The Blizzard - Ruining Your Gaming Experience

The blizzard effect is far and away one of the worst additions to Company of Heroes. I understand that weather effects provide something new and add a certain level of historical realism, but I disagree with the implementation and its design.

Essentially, if the Blizzard required no additional PC resources to execute then I would be able to understand why this is in the game. The unfortunate reality is that it does. In the current build, Relic either hasn't smoothed out the code of the game or it needs to up the graphical requirements needed by each individual player to actually play it, which would be awful. If a snow map shows up on the loading screen (especially in 2v2 or greater), I immediately cringe. Not only is the fluid gameplay of COH instantly changed, if not ruined, if one person in the game lags during the blizzard, the ENTIRE game slows down.

This is going to be a huge problem on release when the casual player gets this game and can't play it properly. The PC requirements of COH2 really shouldn't be that high (comparable with the original COH). There is nothing new or ingenious about its design. The original had some of the best graphical detail of any RTS ever. Yet, the blizzard makes almost EVERY PC crawl. This will ruin the gaming experience for everyone. The blizzard is also going to turn off people to the game who don't understand why in a 30 minute game you can have 5-6 slowdown periods because of some random weather effect. I get the counter-argument that the blizzard effects both players, but does it really? Taking into account that each faction is designed not to mirror the other, each playstyle/level varies, and the gaming arena's stability is dependent on all computers in the party it would stand to reason that the blizzard effects EVERYONE differently. In essence, it loses games for you on more levels than just your ability to deal with it properly which is a huge no-no for any game that wants to take its competitive side (not like just tournaments and stuff like that - any automatch) seriously.

Turn it off, refine it, lessen the resource requirements, make it less of a gamechanger, or let us choose whether we want to play maps that have it.

PS - Balance your game. The Osteer are ruined currently. That's fine as it's a beta, but really, this is the second go-around here with a 7 yr old franchise. Show us you've grown with this model and not regressed.

PPS - thanks for knowingly ruining Aliens: Colonial Marines, Sega. It wouldn't be me if I didn't say **** YOU.

Well, I've just seen how does the new maps look like on Stephen's stream. I've been surprised to finally think that coh2 summer maps look good and even look like vcoh maps.

About blizzard, let's just hope that it's a feature which can be unticked when modding a map.
Snow maps have potential without the blizzard aspect. edit: and without the cold aspect neither.

I think there are ways it could be changed to become more interesting, but right now my broad impression of blizzards is that they're an annoyance and a hindrance rather than something interesting to take advantage of.

Seems your main gripe is with the game's performance though, which isn't a problem I've experienced.

I think there are ways it could be changed to become more interesting, but right now my broad impression of blizzards is that they're an annoyance and a hindrance rather than something interesting to take advantage of.

Seems your main gripe is with the game's performance though, which isn't a problem I've experienced.

The blizzard blows in regards to gameplay. The devs and anti-critics out there will argue that "you just need to get used to it in regards to your strategy"

My argument is different because the blizzard fucks with the technical side of the game.

Suffice it to say that this is process I experience with a blizzard-

"BLIZZARD INCOMING"

"SoAndSo settings are too low and are lagging the game"

This is an issue that goes beyond the normal gripes of gameplay.

My pc blows and I have never had a problem with blizzards (1v1 only)... And while I feel the blizzard has fallen short of its intended goal, it does add some strategic value. Sometimes I thank blizzards when they appear, other times I curse it. It usually always leads to a lull in the fighting givng an opportunity to consolidate. If I have a good idea where my opponent is waiting out the blizzard sometimes ill launch little suprise raids and attacks using the new hurdle mechanic and flanking. If I lose.. well the blizzard covers my retreat and usually opponents still wont attack since they were attacked and hurt. If they do.. hopefully my defense I set up as reserve will scare off any real attack (and usually does). If that doesnt work my counterattack will!! So blizzards arent so bad, a lot less gimmicky then I first thought.

1v1s are not as much as a problem as team games are.

blizzards ain't that bad, guess people always have to find something to complain about...

Blizzards are a terrible terrible terrible game mechanic. It slows down the game needlessly. Aside from CPU requirements, how can a fan of fluid top-play want to keep the mechanic in the game? It instantly makes the game STOP for roughly 2-3 minutes. It makes me cringe every time that stupid clock comes on the screen. It becomes a mad race to get your units to fire pits, cover, and buildings and its always a great idea to take the VPs right before the blizzard hits as your are guaranteed 3 minutes of uninterrupted ticking down VPs while units sit frustratingly idle. It interrupts all flow... allows players to erase mistakes and recover (i.e. reinforce seriously diminished squads, tech and get their resources back up... it punishes the good players. It's a terrible mechanic that destroys momentum and stifles top-level play.

^

Being able to react to blizzards is surely PART of being a good player. If you're just idling during a blizzard you're worse than I am, which is not enormously good. Fire pits need a better radius so being near them is less unintuitive. Other than that they aren't a huge problem. Yes they can give a player who's suffering a shot at recovering but they can also let one who's ahead really consolidate their position.

^

Being able to react to blizzards is surely PART of being a good player. If you're just idling during a blizzard you're worse than I am, which is not enormously good. Fire pits need a better radius so being near them is less unintuitive. Other than that they aren't a huge problem. Yes they can give a player who's suffering a shot at recovering but they can also let one who's ahead really consolidate their position.

LOL. I'm a noob.

PPS - thanks for knowingly ruining Aliens: Colonial Marines, Sega. It wouldn't be me if I didn't say **** YOU.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanlon%27s_razor

I really like the reduced vision that the blizzards give, it makes you feel less secure on defense while opening up for new offensive options, even better if you've scouted in advance or launched a flare.
It's a really good time to sneak around the map and attack from unsuspected directions.

I've read this kind of thread before, that was like 2 months ago. All in all, once you get use to the blizzard then you know you wont be stopped completely, you can attack ur opponents and be aggressive atleast a little. I never stop moving my units when blizzard hits, i can always build fireplaces when i advance.

but technical side i do agree on, not that i have major lag problems, but i know it can make you go insane if the game makes your pc cry.

Adapt or die - just like during real WW2. I like blizzards because of:
1. Possible tactical maneuvers - poor LOS helps to flank unprepared enemy
2. It stimulates you to play more careful and tech ASAP because of HTs
3. Atmosphere of hard winter warfare in far cold country

This thread makes my head hurt.

^

Being able to react to blizzards is surely PART of being a good player. If you're just idling during a blizzard you're worse than I am, which is not enormously good. Fire pits need a better radius so being near them is less unintuitive. Other than that they aren't a huge problem. Yes they can give a player who's suffering a shot at recovering but they can also let one who's ahead really consolidate their position.

You know, thats why i check who posted it then i read what he posted.
If you would know who that The Dave or TheDGN is, then you would know that they were playing vCOH on a top level back in 2007 and their opinion should matter not the public game heroes on schledt.

Adapt or die - just like during real WW2. I like blizzards because of:
1. Possible tactical maneuvers - poor LOS helps to flank unprepared enemy
2. It stimulates you to play more careful and tech ASAP because of HTs
3. Atmosphere of hard winter warfare in far cold country

This is why my argument is/was catered to the technical aspect of the blizzard and not the gameplay per-say.

I realize there are people out there like you who think that video games should mirror WWII and enjoy watching fake snow cover their monitor like the end results of watching youporn or something. That's all fine until my gaming experience suffers as a result of someone else's poorer pc (or mine for that matter).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanlon%27s_razor

hahahahahah

touche'

I like blizzards, changes the pace in gameplay, creates more strategic opportunities, and in general acts as a skill differential.

You know, thats why i check who posted it then i read what he posted.
If you would know who that The Dave or TheDGN is, then you would know that they were playing vCOH on a top level back in 2007 and their opinion should matter not the public game heroes on schledt.

I think Dave's software point's fine. I just don't get how Blizzards are inherently punishing to the better player... yeah, I wasn't saying DGN was bad or anything - just, the complaints about the blizzard gameplay are exaggerated (and if people exaggerate for effect, it's very hard to know what's a 'needs to be improved' complaint and what's a 'not vCoh' complaint). I've yet to find a blizzard where I'm literally not doing things and the other guy's not doing things... it introduces a whole raft of mechanics people can take advantage of.