A Certain Point of View: Writing, Film and Stuff

  Hi, everyone. I've been diving into Sea Power: Naval Combat in the Missile Age (Triassic Games/MicroProse) since its Early Access release last November. This captivating game transports you to the Cold War era, where you can command naval forces in both historical skirmishes and thrilling hypothetical scenarios reminiscent of Tom Clancy's and Larry Bond’s technothrillers. Sea Power’ s developers – including Nils Ducker, the artistic talent behind the visually stunning Cold Waters (Killerfish Games, 2017) – have drawn inspiration from several renowned naval warfare simulations, such as Fleet Command (aka Jane’s Fleet Command ) and Command: Modern Air/Naval Operations. The influences are clear, and one dedicated modder even crafted a Jane’s Redux “mod” that revitalizes Fleet Command missions with Sea Power’ s breathtaking visuals. Now, it's essential to mention that Sea Power is still in Early Access, meaning it's a work in progress. The developers are actively upd...

Cover designed by Juan Carlos Hernandez  Hi, everyone!  Although I'm not yet ready to publish Reunion: Coda (I must finish the novel first, right?), past experiences with Kindle Direct Publishing have taught me that preparation is important in any endeavor. So, instead of waiting till I'm ready to upload the manuscript to Amazon's KDP servers, I've decided to write the blurb for Reunion: Coda now.  Here is the revised version:  In the sequel to the heartfelt "Reunion: A Story," Jim Garraty's journey continues as he navigates the intricate dance between past regrets and present hopes. Now a successful history professor at Columbia University and a renowned author of WWII books, Jim's life is a tapestry of unspoken love, haunting memories, and the pursuit of emotional closure. Still smarting from a divorce and the sting of betrayal, Jim reflects on his high school years and the profound impact of his relationships. Amidst the lessons of missed opportunit...

© 2025 Alex Diaz-Granados Brace yourselves! While I'm still a few months away from typing those two magic words, "The End," I'm thrilled to share a spoiler-free blurb from the upcoming sequel to Reunion: A Story . 📚✨   In Reunion: Coda, Jim Garraty's journey continues as he navigates the intricate dance between past regrets and present hopes. Now a successful history professor, Jim's life is a tapestry of unspoken love, haunting memories, and the pursuit of emotional closure. As Jim reflects on his high school years and the profound impact of his relationships, he grapples with the lessons learned from missed opportunities and the unpredictable nature of life. Through introspective moments and heartfelt letters, Jim uncovers the strength to confront his deepest fears and embrace new beginnings. Reunion: Coda delves into the complexities of love, loss, and the enduring power of memory. It also explores the significance of friendship and the unpredict...

  © 2024 Triassic Games/MicroProse As someone who came of age during the latter half of the Cold War, I’ve always been captivated by the scenarios in which tensions between NATO and the Warsaw Pact could have escalated into full-scale war. It’s not that I wished for a Third World War to erupt in the late 1970s and early 1980s during my brief flirtation with conservatism. True, I disliked the Soviet Union then as much as I dislike Vladimir Putin’s Russian Federation now. However, I desperately wanted sanity and diplomacy to prevail during those tense times. At the same time, I hoped that if a war between East and West did break out, our military forces—especially the U.S. and Royal Navies—would triumph in a Third Battle of the Atlantic. © 1988 MicroProse & Jack Ryan Enterprises, Ltd.  It should therefore come as no surprise that many of the books, movies, and computer games I enjoy, even in my more liberal incarnation, center on actual Cold War incidents such as the Cuban M...

  I recently shared excerpts from two chapters in Reunion: Coda and asked Microsoft's Copilot AI for a character analysis of Maddie based on them. Here's what Copilot had to say about my novel's leading lady:  Based on these excerpts, Maddie emerges as a complex character with deep emotional layers and a strong personality. Here’s an analysis of her character traits: Emotional Depth and Vulnerability Maddie is portrayed as someone with significant emotional depth. Her actions and words reveal a mix of vulnerability and determination. When she gently reaches for Jim's hand and hesitates before speaking, it shows that she is emotionally invested and nervous about expressing her feelings. This vulnerability makes her a relatable and sympathetic character. Compassion and Understanding Maddie’s response to Jim’s discomfort is notably compassionate. She gives him a gentle squeeze on the hand and a sad, knowing smile, indicating that she is aware of his emotional struggle and ...

 From the lead designer of Cold Waters, Sea Power lets you control NATO and Warsaw Pact forces in modern naval conflict campaigns. Use your advanced naval weaponry and sensors to respect rules of engagement and defeat the enemy forces in a tense fight for initiative and air/naval supremacy. – Promotional blurb on Steam, MicroProse/Triassic Games Well, it's been nearly a week since MicroProse released Triassic Games' Sea Power: Naval Combat in the Missile Age, and I'm impressed by how much attention to detail the game's developers lavished on this sim.  If I had to describe the game succinctly, I'd say it's a more muscular and visually appealing version of both Harpoon Classic '97 and Fleet Command, with a bit of Cold Waters added for good measure,  (That latter bit is not a casual observation because, as MicroProse's promo blurb states, the lead designer of Killerfish Games' 2017 submarine sim created Sea Power along with others in his new studio, T...

Hi, everyone! It's been quite some time (a long while, indeed) since I last delved into the world of computer games and gaming here. The last game I highlighted was Regiments , a thrilling Cold War-turns-hot simulation that plunges you into the heart of land warfare in an alternate 1989, where NATO must fend off a fierce Warsaw Pact invasion of West Germany. Developed by the innovative Bird's Eye Games and brought to life by the legendary MicroProse, Regiments quickly became a favorite of mine in the military gaming genre. Fast forward to today, and I'm excited to share my latest gaming obsession — Sea Power: Naval Combat in the Missile Age . This game marks my first new purchase since returning to the vibrant city of Miami after an eight-year hiatus. Like Regiments, Sea Power is set in the tense Cold War era but shifts the battlefield to the vast, unpredictable oceans. Developed by the talented team at Triassic Games and published by MicroProse, Sea Power promise...