kingtiger

Ohhhhhhhhh, KingTigers coming round the bend, Doo-dahh Doo-Dah. Twas the day before christmas and all through the house, not a creature was sturring, not even a mouse. Clank, clank, clank, but the mighty KingTigers could be heard in the snow. Dohhh! Richard Kalajian

Lee, You the man! NOW TELL ME WHAT THIS IS FROM? Friend 1: What ya doing? Person: Just checking the web. Friend 1: Anything new? Person: Nahh, I've been waiting and waiting and nothing new. Friend 2: What are ya doing? Person: I'm, umhmm, well I'm playing my games that I used to play. Friend 2: Why? Person: Why what? Friend 2: Why you doing that? Person: Doing what? Friend 2: You said...... Person: Don't ever tell me what I said or didn't said! -----{suddenly gunshots are heard and friend 2 is dead}----- Friend 3: Why did you just shoot Friend 2? Person: Look man I'm busy - I gotta check the web, maybe the demo is ready. Or better yet, maybe a new AAR. ....bBlahh blahh blahh Richard Kalajian

OK Guyz name this fraze (phrase) "Tiger to Panzer - get that piece of junk of the bridge" Name that phrase! Richard Kalajian

To Da Swede, Please follow the link below to experience Bob & Doug McKenzie exerpts, sounds, songs and pictures. http://www.cis.ohio-state.edu/~niklas/BDM/bdsounds.htm Above you see I use "Da" in place of "the". It is mostly used by Bear fans (most reside on da south side of Chicago) and most often used to refer to Da Bears. Below you will notice a salution oft times used by Bob & Dog Mckenzie as a greeting. Personally, I like to close a conversation by saying, "Have a Good Day". If I am feeling Wild & Crazy, I will enhance it by saying "Have a Good Day - Eh". Good Day, Richard Kalajian

Buffalo Grove, Illinois, USA ( Northwest Suburb of Chicago)

Mr. Cunningham, I did as you suggested and read your responses. In one statement you said:---------> And for the record none of the CC series boxes I own make any claims about being "ultra realistic." The CC3 box does talk about "unequalled detail, realism and scope." Unequalled doesn't mean ultra realistic. Unequalled is a clever marketing tool and I'm willing to bet it was penned by MS flacks and not Ätömik. It merely states that no other game has the same level of detail, realism and scope that CC3 has. Some may have more, many have less. CLARIFICATION: First, "Unequalled" according to Webster is: not equaled; unmatched; unrivaled; supreme. Please note the use of the word supreme referring to superior. In no way shape or form does the term unequalled refer to inferior. So, clearly the advertisement for CC3 states unequalled in realism, etc., etc. Which clearly states it's superiority in terms of realism, detail, etc. So, clearly your statement above holds no water. DETAIL: Clearly many games have far more detail than CC3 and are far more accurate. Actually, CC3 reminds me a little of PLASTIC ARMY MEN the software and the real-world plastic toy. CC3 cannot be the superior product in terms of detail due to it's innacurate use of eqipment like flamethrowers, etc. I just love the way my flamethrower in CC3 comes rushing up and from 60' away just terminates a dozen soldiers. Tanks wander aimlessly, pivoting, then stopping and pivoting back, then aiming, then loading, then pivoting, all the while being lit up from behind. Come on Mr. Cunningham, that is far from attention to detail. If having a bunch of dead bodies all over is attention to detail, then woo hoo hooray, CC3 does real good then. Although, I can't see how this provides any wargaming benefit to me, especially in CC3. I constantly highlight dead soldiers, trying to get them to move. REALISM: Fact is that AI is weak, and for CC3 the realism factor of playing WAR in real-time is linked more to your ability to mouse and point and click, and mouse and drag and drop and click and mouse and hurry and mouse, click. Come on Mr. Cunningham, RTS is nice, but it doesn't result in a more/most realistic wartime simulation. Hidden & Dangerous, SpecOps offer realism. SCOPE: I never looked down the scope of a snipers barrel in CC3. Although I did watch a flamethrower melt a number of my soldiers (or should I say plastic army men). Hidden & Dangerous, SpecOps exceed CC3 in Scope. (SCOPE=the area or field with which any activity goes on). I am playing a West Front Scenario with thousands of units. I am half way through the scenario and have over 50 hours in so far. Please explain to me how CC3 can compare to West Front in terms of Scope? From the sound of it (this board) and looks of it, Fionn's and Martin's AAR, it appears as though CM will offer an outstanding war simulation. Mr. Cunningham you are clearly a knowledgeable guy and will clearly be a tuff opponent in Combat Mission. You also have a number of good points about tracking individual soldiers and I look forward to hearing BTS's responses. Be constructive and quit pickin on Fionn. Please. Sincerely, Richard Kalajian

In defense of PG II, and maybe PG-3D. Let me tell a Winter 98 tale. Twas some time before christmas late one night in 98, all the processors were overclocked and the cable modem was smoking hot. I was online playing PG2 and someone suggested OAKRIDGE. I will never forget the feeling as the scenario loaded and I saw my forces. I had overstrengthed highly-experienced Tigers, JagdPanthers and a MAUS. It was my first attempt at OakRidge so I played cautiously. I still remember to this day the havoc I wreaked with my Panthers, tigers, JagdPanthers and Mr. MAUS. I absolutely drilled the poor guy trying an end run on me. it was pure havoc. Let me add before I close that I have never experienced a similar thrill in West Front. Richard Kalajian

Cut my teeth on Panzer General II, groaned and grunted through East Front (threw it away), currently hammering on west Front, but the Ugo/Igo is really boring. I think West front is great, but I find it too boring to play seriously. I enjoy Panzer General II because it is like chess, but I don't play it anymore. Peoples General was fun for a few weekends. Panzer Commander never really saw any real playing time. Close combat II and III continue to disappoint me. I enjoy Real time strategies, but I just can't get into CC2 or CC3 as much as I try. Summary for me:---> I would say West Front is the most realistic, but it is just too large and too time consuming. PG2 is the most enjoyable and was the most enjoyable for online play. After reading all the posts from CC guyz and the posts slamming PG-3D, I never thought I would be saying that I felt PG2 was the most fun. Sorry. Richard Kalajian

BTS, You guys are the best! Richard Kalajian

In an effort to allow a less wealthy individual requiring better graphics. First E-Mail can have my Diamond Viper 550 TNT card with 16 MB for $50. I think I paid $179 in October and my new Viper 770 Ultra with 32 MB really isn't that much faster. I could fetch about $20 more through E-Bay, but I want it to have a good home. Richard Kalajian

I believe that the ammo was actually the top secret "HE laser beam" developed near the end of the war. I agree - burning trees in Winter from HE doesn't seem logical, but I haven't been in a war. Richard Kalajian

THESE ARE THE MESSAGES FROM PREVIOUS TEXTURE THREAD: ____________________________________________ PanzerShark posted 09-05-99 05:32 AM ET (US) Howdy folks, Are the texures (for the tanks) just bmp/jpg-files in the root of the game-directory? Would be nice to be able to edit those in a paint-app. Imagine: Creating own camouflage or even insigna's. Might not be realistic but it would be fun to see Kampfgruppe PanzerShark with their own logo Take Care, PanzerShark ____________________________________________ Big Time Software posted 09-05-99 06:07 PM ET (US) Yes you will be able to edit textures like this if you want. But ours look awesome so I don't know if you'll want to bother! Charles ___________________________________________ Brian Rock posted 09-05-99 10:57 PM ET (US) How else will we recreate the 33rd Panzer Sluts in leopard skin with fishnet camo on the skirts, or the Prince's Armored Musicians with their trademark purple Cromwells? Not to mention the various US redneck brigades in primer, with "I don't brake for Nazis" bumper stickers... ___________________________________________ Fionn posted 09-05-99 11:53 PM ET (US) Well, I'd be very surprised if people don't eventually band together and create entire "virtual units" with their own camouflage patterns, logos and web locations.. I have a book which details German tactical insignia and if there's interest when CM comes out I'll write an article on German tactical markings and where and how they are to be applied so people can get ideas on what markings would be acceptable etc. Rule number 1 of fandom: IF the designers make the game OPEN (as Steve and Charles are doing) then people WILL modify it. So long as the mods are just fun things like putting in insignias I think it will be great but I'd hate to see people trying to "fix" things which aren't broken in CM. This isn't like some other wargames which shall remain nameless in which players have had to modify quite basic things cause they weren't fixed by the people involved in production. I don't have any artistic talent myself unfortunately but I know I'd like to do "virtual battle" in an entire Kampfgruppe decked out with my own personal tactical insignia .. Fionn Kelly Manager of Historical Research, The Gamers Net - Gaming for Gamers ____________________________________________ KwazyDog posted 09-06-99 12:08 AM ET (US) ----> As I think Ive mentioned elsewhere, I think it is great that the guys are leaving the textures open for people to do just that Fionn. I can also see others doing up winter camo for units too, although as Steve said earlier, this will make them damn hard to see I really cant see anyone wanting to play with the vehicle textures in any other way though, the textures are absolutely great. I cant wait to see a Tiger cruising around ____________________________________________ Fionn posted 09-06-99 12:39 AM ET (US)--> I have take a picture of a King Tiger and let me tell you it looks BIG.. Whoever did the model and then added the textures did a great job. It really gets the "I AM the King of the Battlefield" feeling across." I also think they got zimmerit on the front etc.. I have a nice "last thing an allied tank crew sees" shot of it I'll post Fionn Kelly Manager of Historical Research, The Gamers Net - Gaming for Gamers ____________________________________________ KwazyDog posted 09-06-99 12:56 AM ET (US) Id like to see it Fionn I am looking forward to your AT gun article too, should be very interesting. I think the way Charles and Steve went about doing the textures and 3D models for CM is great. They have reasonable poly count to keep the framerate at acceptable levels, but are excellent models when completed with their textures. Fionn, not sure who did the King Tiger, but Id bet Steve did [This message has been edited by KwazyDog (edited 09-06-99).] ____________________________________________ PanzerShark posted 09-06-99 03:42 AM ET (US)-------------------> The textures are absolutely gobsmacking guys...so i won't change those Just the insigna's i might change a bit. Thx for the replies. Take Care, PanzerShark ___________________________________________ Big Time Software posted 09-06-99 07:38 PM ET (US) Yesh! The King Tiger texture is a placeholder, and an "ugly" one at that. The model is pretty good, but it needs some touching up. On my list, right after some new ones. If you want to see what the REAL KT will look like, check out the BF.C homepage. There is a small shot advertising CM and it has a pic of an older version of the texture set (lighting was horrible so I reshot the pics, but haven't made textures yet). Other placehoders right now are M3, Horch 1a, Stuart, M4A3 (76), and Hetzer. Steve ____________________________________________ Fionn posted 09-07-99 05:03 AM ET (US)---> Damn, I thought the Hetzer looked really sweet. That's a placeholder? hehe. I'm gonna have to check that sucker out again to see why Fionn Kelly Manager of Historical Research, The Gamers Net - Gaming for Gamers _____________________________________________ Moon posted 09-07-99 11:42 AM ET (US----> Isn't it amazing? Placeholders that look better than the real thing in other games... I am not going to mention sPEcific names ____________________________________________ Fionn posted 09-07-99 01:33 PM ET (US) LOL.. I'll pretend I didn't get that Martin . Fionn Kelly Manager of Historical Research, The Gamers Net - Gaming for Gamers ____________________________________________ Los posted 09-07-99 01:42 PM ET (US) "Yes you will be able to edit textures like this if you want. But ours look awesome so I don't know if you'll want to bother!" Maybe I wanna cut and paste Wittman's face onto my TCs... Fear factor, you know... Los ____________________________________________ PanzerShark posted 09-07-99 04:15 PM ET (US) Wittman's face? Don't think it will work. Ya see...people who actuallty came near Wittman in order to determine how he looked like...died in 3 seconds. Unless ofcourse ya want to paint it just to scare yer own men ___________________________________________

For anyone interested in seeing the camera replay capability in action download - NHL 2000. Here is a link:http://www.3dfiles.com/games/nhl2000.shtml Richard

BTS, You guys are awesome! Richard

Have an IIyama Vision Master 450. Awesome and quite highly rated with 3 years parts and labor. The black is beautiful, the refresh is awesome. It was retail $899 when I bought it wholesale for $549 last year. Now it can be had for $459. It'll even sport 1600*1200 @ 80 hz. Unbelievable at this price point. Here is a link: http://www.mysimon.com/buy/frame.anml?m=2765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcconnection.com%2Fscripts%2Fproductdetail.asp%3Fproduct_id%3D70714 Here is the manufacturer:http://www.iiyama.com/

I vote to lock the thread! Steve: Bostons roads evolved from Cow-hearding paths. Believe it or not. I remember those tunnels on the outskirts of the city. It has to be one of the only places in the world where a boat can get you to the airport faster than a cab. SUV and truck owners my apologies for bringing up the SUV issue. I love SUV's and wish I could justify the cost. Many, if not most SUV drivers are excellent, especially those with trailers. Looking into the mirror before lane changing: Most people are not familiar with proper mirror positioning. If you plan to use mirrors for lane changes then you should have them set to not see the side of your own car. Most people can't deal with that. Especially with a large vehicle. I vote a second time to lock thread. Richard Kalajian

risc, Many people in the States have adopted the "Drive a Panther" program. These new treadless Panthers, nicknamed SUV's and called Hummers, Explorerers, Cherokees and the infamous Expedition have eliminated any reasonable field of view for car drivers. Additionally everyone has a new car and therefore must drive it so the roads in the US are jammed 20% fuller than just 10 years ago. Top this with roads covered with construction and you have traffic jams full of $25-$125,000 cars. I have little against the large vehicles mentioned above, but I have noticed a disturbing trend with it's drivers. More and more I witness a very large new vehicle piloted by "think they are great drivers", talking on the cell phone, and slowing down the entire highway. How can SUV's be so popular in a country with the worlds greatest roads. I long for the day of junkie cars with no mufflers and rust all over. Alos, these drivers typically don't realize that stopping and cornering on wet and winter road surfaces is significantly more difficult. I cover Wisconsin and Illinois for my territory and without question the lions share of vehicles off the road are SUV's. Also, the SUV has additional body weight, but also has too large a footprint. The reult is that SUV's actually have lower poundage per square inch. So even though the SUV has more weight than any car, has less grip than a car. I really hate being tailgated by an SUV on a cell phone in a snow storm. I also sport Brisgestone Blizzak snow and ice tires for the Winter giving me 30% reduced stopping distance. In Chicago it really doesn't matter how bad or good the vehicle is, because the majority of the travel time is spent stopped or in a several mile long crawl before a toll. I can summarize by safely stating SUV's: 1) block my field of view making driving less safe, 2) slow me down making travel time higher, 3) drive far too aggresively for the vehicle in winter conditions, and I failed too mention cause significantly more damage in accidents and have significantly higher repair costs, resulting in higher insurance costs. So I say down with the "Panther and the Panther Syndrome". Richard Kalajian

I agree put it in. I have never understood why weapons and bodies in 3D games end up falling through walls and floors. I understand the coding is a difficult task to handle terrain, especcially if differently for various body positions. If my King Tiger is bogged down in snow, then I would really like to see it lowered into the terrain. Richard Kalajian

Good call Steve, once again BTS has correctly modeled actual battlefield conditions. Also, FWIW I really dislike moving load after load of infantry in trucks. It just feels like busy work.

Booh Hiss. 3DFX is really falling apart. The idea is better, sharper graphics and more processing power. Riva has better, sharper, cleaner images coming with on-board Graphics Processing Unit (GPU). Result is faster and better graphics. Winner = RIVA.

A cohort ran into a program that copied to hard drive into a 700 MB set of files. The result, can't copy onto another CD. Same result when copy from CD to CDR - no way to do it. Of course some creature (worm) will figure it out, but it surely eliminates the friend giving a friend a copy syndrome. Also, most people just can't download 600 MB files from the net. I can't remember the name of game - I'll check. I am all for copy protection. I think it is great. Also, saw an install key good for 10 installs of game, then must go back to developer to purchase more install keys. I can't remember installing a game more than 4 times with drive rebuilds and Windows re-installs. Also, saw DRAKEN with ability to copy, but the installed copied game CD won't function after that. However, restoring a saved game does work. I strongly agree with copy protection, CD required and anything else that can be included. Richard Kalajian

Fionn, Oh I am not preaching against acronyms and abbreviations, in fact, I highly reccomend them for all e-mail users. Within my company all of my outgoing e-mails are short, to the point, salutations are always one letter and if the incoming e-mail is longer than one full computer screen I won't read it. My post for assistance on acronyms was not a slam on it's useage, I just felt like I was missing out on something. Also, who is SPR (from quotes thread)? Richard Kalajian Regional Sales Manager Medic Computer Systems

Regarding AAR's. Initially I focused on the pictures during the first 7 turns. Now I focus on every word of every sentence. This will save me days of learning the strategies of actual gameplay. Fionn and Martin you guys are a god send. I would have spent months bringing my level of play up to yours (actually I will never reach that level). I know when it comes time to actually commanding my troops in CM mistakes (especially hesitation, impatience and lack of an organized plan) will be plentiful. However, I have learned so much in 24 turns, that by the time turn 60 roles around I will be much more confident with my CM skills. I cannot describe how pleased I am with what you guyz are doing. I have learned so much about strategies and CM that my head is buzzing with excitement and my heart is pumping beer or something along those lines. Also, I appreciate how you relate CM to Legacy Turn-Based Hex-Limited I-Go U-Go games like Peoples, PG2 and West Front. Just prior to your posting of turn 1, I was on turn 23 of 85 for a Legacy war game that took about 40 hours up to that point commanding countless hundreds of pieces, kills were in the hundreds (counters representing 1-6 units) and countless paratroopers, reinforcements and shore landings were pouring in every turn. I was immersed. Or so I thought I was. then Fion and Martin come along. After reading the first couple turns, I have abandoned all Legacy war-games forever. It is absolutely incredible how much more CM has to offer than the older Legacy war systems. Thanks again Fionn & Martin for pointing out the differences between CM and Legacy War-Games (LWG) as you detail the action within CM. And thanks BTS for making it all possible. TY, Richard Kalajian

BTS, TY F, TY2 BR, TY2 Sin, KT

BTS Please do me and a few others a small favor. Post an abbreviations page on the site or someone please tell me where they can be found. What is BTW? I keep thinking it is my "Brewed-up Tiger in Winter". Thanks Richard Kalajian