Command Ops 2 Limited Time Offer Bundle Pack Coming Soon

[David Heath]

Thanks for the reply David. And though I certainly trust both your and Dave's reputation---- I am a very, very long time customer---- I think as far as this new pricing model goes, I'll hold off on paying into it until I can see how everything works out over a few update cycles. I truly hope my concerns will prove unjustified, and that a few updates from now it will be a thriving game engine with a thriving multiplayer and moding community.

Edit: One other possible suggestion, what about including a couple free data pack upgrades with each scenario pack purchase? There could be a reasonable increase in price if necessary. This would go along way to assuaging my queasiness on the model, as it would allow one to keep playing certain scenarios that one is interested in at the time. It might also be the case where a data upgrade fixes a bug particularly prominent in one module, but doesn't do all that much in others, so there doesn't seem much need to upgrade the other modules. Above that, it would be a way for one to support the engine by buying new content, keeping those portions of the content you are currently interested in updated, without making the user feel he is "paying for a patch" (even if that's not what one is formally calling data pack upgrades.)

That is more for Dave to decide but we plan never to be in this spot again were we do not have the serial numbers for current customers. Any good company will tell you we want to make our developers and hence our customers VERY happy. Map66 or anyone else we are here and willing to discuss any idea or issue someone may have.

David

 

[gravyface]

No nothing is currently available now but we plan on releasing Command Ops 2 in January 2015 God willing.

David

can't wait. Good luck!

 

[jnpoint]

I read for some time ago in Matrix forum that there was a 3-step-plan for the new CO2, but now it is released in one step?

 

[David Heath]

I don't what plan you are talking about so I can not comment on that. Our plan is posted here in some detail. So I would read the posts here. If you have any more questions please ask.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[jnpoint]

It doesn't matter - I found it. But are you following that plan?

"Hi all,

I'd like to share with you our plan for the development of Command Ops 2 (CO2)over the next two years.

CAVEAT - NO PLAN SURVIVES CONTACT WITH REALITY FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME

We plan to develop CO2 in stages, releasing updates after each stage. In particular we plan to:

• develop CO2 stage 1 by the end of August. Release by end of September. This would comprise the following features:
  • Planning Graphics 1 - NAIs
    
  • Sequential Tasking
    
  • Triggers
    
  • Enhanced Map Drawing
    
  • Map Overlays
    
  • Enhanced Context Menu
    
  • New Unit Icons
    
  • Multiple Selection in OB Display
  
  
  
• develop CO2 stage 2 by end of November and release early December. This would comprise the following features;
  • multiple AI threads/large scenarios
    
  • whatever other small UI features we can fit in
  
  
• release KOAD in early December
  
  
• develop CO2 stage 3 by end of Mar 2014 and release by end of Apr 2014. This would comprise the following features;
  • PBEM
    
  • Fire Plans
    
  • whatever other small UI features we can fit in
  
  
• release West Wall in April 2014
  
  
• develop CO2 stage 4 by end of July 2014 and release by end of August 2014. This would comprise the following features;
  • Campaign Mode
    
  • Task Variants (Doctrine) - specifically Soviet doctrine
    
  • whatever other small UI features we can fit in
  
  
• release East Front by end of August 2014
  
  
• develop CO2 stage 5 by end of October 2014 and release by end of November 2014. This would comprise the following features;
  • Planning Mode
    
  • Mounted Ops
    
  • whatever other small UI features we can fit in
  
  
• release LOTB by end of November 2014

CAVEAT - NO PLAN SURVIVES CONTACT WITH REALITY FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME

Oh and did I mention that no plans survives contact with reality for any length of time.

By way of clarification let me add the following points:

• Each upgrade, including the initial CO2 stage 1, will sell for $29.99.
  
• All previous data packs will be converted at no cost to existing owners with each upgrade. So with the release of CO2 stage 1 we will also release upgraded data packs for HTTR, Greek, Med and BFTB. So your investment in these will endure. We will probably split the BFTB scenarios into two packs. Existing owners of BFTB will get these at no cost. The only expense you will be up for is the cost of the CO2 upgrade - ie $29.99.
  
• Whenever a person buys the CO2 engine they will get the latest version incorporating all previous updates. So existing users can skip say updates 2 and 3 and then buy 4, in which case they will get 2 and 3 as well at that time. The aim here is to facilitate two things. First to enable newcomers to buy in at any time at a $30 price tag for the engine and then buy whatever data packs they choose. Second to enable existing users the option to skip a data pack they are not interested in without a penalty in terms of the engine features. Please bear this in mind though that certain data packs will require certain features that will require you to update the engine - eg The east front pack will require Soviet doctrine.

Features Key:

• Planning Graphics 1 - NAI = Named Areas Of Interest or areas drawn by the player on the map. They will have states like enemy/friendly presence, enemy/friendly control. They will be used by triggers to start or end tasks. Eg start attack when enemy enters area X.
  
• Triggers = data condition used to start and end tasks. Players will be able to setup a trigger for each of the timings of a task. Eg HHour commences when friendlies no longer in area Y.
  
• Sequential Tasking = ability for players to issue multiple orders in sequence. Subsequent tasks will be activated when either the current task ends or a trigger fires. Eg issue a defend and an attack to your reserve force with a trigger to end the defend if enemy enter area Z.
  
• Enhanced Map Drawing = this will see us switch to a new graphics engine that will support 2D drawing (and maybe 3D in the future). It will support transparency effects and allow us to have really large maps with many more layers than the current engine.
  
• Map Overlays = graphic overlays used to depict various effects on areas of the map. These will include move rates for foot and motorised, map control, enemy and friendly firepower and concentrations.
  
• Enhanced Context Menu = ability for player to right click on the map and depending on what entities are at the location to display/enable the following:
  • terrain info (just like it does now)
    
  • unit list - ie list of all units whose occupied area overlaps the click location. So you can select which unit you want.
    
  • eligible orders - a list of orders that can be issued to the selected force. So you can issue orders with a right click rather than clicking on the tool tab.
    
  • crossing info - if one is present - eg primed status, construction progress.
  
  
• New Unit Icons = we will be taking advantage of transparency effects to enhance the way we display unit icons. I'll provide more info on this later.
  
• Multiple Selection in OB Display = ability to select multiple units from within the OB display. So you can now simply select your force from the OB display and issue orders without the need to find the units on the map.
  
• Multiple AI threads/large scenarios = ability to use multiple AI threads - one per side initially. This will improve performance and enable us to take advantage of the larger maps and to create larger scenarios with more units.
  
• PBEM = play by email. This will involve the ability to issue orders, email your save to your opponent, have them issue their orders and then play out a turn covering an agreed period of game time.
  
• Fire Plans = ability to create a set of bombard tasks sequenced to a schedule. This will allow you to create preparatory rolling bombardments or sophisticated fire support plans triggered by NAIs.
  
• Campaign Mode = ability to fight a sequence of scenarios. More info on this later.
  
• Task Variants (Doctrine) - specifically Soviet doctrine = provision of AI to manage different ways of planning and executing tasks and linking these to specific doctrine used by nations or services. Eg an American force may be able to conduct a fix and flank attack or a double envelopment while a Soviet force conduct a full frontal assault.
  
• Planning Mode = ability to create contingency plans where you issue orders that are not current until the plan is committed. So you can prepare multiple plans and activate them as required.
  
• Mounted Ops = ability to model separate leg and transport components for mechanised/motorised infantry. You will be able to order a mech inf force to defend in terrain that only the leg component can traverse and the AI will manage the move, dismount, subsequent separate moves and defends for the split force. It will also model the use of mech component to provide fire support in attacks. More on this later.

We would appreciate your feedback on our plan. "

 

[David Heath]

Dave would need to comment on the above directly.

 

[Dave 'Arjuna' O'Connor]

Well as the caveat says "No plan survives contact with reality for any length of time". So the short answer is NO we are not following that plan.

However, we have done some of what was intended in that plan for CO2, namely:

• Map Overlays
• Enhanced Context Menu
• Multiple Selection in OB Display

But we have done quite a few other things including a new Graphical User Interface using independent dialogs for data. For the full details see:
http://forums.lnlpublishing.com/threads/co2-changes.1010/

In terms of what comes next well I am going to be less prescriptive. We want to release a number of east front modules but these really require the Mounted Ops feature which will provide a more realistic modelling of motorised/mechanised infantry (and also allow us to model Russian cavalry units). So Mounted Ops is going to get top priority. However, when I was looking into this I realised that we really need to do Sequential Tasking for this, so the user can issue orders like Move - Dismount - Assault with Leg/FireSupport with Halftracks - Reorg - Mount.

 

[Rob]

However, when I was looking into this I realised that we really need to do Sequential Tasking for this, so the user can issue orders like Move - Dismount - Assault with Leg/FireSupport with Halftracks - Reorg - Mount.

Sequential tasking will put this game even further ahead of it's competitors! Bring it on!

Rob.

 

[Kurt]

Well as the caveat says "No plan survives contact with reality for any length of time". So the short answer is NO we are not following that plan.

However, we have done some of what was intended in that plan for CO2, namely:

• Map Overlays
• Enhanced Context Menu
• Multiple Selection in OB Display

But we have done quite a few other things including a new Graphical User Interface using independent dialogs for data. For the full details see:
http://forums.lnlpublishing.com/threads/co2-changes.1010/

In terms of what comes next well I am going to be less prescriptive. We want to release a number of east front modules but these really require the Mounted Ops feature which will provide a more realistic modelling of motorised/mechanised infantry (and also allow us to model Russian cavalry units). So Mounted Ops is going to get top priority. However, when I was looking into this I realised that we really need to do Sequential Tasking for this, so the user can issue orders like Move - Dismount - Assault with Leg/FireSupport with Halftracks - Reorg - Mount.

HI Comrades
just joined , I for one am happy with the way this thing is going. I have been playing CO BFTB for couple years now and love it. Cant wait for CO2 , price isnt a problem. My only concern is i have created a map in BFTB and spent many hours on it, will I be able to use it when I move to CO2 ?

 

[Dave 'Arjuna' O'Connor]

HI Comrades
just joined , I for one am happy with the way this thing is going. I have been playing CO BFTB for couple years now and love it. Cant wait for CO2 , price isnt a problem. My only concern is i have created a map in BFTB and spent many hours on it, will I be able to use it when I move to CO2 ?

Yes you will be able to convert it simply by opening in the CO2 MapMaker and saving it.

 

[Mel]

Panther Games and Lock 'n Load Publishing are proud to announce a special offer. To launch Command Ops 2 (CO2) we will be making a limited time offer. This will be valid for 90 days from the release date. The release date is yet to be confirmed. The bundle pack will comprise five modules, namely Highway to the Reich (Market Garden), Ride of the Valkries (Norther Bulge), Bastogne (Southern Bulge), Foothills of the Gods (Greece) and The Cauldron (Mediterranean). The bundle will be priced at $49.99.

The CO2 engine will be a separate product and will come with the tutorial and two other scenarios (Greyhound Dash and Manhay Crossroads). It will be provided FREE. You will have to register at Lock 'n Load Publishing to receive your serial number to install the game but that will be it. There will be no other cost to start playing. This is the ideal way to try out the engine with the full features. The engine will come with the full set of editors for developing data.

I am a little confused re CO2 engine.Will this be free and come with the tutorial and two scenarios or will I have to pay $30 for it ?Will the CO2 engine upgrade my HTTR and BFTB to the CO2 engine?
Regards Mel

 

[Dave 'Arjuna' O'Connor]

I am a little confused re CO2 engine.Will this be free and come with the tutorial and two scenarios or will I have to pay $30 for it ?Will the CO2 engine upgrade my HTTR and BFTB to the CO2 engine?
Regards Mel

Yes the CO2 engine will be free and it will come with the tutorial plus two other scenarios. No the CO2 engine will not upgrade your HTTR and BFTB 'stock' scenarios - ie the official scenarios. The editors that come with it will be able to upgrade user generated scenarios but not the stock ones.

 

[Kurt]

Yes you will be able to convert it simply by opening in the CO2 MapMaker and saving it.

Thanks Dave, keep up the good work

 

[Mel]

Do I have to register for the free CO2 engine and can I upgrade HTTR and BFTB to the CO2 engine?

 

[papymaj5]

Do I have to register for the free CO2 engine and can I upgrade HTTR and BFTB to the CO2 engine?

Hi Mel,

I think Dave answered this, but you will have to purchase the data bundle to be able to use HTTR and BFTB in CO2 period. The main software is free, think of it as paying for the updated scenarios for HTTR and BFTB plus additional scenarios (see the first post on this thread).

 

[dw20]

In terms of purchasing the bi-yearly updates for the datasets - obviously that depends on how extensive they are. Dave - could you give an example of what those could look like? Like where you are trying to go with this - although significant changes every six months maybe a tall order.

 

[Dave 'Arjuna' O'Connor]

Two updates a year is the aiming point. We may not achieve it. It depends on many things, not least of all is whether or not we can successfully fund two programmers to work on the project. It's a bit of a chicken and egg situation. We will need your support. It may be that we do one major and one minor one and reduce the cost of the upgrade for the minor one. We'll just have to take this one step at a time.

In terms of the things we want to do. First off we need to look at Sequential Tasking and Mounted Ops. These are both big features. We need these to support the new East front data modules. While we have done a lot with the User Interface this time around with CO2 there is still a plethora of features we would like to add. I would like to see an annotation layer added where the user can type text and draw shapes and lines on the map and then have these activate and deactivate based on the game time. That way users can develop their AAR as they go and with the new replay feature we have incorporated in CO2 you would be able to make some very impressive AARs.

Another big feature I would like to see happen sooner than later is Team Play where we have multiple commands led by players on each side. I would like to see a return to social gaming where players can come together, game together and socialise. I know everyone talks about having less time available. That is true. But it has always been the case and will always be the case that for some things worthwhile you need to invest some time. If we had this multiplayer support we could arrange and run tournaments at conventions like Origins or Spiel and provide opportunities to bring players together.

There was a plethora of other features on the wish list. Many of these are canvassed in the Feature Requests subForum here: http://forums.lnlpublishing.com/forums/feature-requests.45/
Others are on a similar threads on the old Matrix forums. I am sure that as time progresses we will get to these. I'm always interested to hear what you would want. So please let us know. Do so in the Feature Requests thread.

 

[CapHillRat]

Very cool Dave.

 

[Mel]

Thanks for the information.Do I have to register for the free CO2 engine and if so how?

 

[Dave 'Arjuna' O'Connor]

Thanks for the information.Do I have to register for the free CO2 engine and if so how?

Yes you will have to register but it's not out yet. Stay tuned for more details when it is released.