Matchstick

Moon, I'm afraid to say that I think the email did originate from Battlefront rather than just having a faked sender address. This is the header of the email I received (if you would like a copy of the unredacted header or the full SMTP session log from my mail server please let me know) From - Tue Mar 23 12:59:20 2010 X-Account-Key: account2 X-UIDL: 2VWY65Q.CNM3C772A49 X-Mozilla-Status: 0001 X-Mozilla-Status2: 00000000 X-Mozilla-Keys: Received: from spooler by redacted.com (Mercury/32 v4.72); 23 Mar 2010 12:53:58 -0000 X-Envelope-To: <redacted@redacted.com> Return-path: <SRS0=c5ac8e96f672fac7a2880cc597f443fe26ee986c=355=battlefront.com=bounce@battlefront.com> Received: from mail.battlefront.com (216.121.6.209) by Mercury SMTP Server (smtp.redacted.com) (Mercury/32 v4.72) with ESMTP ID MG0000F0 (Using SSL/TLS, 3DES, CBC mode, keysize 192 bits) ; 23 Mar 2010 12:53:47 -0000 Received: from www.battlefront.com (mail.battlefront.com [216.121.6.209]) by mail.battlefront.com (Battlefront.com Mail Server) with ESMTP id FPY03252 for <redacted@redacted.com>; Tue, 23 Mar 2010 06:53:52 -0600 Date: Tue, 23 Mar 2010 06:53:51 -0600 To: Paul Redacted <redacted@redacted.com> From: Battlefront Newsletter <newsletter@battlefront.com> Subject: We are proudly presenting new update client for all games from battlefront for FREE. Message-ID: <33263b74e9603f47ff06263526fdb143@www.battlefront.com> X-Priority: 3 X-Mailer: PHPMailer [version 1.73] X-Mailer: SM2 Email Marketing X-SM2MessageID: 227 Precedence: bulk X-SM2Recipient: redacted@redacted.com MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="b1_33263b74e9603f47ff06263526fdb143" The relavent line is Received: from mail.battlefront.com (216.121.6.209) by Mercury SMTP Server (smtp.redacted.com) (Mercury/32 v4.72) with ESMTP ID MG0000F0 (Using SSL/TLS, 3DES, CBC mode, keysize 192 bits) ; 23 Mar 2010 12:53:47 -0000 This indicates that the IP address of the server that actually sent the message to my mail server is 216.121.6.209 which is the same IP address as www.battlefront.com (and also the address I've receieved other Battlefront mail from) which, I'm afraid, makes me think that there's something more here going on than just a hack of the front page. Can I also suggest that the download that the email points to http://www.battlefront.com/products/battlefront_client.exe is, as a matter of urgency, replaced with a webpage that details what Battlefront know about what has happened and what they are doing to investiage.

Just be greatful it's "only" $10 to ship your copy. For us in Western Europe they're asking $20 so I won't be buying a copy.

And the Mk1 Stuff Upper Lip (with optional Handlebar Moustache) - javelins would just bounce off harmlessly

Flanker15, the evidence I can find on the net suggest that current issue Interceptor armour with SAPI inserts *should* be able to stop a 7.62mm soviet round. Course it won't stop every round and it shouldn't be modelled as such but, if true, I think it's some way from being turned into Swiss Cheese http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/interceptor.htm

Oooooooh... http://www.battlefront-store.com:8080//index.php?option=com_myblog&show=Marines%21.html&Itemid=213

Hamachi is by far the simplest VPN I've ever used. The OSX and Linux Clients are trickier due to the lack of an official GUI but the Windows version is extremely simple to set up requiring no special configuring even from behind a firewall or NAT.

I thought they came from space ?

There are hardware random number generators that use physical properties like thermal noise to generate numbers in a non-deterministic manner. Apparently the Commodore C64 and the VIA C3 processors include built-in hardware random number generators though I'm not sure whether these would actually be non-deterministic. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardware_random_number_generator

Damn !!! Anyone know where I can get 2 sets of level 3a body armour and kevlar helmets by Monday ?

Can I please request that people hold off from invading Scandinavia till the beginning of August when I'm back from my holiday there. Thank you.

As has been said several times before, there is no current date for a Mac release. AIUI it hasn't even been confirmed that there WILL be a MAC release but Battlefront have said they would like to do one if possible, but it's going to take some time at the very least.

The order page is still saying 27th https://www.combatmission2.com/cmsf_order.html so I'm hoping the date hasn't changed. (Unless it's changed in line with the www.simhq.com news for Monday, which seems to think it's being released this week )

I'm puzzled why they put "likely" in there ? Did they actually encounter frame rate problems themselves ? Do any of the beta tester have any comments (allowing for any NDAs of course) ?

There's a new preview up here http://www.worthplaying.com/article.php?sid=44381&mode=thread&order=0 It's quite brief and short on any new details but it is pretty complementary: "Combat Mission: Shock Force appears to be a worthy successor to the previous World War II incarnations of the game and is shaping up to be the best title in the series" & "With the game shaping up to be one of the year's better war games, both fans of the Combat Mission series and gamers looking for a realistic and challenging simulation of modern warfare will want to take a closer look at Combat Mission: Shock Force when it's released later this month." There are also a few screenshots that might be new though the majority I think have been seen before.

This is obviously some strange usage of the word "fun" I wasn't previously aware of

This is "rip-off Britain" . We're used to companies who think that there's a 1:1 exchange rate between the pound and the dollar

17.5% VAT on £17.99 would be £3.15 which puts the cost @ £21.14 = $42.62 = €31.30 included p&p. So even if you add in British VAT they are still charging about €3.70 (or approx $5) less than Martin's average price even before you factor in that the £17.99 includes p&p. [ July 04, 2007, 05:51 AM: Message edited by: Matchstick ]

As J_Toe says Play are a very reputable that I've used many times and quite frequently have new and pre-order games on special offer for £17.99 I got the Special Edition Tin of STALKER from then for £17.99 and for example right now they have the PC versions of Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 and Lost Planet: Extreme Condition for £17.99 each

Hmmm I really should have got more sleep last night cos I was actually reading June as July on those dates and thinking they were announcing availability over their download service for next week. DOH !!!!

Just spotted on the Paradox website that they list the CF:SF release date as "11 June (US/Gamer’s Gate), 15 June (Europe)" http://www.paradoxplaza.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=178&Itemid=199 I'm guessing that can't be true since we haven't heard the announcement that the game is Gold. But if it is let the wailing and gnashing of teeth begin...

Cpl Steiner, I've also pondered how Play et al can afford these prices. All I can think is that they squeeze the distributors for as much discount as possible and then use them as a loss leader hoping that while you're there you'll pick up a copy of Hot Fuzz on DVD etc (or in my case Serenity for £2.99 inc p&p ) (I'm guessing that they aren't buying from BFC directly but through Paradox. In which case I hope that Paradox pay BFC a fixed amount per copy sold rather than a percentage of the selling price.) I don't see how being able to get a copy for £17.99 (with disc copy protection <spit>) can avoid canibalizing some direct from BFC sales but CF:SF will benefit from get a much greater profile. It's one thing to read a review of CF:SF then hunt down the BFC website and order a copy (and I hope that the reviews are good enough that alot of people will do that) but I'm guessing most gamers arent like that, so having copies they can see on the shelf or in their usual online stores will ultimately help shift ALOT more copies (thought with BFC making less per copy) Of course there's also the issue of BFC being able to sell copies direct LONG after stores and websites have removed them from their shelves and catalogues. So whether direct BFC sales or retail sales will ultimately make more money is an interesting question. I don't know how BFC expect the numbers to break down but they've been in the business a long time and they know what they are doing, so I assume the numbers work for them.

I'm in the UK but I've still pre-ordered the deluxe edition from Battlefront. Sometimes paying a more in order to help support the people creating the kinds of games I want to play makes sense to be. Plus the more copies they see being sold to the UK, the more chances that the British expansion module will become reality

Close in there's very little that comes close to the best Migs & SUs, but the west still has the avionics edge and seeing the other guy first is frequently decisive. Always thought that buying up modern soviet airframes and wedging in western engines and avionics would make for one hell of a cost effective package.

If Battlefront stick to their normal practice (and everyone seems to be expecting them to) the demo will be out at around the same time as the game is released. So look for it around the very end of July/beginning of August

A