aka_tom_w

Mac rumour Link here: www.thinksecret.com..../intelibook.html There is a little more at the web site if you are interested. -tom w

OK We are splitting hairs now but I would prefer a drop down list. I understand your suggestion but a straight down, linear list that I could scroll through quickly with my scroll wheel would be FINE with me -tom w

It could still be a list like a hierarchy Battalion commander *.............Company Commader Able *..........................Platoon 1 *.................................Squad 1 *....................................Squad 2 *.......................................Squad 3 *..........................Platoon 2 and so on With "carrots" or triangles (*) for drop downs yes and this sounds good too: That all sounds sort of intuitive I hope -tom w

Thanks Steve May I make a suggestion? ( I would like to hear from other folks on this one too.) How about this.... As a interface design or feature.... While playing in RealTime the Roster should be quick and easy and instantly available. Lets suppose most folks now use the ever popular scroll wheel 3 button mouse. (And YES Apple had even jumped into the game with the Mighty Mouse that scrolls BOTH vertically and horizontally! Apple Mighty Mouse page . OK so here is the idea... I am sure Steve and the gang have given this some thought and maybe they have something better easier and faster up their sleeve.....But about about this: Just let me Right click on the mouse anywhere on the map (not on a unit) and the Roster will pop up like an overlay on the map (maybe somewhat transparent). Then let me use the scroll wheel to scroll through the list really quickly and click on just one unit I need to issue orders to. I left click on the name of that unit in the list and the roster disappears and the interface takes me right to the unit and lets me give it orders right away. your comments and suggestions? -tom w [ November 17, 2005, 05:32 AM: Message edited by: aka_tom_w ]

That simple "roster" or Order of Battle would be a great addition to the game for players who need to find units FAST or navigate inbetween units quickly in RealTime play. If they are giving us RealTime it would be nice to make the user interface so quick and "nimble" (perhaps with the addition of the "new" quick and dirty Order of Battle) that that easy navigating and moving between units RealTime play would be enhanced and now possible with the new "Roster" gizmo thing (or something) Just dreaming. What ever they give us in the way of an interface for RealTime play WILL be the same for both sides so both players will have the same advantages and disadvantages (time constraint) in RealTIme play no matter how they lay out or design the interface. -tom w

I could be wrong but I think that is all most folks here are asking for when they want the Order of Battle to be somehow part of the interface. This is all we are asking for "simply a list of all your units and having them act as hotlinks to the actual unit." I could be wrong but I had thought that was all that was ever requested? -tom w

Steve lives in Maine I think in his world its, winter 06 is Jan Feb Mar spring 06 is April May June -tom w

winter 06 is Jan Feb Mar spring 06 is April May June My guess is we will see the game in one of those months I would bet on May - June 06 myself... -tom w

I did not know what COLT was so I looked it up and found this web page more here:

It happened, U.S. admitted to it web page source BBC

FYI

great link thanks

Please keep us updated about where you are at with Group commands. I think something like a "group command" is important for the quick action in Realtime play. thanks -tom w

Group Commands I am not sure if we are talking about the same thing here... Perhaps this issue needs and/or deserves its own thread. BUT If we are talking about "band -boxing" or group selecting a whole bunch of units and asking them all to do the same thing once, (like in CMx1 almost all units could be group selected and asked to MOVE forward) THEN this is a MUST for RealTime play IMO. I say this because the quick and dirty way to play CMx1 if you are really lazy is to group select or band box all your units and have them ALL move forward. Done! thats it. Its ugly, but it gets the game moving quick. NOW in CM:SF if there is a time constraint inherent with any RealTime system then group orders and band boxing of similiar units becomes a MUST HAVE feature IMO. I could be wrong and they may have overhauled the User Interface so heavily that some other quick and dirty system (whatever it is) will work better to issue commands to multiple grouped units all at the same time in RealTime and that would be fine. BUT for Realtime play the player should have some option to use some very quick and dirty (quick and easy) method to order mulitple units to all do the same thing. All move and ALL target are big ones off the top of my head. I don't think we are asking for group moves with mulitple way points (although in RealTime that would be nice), but some form of group move or group order would be a great help in a tense RealTime battle. Thanks -tom w [ November 15, 2005, 07:17 AM: Message edited by: aka_tom_w ]

um, no.... ... actually I sort of think that pretty much typifies most of us here in this forum if not ALL of us reading this thread That one sentence could easily be someone's signature line. ( I like mine now so I don't plan to change it ) -tom w

Mac video card options web page: video cards for new Macs Gaming Performance 3D gaming involves complex visualizations and rapid movements that require maximum processor performance and top-of-the-line graphics capabilities — all with more complexity and better texturing than ever before. Frame rates were measured using the game Halo, one of the most popular gaming titles on the market today, which leverages the programmability features of the graphics card.(3) Comparison reference chart web page article and review web page from Nvidia how's that? -tom w web page from Nvidia [ November 13, 2005, 12:38 PM: Message edited by: aka_tom_w ]

And if you expect to play your computer game on the Mac OS X platform you can multiply your comments and complaints by about 100 -1000 times! I am only playing two games right now. No other games are worth my time. Sim City 4.0 for OS X is not really a military strategy game so that doesn't count (BUT I can play it on my OS X only Power Book so I like to waste my time with it because it is calming sort of) The other game is CMAK, still played on an OLD OS 9 iMac in the basement, when I have a chance. Other games? What other games??? they are all crap and not worth the time or effort to buy or download, (where download via purchase is an option). I would rather spend my time posting and ranting on this forum (perhaps like Abbott ) than waste my time playing bad crappy, boring, predictable video games, (most of which are not available for OS X anyway). So if anyone out there knows of any great new games for OS X that they like or are playing or would reccomend I would like to hear from them (but that might need another thread because Abbott original post was not about the lack of OS X games, JUST the lack of GOOD games in general) I agree the three best games I have ever purchase were the three BFC classics! CMBO CMBB and CMAK! Sadely Abbott, we are a VERY narrow market, I think we are lucky there is still ONE good game developer that takes our interests to heart and still listens and we are posting on their forum. FWIW -tom w

I am not concerned about this. After a scenario is played once it should be understood the Strat AI behaviour each time the scenario would be re-played would likely be similiar and predictable. If you want a new challenge play another pre-made scenario. I would suggest it is unreasonable to expect the Strat AI to be upredictable each time a designed and hinted scenario is played over and over again. Look at the shear number new scenarios available for CMBO CMBB, and CMAK. After just a few months of the release there will be so many new user designed scenarios available you should never need to play the same one twice. I disagree completely with the idea that a user made scenario should be coded to be play different ever time you re-play the scenario. The thrill of playing the scenario is always best the first time around and after that it is just "another NOT new, already played" scenario in my mind. For a new challenge either design a new scenario for someone else to enjoy or download another new user made scenario and play it for the first time and see if you do any better. Or you could fall back on the ever popular "Quick battle" and see how you do there. -tom w

That sounds GREAT! Solo play against WELL made scenario's by "Big Name", Marquee (i.e. experienced) scenario designers could be something to really look forward to, as the player will know he will have a royal battle on his hands because the Strat AI (it would appear) can now be hinted by the designer (human intelligence!) to give the AI a fighting chance. There should be no end of great scenario's to play as either side against the AI where the opposing side has been designed and hinted by scenario designers. This is exactly what EVERY married guy with young kids at home dreams about! Some of us don't have very much time to play and prefer solo play (unfortunately) due to RealLife time constraints, so the option to play Solo late night battles battles against the Strat AI that has been hinted and programed by clever humans (he he) would be a dream come true! (I think early on the favourite scenario would be to design clever defenses and ambush style counter attacks for the Syrian AI player to allow the American human player to feel the "sting" of the low tech Syrian (asymetric warfare??) defensive tactics. But I could be wrong ) Thanks for the update Steve. -tom w [ November 13, 2005, 09:09 AM: Message edited by: aka_tom_w ]

I agree and if I may add I am not so sure the set up and positioning of units should be such a big priority because in any pre-made scenario the scenario designer can position the units at set up best. I would suggest that because quick battles are just that "quick" then no further Strategic AI work is required as the set up will never really be ideal any way. The quick battle against the AI is the least realistic and most opportunistic way to play so the Strat AI should not be expected to do set up all that expertly or as clever as a scenario designer or human opponent. BUT on the other hand, while playing solo in a user designed scenario against the AI it would be nice to see the Strat AI put up a better fight. "My view of the Strategic AI is that it should be less ambitious, stick to what it does best. i.e. in defense stick more to ambushing" I think this could be tricky in CM:SF because the "things" (concepts principles and tactics) that the America Strat AI will need or use or rely on will be completely different (or "should be" IMHO) completely different than the tactics and strategy of the Syrians. (this alone would almost double the work load of Strat AI coding. (But I could be wrong about that I hope.) Just my few thoughts. -tom w

I could be wrong but everything Steve has said so far indicates this potential problem you think they "might" be having or going to have does not appear to an issue for Steve et. al. AT ALL. Steve has said a few times over EVERYTHING about the game engine has been designed and developed to deliver a high quality RealTime play experience. (at least I think that is what they have been saying) I guess the demo can give us a clue of what we can expect... and yes I know it is a long way away at this point. -tom w

info on FIST (Fire Team Support Vehicle The XM7 FIST is a variant of the M2 Bradley used as an artillery forward observer. FIST web page link

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CMx2 will have better Tac AI than CMx1... corrected now in the original post thanks Steve... [ November 11, 2005, 10:46 AM: Message edited by: aka_tom_w ]

that is a GOOD looking mod! they should hire that guy!! If you have not seen it click on Mike's link and check it out! -tom w