Barrold

Oh so many memories coming back thinking about all those scenarios made available by the many great designers. Looking forward to playing again. BDH

I have to admit that after playing the demo, I am seriously on the fence on this game. Lest my boner fides be questioned, I twice drove over 200 miles to Rune's house for CMBB previews. I have been a CM Evangelist to anyone with interest in gaming WWII. I wrote papers and gave speeches for assignments using CM as topics. Even though I mostly played the AI because I suck at it, I recognized the genius of the design and the execution. There is no question that the game will be much improved in many areas over the next few months, but that is simply based on the good history of support BFC has with their games. These are good, honest, hard-working fellers. Yet, even with the constraints of real life notwithstanding, I have not been drooling at the prospect of CMSF and I am currently luke warm about ever getting it. Maybe we're all jaded by the advances in games over the past 7 or 8 years. Maybe the thrill of seeing machine gun bullets kick up dirt is old hat and the value of replaying the effect of an awesome long-range shot is simply passe' to the current market. Maybe I'm just a knucklehead that doesn't get the awesomeness contained in CMSF. I didn't hate the demo, I just wasn't amazed by it as I was by my first CM games oh so many years ago. It felt clunky to me and I didn't really orient very well to the controls but with practice and tweaks on the level of detail perhaps I'll find the sweet spot. It is nowhere near as awful as the interface to Squad Assault, but that's a low bar to jump over. Maybe the setting is too close to what I see on the news every night and the modern stuff isn't appealing to me because of it. I dunno. What truly concerns me is that this format is not going to make for a genre defining WWII game in the future. I don't doubt that BFC will clean up and optimize the current engine as time goes by...but will it make for the kind of game that truly is the rightful descendant of CMBO, CMBB, and CMAK? BDH

A sitcom-like laugh track Thought balloons for your troops Dashed lines showing where the unit has gone a' la those hilarious Family Circus cartoons Health packs More hover bikes BFS5

Hover Bikes BFS5

I will not put humor aside for a moment and suggest we follow the lead of Peter Griffin and have the new title be: Combat Mission: Freakin' Sweet BFS5

Well cover me in chocolate and call me dessert, this is a surprise. Especially since it's a good surprise and not the usual kick in the balls surprise that I've become almost used to. What a great idea. What great timing and what a great way to extend the life of a great game system. I don't generally double w00t, but I'll do it here. w00t! w00t!! BDH

Considering some of the flotsam that has come from that source, their isolation seems to be an excellent phenomena. BDH

You way off homeslice, BF to the C-izzle is all about going imperialist on your non-US azz old school! BFS5

Except for the fact that in times of need both organizations have been used to supplement the regular army. Why have such organizations if they aren't used when appropriate? BDH

I found a Wiki page on possible Syrian secret resources. BFS5

If I don't get to call in MOABs as CAS against Syrian bunker complexes, I'm modding Vanilla Barry into Tantrum Barry! BFS5

Actually, he has said there will be more information near the end of this month when the next issue of Computer Gaming World comes out. BDH

Dalemtopia will give you a pile of money, but it's his local currency and it comes on rolls so this is probably not the best solution. BFS5

I don't think pounding sites inside Syria is far-fetched at all. It might even be a good idea. What I raised an eyebrow at is the specific scenario that Steve's laid out. I concede that it's not exactly important that it be 100% probable, but when your premise includes a UN-initiated invasion, given the current situation and recent history, I question how probable this is. Even this criticism is not quite fair though since the hypothetical has not been laid out entirely. Otherwise outside of how it makes the campaign stuff play out, the exact scenario is a niggle I suppose. BDH

Mayhaps the 300 post limit should be considered and a new thread created (if necessary). BDH

I said much more surgically. There wasn't widespread artillery barrages, carpet bombing, or extensive softening up of buildings unless enemy activity was more of less confirmed. That there was damage is to be expected given the extent of the operation. It wasn't left as a huge pile of rubble as was often seen in WWII. That's all I'm saying. BDH

I wouldn't assume they were in, but I would think these kinds of political considerations are to be expected in this situation. Different eras of course, but simply flattening a city block is not going to reflect well on the flattener. Look at Fallujah. In a WWII situation, such a place would have been clobbered as a matter of course, but it was handled much more surgically. If keeping a bunch of M.E. forces in some sort of coalition is part of the overall story, one would think excessive collateral damage would be included somehow. I'll await official word before assuming it though. BDH

I think this is an interesting question, but what are the implications? If they put in what would be a theoretical unforeseen fallibility, wouldn't this artificially nerf a weapon system? How would it's inclusion be justified? BDH

Why clutter up this wonderful sentence with a bunch of nattering conditions? BFS5

Tip top buddy...tip freakin' top. BDH

I had a point? Doesn't sound like me...hmmmm BDH

Steve I have officially pushed the "I Believe" button and will look forward to more details in futher press releases. BDH

I am still disappointed, but now it is because of the slight hangover headache I have this morning. Never fear though, coffee is on the way! How about a sing song It's got to be a neo-nazi morning stomping around impotently about those jews and the way they control America Hitler told me so I know it's true BFS5

This is supposed to create some sort of enthusiasm or anticipatin for the release of the demo? Just thinking about the sort of release that the release of the demo might bring results in hives, shock, and a general malaise. I'm going to have to lay down after such a jolt to the system. BDH

Steve I don't doubt for a moment your sincerity in the viewpoints expressed. In all seriousness, much is going to depend on the execution of the game. BTW, feel free to call me Barry, all my fiends call me Barry. Rational or not the sight of a U.S. squad in the exact same uniforms we see on the news being wiped out by an IED is unsettling in a way that the first game could never be. This is also a function of the improved graphics as those guys look quite realistic. It's a visceral reaction and perhaps it will enhance the appreciation of playing the U.S. side with the goal of limiting casualties. BDH