Re: Marketing Xconq?

["Bill Macon" <pzgndr at hotmail dot com>]

> There is a new Windows build/install document called INSTALL-win.txt.

 I'll have to check this out.

> >Simple patch downloads to supplement the full install
> > should also be considered.
> Hmmm.... Maybe. I'll have to look at what the largest files are
> and how frequently they end up being changed. I'll think about it.

 Some (many?) potential Xconq players will want an update process to be as 
simple as possible.
> >    I've tried the recent download and it works somewhat, but there are 
> still
> > bugs and graphics problems.
> Bugs in the installer or Xconq?

 The install works fine.  Several of the scenarios I tried opened OK but I 
didn't get into playing them.  I wanted to pull up the old game I was 
working on about 2 years ago but had problems editting a couple of the .dir 
files which seemed to screw everything up.  img.dir wasn't loading right, 
and wouldn't load right for any of the other scenarios either until I 
reinstalled xconq.  Simple cut&paste didn't work, and even deleting my 
additions didn't fix the problem.  So I was doing something wrong and 
whatever it was affected the graphics also.  It isn't fair for me to say the 
bugs were with xconq itself, but I hit an obstacle regardless and decides to 
terminate.
> Similarly, I think Xconq could benefit from a reinforcements
> model, where forces simply appear at certain turns. However, like
> other ideas, I think most of these should wait until after 7.5 is
> released.

 I agree.  Get a polished 7.5 out on the street, hopefully with some 
updated documentation, and then proceed with major enhancements.

 FYI, I got into xconq about 2 years ago and tried to create a game based 
on Avalon Hill's Advanced Third Reich.  I got a beautiful map to work out, 
manually editted all the unit images to get counters and colors right, and 
managed to get some things to work OK.  But the combat models do not work 
for this type of game.  And unless you set up a 1942 scenario where everyone 
is already at war, there is no way to have neutral countries inactive until 
some event brings them into the war.  These were serious showstoppers for me 
and I moved on to other things, primarily Strategic Command by Battlefront 
which came out about the same time I was getting discouraged with xconq.  
Now the neat thing about Strategic Command is that it is ideally suited for 
an xconq-style game, where multiple sides are all active on a random map.  
That would be cool, and I'm interested in working on that one of these days. 
 Once everything settles down and 7.5 gets released.  :)

Bill

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