Bill Rom

I disagree with Hagan about fog of war and graphics. His most cogent comment remains unanswered. "Where's the game?" I have played two times now. Under another topic I asked why my troops ignored my targeting commands and fired at other units. I got the answered I expected. The troops make a decision to fire at what they perceive as a more immediate danger. If that happens all the time, why bother to have the option to select a target for your troops. Doesn't game play come down to ordering your troops to go to a certain spot where they will then decide what to do? What we may have then is a game that looks nice(sorry Hag)with bells and whistles and unique 3d views. Decision making consists for the most part of simply odering your units to move in various ways to specfic spots and watching the results unfold. Where's the game? I have not made a final judgment. CM may have well have the best and most accurate engine details as to penetration, facing etc. What good are they if your troops decide what to target? If that's all there is, then for me the game is not ultimately different from other games with limited decision making. Good games offer several levels of decision making the results of which determine the players success in the game. I am not certain that CM offers that challenge. Bill [This message has been edited by Bill Rom (edited 10-30-99).] [This message has been edited by Bill Rom (edited 10-30-99).]

Hagen is a friend of mine. Within two hours of downloading the demo he had made up his mind (what little there is of it) about the game. He said: There is no game there." He was adamant and certain that he was right. Over the last ten years we have tried most computer games. Most times we agree about games especially the universally recognized dogs. There is a difference in our taste in games. I don't care for real time games like C&C or Age of Empires. I thought the first Close Combat was terrible. He liked it. Many times we have called each other and said: "You got to go out and get ______." About half time we call each other back and say "How can you seriously like that game?" Ultimately enjoyment of a game comes down to a matter of personal taste. I have yet to make my mind up about CM. Overall, I have a favorable opinion based on my experience to date. I view it as a vastly better Close Combat. My opinion may change with continued play. Even if I like the game, over time I may become bored. How many scenarios will be significantly different from the others? There is a fatigue factor in gaming. I absolutely loved Panzer General, Civ I & II and Railroad Tycoon. Alpha C. and RRTII (both well received games)didn't ring any bells for me. The magic of the orignals was not there. I bought Panzer Elite earlier this week and returned it after three hours of play (I loved the orignal M1TP). I just didn't enjoy the game. I loved Reach For The Stars. Will I love the sequel? After so many games, we keep looking for the next one that will knock our socks off. CM didn't knock Hagen's socks off. Are Hagen's points valid? I agree with some. The fog of war can be debated endlessly without reaching agreement. Ultimately CM is a game. Hagen didn't enjoy it. I didn't enjoy Panzer Elite. A lot of people probably will. Hagen gave his opinion of what he didn't like and why. It is not the game he wants. I have often suggested that Hagen put his opinions to the test by designing his own game. CM is the designers statement of what he considers to be a good WWII tactical combat game. An objective measure of CM's success will be its reception in the market for which it was intended. P.S. Hagen is a good guy and a passionate gamer; even if he is totally unreliable about returning calls and playing more than once every six months. Bill Rom [This message has been edited by Bill Rom (edited 10-30-99).] [This message has been edited by Bill Rom (edited 10-30-99).]

What does the hunting orser for AFV's do? What effect does the move fast order have on a vehicle? HQ's. What is their function? Is there Command Control? WHat is the heart symbol on a HQ mean? In the first scenario I defended the town as the Americans. The German tanks were way off on the map edge. I never ordered a unit to attack the AFV's, Yet, somehow three were destroyed or disabled. What happened? I order a unit to target another unit and then it starts firing om another unit often at some distance away. Why? Bill

Abondoned Vehicles Can an abandoned vehicle be recrewed? If so how? I had my Tiger crew bail out. Actually, three tank crews bailed out. I assume it is accurate. But I can't tell why. Bill