Barrold

I would also be curious to see how a spread out squad will be handled. BDH

Excellent thread...thank you. I only have one niggle though...Grape orchards? BDH

Girlfriend?!? BFS5

I think having them say the focus in on sub-battalion engagements is to essentially say the scale would remain the same in CMx2 as CMx1. Some may use it differently from the intended focus and we shall have to see what level of flexibility is included, but these scenarios would be beyond what was originally envisioned. Instead of taking the above statement as a limitation to company-level battles, what if it leaves open the possibility for larger battles in the future? BDH

More than that, CMx1 was capable of producing a scenario like 'Across the Volga' that still brings most rigs to a chugging standstill. While it obviously was not the design scope, it was a flexible enough system to allow users to push the envelope. If the new system is capable, I wouldn't think artificial constraints would be inserted to prevent this sort of experimentation. My uninformed guess would be that they would rather extend the same sort of flexibility while noting it was beyond what was officially intended. BDH

Greetings Mother BFS5

To add to this notion, I have to say that when I have played the Bull Run game from MadMinute Games, one of the really cool bits was the coordination with the AI-controlled large units. In the role of a divisional commander, it was a real kick to see units over which I had absolutely no control, line up and advance into battle as I supported. Yelling at the commander whose cautious delays were getting my men slaughtered certainly simulates some of the frustration real leaders felt. Anything that would further these types of experiences within the CM environments could not be help to enhance certain types of scenarios. Maybe if options to have different levels of command able to be selected this would keep flexibility for those who don't like playing this way. I dunno. BDH

KEEP WEGO WWII Sneak Peeks at Rune's CHANGE/ADD Mod switcher utility within game Full Movie Playback Borg Spotting Follow/Road Movement Improvement Show Casualties BDH

I am of the hope that one of the new features might be the incorporation of a mod-switcher within the game. BDH

Steve said there would be ponies with reactive armor and lasers in another thread. They will also have their health bars filled by eating the cheese power-ups liberally sprinkled on the battlefield. BFS5

Blade goes up...blade goes down...blade goes up... Seriously though. I like that scene too for the same reasons. Sometime back about a billion years ago, I mounted a fierce defense in Panzerblitz against a friends determined swarms of Russian armor. Crappy roll after crappy roll allowed a huge pile of destroyed counters to accumulate in front of my erstwhile defenders. The imagination pictured all of this happening as a movie in my mind, but until CMx1, these types of scenarios really didn't have any sort of accurate realization outside of the mind's eye. I think as long as the fundamentals of accuracy accompany whatever the graphics in this type of game that the simulation will bring you along. The truer the depiction on the screen of the environment can only help enhance the experience one wants to get as part of the reward for playing. It should also fulfill the other part by allowing the mental challenge of directing your forces to victory in any number of situations. I think most would agree that having just the eyecandy without the second element does nothing to fire the imagination needed to put yourself in the scene. If they do this right as I expect, it is hard to see where that immersion is not increased greatly. It's effect on your excretionary activities shall remain a difficulty though as your reaction can hardly be viewed as an incentive for excellence from Charles. BFS5

On most things a motto of "Always anticipate disappointment" seems warranted, but I have noticed one thing about Steve's pronouncements. When he releases a detail, it genuinely appears to be well past the "gee that's a cool idea" phase. Items that are undetermined have been clearly labeled as iffy. However, our imaginations can be our worst enemies as we can envision the vivid action played out over remembered scenarios from dozens of computer or board game battles. The best we can hope for is to continually look for better immersion as experience and technology combine to push these games forward to the goals we have set in our minds. I remember Dan commenting months ago about the graphics of some WWII game or another as being the easy part of the process. A pretty picture being just that unless the goods behind it make it move like the real deal. In these departments, BFC has seemed quite willing to hire additional expertise when needed to handle those departments that leave Charles best able to deal with the truly difficult coding. This would be things like effecting the realistic detail accurately depicting the disciplined rush of a squad assaulting a building and keeping it from looking like two-dimensional orcs yelling "Zug Zug" for example. With their philosophy of not letting it out until it meets their vision and their goals to the best of their abilities, I have no doubt that by the time it is released, our expectations will be properly tempered to the fit the game's performance. If it disappoints, it will likely be from an unrealistic expectation. It won't be generated from the hyperbolic claims of BFC either, but rather the desire to see the vision of our imagination realized. If you think about it, this is not such a bad thing, if only for the fact that it keeps the demand for better products going even when the latest game blows you away for awhile. Maybe when we're 70 years old having heart attacks while playing virtual Stalingrad we'll be 100% satisfied. I am willing to bet that some would still complain that the sewer smell just doesn't seem exactly right. BDH

I am definitely getting that ol' familiar stoked feeling as I hear more and more information. BDH

Not the best gas mileage though. Of course I would imagine clearing a path through traffic is easier than just using a little horn. BDH

First I would like to thank Tom for the compilation and of course commend Steve for entering the pit and making clarifications and rebuttals. I have to think that the distribution model BFC has used would tend to give them some valuable marketing information that is driving part of their current strategy. They alone know how many units were sold and they alone know what percentage of sales are from active forum members. Added to this is the numbers coming from their retail distribution agreements with CDV. Even so while the input of the members here has repeatedly been highlighted as an important sounding board and the fact that the new members of the development team have been recruited from our midst, it is solely the leadership province of BFC to use their information in the way that best makes sense for their continued success. AEB makes an excellent point about the TW franchise above. Since the most vociferously negative voices could simply be cranks living in their parent's basement, it is plain silly to affect changes or adopt a plan that does not make business sense. These very same voices are likely never to be happy anyway and would complain if they were hung with a brand new rope. If their product meets their vision, they will be leaders once again bringing along an increasing group of followers to their products. BFC has a good track record thus far and I look forward to hearing more about the development process and the upcoming product. What I would like to experience is a line of games that allow each succeeding module to infuse previous modules with a refreshed sense of that initial thrill of the first games. From what I gather of the intent of the new product, I can certainly see where this effect would be possible. I think it's a good business model that should bring in an ample revenue stream into the future provided that the game is solid, relatively bug-free, accessible, and engaging. BDH

First I would like to thank Tom for the compilation and of course commend Steve for entering the pit and making clarifications and rebuttals. I have to think that the distribution model BFC has used would tend to give them some valuable marketing information that is driving part of their current strategy. They alone know how many units were sold and they alone know what percentage of sales are from active forum members. Added to this is the numbers coming from their retail distribution agreements with CDV. Even so while the input of the members here has repeatedly been highlighted as an important sounding board and the fact that the new members of the development team have been recruited from our midst, it is solely the leadership province of BFC to use their information in the way that best makes sense for their continued success. AEB makes an excellent point about the TW franchise above. Since the most vociferously negative voices could simply be cranks living in their parent's basement, it is plain silly to affect changes or adopt a plan that does not make business sense. These very same voices are likely never to be happy anyway and would complain if they were hung with a brand new rope. If their product meets their vision, they will be leaders once again bringing along an increasing group of followers to their products. BFC has a good track record thus far and I look forward to hearing more about the development process and the upcoming product. What I would like to experience is a line of games that allow each succeeding module to infuse previous modules with a refreshed sense of that initial thrill of the first games. From what I gather of the intent of the new product, I can certainly see where this effect would be possible. I think it's a good business model that should bring in an ample revenue stream into the future provided that the game is solid, relatively bug-free, accessible, and engaging. BDH

CM: Buy This Game or Toby the Bunny Gets Eaten BDH

A Not only will I buy it, I'm planning on tattooing the CD art on my butt. BFS5

When is the first CMx2 patch coming out? Good discussion on this detail. I am definitely getting that familiar feeling of anticipation as mention of new features and possibilities get tossed around. It's also good to see Steve so active in the back and forth although I still picture Charles when I read his posts. I don't know why. It could be a tumor. BDH

Steve, Charles, Matt, et al...let me know when you want my money. I have been saving cans and selling plasma so there should be no problems with all that. Please let Rune give another sneak peak so I have another excuse to go to Chicago to see it early. How about putting in Easter Eggs like a special key combination that changes artillery shells from black dots to little wedges of cheese? BFS5

If it is a bug, I suggest it be called the big bad wolf bug. BDH

US Navy 1982-1988 Nuclear Qualified Machinist's Mate Engineering Laboratory Technician Went to MM school in Great Lakes, IL; Nuclear Power School, Orlando Florida; Nuclear Power Training Unit, Balston Spa, NY. Lots of seatime on USS Nimitz (CVN-68) with a couple Med cruises, a North Atlantic cruise, including a home port change from Norfolk to Bremerton, WA and plenty of sea trials. Haven't been on anything larger than a pontoon boat since. BDH

I think the site is down since I tried to reach it from some Googled links and they were dead. BDH

Didn't that have wizards and such? "My +3 Staff of Wisking strikes your +1 Shield of Halitosis for 12 hit points of damage." Eew! It would have to be done carefully to be worth anything. More of a speculative future tech without edging over into giant robots and disrupter rays. BDH

Kitty wrote: How about CM: Ogre? Pan-European vs Combine units rendered in a beautiful 3-D post-nuclear world? As I thought of this possibility, I have not perceived the described sensation. Naturally, your sensibilities may differ. BDH