What does this say for Microprose?

[Majickthyse]

I have to say that out of the releases Microprose have backed so far this is by far the best I have played. Regiments is not bad but hasn't hooked me in enough to really form an opinion. Many of their releases I haven't bought at all because of the backward game design and graphics.

For example, why would I buy Second Front when I can already have Graviteam Tactics and Combat Mission. Game design has evolved since the days when we were grateful to see a half decent port of a boardgame to PC.

They seemed to swagger on the scene with big promises but to date for the most part seem to have produced some pretty whacky games with 'charmingly' retro graphics.

And they won't even support them to the point where they work properly. I'm specifically referring here to the black screen when we alt tab or try to play in VR, although I expect people have other examples of support failures.

[Zyhgar The Phoenix]

Microprose is the publisher not the developer. Microprose provides the funding and resources for a game to release.
What game has backwards game design? What's wrong with simple graphics? Does every have to be hyper realistic to make you happy?
And second front is it's own complete niche compared to CM and GT...
And a lot of those black screening and vr issues tend to be people with outdated systems or drivers.

[Majickthyse]

Originally posted by Zyhgar The Phoenix:

Microprose is the publisher not the developer. Microprose provides the funding and resources for a game to release.
What game has backwards game design? What's wrong with simple graphics? Does every have to be hyper realistic to make you happy?
And second front is it's own complete niche compared to CM and GT...
And a lot of those black screening and vr issues tend to be people with outdated systems or drivers.

I think I said Microsoft backed it, not that they developed it. But If you think the publisher should be blameless when there are problems, then I would say they should stay in the background and not trumpet their return to the industry like a second coming. And anyway, they who pay the piper call the tune...

Ground Branch seemed pretty backward to me on release, 'here's a map, with some npcs here and there, go kill them'. No campaign, no structure, just a multiplayer sandbox, lacking in the features that many other such games already possess. As it was early access last time I played it maybe it has improved, but I will probably not get back to it to see.

Second Front is, IMO, backward. We already have several Squad Leader clones out there mainly from Slitherine, and with similarly infantile artwork. And every time I've played one of them I've been reminded how much better CM and GT are at portraying combat at the same level! When I bought my first computer, a C64, I would have been amazed to see one of my favourite board games given this treatment on a computer. But we are 49 years down the road, things have moved on.

High Fleet? I really don't know, I enjoyed Lunar Lander for ten minutes back in the 1970s for sure. But when it interferes with what might possibly be a decent strategy game.....seems both backwards and whacky.

There's nothing stylish and artistic about retro graphics, customers need to start getting wise to it. It just makes things cheaper to develop. It's like being served slop in a fancy restaurant. Lets not sit round the table complimenting the chef saying what a nice time we are having eating the slop.

Meanwhile, so far none of the wonderful B17 and naval sims promised with the initial announcement have actually appeared......yet. When it seemed to be a struggle producing just one B17 sim, we then had an annoucement of a remastered version of the original and a VR version. After my CC2 experience I have to question Microproses ability as a publisher to tell their developer the game has to actually work, especially when they are having to juggle multiple developer companies for no apparent reason. Who will want a remastered original if the new one is done brilliantly?

I've had black screening since the game released. I'm running an RTX3080 with an i9 3.70ghz, which runs, for example MSFS, very comfortably. In the long time this bug has persisted I've replaced the entire PC once and applied multiple driver updates. It's not the rig, it's the game. the developer, and the proud publisher.

Rant over :)

[FrodoUK]

So, you don't like the games they have published? Great. I don't like herbal tea. Should they stop making herbal tea for my benefit? Or, should I just not buy it? You have the same choice

See how ridiculous you sound?

[Majickthyse]

Originally posted by FrodoUK:

So, you don't like the games they have published? Great. I don't like herbal tea. Should they stop making herbal tea for my benefit? Or, should I just not buy it? You have the same choice

See how ridiculous you sound?

Thanks for actually reading such a lengthy post (if you did).

I'm glad you like their current games and support :)

[PeaceMaker]

The biggest problem is they used the name "Microprose" but the ethos that Microprose used to have is no longer there. Clearly very different people who love saying "Love you and kisses!" and all that crap are not of the quality of the old guys.

Heck, I remember writing a letter to the original Microprose about a bug in one of their games and actually getting a nice Microprose letter from them. I still have that letter somewhere. It did more than what we get today.

[KDM 16AAB]

Well it is one of the original co-founders behind the helm now along with the chap who bought the Microprose name back from the grave.

[Dean Demon]

Every developer or publisher has to find their own path, the new Microprose is simply trying to re imagine their own branding so give them a chance.