Das Boot

This needs a bump. Come on Wolfie, come on Wolfie.

This needs a bump. Come on Wolfie, come on Wolfie.

I think we agree on most of the issues, it's just that the European release is now out of BTS/BFC's hands. I hope they put pressure on CDV but I doubt there's much they can do since they have an agreement - that's why I think it's pointless. I DO agree that venting your frustrations here might convince BTS to make their next game purchaseable online wheter you're American, Japanese or German but I don't know if this would hinder a distrubution agreement. The rest of Europe will get the game - only a little later than the rest of the world and it that constitutes not caring about the customers then maybe you're right. Though IMO you're wrong. Tue

I sent CDV an e-mail a few weeks ago asking about a release date for Denmark, which I suppose is the English version, and they said October 20th. I don't have any experience with CDV so I don't know how reliable that date is. Tue

It's not a problem per se, just an exercise in futility. Since CDV is handling all sales in Europe, pointing it out here doen't achieve anything. I'm sure BTS aren't happy about it but they handed that part of the business over to someone else, and strictly speaking it isn't their problem anymore. Steve and Charles have over the years proved themselves to be very customer friendly, often discussing parts of the game on the board even when it had been done to death ten times before, so insinuating that they don't care is wide off the mark. Having waited a long time for CMBO i can wait for CMBB too, and this si not said as a fanboy. BTS should be critisized if they make en erroneous game but blaming them for the distribution is silly. Tue

Number 3 for me. Tue

Neverwinter Nights came in a cardbord box with a full manual in Denmark as well, though it may have been the American version - I'm not sure. This topic comes up with almost every game I've bought for the past two years and it's almost always a distributor-question, not a producer one. It may have something to do with EEC regulations, I don't know. Blaming it on BTS is only fair in that they chose CDV to distribute the game in Europe but I doubt it would have been different with other distributors and I'm all for putting CM:BB on every game shelf in Europe. That way BTS will get more money and we'll get CM2 sooner. Just make sure customers can buy it directly next time and we'll all be happy. Tue

This is really annoying and the lack of a proper manual makes a warez copy look really inviting (I won't get one and have e-mailed Agua to get an American copy). A PDF-manual isn't a real manual IMO. I know this isn't Battlefront's fault but I suspect a lot of marginal customers might decide against it. The decision to exclude Europeans from buying the American version makes this even more possible - and I don't understand the reason behind the decision. I suspect only hardcore wargamers would buy it in America anyway while the marginal customers would see it in the shop and buy it. Tue

I take it MacGyver is Finnish then?

Muskin, I'm heading out the door for a long weekend, so I havn't given it a lot of though yet but your ideas sound good to me. The key point for me is restricting the GOD-mode currently used by players while keeping the fun elements in the game, and it seems to cover that. Tue

I like this idea and I don't like it. I agree that the amount of info on enemy units makes it too gamey and that it needs to be restricted more. But I don't like that all vehicles should be generically reported at all times (if that's what you mean). For me half the fun is the visual side and I can't find a way to combine that with you suggestion. It would definately be more realistic but I don't think it would be CM and I doubt I'd play it. Tue

I like the collar too. Only thing is his face - looks as though he didn't quite have his AT-weapon over the shoulder when he fired it, but I guess that's not your domain. Tue

Good point. I'm also impressed with the tactical AI's handling of vehicles but I still have some concerns. Adding a bunch of SOPs seems the only way to go if you want to make a decent AI, but how many do you need? It's not feasible to make one for every possible situation and if you don't, then what? Standard Operation Porcedures are just that - the operative word being standard. What happens when you experience the non-standard situation? I'm not a programmer so I have no idea if I'm totally off base here, but I doubt it's possible to enhance the AI that much without having a Cray Supercomuter. Tue

I prettey much like your idea - except for the level 1 view but to me the whole thing hinges on one thing. If it could be done properly I'm all for it but I have serious doubts abouth the TAC AI. CM:BO's AI is good but no match for any decent human and by increasing the dependence on the AI I fear it will decrease the realism rather than the opposite. Tue

Volker, CM:BB or Barbarossa to Berlin is a new game, though based on the engine from CM:BO with a few modifications IIRC. As for the release, BTS have proved with CM:BO that they would rather relase a complete product than a flurry of patches (the TCP/IP thingie excluded of course). I for one like it that way and am happy beating up the yanks in the meantime. Tue