32,000 is a measly sum of money for a game of this complexity, and some that know this are instantly disregarding this project as doomed to failure. The $32,000 is simply what we are asking the public to chip in to...everything else has been a sheer volunteer effort! And we have come to the point where all we need is $32k to get over the hump to full production. What that means are some programmers are working full time for very little money because they want to see this thing to succeed also! I just wanted that to be known."
Here is a line from my video script I hope to produce tonight:
"Those aware of software development costs understand that development costs for a game of this complexity typically involve budgets in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, and we are only asking for $32,000 . The reason is because I have assembled a development team of 10 volunteers that are mostly local to work on this project. We have reached a point where we need full time programming to make this game a reality, and some of the programmers have stepped forward to do this full time at a highly discounted rate. The more support we receive, the more bells and whistles people are accustomed to seeing from large design development companies can be incorporated."
 
Here is Matt's e-mail address if any of you intend to make a very large donation but would like to get some personal one on one questions answered first.

cmbnrocks@gmail.com
 
Alright, I respect what you are asking to see and I am pinging on them and encouraging them to produce a YOUTUBE video.
I would not want you to donate your hard earned $500 without being absolutely assured this was not a Nigerian Scam. ;)[/QUOTE]



Not afraid to blow money! I just at least need to see a decent Promo video or something. A couple very rough pics and vague explanation will not do it for me. Not to say others should not jump at this. If this is your kind of thing, campaigns and such, you should definitely donate. Looks like it is going down the right path.

I just think he jumped in the water too early. Should have put some BLING on it first. I understand you should not judge a book by its cover but the facts are that all of us do!
 
For some folks the current screenshot/description IS enough.
The hope and encouragement is there to take flight and eventually harness up the better graphics.
Of course we want it to look awesome.

He has a very top tier graphics guy but he is a pro out of Sweden and is very busy.
So meanwhile he has ol' free for the taking amateur me for his placeholder unit counters and other images.

With all that said, sure they could have waited a few more months to start up kickstarter.
But they have 18 days and a video is coming.

SO PLEASE KEEP AN EYE OUT AND HAVE THAT CREDIT CARD HANDY!!! :D

For any FGM who have donated, thanks!
We are pressing forward to make this come true.
 
FYI. They have established a new and better forum for discussion about the development.
Actually a subforum tucked into the dogs of war forum.
(I didn't much like the way the google group forum worked...)

The main developer Matt and his programmers are working now to create the video and better graphics that some of the doubting Thomases have asked for. Thanks for your patience and I hope it swings your vote to whip out the plastic and make a sizable donation. The $250 donation is a very good deal. Rewards such as the base game, 6 DLC's and a seat on the Game Advisory Board.

http://dogsofwarvu.com/forum/index.php
 
Matt has just canceled the kickstarter....



Maybe we suffered our Kasserine Pass?

Can we learn from our mistakes and return better than ever and achieve victory?

Or do we crumble to the naysayers and hindsighters?

Please join us at the game development forum if you are interested.

http://dogsofwarvu.c...board,36.0.html



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Here is what he posted:

After considering the response we have received, it appears we have rushed in to this campaign. Therefore, I am going to cancel this campaign so we can regroup, reload, and reengage. For those that have pledged, THANK YOU! Your support has been an inspiration. After implementing our lessons learned, we will return better prepared and equipped. To all interested parties wanting to see this project succeed, I invite you to our new forum athttp://dogsofwarvu.com/forum/index.php to join the conversation and watch the game evolution. You can also visit our website at www.buckeyebg.com to get updates and additional content (screenshots, videos, etc.) when it becomes available.

Sincerely,

Matt
 
Thats a shame... I was watching from the sidelines. Hopefully they can come back with a more polished, professional campaign when the time comes for them to give it another go. This campaign like Rico said was disjointed, struggled with its identity, struggled to captivate the masses and from the get go seemed rushed. Lessons will be learnt and I'm sure they will come back stronger in the future.
 
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