Dawg Bonz

" It will be enjoyed both by hardened grognards as well as by more casual “twitch” gamers who are more interested in “run and gun” game play." Seems like that would work? My twitch is a bit lacking but my hardened grognard skill... well dat is a bit lacking as well but playing the game with friends as a team should be a hoot. Dawg... in da Wonka Factory

Maybe "Space Lobsters of Doom" ... 'Final Claw'? The most likely (IMO) PC / Console release candidate is DropTeam.. a TBG Software game in development to published by Battlefront.com. "BELIEVABLE COMBAT DropTeam depicts futuristic armored combat in a believable way that doesn't insult the intelligence of mature gamers. We eschew such misguided, entrenched mechanisms as "hit points", "healing", and unexplainably short weapon ranges that are found in many games today. Instead, weapons have specific effects on their targets. For example, a projectile that penetrates a vehicle’s armor might disable its engine, kill individual crew members, damage the ballistics computer, etc. Most weapons have effective ranges in excess of 4 kilometers." APPEAL DropTeam is unique in that it strikes a balance between realistic, tactical combat simulation and pure, accessible fun for the novice. It will be enjoyed both by hardened grognards as well as by more casual “twitch” gamers who are more interested in “run and gun” game play. Its layered complexity allows for a wide range of play styles and tactics, so a vibrant user community is expected. DropTeam will also offer a steady stream of new content to players over time, thanks to its highly extensible architecture. Finally, DropTeam is a truly cross-platform game! Both its server and its client run on Windows, Linux, and Mac OS-X. This will no doubt lead to a broad, diverse and vibrant fan community. ....and lots of other good console like stuff....... Madmatt, 6 days in the desert of darkness... a drop of water for these console dry Bonz... cough... sputter... Dawg... My neighbor just got his FEMA trailer today 172 days after KATRINA! Now they ain't got no electric, sewer, water, to actually live in the trailer but... the FEMA guys said... it is on the 'fast track.. like the trailer'. Hmm.. that would mean power et. al by July 8th 2006.. a month + into hurricane season. :mad:

RE; XP-Imperfection... that is why I would keep a separate volume.. outside my new Number Six, Cylon looking Apple Intel babe... ugh... machine... so as not to contaminate her with XP cooties. There shouldn't be any social stigma to having lice, any more than like having a common cold and if it runs CMx1&2... just follow the pediculosis association warnings. Dawg... seeking gaming perfection in the imperfect kutu of XP

You are probably right Peter. I was kinda hoping for a Number Nine, Jeri Ryan Borg or better a Number Six, Tricia Helfer Cylon looking offspring... but... if an Apple Intel Machine can also boot XP and play all the CMx1s and 2s ... looking and playing the games well... that could fulfill the Cylon machine warriors quest to fulfill their programming & purify the universe of imperfection. As long as they don't have kids that look like Space Lobsters or sumpin. Dawg ... a galactic genetic guru LLC

It looks fine at 1280x1024 but of course I would like the Sharp to accept a true 1080p signal not scale it up to a 1080p display. Don't get me wrong, the scaler IMO does a great job. The 720p football on ESPN looks outstanding but .. wondering if a 'firmware' fix could bump up the highest screen resolution via DVI? There is a firmware port on the Sharp. Now ...a console version of CM for the masses... Well that would certainly get me in line for a PS3 or Xbox 360. WAIT AND SEE... Madmatt OK .. Four long days... nuff yet? Dawg ... off to run in the sun with my fido for fun :cool:

So if I read the Intel Macs may boot XP article correctly and "... Apple has included a Compatibility Support Module, Intel-based Macs should be able to boot XP..." then all I may need to be CMx1 and CMx2 capable is a new 'Core Duo processor' Intel chip-powered G5 iMac, an XP OS, 3 - PC editions of CMx1 and I could run CMx1 and CMx2 on my new Intel Mac :confused: Dawg... wondering if the OSX and XP OS could make babies.. what would they look like?

OK Madmatt... given consideration to making console versions of our games? I waited 2 days. Is that long enough? Hmmm .. "our games" ? So maybe a CMx1 console version? Darn.. That could easily be a CMBO for PS3... then BB for PS3... then AK for PS3.. then... etc. :confused: If Apple can switch to Intel maybe BFC (or a BFC partnership with XXX) will provide a simultaneous PC / Console launch of CMSF? I would buy a console for your guys games alone... already got the HDTV that can 'display' 1080p. Dawg ... giving consideration to console versions of BFC games

Come on back akd and help us rebuild smarter & 'mo betta'. The Urban Planning Committee Final Report is solid and 'forward leaning'. Lots of empty houses here cheap now. We got a 2 story 'fixer upper' if your interested. Only 7'6" of water for 2.5 weeks... but the upper floor is 'OK' ... well that is what the insurance adjuster says! Bring some 'back up' akd cause we still... almost 5 months out... have looters preying on our uninhabited homes... hundreds of thousands of uninhabited homes. No where near the immediate post K 'civilians in a combat zone'.. but no where near 'normal'.... there can only be a new normal now with only 144,000 people vs. 485,000 that have returned. Heck, only @ 10% of our local business are back. many will never come back. The Civilians" in CM:SF thread reminded me of all the chaos in the city and just how hard it was to distinguish who was a good guy vs. bad guy... aside for the blatant arm full of stuff and some kinda weapon.... but then LOTS of folks were heavily armed those first several weeks... and very edgy... not a good combination. I can empathize with how extremely difficult the proper target ID must be in a certified combat zone like... An-Nasiriyah... where IEDs for example are part of the bad guys weaponry! I admire the US military's skill to keep as many soldiers alive and sane as possible in that toxic insurgent soup. BFC has shown they make computer games as realistic as they can so... "Yet another reason we aren't going to do civilians this time around." Makes good sense to me. Looking fwd. to CMSF's release. Ciao, Dwag... my wife finally admitted my damned kayak was a good thing

Were you in New Orleans during the last year? Yep... the last 30. Here for KATRINA's visit and the levee failure and the urban fire&floodworks that followed. Only took 7 weeks to get back home but we were lucky and still have a home... well one of them anyway. Good to see Steve's notes re: civilians in a combat zone. When CMSF includes complex levels of civilians (good / bad guys... tourists, press, animals, etc) in an urban combat zone, things quickly become a lot more complicated than shoot the "bad guy"... although anybody with a gun showing is much more than suspect... kinda a truism I suspect around the world. Dawg... Just released yesterday! Urban Planning Committee Final Report at http://bringneworleansback.org/

"...the tactics and surrounding chaos." "So basically, anybody driving around was suspect. Anybody running was suspect. Anybody with a gun showing was more than suspect.... civilians in a combat zone provide different amounts of "cover" than they do when life is supposedly back to normal." Valid for a Natural Disaster as well! RE: ".... civilians during the initial phase of combat and civilians under established military occupation." Speaking from our post Katrina experience, once the military was deployed in force, things (blatant, open bad guy looting) got MUCH better really quick. The military presence did not stop the bad guys completely but even numb nuts stealing stuff realize that US forces were about to annihilate them right off... so there "home field" advantages got traded for more subtle stealing further out or moving to another city all together. "..civilians in a combat zone provide different amounts of "cover" than they do when life is supposedly back to normal. Kinda like hiding in a field with a few bushes vs. hiding in a forest. Same fighter, same clothing, same intentions... different ability to remain unseen." Reasonable and a very good description what happened with our "Natural" disaster. If/when you include civilians in CMSF, you may want to also include friendly civilians as well. Like locals who stayed to protect their property actually gave extra ammunition & back up to law enforcement... it could / did happen. Dawg ... an irregular with abilities to infiltrate close to food

3 Woofs from a Dawg in a post Katrina Big Easy. Thanks for the back scratch Madmatt Dawg... smellin da chicken in da kitchen... that means 'white' tonight

Thanks for the post akd. I was wondering about this for CMSF cause... "Snipers fulfill a critical role in the the urban insurgency." Dawg..... Designated Mutt

Thanks again for the feedback Hpt. Lisse. Long busy sheet rockn'roll weekend here in post K New Orleans. Here is what I did find out re: 1080p video signals to the HDTV. My 45-inch AQUOS (LC-45GD4U) uses Sharp’s proprietary advanced CV-IC System III video processing circuit to upconvert 1080i (interlaced) and 720p signals to a finer image. IOW "Progressive scanning (line doubling)" Not technically a false advertisement from Sharp as it DOES 'display' 1080p. What Sharp does not tell you is the sets do not accept 1080p signals directly: the max they accept is 1080i and then Sharp processor sends 1080p to the panel. IOW: This is not a 'plug and play' computer monitor. So while the LC45's display 1080p, they do NOT accept 1080p INPUTS. There is a way to bypass this limitation with the GX series, but not with the GDs... the model we saved from da KATRINA looters. Nonetheless,the 45-inch AQUOS panel does a very good job to resolve the 1,920x1,080 resolution. I suspect is a slight loss of detail caused by the internal scalar but I do not have the equipment or experience to test this. Since the upscale conversion is from 1080i signal to a 1080p display, i suspect any upscale degradation of signal is small. I can say I am happy with what I see and the HDTV signals (720P, 1080i) I currently get from HD cable. Everyone viewing the screen has also been impressed with the image quality. 1080i should be fine for the next 5 years. Combining the higher resolution of 1080 with the greater refresh rate of progressive, 1080p is very data-dense and will soak up even greater broadcast bandwidth. Broadcasters ask if the 1080p format provides enough incremental picture quality to warrant the bandwidth and other cost content providers pay for. That starts with the video produced from 1080p cameras. At present, 720p and 1080i cameras output video at about 1.5 Gbps, but 1080p would roughly double that to 3 Gbps. Then you have to convert that into a standard 19.4 Megabit per second channel for transmission across a cable network. 1080p would likely require greater compression or greater bandwidth. Unless there is some kind of easy to spot jump-in experience (in the consumer show room) a real significant jump-in quality I suspect broadcasters are gonna stick with the current 6 HDTV formats for the short term. Bandwidth is a very valuable commodity. Since we had to invest in a new BIG screen (our 13 year old CRT died just before the storm) I think we will be OK for a few years to come. The next generation of 1080p displays will more than likely have 1080p capable digital inputs. It is a bit troubling we early adopters that drive the industry are the ones who get burnt. Make sure your new 1080p display is able to accept a 1080p input signal. Anyway... Back to CMSF and 1080p and console games. I am certain the PS3 or Xbox 360 would look great on this 45" LCD using Sharp’s video processing circuit. I suspect BFC knows all about these scaling issues for PCs and the new HDTVs. As time passes, our credit card balance drops (paying off the Sharp) and CPU/GPU upgrade time rolls around a new 23" LCD will arrive for true 1080P signal. My wife would prefer this as well to all the in games audio in the living room. "Boom -Boom" Of course the biggest factor for us now is real Cat. 3 levees. "If the levees had not broken, they could have all walked home from the Super Dome." Governor Blanco. Peace and Happy Gaming, Dawg ... read beans and rice is mighty nice on Monday :cool: BTW: I did read of one Sharp owner using a 15" powerbook to the input 4, DVI->HDMI to get a full screen picture in 1080i, not 1080p on his LC-45GX6U.

Thanks Hpt. Lisse I am guessing here but... I suspect the Sharp DVI input won't take an external scaler signal beyond 1080p30 because now (1/06) 1080p30 is the maximum ATSC signal. The sharpest images and best colors may be from the DVI-PC input if you can get a 'handshake". The published limit is 1280x1024 but maybe a firmware update could fix that? After all, if you got the SLI - GPU(s) to pump 1920x1080 to the DVI input the BIG LCD (Sharp) SHOULD take the signal.... shouldn't it? HDMI: I suspect Sony has plans for PS3 to send 1080p60 thru the HDMI to the LCD. I think I read that they are setting this as a requirement for PS3 game developers. If that is the case, assuming you got enough SLI - GPU(s) to pump 1920x1080, maybe an end around is with a DVI to HDMI cable from the PC? I just don't have a clue what the GPU requirements might be for filling 6,220,800 dots [1,920 (H) x 1,080 (V) x RGB] of gaming goodness. Off to another fine dinner cooked by my lovely wife in a post KATRINA New Orleans that now has 191/451 = 42% of our traffic lights back on line! Hey... for 4+ months after that witch of a storm... little things are greatly appreciated. Ciao, Dawgo

Thanks Hpt. Lisse Ingenieur. Looking forward to your advice on PC to LC45GD4U - HDMI vs. DVI hookup. It would seem that the Sharp LCD should accept whatever the DVI or HDMI can feed it no matter if it is from a PC, console, DVR, Blu-ray Disc player, etc. . If you can feed it 6,220,800 dots [1,920 (H) x 1,080 (V) x RGB] then it should display it. No scaling required. Seems like a pair of 7800 GTX 512MB with 24 pipelines and 8 vertex shaders core/memory clock speed of 550MHz/1700MHz respectively and 512MB of GDDR3 memory... plugged into a MOBO with PCI express x 16 would work but then we can't afford another loan for a game PC right now. Dawg ... off to more Russian Training Exercises .. Thanks Jason.

Thanks Hpt. Lisse Here is my set up: Connected my G4 to Sharp - LC45GD4U - HDTV via the DVI-I input for PCs. CM played at 1280x1024 off my 32MB - PCI - ATI video card. This is the only card I have for my G4 that plays CM (due to the Apple-Rage support issues). Sharp says SXGA 1280x1024 is the max PC signal accepted on the DVI input. The odd part is I am only supposed to be able to see XGA 1024x768 as the max "Mac" signal but I can see 1280x1024 with 32MB! I realize the 1600x1200 limit with CM1. I am wondering what might be required for a 1080p CMSF? BTW: We only just received the Sharp - LC45GD4U the week before KATRINA! After checking the 1st week looters, evacuating and then returning before the water was pumped out, we saved the HDTV (and other valuables) before all the water was out.... long, long story. Anyway... re: "true 1080p" ...... the LC45GD4U - TFT (thin film transistor) active matrix dot count = 6,220,800 dots [1,920 (H) x 1,080 (V) x RGB]. I am pretty certain the LC45GD4U can display 1080p24, 1080p25, 1080p30 but I don't have any way to provide it with that kinda bandwidth yet. Our current cable provider COX is back up (still no land phone service, or local groceries, or etc.) in post KATRINA New Orleans but is only broadcasting 720p, and 1080i signals. Maybe when Sony's PS3 arrives I can test out some games and true 1080p? Thanks, Dawg... football bound hound tonight BTW: Nvidia--which designed the RSX for Sony--claimed that the PS3's - RSX GPU- was as powerful as two Nvidia GeForce 6800 Ultra cards! The PS3 will soon be pumping out 1080p. You can see why the PS3 will be a 'home run' for many HDTV folks looking for a Blu-ray Disc player. "Due to bandwidth limitations of broadcast frequencies, the ATSC and DVB have standardized only the frame rates of 24, 25, and 30 frames per second (1080p24, 1080p25, 1080p30). 1080p30 is currently the most bandwidth-intensive video mode supported by the ATSC."

What type of CPU/GPU would be required for CMSF in 1080p on a big screen LCD / HDTV :confused: Thanks Dawg … eyes right

...when you hear the double pull of the charging handle from the .50 Cal... you been hiding too long in the wrong place and are about to be suppressed. Dawg… looking fwd to a virtual Syrian holiday

Thanks Schrullenhaftt. Your explanation is appreciated and makes it clear why BFC uses the business plan they do. I did not realize how little margin there is in the entire console deal. It makes sense that the consoles are a non-profit item for the manufacturers when you see the PS3 specifications. A 3.2GHz Cell processor with @ 234 million transistors, a massive 550MHz, 300-million-transistor graphics chip based on next-generation GeForce graphics technology…a pipeline count @ 24…just a slightly larger fill rate than two GeForce 6800 Ultras clocked at 400MHz….a front-slot-loading Blu-ray optical disc drive, six USB ports, a memory stick, compact flash, and SD readers…each Blu-ray disc can hold up to 54GB worth of data…three Gigabit Ethernet ports (1 x input, 2 x output) and built-in 802.11 b/g wireless connectivity.. 1080p over two separate HDMI outputs…. The list goes on. Target price = about the cost of an extreme game video card. It is truly amazing how much game potential the consoles have. It is a shame solid company like BFC can’t use that potential w/o taking a financial bath. CMSF in 1080p on our LCD / HDTV would be fantastic. I like the BFC CM1 product. I am sure CM2 will be better. Hope my wife’s 20” iMac G5 - 2.0 GHz with 128mb of video ram works fine for the new CMSF. Peace, Dawg no longer in the dark re: da console food chain

Has BFC every considered doing a console version of their CM games? I don't know squat about the game console business. I don't own a console and have never played on one. The reason I ask is the new Sony PS3 to be released Spring, 2006 has some very impressive specs. We will need a full HD capable DVD player and getting the PS3 would do that as well. We were able to save our new HDTV from the post KATRINA looting. Neighbors a few houses over lost Two - 45" Plasma screens... and the next door all their jewelry.. and etc. through the rest of our street. Anyway... or HDTV-LCD can display 1080p images! CMSF at this resolution in Dolby 5.1 using the PS3 would be stunning. I did hook up a DVI-I cable and played CM(BO-BB-AK) on the LCD and it was very nice. Due to the limitations of my 32MB graphics card I can't get wild with the resolution and it does not fill the screen completely. Asking because I know nuttin bout game consoles. Dawg... thinking a PS3 at 1.8 TFLOPS floating point performance, at full HD (1080p), would earn my Franklins.

My guess is the sound coming near (like through the wall you are hiding behind) vs. going past is greater for the .50 caliber than the 7.62 mm. I would think that suppressive effect might be greater with more rounds on area target from the 7.62 mm although getting a few .50 cal round bursting through your 'defensive cover' might be a significant psychological suppressor and convince you to relocate before the dismounted infantry locate you? Wonder how BFC will create the .50 cal sounds for CMSF? Dawg... listening to the sound of thunder rolling...

MikeyD. Best I can find on the web is @ 40 rounds per minute are realistic rate of fire for .50 cal. without overheating the barrel. A hot desert might make things a bit toaster? The TV show did demonstrate a protective shied for loading the missiles in the Anti Tank Guided Missile (TOW) Vehicle. Specifications M2 Heavy Barrel (HB) Caliber 12.7mm (NATO) Weight (Complete Gun) 84 Pounds (38.2 kg) Length 50.2 Inches (1,727mm) Width 9 Inches (230mm) Rate of Fire 450-600 Rounds Per Minute Maximum Effective Range 2,000 Yards (1,830m) Maximum Range 7,440 Yards (6,800m) Muzzle Velocity (M33) 2,910 Feet Per Second (890 Meters Per Second) Barrel Weight 24 Pounds (10.88 kg) Barrel Construction Stellite®-Lined, Chrome-Plated Slappy, Most of the .50 cal shown on the show was @ 3 shot bursts but no full auto. I would think the .50 cal capabilities make it ideal for quick reaction against machine gun and mortar positions especially on overlooking positions. The massive 12.7mm, 710 grain round at a muzzle velocity 2800 fps should 'suppress' most bad guys long enough to allow the really lethal tool, the infantry squad, to dismount and take them out. I do agree that 430 rounds for the M19 should be plenty and should last longer than the .50 cal. . Would be interesting to find out what the troops on the ground now would prefer for their suppressive weapon. The new .50 cal replacement weapon looks very nice. Dawg... Geaux Tigers... Peachy Keen game

Hypothetical. You get to choose what sits in your Remote weapon station (RWS). If the the MK19 has (430) rounds and the .50 cal has (2000) rounds what would you prefer most? Seems with the .50 cal. you get an awful lot of lead to toss downwind. Dawg... a thermal imager for driving back from the French Quarter at night would be nice.

Just looked at the tape of the show, “Anatomy of a Stryker”. The spot on the Mk19 - 40-mm did have a slight disclaimer regarding indirect fire.. ‘when we can’… kinda indicating it don’t happen too often. Looks like you can get a Mk19 or a 50 caliber not both? Dawg… demolition is such a pleasurable pastime… cough.. cough. We just got US Mail today… 4 months after Katrina!

Aliens from the Planet 10 coming to defend the poor Syrians. Happy Holidays, Dawg ... peeking under da tree!