Placebo

Good news, BF just need to time the release with the £:$ exchange rate recovery. Damn that could take years!

I do not agree at all, I think CM has found a really good balance between realism and gameplay.

I think part of the reason for less user content is that the QB maps have improved so much, I think the FB maps are amazing and work in QB so much better than older games. Maybe people felt frustrated and thought they could add more to the game with their own content earlier in the series. I have a backlog at the moment, FB - several H2H battles on the go, trying to get into RT more as i struggle with this one (not sure if it just the larger scale or what it is). I also want to finish my BS Russian campaign which crashed middle game and lost loads of game turns, and thats not to mention the new great swan addition to CMBN! I need more quality CM time

What is that?

A bit off topic but that is one game mechanic i miss from CM1, on the setup screen you set a level of force attrition eg, 30% and when you when to the map only 70% of your force sellection would be available (by points spent not headcount). I though this was a really nice variable in the game, so in effect if your Tiger was missing from the battlefield it had been straffed or ran out of fuel on the way.

Just reading "tank warfare on the eastern front 41-42" and the soviets and germans had major fuel shortages early on. It was interesting to note that they would not even consider moving or going into battle before a reserve fuel supply was made available. Which makes me think a tank would never be commited to battle when it was so low on fuel, and if on the defence it would always have plenty of fuel for the battle but would maybe be scuttled by the crew during a retreat if it run out of gas.

Any chance of an Italian bone update?

Duckman I was just thinking the same! I am playing FI without the 3.0 patch and missing the extra stuff that adds, I also like the different character of the Italian maps so it would be really good to see a new module and patch for this game.

Just for info I have a hybrid SSD and HDD system with the CM installs using both disks without any issues. I can give you my full PC specs if it is of any use.

You have inspired me to fire this one up again!

+1 from me, interesting post.

Pete, I mean the Rushing Stavelot map. as you can see most of my men and a halftrack crossing the bridge did not make it!

Well unfortunately I have been very disappointed with the Stoumont map, I had a good start and advanced quickly but as soon as my troops started crossing the bridge, they decided it was better to hide under the bridge and would not budge. I am used to some pathfinding issues on bridges and my two panzers made slow progress but made it across, but hardly anything else did, effectively ending the battle for me. Very frustrating!!

Just about to start this battle tonight, been holding off till the weekend after hearing all the reports of the carnage ahead. I went for speed hoping for an easier time, i will let you know if i regret it later.

Well Steve it looks like you are stuck with us poor consumers . It is good the game has a lot of credability with real world commanders, that is the best "guarantee of authenticity" you could get.

I agree, very fond memories of all the CM1 games but as soon as I load one up all those fond memories disappear!!

Very interesting article, I would have thought with that huge U.S military budget it would not take much for a contract to ind its way into BFC's pockets! Its a shame thats never the way it works it their bureaucratic world, as the extra investment in the engine would benefit us consumers as well.

Really like the translucent version - thanks both.

Looking great, will be an essential upgrade for FB when released. Let us know when it is out for general consumption.

faster load times my just be down to the empty z folder, once the mods start coming out I am sure my load times will increase

Chris I agree 100%, as a WEGO player who has been playing a long time, my only gripe is the time it takes for the TC to button up when taking fire. Other than that I think the game is working fine as is (except for the Stug example mentioned above).

is there a pic or vid to follow?

+1 great map

Just had time for 1 QB last night, map was very good and used the new volksgrenadiers and new Jackson tank - it all looked very good.

The refresh monkeys were fast asleep (midnight UK time), so i will have to download this evening. Well done to the BF team.