With the advent of broadband enabled next generation consoles (Gamecube, PS2, X-Box) I feel its time we convince BTS that CM can also be played on these new machines, in the living room, in front of the kids and by the kids. First, let me say that CM would need a major overhaul to be playable on such devices, however, the X-box is practically a pc, and a port could be acheived in a short period of time, and be profitable, imho. The argument that BTS doesn't want their product on a console for fear someone will copy the code, or produce copycat games that may dilute a genre in which they currently entertain a monopoly (squad level combat), is mute, as about half a dozen games currently in production could be considered CM copycats already. Perhaps a large publisher revolts BTS so much that they are willing to forego a piece of the Next-Gen pie? A massively multiplayer WW2 title is what console gamers are demanding... if BTS has no interest in this thats fine, but it will be a cash cow for someone, as gamers already purchase even the most lackluster WW2 games. Let me also say that doing a console version would do CM some good, largely because it lacks polish (which may or may not be resolved in CMBB, I don't know). By polish, I refer to the crucial things CM will need before it could become golden master on a console (yes I know this is beating a dead horse):
1)Stable code that doesn't crash.
2)A refined GUI with better menus and button layout.
3)A better 3d engine with particle effects, smoke trails, and things like muzzle flash and realtime lighting.
4)Saving replays of turns in movie form to show your friends.
5)An in-game walkthrough that summarizes the 150 page manual.
Before you guys get crazy as to why this could never happen, let me first clear up some of the myths surrounding the consoles:
1)They are all internet capable this fall, and I have already played both Ps2 and X-box games over cable modem.
2)They have the horsepower, my ibook runs CM fine (300mhz ppc), and all the new consoles are rated at 300mhz or greater and produce graphics of far greater detail than anything I have seen on computers. My gamecube renders hundreds of little creatures simultaneously in realtime lighting... they could just as easily be Volkstrum.
3)"I play CM with a mouse and keyboard, not some stupid controller"... X-box and PS2 are usb plug and play, keyboards, mice, they all work.
4)Mods. X-box has a 8Gb HD, sony ships a Ps2 HD in October.
Oh, and did I mention the caption on the back of the box...
"Over 1000 scenarios available for download online, hundreds of players await your challenge"
Now, what console game can offer that?
Are you with me? Let's not wait 5 years for an engine rewrite (j/k). Lets get BTS to sell out now! Then our kids could actually learn something, and humanity will be saved.