I still think there should be two versions of new A&A games; the complete game, and an “expansion version” for established players with only the new components (in adequate quantities), but none of the stuff we don’t need more of, such as Japanese infantry, money and IC pieces.
It strikes me from the feedback so far that this game is a compromise, falling between these two versions.
Since I would guess that a 50/50% split between these two potential markets is not unlikely, would this really not be economically viable? Or must we assume that the lack of compromises made would not in any way stem the tide of omissions, misprints and cheap quality?
At the very least, shouldn’t there be a dedicated version of the new Europe for people who’ve already shelled out on Pacific, with no unnecessary repeating of elements? (I’m assuming here that, for example, the total number of US pieces needed to play the global game will be somewhat less than that needed for the two individual theatres combined?)
And, obviously, some extra Japanese TACS and CVs even though they’re not used in Europe…
But above all LET THE FANS IN ON THE DEVELOPMENT; at least at the fine tuning stages, to avoid the silly errors evidently abundant in this latest production (already serious enough to cancel any thoughts that I might buy this version).
Would they REALLY lose more money from people ripping off the map and rules taken from play testing forums than from the custom they lose by putting out shoddy products? REALLY?