Idea's and Complaints

[Renick]

I’ve been playing Atari’s new A&A for about a month now. Not one crash. Still, I can’t help but feel Atari missed an opportunity here. The “original A&A” (acquired by Atari from Hasbro via Infogames) more or less accurately followed the physical board game. The problem was that the AI was stupid. Really stupid. Russia stacking troops in Norway instead of Karalla stupid. Atari changed the mechanics of the game instead of giving it what it really needed: a challenging AI.

Use the Chess Master model. The board game of A&A only has a few thousand more possible moves than Chess. Have the AI calculate out every possible move several turns out like in Chess AI programs. Also the WWII games are not customizable like in the original.

This new A&A game is visually stunning but it lacks the replayability of its predecessor. Like Atari’s other failed sequel Master Of Orion III, I wonder if Atari knows what American gamers are looking for.

[zaz]

I would not put A&A into the MoO3 failure level. It's a lot better than MoO3 from what I've seen so far.

And just for historical correctness... Atari was purchased by Infogrames, not the other way around. Infogrames decided to change to use the Atari name because it has good recognition. Just another marketing ploy. :) The original Atari company is long dead and burried.

[Renick]

Something new to be learned everyday. I just thought Atari was this big company, some subliminal holdout from my youth. I guess I was also a bit harsh comparing MOO3 to A&A. I still hold to my point though, both games need a much better AI.

Renick

[jbowser]

I would like to see the WWII game better reflect the old board game as well. I do love the RTS aspect of it though. I would like to see things like technology development (not just the ones you can purchase, but something different as well, reflecting the old board game's where possible), industrial complexes would be nice too, so would AA guns for the territory (has a chance of stopping one air core from invading or something), and I think armies should be able to become veterns, not just regiments in the RTS, but your regiments on the overland map.

If you have one army that has gone and fought in several conflicts they should be a little better then an army you just bought. Maybe give that army a discount on building cost, or a bonus on money per building, or they create vetern troops, or what ever.

Also, I think that engineers shouldn't count against your unit limit, but be more expensive for cost and upkeep. And, I think they should make towed artillery, as that was the most used in WWII.