Erik Rutins

I don't want to completely hijack this, so I'll just post this one reply. We're working on a full map and scenario editor. We decided that the existing XML format was friendly enough for the initial release and that we'd devote our resources to creating a full editor rather than an interim solution. With that said, the fan-created editor is quite impressive given the time he spent on it and does show the power of XML - I'd recommend it in general to any developer. Going back to lurker mode now. Regards, - Erik

Just to help get back on topic and strictly speaking personally, I'm also a SC fan and I agree completely with the sentiments above. I've got enough to keep me busy until SC2 comes out and I'll be happy to buy it when it does. Regards, - Erik

Not to hijack, but you may have missed the announcement that 2by3 are actually working on adding TCP/IP right now. It will be available as a free update in the near future. Regards, - Erik

Wicky, Thanks, good advice which I'll keep in mind as far as getting that spotter into action quickly without losing much accuracy. Hey, which game - you mean Battlefields? Ack, I've been caught taking a break. We haven't looked into the Mac, honestly, since neither Ludo or I have developed for it in the past. However, I wonder if it would actually run fairly well in emulation as it is basically a Windows program with some DirectX. I assume you're a Mac user - are there any decent Mac windows emulators that support DirectX 8? If we get requests, I'd certainly consider it for Battlefields II, but we've got to finish I first. I'd suggest you pop on over to our forums and post an occasional Mac request there. Regards - Erik

Wicky, Thanks, that was it, I wasn't looking far enough away to see where it might be going. In previous versions of CM, I'd seen inaccuracy when targeting without LOS, but this one took the cake. He was trying to get the mortars to fire at a target around 680m away (basically the AT gun in the central flag position by the wall) and all 120 or so rounds actually landed off the map behind the oasis! Anyway, glad to figure that one out. I'll move him up next time first. Regards - Erik

Hi, Had a chance to try out the North Africa scenario today - great work on CMAK, gentlemen. Playing as the Germans, I had my 81mm spotter target a US gun position (this was the first order to him on the turn he entered the map as a reinforcement). Time went by and his display showed that the mortars had started firing at the gun. Problem is that the gun kept shooting. I checked him again and watched the replay - while the ammo count was going down I saw no mortar impacts at all around the targeted position. Please let me know if this is just a mistake on my part or a problem. Thanks. (I have a save file that should show this possible issue, let me know where to send it if you'd like to take a look) Regards, - Erik

Hey fellas, Don't worry, still spending the vast majority of my time on UV and Battlefields!... just supporting our fellow online wargaming companies. Glad to see that you are also familiar with Hubert's excellent game. Regards, - Erik

First off, congratulations on a very fun game. --- Second edit: Problem solved! It turned out I still had an old pre-patch save in the directory. Even though I wasn't going to load it, simply having it there crashed the program. My bad for not noticing and deleting it, but the program's response could have been a bit more elegant. Once I deleted the old save from the directory (as recommended), SC loaded the list of saves without a problem and let me continue my post-patch game. --- To blow off some steam last night, tried a game as the Allies on Expert, +0. Got well into 1942, saved the game and got some sleep. Decided to load it up just now for a bit of a break and SC crashed on me. Here's the exact sequence of what is causing it to crash to the desktop: Start SC with the provided desktop shortcut. Click to clear the Battlefront logo. Click on Load Saved Game. ... and it dumps me to the desktop with no error message. Out of curiosity, I went into SC.ini and tried setting DirectX to 0 (it was 1 and there was a note that DX 7.0 or higher had been detected) but that didn't prevent the crash. Does it read the save files when it first tried to load the saved game menu? Is this a save file problem or is it a general menu problem? Some system specs, in case they are helpful: Dell Dimension 4100 PIII-933 256Mb RAM GeForce2 MX SB Live! Windows 2000 SP2 SC had been working fine, I previously loaded a saved game as the Axis without a problem. Regards, - Erik --- Edited Found this in the exception_trace.log in the SC directory: SC.exe: system execution failed. Following is the set of recorded exceptions: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Class / Object Routine Nature of exception Effect ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GAME_APPLICATION root's creation SAVE_GAME: <01B0B388> Retrieval error. Exit ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GAME_APPLICATION root's creation Segmentation violation: <01B0B388> Operating system signal. Exit ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GAME_APPLICATION root's creation <01B0B388> Routine failure. Exit ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [ August 05, 2002, 10:59 AM: Message edited by: Erik Rutins ]

Hubert, Hang in there. It's a tough job but you've created an excellent game. I was also very disappointed to see the posts from Hags, I'm glad he has realized the damage he caused. Hope you can find a way to secure the gold demo somewhat - regardless, I'll get a copy. Regards, - Erik

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Zamo: The TCP/IP patch isn't even needed, and after lots of craving for it, I find I could care less about it now. I have never been a PBEM player, and have always considered that a quaint holdover from an archaic past, but now that I have used it, it suits CM perfectly, and LAN or WAN TCP/IP implementation will just have one or the other player sitting around WAITING for the other guy. I no longer crave it.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Wow, well, I couldn't disagree more. The way I'm hoping TCP/IP will be done is that it will adapt itself well to the WEGO structure. In other words, players will be issuing their orders at the same time. The only wait will be when one side finishes well before the other. In my opinion, it will be much faster and more playable than the current PBEM method which has an excessive number of e-mail exchanges for my liking. Regards, - Erik

Up with TCP/IP! Regards, - Erik

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by fd ski: What do you guys think ?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> I'd love it. My daydreams nowadays often stray towards multiplayer CM. It would be nice if the TCP/IP patch included provision for more than one player per side (perhaps in specially designed scenarios). Regards, - Erik [This message has been edited by Erik Rutins (edited 07-18-2000).]

Would anyone else like to be able to buy squad or team-sized bunkers that you could fill ("embark") with existing infantry units? Particularly in the case of wooden bunkers, there are many cases where they contained more than just one MG and where the "crew" had more than pistols to fight with when the bunker was knocked out. Regards, - Erik

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Dar: I understand the reasoning for that during the battle, but I fail to understand why we can't get accurate kill totals after the battle.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> I agree. I'd love to see the after-battle "MAP" view reflect the actual casualties caused by each unit. Regards, - Erik

Actually, they did have a significant combat involvement during Dragoon, particularly with respect to TF Butler and in coordination with CCA 1st FFA during the 19th Armee retreat up through Montelimar. I recall reading about significant numbers of FFI helping to harass and attack 19th Armee security units as well as the retreating columns. Apparently, someone had also airdropped some 37mm ATGs, of which they managed to get at least one assembled and emplaced to cover the German retreat. The FFI vs. the 157th Mountain in the Vercors Plateau area would also make for some good scenarios, no doubt. Regards, - Erik