Toad

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by gaffertape: Unless Canada Post now delivers twice a day I'm SOL again (Friday). Still, glad to hear that some of you lads are getting the goods. Soon life shall return to normal. Well, normal in a CM-centered kind of way. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> I believe Canada Post did deliver twice a day at one time. Perhaps it was only to businesses, however. I fear the union wouldn't like that idea much if was suggested again. ------------------ -- Toad Ontario, Canada

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Teufel Hunden: Memory overview Disk cache: 7.96 MB Virtual memory: is off Built-in memory: 256 MB <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> I just noticed that you have Virtual Memory turned off, and you're running a G4 processor. You should absolutely turn your virtual memory back on. Click the "Use Defaults" button in the memory control panel. Your disk cache also looks high. But, you've probably adjusted it for a reason. ------------------ -- Toad Ontario, Canada

Just a thought. Check your Energy Saver control panel. If your hard drive is spinning down too early, the delay you're experiencing might be the result of the game waiting to access the drive. ------------------ -- Toad Ontario, Canada

I've noticed that people sometimes forget to post what version of the Mac OS they have installed when describing their system. This is obviously a very important item to help trouble-shooting. When trouble-shooting, less is better. You only waste time by changing ten things, and re-starting. If it works, you'll have no idea what made it work. If it doesn't work, you have no idea if the old problem is still there, or if your ten changes just created a brand new problem. One of the first things you should always try is starting up with the Shift key held down. This disables all extensions. Extension conflicts and problems is the number one source of troubles. Don't forget your handy OS install CD! You can boot from it, to be guaranteed a known-to-work environment. If possible, use the Apple System Profiler to create a report of your system. This report is very handy for the people trying to trouble-shoot. To hopefully give others some encouragement, I have been successfully enjoying the Gold Demo since the day I downloaded it. I run it on both a G3 333 "bronze" Powerbook and a B&W G3 400. I run OS 9.04 on both machines. I have never touched the Demo memory settings, have not disabled my cache, and am running the latest ATI video drivers available from Apple. ------------------ -- Toad Ontario, Canada

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Boris Balaban: Good for you. May be others get it today and Friday. No TAXES or DUTY?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> I'm very surprised that no taxes were collected. It's possible that the small size of the package allowed it to sneak through. Great news, however! There certainly is no duty to be collected. Combat Mission is a US-made product, and is therefore covered under the Free Trade Agreement. ------------------ -- Toad Ontario, Canada

Just in case anyone is looking for one more reason to write a letter to their MP, consider the following. Canada Customs and Revenue Canada merged last year to become one. They are now the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency. The Customs half of CCRA determine the Canadian value of imported packages for tax purposes. The Revenue half of CCRA conveiniently gets 7% of whatever the Customs half determines the package to be worth. Canada Post - an independent corporation, but 51% owned by the federal government - is required to collect the taxes from you, and hand them over to the CCRA. They charge a $5 service fee to do this. Since Canada Post is 51% owned by the Federal government, Ottawa gets a share of their profits - including a piece of that $5 charged for the service of collecting tax from you. You don't need a stamp to mail a letter to your MP, by the way ... Here's hoping that we start reading reports of Combat Mission arriving today. ------------------ -- Toad Ontario, Canada

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by patboivin: This hasn't happened in a few years, but I remember one or two news items in the past fifteen years about someone in Canada receiving a letter that was actually mailed years before., e.g. receiving a letter that was mailed in the 1930s or something like that.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> But Canada Post DID get that lost letter through, didn't they? Even after being lost for decades, the mail STILL got through. Do you think an e-mail server could find a message it lost decades ago, and still deliver it? Canada Post moves over 5 billion pieces of mail a year. Even if Canada Post had a 99.999% success rate, some stuff is going to get lost, when you're dealing with 5 billion items. I've seen the gigantic machines used to sort the mail. It's easy to see how a letter could accentially fall underneath on of the machines, and not be discovered until years later, when the machine is unbolted from the floor to be replaced. The delivery of Combat Mission to Canada is, in my guess, being delayed by Canada Customs & Revenue. ------------------ -- Toad Ontario, Canada

Here's the address for Canada Customs & Revenue. http://www.ccra-adrc.gc.ca Here's their info on importing stuff through the mail. http://www.ccra-adrc.gc.ca/E/pub/cp/rc4051eq/README.html ------------------ -- Toad Ontario, Canada

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by patboivin: Are you saying toad that USPS is as evil as Canada Post? Incredible. Naww, it can't be. Has anyone figured out yet why the Canada Post headquarters in Ottawa are BIGGER THAN OUR PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS?? There is definitely something wrong here.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> No - Canada Post isn't evil. I used to work there - and I'm a nice guy! I suspect that the delay is with Canada Customs & Revenue. Oh - and to answer your question about the Canada Post offices in Ottawa. Canada Post is the largest employer in Canada. ------------------ -- Toad Ontario, Canada

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Ralph D: Still no joy in Ottawa either yet. I ordered in October, but I've experienced the pain of getting stuff from the states before. It's like we're being penalized by Canada Post (which we are!). That Gold demo is sure getting a run for the money - considering it was free! Regards, Ralph D<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> I don't think the delay is being caused by Canada Post. What we're experiencing is the delay of getting packages across the border. ------------------ -- Toad Ontario, Canada

52.1 % 468 total votes ------------------ -- Toad Ontario, Canada

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by aka_tom_w: Are you refering to the Gold Demo or the Gold Release with the v 1.01 patch?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Thanks, Tom_W. Yes - I am talking about the demo. Still waiting for the real thing to arrive. There is the "Hide" command in the demo. I'll try that, in combination with setting ambush targets. If anyone else also has some suggestions, I'd appreciate them. Thanks. ------------------ -- Toad Ontario, Canada

How can I tell my units to hold their fire? I tried telling my hidden AT guns to target an ambush point that was far from any enemy units, but they chose to fire on the first thing they saw anyway. How can I get them to absolutely keep their fingers off the triggers until I tell them to shoot, or they're being attacked? Thanks. ------------------ -- Toad Ontario, Canada

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Boris Balaban: But what takes them so long to fill out a card and diliver it to your door. May be one extra day?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> It's the stops along the way that slow down a package from the US. Canada Post can have a package from Victoria to Fredricton in three days. But Combat Mission first needs to come to Canada Post's hands from the USPS. The USPS won't fly (yes - most mail from the US comes via air) a plane to Canada until there's enough mail to justify it. So, Combat Mission may be waiting on a plane until the plane is full of mail. Then Canada Customs & Revenue needs to approve all the packages that come into Canada. No fruits, vegetables or plants. No guns. No drugs. On and on ... They at least read the maifest for every package. Sometimes they open them for inspection. Then CCR must determine what the package is worth, so they can figure out how much in taxes to charge you. Then it gets handed to Canada Post. Once they have it, they'll have that card in your mailbox within two days. One day, if you live in a major city. ------------------ -- Toad Ontario, Canada

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Peterk: ARRGGGHHH! Mailman came and went, absolutely nothing. This is ridiculous, it was in Vermont like what? A week and a half ago! Does anyone know what the standard procedure would be - will it be the mailman or the truck? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> I used to work for Canada Post, in marketing. You will not receive Combat Mission to your door. Your mailman - er, ahem "Postal Carrier - will deliver a card to your door telling you to come pick up your package at the nearest postal outlet. You'll need to bring the card, some ID, and your wallet with you. Canada Post will collect the taxes on behalf of the government, plus a $5 fee for doing so. ------------------ -- Toad Ontario, Canada

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by dano6: I am curious how a weapon that has more pentration power than a schreck, 5 times as much ammo, and twice the range, costs 66% of the schreck. I know movement is limited, but this weapon is a super-cheap AT gun with HE capability. The only thing that is different is the limited range. And plus how common was this weapon. Seems that commonality should be figured in to the pts. Seems to throw the balance of ladder games way off. Especially when the Germans defend. You could buy ten of these and need absolutely no other AT assets what-so-ever. Just seems that the calculation of the points value is a bunch off. I think that this weapon would be about 30-40pts. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> I agree with Dano6 that the point value of an item should be affected by it's historical commonality. Only as an option, however. A "Point Values Adjusted To Reflect History?" on/off option would be ideal. ------------------ -- Toad Ontario, Canada

Hmmm ... I'm not so sure BTS should be commended on underestimating the market for their game, and running out of supply! That's no way to run a company! However, they have certainly created a fine product, and they deserve as many sales as they can get. ------------------ -- Toad Ontario, Canada

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by desert fox: Dear BTS, just got the game...however I have seen it on an IBM with a G-force image card and it looks much better than my imac's image capabilities. My imac makes the graphics look blotchy (smoke looks like beta demo smaoke). Should I get a new graphics card like a nexus 32Mb card or a 16Mb rage orion card for my mac. Which card would give me the best detail..color...shape..ect. Currently I have an imac with a virtual memory of 997M, it seems to play the small maps the best, graphics wise, otherwise when i play the large med and huge maps the tree and everything else look extremely block like. I'm sure I need a new card, but does anyone know which one will give me the absolute best results? Also, what pixel resolutions should the cards be able to get up to? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Hi 'Fox: I've been a Mac user for some time. I'm also a certified Apple Product Professional. There are also a lot of other Mac users here too. I'm sure one of us can get you working properly. The iMac has more than enough power to play Combat Mission fully. Let's start with the basic stuff. What iMac do you have? - Is is a "DV" model? - Processor speed? - Memory? (Not your Virtual Memory setting - the amount of real RAM you have installed) As Mirage 2K pointed out, you should not have your Virtual Memory setting as high as 997M. Click on "Use Defaults" in your Memory control panel, and leave it alone. Check your Combat Mission settings. You can adjust the detail of the smoke and tree graphics. Make sure they are set to what you want. Once you reply with the type of iMac you have, we'll know what we're dealing with, and can help you further. There should be no reason you need to change the video card in your iMac to play Combat Mission. ------------------ -- Toad Ontario, Canada

Is is possible, or is it planned, to be able to change play modes during a game? For example, suppose a friend and I start a "hotseat" game, and want to carry on via PBEM? Or even the ability to let the computer pick up your opponent's PBEM side, if he decides he's had enough and you want to continue. Or if you want to experiment with different "what if" possibilities from an interesting situation that developed from a PBEM game. Thanks. ------------------ -- Toad Ontario, Canada

Another Mac user over here! ------------------ -- Toad Ontario, Canada

Hi Tom_W! <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR> Now that is a RIPP OFF! first off the game will cost us about $ 79.00 cnd instead or $45.00 US, then there is the damned GST and NOW another $ 5.00 for the damn service of charging us GST! Now I am PISSED OFF! <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> I don't blame you for being pissed! Most of the Canada Post people I worked with were pretty disgusted and embarrassed when that decision was made. I suspect that it was simply reactionary to the Fed's order to force Canada Post to collect taxes on all foreign shipments, and just hand over the cash. Canada Post is VERY cost-oriented. So, an extra dollar of effort spent here, meant they had to collect an extra dollar in revenue from somewhere else ... BTW: Canada Post is also still a very politically-connected place. Complaints to your MP work ... ------------------ -- Toad Ontario, Canada

You will probably find the first Canadian reports in the following message thread that's been asking the same question. SUBJ: Who will be the first Canadian to recieve CM? BY: Boris Balaban ------------------ -- Toad Ontario, Canada

I used to work for Canada Post. (Marketing) You will receive a card telling you that a package is waiting for you at your closest postal outlet. The card will tell you of the fees due. You will need to bring the card, along with photo ID, to pick up your package. Canada Post will collect the taxes due from you. The taxes will be based upon whatever value Canada Customs determine Combat Mission to be worth. Note that Canada Post is just collecting money that they must hand over to the Federal government. For this "service" they will charge you an additional $5.00. There is no duty payable on Combat Mission, since it is made in the US, and is covered under the Free Trade Agreeement. ------------------ -- Toad Ontario, Canada

I think this is a facinating article. The author, David Isenberg, highlights the very good point that these "Private Military Companies" are better trained, more experienced, and more motivated than the "real" armies of many countries. I think he does not give enough thought to the fact that these PCM's are obviously made of highly organized and motivated men & women of action. And people of action don't like to sit still. So, while a PCM might be a very effective attacking force, they would probably not be as interested in jobs involving defense. Or peace keeping, as the author suggested. Nevetheless, we shouldn't ever forget that the people in our militaries are - first priority - trained, professional killers. We need them because we never know when we may call upon them to protect us from some other country's trained, professional killers. The idea of hired guns (or spears, or swords, or muskets ...) has been around for thousands of years. I don't think this article is too far-fetched. ------------------ -- Toad Ontario, Canada

I was searching the 'net for new wargames to try. ------------------ -- Toad Ontario, Canada