Global Conflict Blue : Horizon - Quick Impressions

 

Just some quick on the draw impressions of this early access naval operational wargame. Global Conflict Blue Horizon. I'll start very early and say outright, I want to see this game succeed. As it fills a niche within the niche that we need as naval wargamers.

Its somewhere between Harpoon computer games of old, but with the approach of Fleet Command. 

So a similar approach to Sea Power, but much more akin to Fleet Command interfacing of old approach. So it oddly feels new and old all at the same time. I hope it improves graphically over time, but what's there is I think at least worth taking a look at, especially at the bargain bin pricing. Consider this a "mobile game" and then some, akin to how Carrier Battles 4 Guadalcanal level of approach to wargaming. If feels like it has cross mobile and desktop roots, but I think this iteration of it is more so a "computer game". I wish it luck as this is a niche within a niche that we naval wargamers are definitely in need of. It DOES need some love though, especially in regards to documentation and offered scenarios. It does however come with an Editor, which I'm going to try and use as-is without much in the way of any documentation and see what pray tell I can come up with. I'll do a strait of Hormuz scenario, apropos for our current world predicaments.

If the developer can at this point concentrate very heavily on the fidelity and stability of the modeling underneath, and eventually up the UI intuitive level a decent bit, they will have a closet hit on their hands.

Is the core game worth existing? Do we need this game to succeed? I think Yes, and Yes.

Here I am using the Mission Editor. It does allow for making formations.

For this shot I'm adding a Nimitz class supercarrier. And I've been able to Edit / Loadouts and set it to a full 2015 loadout of air wing and munitions needed for that wing. Only setting it has currently.

Everything that exists in the game works. You just have to futz with it a bit to figure it all out. I'll try and do a separate follow-up with exact steps to add formations, equip them, and give them appropriate waypoints, etc. Not much in the way of triggers setup yet in the editor, but overall simple, and functional.

I spoke too soon. The mission editor seems a bit borked in regards to saving. At least it works mostly otherwise so you can see generally where the game is headed, but it needs a good bit of work to make release quality.