Project Updates In this section, we'll be passing along updated status on a variety of projects, generally direct from the designers or developers. We have several updates this time:

---------- Cataclysm (Perspective) - Mark Herman (BGG)





I had a great time last night playing Cataclysm and I wanted to share some perspectives. I have always been a fan of alternate history wargames. What I particularly like about Cataclysm is it goes beyond Europe and integrates the Pacific into a beautiful portrait of the period.

I was the combined Italy/Japan player coordinating with Chris playing Germany. Early on I decided to focus the Japanese on China and eschew giving the US/UK Democracies a chance to pick a fight with me. I maintained the Washington Treaty and built up the army with armor upgrades relying on the treaty to keep the Pacific quiet while the IJA conquered China.

In the Mediterranean I used the Italian forces to expand into the Balkans (Albania and Greece), while the Germans did their usual grab for diplomatic control in Eastern Europe and Scandinavia.

The Axis then entered into the tripartite treaty giving the three countries combined leverage against Democratic and Communist moves to stop the Axis successes. As the clock reached 39/40, the Western Allies started WWII by launching a carrier strike on the German submarine forces.

We will conclude next week, but what a great time.

The game currently needs something like 30 orders to 'make the cut' at GMT, so I hope anyone interested in a game that creates a great narrative of WWII should get onboard. You will be happy you did.

Mark

---------- Mr. President - Gene Billingsley





I'm closer to finishing the design stage, but still not quite to the finish line. I've made really good progress on the domestic side of things this summer, and am finally happy with the way that part of the game works. Right now I'm focusing on tightening up the "results of legislation" part of the game (for example, when you pass legislation, there is a range of results, so you never know exactly what the results will be - but getting bipartisan support, expert testimony, and support from the populace during the bill's progress helps to skew the results toward being really good). I'm also working on making the Russia and China AI's easier to use and, well, just better overall.

The good news is the switch to an integrated round system is turning out really well! No longer do you draw three cards, implement them, then get "your turn." Instead, there is an interactive sequence throughout the round where you just don't know what the game is going to throw at you next, but you get plenty of opportunities to both act pre-emptively and respond throughout. The catch there is you have limited resources, so choosing which ones to use when you have an opportunity to act is key.

I'm also really happy with how the yearly priorities system is working out. At the start of each year, you prioritize your ten areas - 3 high - 4 medium - 3 low. And that indicates the resources you're going to have during that turn. (it's a 3-2-1 system, where (depending on the area) you get either 3 activations or 3 die rolls or 3 actions for high priorities, 2 of the same for medium priorities, and only 1 of low.) You can make a switch (at a cost) later in the turn if you feel events dictate (think 9/11), but mostly those priorities drive your strategy and resource availability throughout that year.

So basically what's been happening on the design front is the framework, intent, and "story" of the game remains, and I've been working on the subsystems to make the gameplay more compelling and to give the player lots more choices throughout. So it's definitely getting better.

Gene

---------- Next War: Poland - Mitchell Land



Mitch has posted a detailed update on NW: Poland progress on InsideGMT. Here's the link:

Next War: Poland Progress Update

---------- Wing Leader - Lee Brimmicombe-Wood (BGG)



I realise that recent updates have been variants on a theme of 'we've done a bit more art and are closer to the end', but now I have some real news to impart. I have reached an agreement with GMT to deliver the game to them in mid-September, when it will immediately go into production. I've no idea when the release will be. Depending on how the printing and shipping goes we might have a release before Christmas, or it might be in the New Year.

Anyway, it means I'm now moving into the final stretch of development and artwork and I need some help. I've put the call out on Consimworld for assistance with proofreading the second-edition rulebook. You can read about this here:

http://talk.consimworld.com/WebX?14@@.1ddab74d/4077

If you can spare the time, please help. Extra eyes on this are welcome.

