Will the new A&A game be made for PC?

[Fried_egg]

I did a quick search and didn't find this topic. I apologize if it has been answered already.

Are there any plans to make a computer version of the new game?

I have played AA on the pc for years and the best part of it is that you can find an AA game at anytime of the day or night. I am a member of Spring1942. I sincerely hope there will be a new AA cd-rom as last year someone made a dice cheat and it really has hampered online play.

Does anyone know?

[ButchOHare1]

Mike or whoever else it may concern:

If there is any thought of developing a cd-rom version of revised Axis and Allies, I introduce you to Mark Manyen. Mark was the Development Director for Iron Blitz and did some coding on the original game as well as an AAE/AAP project that was never completed by Hasbro Interactive.

http://www.madmark.ezhoster.com/MarkResume.htm

He has all the experience to get this project done. The online players need a cd-rom to play the new game. For us it is just like getting together in the kitchen with our friends to play the board game, except our friends are in Canada, Singapore, Australia, Holland, etc.

A new cd-rom for the new game AAE AAP and D-Day would be a huge seller and help board game sales too. smile.gif Please, pretty please with sugar on top?

[Bone_Roller]

I would gladly pay $50 for a CD version of A&A that was bugless and had a decent dice generator. I would not spend $3 to buy a new board version.

[Zafer_Goa_Lum]

I'm waiting for an AA video game set. Iron Blitz, AAP, AAE, AAD-Day, and the new AA. They are great for playing alone or when you don't have space to set up the gameboard.

[ecliptic]

Damn I hope it does.

[Fried_egg]

bump

[Epicedion]

I think the real question you should be asking is this one:

"Does the company even have access to a software design/publishing company?"

I'm pretty sure the answer to that is "no," since Hasbro Interactive got eaten by, ultimately, Atari. Finding a game developer and publisher can be a tricky business, especially for what would be a very limited 'niche' product like Axis and Allies.

I'm not trying to be discouraging, only realistic. With no in-house development team or publisher, finding them outside the company would probably be a very time-consuming and expensive process. And for a limited-interest product like Axis & Allies, it might just not be feasible economically. To back up my 'limited interest' statement, I'll point out that at the time of this posting, there are 74 people playing Axis and Allies, and 15000 people playing Battlefield 1942.

--Epicedion

[Fried_egg]

"Does the company even have access to a software design/publishing company?"
Since they are releasing an AA rts game I assumed they did/do have access to these resources.

I agree that AA is a niche market but the numbers you see in the AA room reflect a few issues the online community has faced.

1) dx9 issues
2) dice cheat
3) bugs
4) no support

All of these issues have driven people away from online AA.

They have spent A LOT of mney on this new AA boardgame. Is the BG not a niche market? How exactly is it different?
I would argue that it would actually be cost effective to make a cd game as well due to the fact that manufaturing of a cd game is MUCH cheaper than manufacturing the boardgame.

[Epicedion]

Board games and computer games are completely different animals. It's not just the cost of manufacturing, it's the cost of development. PC games are very expensive to develop. Hiring another company to develop one for you is even more expensive.

The company that produced the A&A games (as well as Risk and a few other renditions of classic board games, among others) is effectively no longer in business, which is why you see a lack of support for the games (they were bought by a company that shortly thereafter got bought by another company). The reason for that can only be this: there wasn't any money in making, producing, and selling those games.

Yes, it would be nice if a new A&A PC game were produced, but it's a little strange to ask a company that's been burned by it in the past to pick it up and try again, to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars. The best we could hope for is that an outside software company gets the idea to make the game, and goes shopping for the license.

--Epicedion

[Fried_egg]

I think you misunderstand me.

but it's a little strange to ask a company that's been burned by it in the past to pick it up and try again, to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars. I am not asking for a game to be made.
Given that there is a new AA pc game coming out(axis and allies real time strategy), I thought that perhaps they had looked into making the new AA game for PC as well.
Just looking for any information.

I know it is expensive to make computer games but they also have the code from the old one. maybe that could be modified... :)

As far as gettin burned last time. Hasbro was responsible for that. They released a game full of bugs with little tech support/fixes. They then released Iron blitz which had even more bugs than the first and released no patches for it. If hasbro has made a fix for IB it may have been succesful.

Anyway that's all in the past.
I was just wondering if a pc game had been looked into and if so has a determination been made?

Can anyone comment on this issue?

[Epicedion]

I know it is expensive to make computer games but they also have the code from the old one. maybe that could be modified... :)
Actually, they probably don't have the code to the old one. Hasbro Interactive made that game, and what's left of that company belongs to Atari. Thus, you would have to talk to Atari about it, and we get into the 'outside developer' part of this discussion again.

To be perfectly clear, Hasbro doesn't own the rights to the old A&A PC game.

--Epicedion

[djfpfsf]

if they do make a new program, I think I should help develop it. I would not even want them to pay me, since it would be good experience. Anyone know who I can contact?

[Epicedion]

Anyone know who I can contact?
It would take a miracle. No affront to your programming skills, but that's not the way businesses work.

--Epicedion

[djfpfsf]

I could just give them the completed work and all they would have to do is publish it..

Unfortunately, I think you are right.

It's unbelieveable what they did the first time with the game. A lone teenager could do a better job.

[trentlanthier]

I'd say for sure there is going to be a computer game.

Though it may be a "Small" niche of current people, this is a new game and they're probably going to try and widen the market.

When Wizards(Hasbro) bought Dungeons and Dragons, they redid all the rules relaunched it, and now D&D is more popular than it has ever been (That includes during its biggest Heights in the 80/early 90's)

Magic the gathering has online gaming, I can't see them NOT creating a new Computer Game for it.

I think its just going to be one of Wizards way of Marketing it.

[djfpfsf]

I thought this wouldn't happen since the first program for axis and allies had bad sales.

They would think it doesn't sell good as a computer game when the truth is, the program was just not made very well.

[taichiman]

I really enjoyed the CDROM version of A&A. In fact I played it more (usually against myself) than the board game. I would not mind paying $40.00 for the new game provided that they improve
the AI setting and some of the effects.

Sam

[Napalm]

Axis & Allies: RTS Announced


Atari and TimeGate Studios unveil a real-time strategy game based on the classic WWII board game.

TimeGate Studios has confirmed that it is working on Axis & Allies: RTS, a new WWII strategy game. Axis & Allies: RTS will put you in control of the military and economic power of one of five nations: the US, England, Germany, Soviet Union, or Japan. The game is designed to not only re-create intense battles but also to give you the chance to alter the course of the major campaigns of World War II. You will be confronted with strategic and tactical choices similar to those that the leaders of the time must have faced.

"We are thrilled to extend our relationship with TimeGate Studios to develop a new interactive Axis & Allies experience," said Nancy MacIntyre, vice president of marketing at Atari's Beverly studio. "Axis & Allies: RTS will give gamers and World War II enthusiasts a chance to change the course of history as they haven't been able to previously."

"We are very excited to be working on this project with one of the leading publishers in the industry," said Adel Chaveleh, president of TimeGate Studios. "We have been fans and players of the Axis & Allies franchise for years, and our commitment to innovation combined with the popularity of the brand is a definite recipe for a killer title."

The game will feature gameplay elements that blend large-scale strategy with real-time tactics. You can get involved in the details of organizing units and working with generals and leaders, then command land, sea, and air units in real time. The outcome of battles will depend in part on supply lines and will determine dynamic front lines. Axis & Allies will have an online multiplayer element and a random scenario generator. Axis & Allies: RTS is in development at TimeGate Studios, the creator of Kohan: Immortal Sovereigns. It's scheduled for 2004.

By Sam Parker, GameSpot [POSTED: 05/13/03 09:40 PM]
This is the only thing I know of that`s in the works. I wish they would put all of the new versions of A&A on PC, with online multiplayer and bugfree.

[mac224-2]

Sounds like it has far more detail that the A&A boardgame. They probably leased rights to the A&A name, but have created an entirely new game on the strategic ww2 theme. Sometimes that's best for computer games, but it definitely loses something too. Just my guess.

mac

[CommanderofWar]

I agree 100%.

There should be a new CD.

[elbowmaster]

i hope hasbro learned from its 1st TWO mistakes...expecially iron blitz (iron glitch)!!

im a big fan of gaming FTF, but online gaming really works well with axis and allies IMO...

with the huge online community, it really only makes sense to open up to that market...

i couldnt imagine hasbro not taking another shot at it...just seems reasonable to do so / and would think its more profitable...i like the fact of online gaming allows one to game with other folks from all over the world...now thats what its all about !!

i dont expect AH to give us privy info, i can only hope...

-cheers

-elbowmaster

[ March 04, 2004, 02:22 PM: Message edited by: elbowmaster ]

[thrasher]

Mark Manyen ... was the Development Director for Iron Blitz and did some coding on the original game as well as an AAE/AAP project that was never completed by Hasbro Interactive.

Can someone (from Avalon Hill or Hasbro?) conform this news?
This is the first time I actually seen it mentioned that they worked an a computer version of AAE and AAP.

thrasher,
http://axisandallies.TK
FORUM: http://pub50.ezboard.com/bthrashersaxisandalliesforums

[Red Shirt Ensign]

Originally posted by Epicedion:
I think the real question you should be asking is this one:

"Does the company even have access to a software design/publishing company?"

I'm pretty sure the answer to that is "no," since Hasbro Interactive got eaten by, ultimately, Atari. Finding a game developer and publisher can be a tricky business, especially for what would be a very limited 'niche' product like Axis and Allies.

I'm not trying to be discouraging, only realistic. With no in-house development team or publisher, finding them outside the company would probably be a very time-consuming and expensive process. And for a limited-interest product like Axis & Allies, it might just not be feasible economically. To back up my 'limited interest' statement, I'll point out that at the time of this posting, there are 74 people playing Axis and Allies, and 15000 people playing Battlefield 1942.

--Epicedionwell comparing A&A today vs. Battlefield is like comparing a '78 pinto to a '05 vette.

A&A came out 5 years before Battlefield did.
In 1998 the popularity of online gaming was miniscule comapred to today.

How many of us had DSL or Cable modems in '98? I didn't get mine until 2002!!!

I wager that if you get a similar publisher like Activision behind an A&A game it would do very well and could certainly turn a profit.

I just pray that an RTS doesn't become generic in feel compared to a turn based game

My preference for a publisher would have to be EA Games... Activision has not hadled Trek games very well at all and is now suing paramount for ruining Trek Franchise. but I digress. Atari is a bunch of morons so I hope that never happens!

[elbowmaster]

you get what you pay for...

i think we were all ripped off with the iron blitz game, some poor fools are now paying over 110 USD for the game on ebay...

as for gaming, seems to be simple enough to get it right the 1st time...we shall see...

-cheers

-elbowmaster

[taichiman]

I would be more than glad to pay $50 for a PC game that has no multiplayer support since I usually play against myself testing out different scenarios.

I am sure there are many players like me. All Avalonhill needs to do is to update the original A&A CD Rom game with new artwork and better AI.

Sam

[Napalm]

It would be nice to have an updated multiplayer version for the PC. We can play it more often that way. My friends can`t always get a note from thier wives to leave the house for game day. But they are usually allowed to sit around and play games on the PC anytime, as long as thier 'homework' is done.

[Innovan]

I say just wait for the BrettSpielWelt on-line version, which will be better than any AI anyway.

Many boardgames have already been ported to www.brettspielwelt.de (http://www.brettspielwelt.de) --but note that there's no AI and the graphics are simplistic. Still, it's an already established on-line community, and more people end up buying the board game just to reherse to the level of being able to play on-line.

All these games are already available on BSW to play for free:
http://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist.php3?action=view&listid=656

There's some arguments that the single player PC version of Carcasonne is actually selling better because of its BSW status --people want a trainer, and are willing to pay for the better graphics, having already played it on BSW or as the boardgame.

[Talonz]

I still play the original A&A pc. I can usually rip off a game within an hour. Would definitely like to see A&Arevised as a pc game. Or any of the other A&A versions.

[Bridger]

I'll lend my support for an updated UNBUGGY version of A&A for PC.

[Innovan]

Another site developing free ports of boardgames is http://www.spielbyweb.com/games.php --mostly I'm interested in their version of Wallenstien.

Opensource developments never have the artists to make great looking graphics, but with opensource when you find something broken you can fix it yourself and fold it back into the code tree.

And there's about a dozen game development packages over at http://gamedev.net/ You'll notice the last Risk for the PC was developed using one of those.

[kagashi]

Originally posted by Zafer Goa-Lum:
I'm waiting for an AA video game set. Iron Blitz, AAP, AAE, AAD-Day, and the new AA. They are great for playing alone or when you don't have space to set up the gameboard.Heh, or the TIME to set up the gameboard!

I dont think im gonna get the revised board this time round, especially with the lack of playing pieces, but I would buy a CD-ROM in a heart beat. There are pros and cons to both

Board Game:
Pro: Customizable, House Rules, Social Game Night
Cons: Lost pieces, Broken Pieces, SET UP TIME, Irresponsible people attacking with world with giant dice, Cats who think your Panzers would be cool to play with, that idiot who has never played before who brushes past the board that is too big to fit on your table and shifts every piece you just set up four territores west..."was this artillery piece in Germany or Poland?"

PC Game:
Pros: "Hmmm, I want to play A&A, but nobody wants to play with me due to the fact they dont feel like learning a new game...", SET UP TIME, your board is as big as your laptop. Takes out cheat factor from other players (unless they have a bogus hack program...)
Cons: Bugs (they are going to be there no matter what), online support (who has EVER been helped by WotC online?), Non Customizable unless your good with code, but then your program is different from everybody elses...

[Fried_egg9]

There is so much potential for this new game on cd.
AI to me is secondary. I have a TINY bit of programming knowledge and it seems to me that it would be almost impossible to make a 'good' AI for axis and allies.
The real power of a computer game is multiplayer. AA was meant to be played with multiple players and the computer lends itself nicely to that. I would also make it for the console market as well. All of the new systems have online capability.
I truly believe the best AA players play online. I have played online since 98 and new players always come on saying, 'I'm the best ever, blah blah blah.' They then proceed to get their ass handed to them. smile.gif It's one thing to be the best on your block but quite a bit different when you are playing the best players in the world.

The AA RTS strategy game coming out has me excited. I love RTS games. I wore out 2-3 copies of starcraft/warcraft! I will buy it but it's not AA!

A new revised AA cd rom that is properly supported would sell a bunch. Hasbro had a great product in iron blitz but they didn't support it and released it with hundreds of bugs. The game was unplayable and with no patch to fix the bugs the game was doomed.
One thing companies are realizing is that it is a different market in today's computer gaming world. If a game is made badly people know about it BEFORE they buy. These MB are a testament to that! Look how many people are waiting to buy the game because of the news of low piece numbers. Many companies are testing their computer/console games more due to this fact.

I own 2 copies of the boardgame but mostly play online because I can find an opponent 24 hours a day. I will also buy the new boardgame and if a cd is ever made I will buy that as well.

Please Please make a computer version!

Nice work on the new boardgame. I can't wait to get it!

[Fried_egg9]

bump

[elbowmaster]

all AH needs to do is get a stellar company to write the code / just think, no complaints about lack of units...etc...just please AH, look at some of the posts for cd bugs, they came close to completely wrecking axis and allies pc version...

i would buy the revised cd in a heart beat !!!

please make a cd version of revised, and or aap...

thats my christmas wish list !!

-cheers

-elbowmaster

[TomJag2]

Amen, Elbow.

If they came out with a new A&A computer game, I'd get a better internet connection (satellite or something) so I could play online again. Years ago I used to play A&A online, but the phone lines are so bad I had to give it up (speed of 28kps on a good day).

[djfpfsf]

there are freeware programs on the net. Of course they aren't official and some of them contain bugs and don't follow the same rules as the cd, but this is an alternative.

[NMRALPH]

Hey Thrasher
I would like to know if it is true or not if they ever planned a AA/E or AA/P CD version.
I find it hard to believe that that post is true. If he did work with Avalon Hill on a project he could have contacted them instead of posting here with all of us.
And for the rest of you guys woundering if you can code a version for the company good luck. I offered to code for them before for free all I wanted was my name on the Box even offered to send in a demo and Hasbro said thanks but they do not work with outside sources. I learned latter that with copy right rules having programmers outside the company becomes a pain. Unless it is an employer employee relationship the programmer owns the code.
So lets say Avalon Hill would let someone write a verson of the new A/A. While Avalon hill owns the rights to A/A the programmer would own the code for the game. Of course there are ways around this (signing agreements for example) but as you can can see it is alot of extra work.

[Red Shirt Ensign]

NMRALPH

If you are a truly good programmer and want your foot in teh door, and hae the time, I would code them a sample come up with a full proposal for a full game and then present it to them...

Nothing like some elbow grease and persistence to make something happen.

IM sure there also taking the stance that its yet another "programmer" like the other 1000 they've heard from before...

Make yourself stand out!

[NMRALPH]

DAN
I agree with you about the 1000s of programmers that send in ther proposal. As far as writing a complete game or even a good demo can take months and it really isn't worth it unless you know the company will look at it.
A lot of companies will not mess with outside ideas becouse of the copywrite laws, and with all the dum law suits I can't say I blame them.
I currently do programming work for another wargame company, that is were I learned how all the copy right laws are when it comes to software development.