GODSPEED

+1 I know this isn't a sound "tactical" choice for military situations. But this is Jagged Alliance okay, gimme a Marlin .30-30 or .45-70, a Winchester 94 (chambered in .357 or .44). You know... for when you meet bad guys while exploring the local woods! 😁

@Hendrix Went camping a month ago. Beautiful time of year! Really love Autumn. How is hunting coming along? 😊

In my mind, when I play the modern Xcom type games, I get the same feeling as a board game with squares on it. I get the same sense of scale, gameplay and style. And, wheil I really love board games, I don't want that style of game(size) for a tactics game like Jagged Alliance. Games that I get a good sense of scale are like you and @Hendrix mention; JA1/2, Silent Storm, X-com (notice the - ), as well as some lesser known titles like Hired Guns the Jagged Edge, Brigade E5/7.62 high calibre... They have a sense of scale on the maps that give you a real sense of at least being able to reconsider where you might attack from without even entering combat. Moving around in xcom (new style) feels like they are really pushing you towards planned combat areas. Something about it feels TOO planned. Like, they are telegraphed. You KNOW there will be a battle within a few squares. No suspense or wonder. In games with large maps, the advantage is also about giving you a sense of suspense, "worry" and surprise. There are so many areas enemies could be hiding, it heightens your senses of being careful, but also often being caught your pants down. In a way, I can compare this to styles of movies; you've got movies that are action packed and don't waste time getting into the action and thick of things. I am rarely attracted to those movies. I tend to appreciate movies with a very slow build up and slower more toned down action sequences. Somehow, in my mind, it feels more "normal" or natural. Realistic in a way. I enjoy the build up of suspense leading to a situation more than the situation itself sometimes. This is something I have always felt in games like Jagged Alliance 2, that I've never felt in games like the new Xcoms (and friends).

That's good. Tech just goes by so fast, what's the point? Things are marketed to make us feel like we will REALLY miss out on things if we don't upgrade. I'm happy when I have something that has lasted me a long time and I feel no need to update or change. I even get more and more attached to something if I've had it a long time, because I know how well I maintained it, cleaned it, cared for it.. and I've not wasted money running after new specs. I absolutely love firearms, shooting and everything related. But to me, it's a money pit. I don't need to practice like a hunter would you know. It doesn't serve me any purpose to shoot rifles (apart from fun, cause that's what it is to me), other than the cool feeling of ejecting wasted ammu.... money. 😅 Every shot now is like... 2$ 2$ 2$ 2$ 2$ 2$... ah man crap.. I'm dead broke now! 😒 -PS- Not like I'm leaving the firearms world.. just focusing. And so I put that on hold for a moment so I can focus on things that are maybe more "important" to me. Photography was always something I enjoyed, but I often took long pauses or wasted money on other things that kept me from having a lens that would really open doors in terms of the photos I could take. So that's where my focus is. ...and as you mentioned; the current financial situation of the region I live in (and I believe that of many other countries as well), means I'm being a little more careful with what and where my money goes. I have a list of Steam games I want to try out.. and honestly, haven't been buying games. The mix of feeling let down by so many games in the past decade has made me really look 50x before I decide to purchase. I'm just waiting for a very few select titles instead of buying games every month.

Glad one of us has a head on their shoulders!! I'm pretty good at hijacking topics with unrelated stuff. Those photos are friggin'awesome!! 🤩 I've gotta give it to you, you have a good eye for composition. [Unrelated to photos] You being a hunter and all, I figured you'd enjoy photography for the simple reason that many techniques for breathing and steady aim are as useful in shooting as they are in photography. Especially when we deal with slightly darker settings and especially long zooms for bird photography (or anything with long zooms). It's so easy to get crappy shots because of our normal breathing and simply "shaky" hands. Also for macro photography, which I've been practising a little. A few shots of my recent excursion in the woods. I always think that you don't need to be a "good" photographer when capturing nature... nature on it's own is already art.

*Facepalm* *headshake* *sigh* ...yeeeaaahh. NOPE! Honestly, I've just been more focused on my photography gear (as you noticed, expensive crap!). So yeah, recently go myself a good lens, and I still have 2-3 to really round out my photography options. That Browning sporter .22 is really on my radar when I feel I'll get back into firearms focus. Not being a hunter means I'm kind of on/off shooting and firearms as a hobby. It's an expensive hobby (that I manage to keep cheap; SKS + 7.62mm is cheap to shoot. 12Gauge as well).. it's, fortunately for me, not one I need to be as constant at. I've been pushing my savings and all to be able to get a good lens for the fall season that is right around the door. Planning on some fall camping and few trips around my province for some colourful leaves and landscapes. I've also been fishing and hiking more, so other expenses. But thank you for reminding me that I'm poor and can't even afford a "crappy" .22 sporting rifle! 😅

The worry isn't so much about the symbol, it is about seeing no end to what is "acceptable", then it becomes, "why is a Russian" on the cover? Why are we not showing the Ukrainian flag to show support?.. at some point, it just never ends. In some countries, the swastika is banned from everything, so some games need to replace it with something else to make it legal. I have no allegiance or love for the third reich, but it doesn't change that if I play a video game with any kind of historical nature (realistic, alternate history or fiction), please show me the symbols, regardless of the country. Showing a hammer and sickle on a hat has nothing to do with anything modern. Back in the 2000's it was actually quite popular to see people wearing CCCP, USSR, Che Guevera and Soviet emblems on shirts and clothing.. actually very common to see that here in Canada. While working at my last job, dealing with artwork and all, many clients collected soviet era propaganda and artwork for its striking and artistic nature. I just find it sad that one person mentions a topic that a guy on the cover is wearing a soviet emblem and this is associated with modern things... when there is no relation whatsoever.. and suddenly, things need to change. For once, it is actually refreshing to see a company not trying to bend the knee to whatever little complaint someone has.

I like to put it like this; game publishers used to be handled by nerds and gamers until businessmen noticed gaming was a sector they could capitalize profits with. It has since fallen into the neverending loophole that, unless the crowd screams in terror and hate, they simply make the business move of doing as little as possible for the most profit as possible. In the late 90's and early 2000's, I used to look up to Electronic Arts for sports games and there was a time they seemed to be really hitting the market with great ideas: Battlefield 1942, Battlefield 2... then, well.... we all see that has gone. Creativity is replaced with productivity. Quality replaced with quantity. Gaming replaced with capitalism (and I hate using the term capitalism as if I was some anti-this or that, not the case).

@Solaris_Wave, @bondo, @LoboNocturno, @Hendrix & @WILDFIRE Kind of reminds me so much of playing Brigade E5 and 7,62mm High Calibre. They feature many of those weapon implementations. Even down to being able to load a magazine with various types of bullets (ie.: a 15 round mag could contain FMJ, JHP, FMH, JHP, FMJ, etc.., a shotgun could be loaded with a slug, then a buckshot, then a slug then a buckshot..). Too bad those games are kind of a buggy mess though. The original post and all the comments are really on point with what I would like to see as well. Most of those ideas are kind of 'touched' on with 1.13... which, again, while I don't expect a big studio to go full-out 1.13, I would have "hoped" for something in between Jagged Alliance 2 with a few more advanced characteristics as in 1.13; Specifically things like weight, modular pouches, etc.. something like having a proper vest to carry magazines, and pouches for various specific objects. Like having a backpack and grenades in it is ok, but would cost more ap to use the grenade, but having a vest with some grenades in those pouches would cost less ap to use. But, yeah, after seeing the trailers, I have my doubts. I honestly don't expect anything more than a mix of JA1 and JA2 in tterms of depth of weight, gear and logistics. Unfortunately.

I hear you. I never bought a complete camera kit in one shot. I had my previous model for 9 years and passed it on to my dad. It's like anything though, you can easily buy VERY good and VERY usable used but like-new cameras on ebay for peanuts (very cheap). All brands have great camera, and you don't need to spend a 1000 on a camera. I wouldn't. I bought my cameras second hand and always kept them for nearly 10 years until my "feel to try out new tech" overwhelms my reason. 🤣 Pentax K-5 on ebay Pentax K-5 on ebay Nikon D3400 on ebay Olympus OM-D E-M5 on ebay You look for a kit that has all the accessories, like transfer cables, software... Haha.. anyways, you've got a head on your shoulders, I'm pretty sure you could work those things out. But yeah 300$, used second hand product with the lens. You'd have alot of fun! You don't need 1000 megapixels to have something good. My previous camera was a 14 megapixel old camera from 2009, and I can EASILY print letter size 8.5"x11" photos without it even being close to stretch the image.. it could be twice that and look perfect.

Was too late to edit..

Those are stunning photos you captured! Absolutely breathtaking when you see vast spaces and then some mountains; I find that the sheer size and beauty of nature really makes us humble. It's nice to just be there and not feel the need to display or compare wealth, there is no need to be a cool person, you don't care that you have the latest gadgets (don't get me wrong, I love gadgets and things).. it doesn't matter if one is poor, if one is rich, in nature everything just feels right. Anyways, sorry, getting carried away.. haha! 😂 I use a Pentax K-70 camera with a couple lenses. Slowly adding to that small collection, to eventually cover the different types of photography I want to cover. Pentax? What's a Pentax? 🤣 https://www.focusnordic.se/produkter/foto/systemkameror/pentax-k-70-18-135-wr-black/ Yeah, it isn't a big brand like Canon or Nikon. It's kind of an underdog brand, like Olympus or Sigma.. but for my needs and my budget, they offer way more than the other major brands offer. For example, one of the most basic features I NEED my camera to be, is: Weather Sealed and Rugged. I don't beat my things up, but I often do photography around water, I don't mind to be in the rain, or take it out in the snow. Or lay in down in the morning dew in the grass. Or on a beach with wind blowing. MANY MANY Pentax lenses are weather sealed as well, meaning you can take them out in very adventure-like scenarios and not worry. That is under a $1000. For equivalent weather-sealing to the level of Pentax, you can expect to double (probably more) that amount in Canon or Nikon, and then, they don't have that many weather-sealed lenses either. Pentax also make more compact DSLR's compared to other brands. What is the downside? Why is Pentax not visible in the camera market? Poor marketing. They almost exclusively make cameras and they have poor (comparatively) video performance (not as high spec as others) and aren't oriented towards fast-action sports, like car racing and that type of thing. On the other hand, they have a track record of not making you buy new things every few years. Their cameras being released now (since 1975) all 100% compatible with all lenses made for the K-mount since 1975. No adapters or funky tweaks needed. Plug and play. I still occasionally use one of the lenses that was on the Pentax ME Super (1979-1984). That was a camera my dad bought before I was born, he used on every family trip and that he handed to me back in the late 90's/early 00's. I learned photography with that same manual focus lens. ...and still use it now. Anyways, here is an idea of what Pentax offers without breaking the bank.

This is just what I think, but with the little information we have so far, I don't expect ANYTHING until Q2 2024, maybe even Q4 2024. Maybe I will appear "pessimistic", but in reality, I just don't see anything to show me that there is much more than an alpha stage to this game. I feel like the showcase we had on August 12 was put together simply to check the box for the THQ announcements. Any experienced studio could put together a video like that in little time. If this game was to come out next year, I honestly would expect a little more hype creation from marketing. 2 Trailers are ALL we've had so far.

Sorry I can be of no help. Haven't played 2 yet, only the first game. Highly recommend it, super original and absolutely LOVED the "perks" being tied to poker hands. It was a real pleasure to play around with collected cards and see what perks you can give your chars, and which ones you give to who. Don't usually care for perks, unless it's an RPG type of game like Fallout 1 & 2 (RPG) or D&D.. but in that game, because of the supernatural elements, I don't know, it just felt right.

@Hendrix Is hunting season near for you? Or have you started thinking about hunting anytime soon? As the weather here is still too damned hot and humid, I'm anxious for autumn (fall, or whatever you call that season). Last weekend we had a wave of cool weather, so I went up for a walk in the mountains with my brother and my dear camera. Thought maybe you'd appreciate some basic shots. Maybe you are someone who enjoys the wild. I sure am anxious to get out of the city every time I can. At one point, I came upon a lake and there was a dead tree log that was on the tiny 1 foot "beach", I just sat there for 15-20 minutes, no one else around, no noise, just surrounded by trees, lake and mountains. I could have slept there. Flickr - Mont-Tremblant National Park, QC - Hiking Day

It is, as @Kordanor pointed out, "Hardcore". It is very old school, it doesn't hold your hand, tell you how or where to go. You are the one who has to figure it all out on your own. You must have a good amount of time on your hands and/or a good constitution for that type of RPG. It is often on sale not too expensive on GOG, so why not give it a try at some point?

The only reason I'll reply to your post is because I respect you, because I know you also care about Jagged Alliance. I normally don't want to waste thought and energy in politics and modern "we have to remove [historical symbol, word, or fact] because it can affect people"! I didn't join this forum to talk politics. I don't see ANY valid reasons to remove the Hammer and Sickle from Ivan. None! That is what cancel culture does, I want no part in it. The fact Ivan has the Hammer & Sickle on his hat gives him depth and perspective. This is, again, one of the many features that makes Jagged Alliance great, it can make remarks about culture, racism, ideologies, sexism, etc.. I WANT that in Jagged Alliance 3! If you feel strongly about the Hammer & Sickle, then in the game, you would avoid hiring him. Having him on the cover doesn't promote anything in particular. Have you ever heard someone complain in the past about Ivan being a communist, or the hints of him being communist? ..and I would also like to point out that the Hammer & Sickle imagery doesn't encourage hate or anything... on the contrary, Communism, as an ideology, is NOT bad at all, it's about equality. Was it handled in a bad way by some leaders who did bad things? Well yes! Just like the IDEOLOGY behind Fascism is also one that, if handled correctly, seems to be good for the people, but mishandled by power-hungry leaders. When I play Hearts of Iron, I've often played Nazi Germany, as I've played Fascist Japan, as I've played USA, as I've played Britain, France... etc.. Cancel Culture doesn't belong in video games @Kordanor! Where does it stop? In JA2 he says: "No! Problem. Money. Даже не думай обмануть меня - я убью тебя, сука." (Don't even think to cheat me - I'll kill you, bitch.") What is next? Someone will come here to say that they think it is sexist to say that b word?

I think they amplify the gaming mechanics. Either one on it's own wouldn't feel nearly as good. Game mechanics are the core and the depth that keeps you coming, while the witty, funny and humorous lines add to the feeling of realism and lightheartedness. Laughter is something that provides a positive feeling. Not sure what kind of other entertainment you enjoy, but just to cite a few big names, take something like the first 6 episodes of Star Wars, everything from Star Trek the Original Series to Star Trek Enterprise, the Lord of the Rings, Jurassic Park (sorry these are the main "epics" I enjoy)... ...they are very similar to Jagged Alliance, in the sense that they are set in a serious tone, usually with some drama or serious life-threatening situation. But, they are filled (not overfilled) with moments that just make you laugh, smirk or giggle. They help provide another set of emotions within the context and help create an even stronger bond to the protagonists or the story. Just take one of the mercs you enjoy, or even a merc you never played with before, whenever you HEAR a new line or a line that makes you laugh, it provides a kind of "connection" and gives that digital representation of a person a kind of "soul" as we like to call it. It gives them a little dimension in what is otherwise a very grim situation and bland looking world. We forget the colour brown and greyish brown seem to dominate Arulco. Ever notice that on the A.I.M page, if you wait a few seconds (the same as if you wait a few seconds when you contact mercs on the video feed, something funny or witty is said) the Warning! logo changes for an ad for Malleus, Incus & Stapes insurance company? Animated and all.. It starts with The words: "We've got you..." and then a brush with some fresh "blood" paint comes replace it with "Covered". It is also a clickable "ad" that brings you to the Malleus, Incus & Stapes website. A little research leads to find that it is simply main parts of the eardrum, translated from latin: Hammer, Anvil & Stirrup.

@Hendrix Welp... I think it started. You see that post someone put about having a "commie" Ivan on the cover& 😑 You know, I take the time to share my opinion about the game and what I want, with maybe a little more blunt force than expected. I'll argue my case and opinions because I feel others here understand the fact that there are things we want for JA3. Each in our own way. I have to say though, I was quite surprised to see the amount of comments in that SJW post. Those types of posts, just my opinion, are best left empty. The best way those Social Justice Warriors have to stir up crap is to post comments and then everyone jumps in and well.. what better way to gain traction? It is like arguing with a troll. If no one answered, they'd be left alone with their sh!t and well.. would get bored. But the fact others answer and defend something, gives them and others fuel to keep on doing this kind of crap. It takes one to start it and eventually another joins the fray..

It could most likely be like Bobby Ray's where the site is under construction until you liberate the Airport and then becomes available. If the devs even have a quarter of their brains intact, M.E.R.C. will be in the game. Flow and Biff as well. (Look I just want Flow on a warm beach and palm trees environment ok!?) *wink wink* I would hope that there is "drama" between AIM and MERC, where some mercs will have moved from one service to the other and some commentary on their experiences (from Jagged Alliance 2) and how some mercs are hated and others really liked. It really depends though, because even if in my head JA3 is set after JA2, if I am correct it seems to be set before, because everyone looks younger. Buns looks WAY younger, like early 20's, when in JA2 she looks like she could be late 20's to early 30's. Set in the 90's or something. Pretty certain @Wigen and/or @Kordanor could correct me there.

By now, I think it's pretty clear that you guys know I will argue and voice my opinion in a very "critical" way. This is the only game for which I care strongly enough to actually give a crap about its future. I want to be super friendly in the way I say things, but I think my words will come out like a blunt object regardless, simply because I seriously care about this game. This is the last time I will "hope" for a Jagged Alliance game that might be faithful to its roots. This is the biggest funded effort yet. If you follow gaming AT ALL, you would know that big game companies only listen when the crowd gets loud. When nobody says anything, they release the lowest effort kind of crap because why work hard if people are happy with 'whatever'? ..but wait... REAL GAMING is now days on console? 😶 Why the heck would I want to buy a console to play a PC Classic? Consoles aren't bad at all, I have a PS1 and PS3 for a few Gran Turismo titles for when I feel like being lazy and laying back. I had a Switch because I thought it would be fun for going out (end up using my camera too much). Consoles have their place! But, Turn-Based Roleplaying Strategy games belong on PC! Not to be watered-down and oversimplified so that I can sit and nap while I play. If they can keep the complexity and depth and still offer it to console players, GOOD! But if they sacrifice game quality for the sake of consoles, this game will pretty much fail. The only player base Haemimont Games has that are almost GUARANTEED first-day buyers are PC gamers such as many here who want a faithful Jagged Alliance. We are the first wave of purchases that will review and either rave or hate the game. This game, on console, would pass by like a shadow and not even be noticed. I don't want a game with an interface that looks like a port for mobile gaming because players are too lazy to use a mouse or use more than 5-6 buttons.

It is from Jagged Alliance 2...

I totally understand what you mean by that. While, I always preferred the 2nd game... I do wish we had some options to enable some of the voice lines for items! That was always kind of special. But you are exactly saying and feeling the same things I want: KEEP THE ROOTS OF THE GAMES INTACT! I realize the game will never be EXACTLY what I hope, but I simply hope there will be enough content and depth to make it feel better than anything since Flashback or Back in Action.

I agree with pretty much everyone here in many ways. @Kordanor as well, even if I argue his points. I just tend to want to push for features I want. I was too quiet in the previous JA attempts and regret not having said what I wanted in those games. I might just be 1 voice, but if many voices get together to share their wants, it would grab the devs attention... or at least I think. To answer your question... I can't. I'm not some game dev, I don't know the secret recipe to make a successful game. What is needed to "recreate" what made Jagged Alliance 2 such a cult classic? Depth, absolute freedom, discovering everything yourself, a very particular sense of humour. Tons of Guns Why is that so hard to get right? Again, only my opinions, and this is something I've spoken about in other past topics, but CULTURE has a very strong effect on the style of humour found in games. And just to make it super clear, I don't care at all WHERE the game was made! I play games from pretty much anywhere and really enjoy learning about cultures, so what I say next is absolutely OBJECTIVE! We're going from a game that was originally produced in my hometown city, Montreal, which at the time, was considered one of Canada's most multicultural cities. JA2 portrays so well the type and sense of humour many people here will display.. as well as the way the Quebec culture has stereotypes for other cultures living here, all the way from "mocking" the way others speak, to habits and looks. The sense of humour tends to vary mostly somewhere between a mix of French and much British humour, where the scenario is serious, but it doesn't take itself so seriously. A little bit of a sarcastic and sardonic approach. It is VERY different from American humour, or Russian humour... or many other types of humour. I just look at the previous attempts to humour, especially with something like Flashback, where it feels they really tried way too hard to push a kind of funny style of humour, but it didn't come off as funny at all. Maybe culture has a hand to play in that? Those are, naturally, just opinions. I simply base those on what I've experienced and see. And what do you think @Flowable ?

Thing is, most of these things you are defending in the trailer don't reflect an "upgrade" to Jagged Alliance 2, but an upgrade to Xcom. Why do we have a downgrade to a simple straight-line trajectory when JA2 had actualy bullet "physics", range and actually even fell to the ground? Shouldn't Jagged Alliance 3 make features found in JA2 BETTER? Not fall back to another style of game and try to tweak those features! It is not difficult to dissect a Youtube video, and I am sorry, but I cannot see any similarities with Jagged Alliance 2. I see, however MANY similarities with Xcom and the games that came after it. As for Ivan, no, I was not trying to be funny at all. During the entire video, I was trying to look for SOMETHING to remind me of Jagged Alliance 2. The only things I could find are the fact some mercs have the same names, and that the games has guns. I could not detect any of the humour, commentary or what makes Jagged Alliance standout. Ivan sometimes speaking very bad English in Jagged Alliance 2 is helped by the fact there is a voice over, and the text is also reflecting that. Here, we have text as if Ivan was a fluent English speaker. For having been friends with Russian-speaking people, even after decades of speaking English, it is quite easy to tell the Russian background, and that should be something VERY clear even in text. Maybe I was hoping for even but a simple easter egg. Having Ivan mumble words in English and Russian, might have given me a tiny bit of hope that this game feels like it is taking cues from its roots. So absolutely NOT trying to be funny at all. Pointing out that this video has nothing that shows it's love, attention or care for the name that was slapped on the cover. For people who have played Jagged Alliance, I would expect a higher level of fidelity to the source material. Here, I see no difference between the trailers and previews we had when the previous attempts were made. If anything, this video has made me even more skeptical that this game is not even getting that much attention. Again, I sincerely hope you are 100% right @Kordanor! I am VERY skeptical however, because apart from more "graphics", I haven't noticed anything that gives me more hope than during the first trailer almost a complete year ago.