July 12, 200718 yr Cross posted from Matrix Games in response to a question asking about the difference between HC and H3 Matrix is a new start of sorts for Harpoon and vague answers to your question Rob may be frustrating but one of the few things the various factions of Harpoon have generally agreed upon is no trashing either of the games in a comparison in public forums. HC (Harpoon Classic/HCE) folks are plenty capable of trashing H3 (Harpoon 3/ANW) and vice versa. It has been done, it has ruined gaming relationships, and has made everyone look bad. Oh, and did I mention AGSI doesn't much appreciate it either! AGSI positions H3 as more hard core and HC as a lighter game, imho that is mainly marketing and product positioning and has little to do with the games themselves. A stock answer is that each game has its place, they each do certain things better, H3 excels at small engagements, HC will deal with larger engagements better (broad generalization...). The list goes on and on as you can well imagine. As for the approach to making the games, H3 is the star child with paid staff (with a ton of volunteer help, testing, etc.), professional coders (Darrel Dearing for instance who you will find in the credits of almost every Harpoon computer game). H3 has the direct feed from the paper rules guys. So H3 has the clout, the future, and the need to fund development. HC since 2003 was meant to be an end of life product, finish up the additon of the WestPac battleset (which has been around since 2003 but never in a non-beta release of the game), release the game and a bug patch or two and put it out to pasture in the history of naval simulations. Thanks in part to Matrix showing some interest to Bond, Carlson, Gilman for continued development of HC after the HCE release, and in part to a few of us regularly sending Don Gilman (AGSI) proposals to keep working at the game, HC development will continue after the HCE release. We're working for free or for a bit of royalties, time will tell, but nothing monetarily worth the investment of time and effort. Anyway, the way forward once HCE releases is I'll get access to the source code again and will transition to being the primary programmer (how long that takes depends upon how active Fletcher wants to remain in coding), CV32 (author of HCDB) will handle support along with a fellow who goes by the username Akula (he has done a lot of the platform photo work with us and writes some nasty good scenarios too). H3 -> TNH (The Next Harpoon) is and will be AGSI's focus. HC should pretty much be left to the three of us as a steering comittee of sorts. We'll have almost zero resources next to H3 but we'll also have a measure of agility and lightness H3 does not. The three of us are in it for the game, not the almighty dollar. My approach will be an open one, there are bugs, there will be bugs, but the bugs will not be brushed under the rug. That also doesn't mean every bug and every unexpected behavior will be modified, but you will be welcome to speak your mind and interact directly with those of us who have more control over what does and doesn't happen in terms of changes, additions, etc. to the game. Yes, I'm excited for HCE, I'm extremely excited for the changes and enhancements to the game that will occur after release and hope that we are allowed to continue development for many more years! TNH had better be great but we're out to do everything we can (outside of real life and work ) for HC until that ideal Harpoon computer game materializes. _____________________________ Sincerely, Tony Eischens HarpGamer.com Co-Owner StratSims Lead Programmer
July 17, 200718 yr And hopefully I will be able to continue writing 'nasty good scenarios' for everyone to enjoy.
August 3, 200718 yr i do not understand why there is no one to let us know how thing are going and what to expect.please dont let us wait another year for the release..
August 14, 200718 yr 14TH OF AUG. STILL HAVENT HEARD ANYTHING YET,IS THERE ANYONE INTRESTED IN THE GAME? DOESNT LOOK LIKE IT..
August 14, 200718 yr 14th of Aug. Still haven't heard anything yet,is there anyone intrested in the game? Doesnt look like it.. Don, Basically we're awaiting the preparation of the manual that will accompany the game. We've now seen the initial draft of that manual and made our suggestions for changes. Also, we're going to start our own efforts working on the HCE source code before the game is actually released, which should be a positive indicator of where this game is going and what kind of support it will be receiving. I suggest you keep an eye on the Matrix forum and this one for upcoming news. P.S. No need to use upper case letters to emphasize your frustrations. I'm as anxious to see HCE released as anybody else.
August 14, 200718 yr Please don't let the silence overwhelm you. IMO, if polled the main gaming focus of this site and its many members is Harpoon Classic in its many forms. Maybe it is due to the long wait, that we have a believe it when we see it mentality - at least that's me and I just may be full of bull.
August 27, 200718 yr Good news, folks. We had another crack at the manual yesterday, and now ... From Don Gilman at AGSI (The Countdown begins! - 8/26/2007 11:15:03 PM): "AGSI, in concert with Matrix Games, has finished edits on the manual today. We should now be about four weeks from shipping. Stand by for the official press release from Matrix Games."
September 6, 200718 yr Author Likewise we're hoping the release is soon as well, haven't heard anything in a week or so now though...
September 14, 200718 yr Likewise we're hoping the release is soon as well, haven't heard anything in a week or so now though... How about something like the atomic clock that you can put on the HG main page. "We are now 15 minutes from release." Minutes can be added or subtracted based upon feedback/insinuations that you receive from the people in the "know".
October 3, 200718 yr And hopefully I will be able to continue writing 'nasty good scenarios' for everyone to enjoy. Hi: Where can I find some of your Scenarios??? Thanks.
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