RobVarak

Great job! The fact that CM won't be in retail stores means that every little bit like this helps. I will be hyping it to the readers of my web page. It's a music site, so I don't know how much cross-over interest there will be. Nevertheless, even a few extra copies sold would be cool. Least we can do for Steve and Charles! ------------------ Rob Varak Editor Site on Sound: The Web's Premier Site For Musical Discussion www.siteonsound.com

LOL! That Greenspan reference totally cracked me up I think that we're to the point where daily word by word analysis of every BTS post is required. Rob PS I was having a very calm day as far as my CM jones goes. Then Steve drops this bomb (or is that shell?) on us. ------------------ Rob Varak Editor Site on Sound www.siteonsound.com

I saw this link on the Raiders TGN site. Looks helpful: http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/Quarters/6808/ ------------------ Rob Varak Editor Site on Sound www.siteonsound.com

Hey Matt, that's a nice take. But ummm... I thought you were sick today??? Rob

It seems to me that Patton's high profile causes some problems of the student of history. Most analysis that I read either fawns over him or absolutely trashes him. Maybe one or the other is right, but I suspect the truth is somewhere in the middle. Does anyone know of a good source for an objective look at his work? Just wonderin' Rob

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Herr Oberst: At least two tank losses, and Uncle George is still here?!? Thank the lucky stars...<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Amen to that! Yesterday, the History Channel ran the "Weapons of War" episode on the panzers. They interviewed a German fellow who had 5 (count 'em 5!!!) tanks shot out from under him. Despite that, he lost only 1 KIA and a few wounded from his crews. Pretty remarkable, I think. Rob www.siteonsound.com

I have to be honest here. The smoke is just fine with me. Considering that there is a limited amount of time to create any game, I am extremely happy with the balance struck by BTW between graphics and gameplay. Improving the graphics any more, at the expense of ANY time spent on physics, AI or other gameplay concerns would have been a mistake. As long as the graphics in ANY game are sufficient to represent what's supposed to be going on, I'm happy. While graphics are certainly important, quality gameplay goes a lot farther in creating an immersive and engaging experience. Rob PS And as for Pirate's criticism, well... Take a look at his profile and you can see where he's coming from.

I've been entertaining those same thoughts lately. I've been researching the circumstances of my wife's uncle's death. He was a KIA in the ETO (309th Inf. 78th ID). In doing so it's given me pause, as I consider why I enjoy playing games which simulate the very events which took his life. Unfortunately, I can't really answer that. I suspect it may have to do with the instinctive impulse to fight (which of coures underlies sports and other types of play as well). There's also probably some part of the brain that relishes the opportunity to "match wits" with another (or computer). Fascinating topic, though. Rob

Thanks Blindicide. For those of you playing the CMMC, there are sample written orders in the appendix of the U.S. edition. Could be helpful. I finished the U.S. last night, and it was somewhat dry but very interesting. There are a ton of great photos, but the weapons info. is somewhat thing. It is well complemented by the Encyclopedia of Weapons of WW II if you have that. The useful point which I drew from the book were explanations of the logistic and organizational structures. Sounds a bit boring, but I found it quite interesting and useful. Rob

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Greg Deych: Could you give us ISBNs for all those, please?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> British: 0-7509-1403-3 U.S.: 0-7509-2050-5 I don't have the Soviet book with me. I'll make a note to post it tomorrow. Rob

Believe it or not, I got it from Barnes & Noble online. www.bn.com I didn't realize that there was a German handbook (in addition to the U.S published 1944 version, which I already have), so I'll probably go and get that one as well. Rob PS Oh yeah, The Red Army Handbook is most definitely in English, but that doesn't make their odd nomenclature any easier to decipher.

Anyone remember another VERY early Microprose title, "Conflict In Vietnam". Loved that one. Even those primitive sound effects gave me chills. "Crusade In Europe" was also a blast (I think it was the same engine). X-com is not only a one of my favorite wargames, but one of the greatest computer games of all-time. (Right up there with Pirates! and Half-Life). Another favorite is the old SSI title, "Colonial Conquest". Man, was that ever fun. That was one of those all night High School get together games, and it didn't get any more fun than that. I remember getting together for simultaneous games of CC and Axis and Allies. Just to keep the mind limber.

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Scott C: Hey Rob, did you really pick up BOTH the Red Army AND the Red Army handbooks? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Ok, maybe not. It was the Red, British and U.S. I'm just so excited about the Russians that I named that twice. Rob (needs to work on finding the elusive neurological connection between his brain and his fingers)

Maybe you're right. No way for me to feign ignorance after this. Oops. Rob

Thanks to the wonder of e-commerce, I've picked up the Red Army, British Army and Red Army handbooks. Nothing like cracking open a fine new book. Both are just chock full of great info, and should help fill up some of this vacant space my brain. I'll post my impressions after I've read them. Rob PS At least now if I lay an egg in the CM Meta-Campaign it will be the result of my ineptitude rather than my ignorance.

Try turning down the hardware acceleration. This can be done from the control panel in windows.

I know, and BTS is aware, that users of the TB Montego sound cards had issues when the acceleration was turned up all the way. We got little (and in some cases no) sound. It was a fairly simple fix, but I don't know if BTS has rectified the bug yet. Rob

Gran Turismo 2 (PSX) Knockout Kings (PSX) Alpah Centauri Team Fortress Classic (of course) Rob (unrepentant console junkie)

Berlichtigen wrote: I'll play any side, but prefer the Germans. I find both the German and Russian armies to be facinating. The British army is boring to me, and I loath the US Army. BTW I'm an American. I have never cared for the US Army's reliance on quantity of support fire over quality of troops... of course, it might just be that as an former Jarhead, I just don't like the Army -------------------------------------------- Have you read Doubler's CLOSING WITH THE ENEMY? He directly addresses the fallacy that GI's in the ETO relied on firepower over troop quality. I highly recommend it. There's not too many pix though, so it won't be like a Marine publication Rob

Let me know how the 101st book is. My father was in the 101st in Vietnam, so I've always been anxious to learn all I can. Rob

Just finishing up Doubler's CLOSING WITH THE ENEMY, and something struck me. He points out that U.S. had great success with performing recon by fire. Is this sort of behavior modeled in CM? For example, if my squad fires at a house which (unbeknownst to them) contains enemy troops, will the hidden enemy return fire. I suppose the answer may depend on the experience of the hidden troops, but I was just wondering. Rob PS Read Doubler's book, it's fantastic

Yeah, I could see idiots doing something like that. Rob (who needed one more post to reach 30!)

St. Nick has done good this year. Just finished MacDonald's "Company Commander", which was terrific. I'm in the middle of Doubler's "Closing With The Enemy", and my GOD am I into it. If you want the one book that will DIRECTLY impact your skill at CM, I think that this may be the one (unless Fionn goes and writes one Also picked up "Blood, Tears and Folly" by Deighton and "Soldat!" by Siegfried Knappe. Haven't gotten to those yet. Rob

1. Bibliography/Recommended Reading Section. This can help newbies find introductory material and grogs fill in some stuff they may have missed. CM is a great learning tool, IMHO, and this would really help it in that department. 2. SHORT (obviously) equipment descriptions. Just enough so that a neophyte can familiarize himself with the general relative strengths/weaknesses of a unit. 3. Emphasis on explanation of commands and AI logic over tactics or extensive historical background. There are other sources for the latter, but only BTS knows the intricacies of the former. Rob

Try changing the amount of hardware acceleration on your soundcard. You can do it from the settings menu if you're using windows. Email me if you need more specific instructions, as it's been awhile since I did it myself. I had the same problem, and that cleared it right up.