10-22-2007, 10:56 PM
Neutral Zone (PBM)
A player's verdict
DOM COOK reckons that it's all a question of strategy in this PBM American Football game ...
WELL, I THOUGHT it might work!
I had closely studied the strengths and weaknesses of my opponent. Compared them with my own strengths and weaknesses.
He seemed to be designed for speed and quick thrusts.... My boys on the other hand were bigger, and on the whole stronger. I looked for a way of grinding down my opponent, and overpowering him.
It didn't work!
Desperately I sat late at work waiting for the email to arrive giving me a rundown of the previous turn and, most importantly the results.
I lost again!
With heavy heart I downloaded the turn file from the website onto my computer and filed it away into the relevant directory. Opening up the game interface I studied the game intently for hints and reasons why my plans had gone awry.
There is a huge amount of data in the various databases. It seems every conceivable stat is available - and the game is still evolving, and from time to time new views become available.
You can see a turn-by-turn breakdown of the action - what you did and what your opponent did. You can assess the percentage success rate of all your actions. You can see how your boys rate against all the opposition - this game is truly enormous.
At least I am heading in the right direction!
My team has at least got better.
A game for planners
I inherited them in a game that has been running for a couple of years. Therein lies the main problem with this game - it is so good and (let's face it) so cheap, that players stay in it for a long time. Which means that usually it is the bad teams that get new players, and then it takes some time to start to change things around.
It is not a quick game. I spend hours and hours refining my strategy, studying the scout reports, looking at my rival teams, and talking to my opponents. If you are serious about your PBM - this is the one for you. Those who spend the time, get the results. But unlike many games I have played, this game has the depth to allow you to spend time on it.
But if you don't have time, don't play the weekly game - stick to the two week turnaround!
Still interested?
Success by strategy
It is Tuesday afternoon again. I sit pretending to work waiting for the latest weeks turn results to pop up in my email. I was taking on one of the better opponents, but I had scouted thoroughly and recruited wisely. My strategy was right... I think!
I won! Oh joy. I disturb the cleaner with a whoop of joy and feverishly download the latest turn file.
There it is, my rookie running back has rushed for 153 yards and two touchdowns! I saw a weakness in his defence left side, and moved all my big players to attack that side and boy did it work!
What, didn't you realise? I wasn't talking about Global Supremacy or some other strategy PBM; this is Neutral Zone, the American Football PbeM simulation game.
Enjoy the strategy!
But before you stop reading because you don't play Sports Sims, and you know next to nothing about American Football, stop and think.
American Football was once described as chess with pads and helmets. It is one of the most strategic games you can play, and in Neutral Zone you have a pure strategy PBM game.
If it helps, think about the Running Backs as light cavalry; the offensive linemen as fortifications... the counters are almost irrelevant, this is just a matter of deciding your strategy based on your team's strengths, and refining your strategy once you see your opponent.
So if you like strategy - give it a go: you will regret it if you don't!
Neutral Zone at a glance
American Football game playable by the web or email. Startup £3.50, turns £1.25.
http://www.neutral-zone-football-pbem.co.uk
info@neutral-zone-football-pbem.co.uk
A player's verdict
DOM COOK reckons that it's all a question of strategy in this PBM American Football game ...
WELL, I THOUGHT it might work!
I had closely studied the strengths and weaknesses of my opponent. Compared them with my own strengths and weaknesses.
He seemed to be designed for speed and quick thrusts.... My boys on the other hand were bigger, and on the whole stronger. I looked for a way of grinding down my opponent, and overpowering him.
It didn't work!
Desperately I sat late at work waiting for the email to arrive giving me a rundown of the previous turn and, most importantly the results.
I lost again!
With heavy heart I downloaded the turn file from the website onto my computer and filed it away into the relevant directory. Opening up the game interface I studied the game intently for hints and reasons why my plans had gone awry.
There is a huge amount of data in the various databases. It seems every conceivable stat is available - and the game is still evolving, and from time to time new views become available.
You can see a turn-by-turn breakdown of the action - what you did and what your opponent did. You can assess the percentage success rate of all your actions. You can see how your boys rate against all the opposition - this game is truly enormous.
At least I am heading in the right direction!
My team has at least got better.
A game for planners
I inherited them in a game that has been running for a couple of years. Therein lies the main problem with this game - it is so good and (let's face it) so cheap, that players stay in it for a long time. Which means that usually it is the bad teams that get new players, and then it takes some time to start to change things around.
It is not a quick game. I spend hours and hours refining my strategy, studying the scout reports, looking at my rival teams, and talking to my opponents. If you are serious about your PBM - this is the one for you. Those who spend the time, get the results. But unlike many games I have played, this game has the depth to allow you to spend time on it.
But if you don't have time, don't play the weekly game - stick to the two week turnaround!
Still interested?
Success by strategy
It is Tuesday afternoon again. I sit pretending to work waiting for the latest weeks turn results to pop up in my email. I was taking on one of the better opponents, but I had scouted thoroughly and recruited wisely. My strategy was right... I think!
I won! Oh joy. I disturb the cleaner with a whoop of joy and feverishly download the latest turn file.
There it is, my rookie running back has rushed for 153 yards and two touchdowns! I saw a weakness in his defence left side, and moved all my big players to attack that side and boy did it work!
What, didn't you realise? I wasn't talking about Global Supremacy or some other strategy PBM; this is Neutral Zone, the American Football PbeM simulation game.
Enjoy the strategy!
But before you stop reading because you don't play Sports Sims, and you know next to nothing about American Football, stop and think.
American Football was once described as chess with pads and helmets. It is one of the most strategic games you can play, and in Neutral Zone you have a pure strategy PBM game.
If it helps, think about the Running Backs as light cavalry; the offensive linemen as fortifications... the counters are almost irrelevant, this is just a matter of deciding your strategy based on your team's strengths, and refining your strategy once you see your opponent.
So if you like strategy - give it a go: you will regret it if you don't!
Neutral Zone at a glance
American Football game playable by the web or email. Startup £3.50, turns £1.25.
http://www.neutral-zone-football-pbem.co.uk
info@neutral-zone-football-pbem.co.uk
DOM COOK
2004-12-06
2004-12-06