GSX

Damn those non-native English speaking busy bodies and their petulant observations, they should all be banned!

For the first time ever theres a game here I cant afford. My stingy government hasn't given me a pay rise for 3 years so hopefully the MG module might be out soon as I think I can stretch to that.

I don't really have an interest in the Italy game and so I would opt for the CW module onto CMBN. Then you will have almost all of he units in GL anyway. Also, after GL Italy is finished where as there should be 2 more modules for CMBN before that is finished with. Personal choice but if you want longevity I'd go with CMBN. If you can afford both of course then get both.

That sounds reasonable, thanks for the clarification and I look forward to the MG module when it arrives.

Who was complaining? Already owning the CW module I'm interested in what the MG module will add to the Base Game both content and terrain wise. While I totally agree that £25 won't bankrupt me, it would be a lot to pay for a CW module that only added some German Paras and a big bridge. Though I'm not expecting this either. Cheers

Your base game and module policy has always been that you don't need a module to play another module. Does this mean that you don't need The CW module to play the Market Garden module? If this is so then it won't leave much of a representation of MG only having US units on the Allied side.

Oh, I'm not disputing your force selection in any shape or form, I wouldn't have chosen anything different from you. I was just thinking that as it is a showcase of the new Italy module perhaps it should have showed some new features, or units. Nothing to do with you or Bill, perhaps something that BF could have sorted out to show us the new bells an whistle? Anyway, I am cheering you on! Give us some more up close screenshots of the Paras and stop whining about having to travel and get some sleep and Man Up!

I'm enjoying this AAR as we haven't seen one for a while. There's a couple of things I have to say though. Firstly, I have only followed it from the GAJ side as I don't want to know what Bil is doing, will read all of his posts after the game. Secondly, as a showcase of Italy it's not really showing much. There's nothing different from CMN, except German Para uniforms and I already know just how powerfull Brit Airborne units can be from the Normandy game. As a showcase it would have been nice to see some of the new AA vehicles etc in action. As for thie game in progress I think you (GAJ) need to start thinking about getting your armour into the game before its too late for them to make a difference. still a Bit to go though and so the time for panicky moves is not at hand yet!

It's still looking good though, there are around 5-7 Mods and titles due out this year according to the official announcements. I'm saving now!

Infantry formations are probably number one on my CM wish list. One day, I hope they will be included.

Possibly, but from a business point, why spend effort on a game that will bring very little return? The Italians surrender in Sep 43 and the game then becomes CMBN with different terrain. If CMAK was weakest of the first generation games I imagine CMFI didn't even match that. I'd prefer BF to concentrate on products that keep them in being as long as possible.

I think you can assume that there is a huge possibility of no more Italy. I liken Italy game to CM Afghanistan.

There's a lot in what is said here. But it's not all abstracted for all nations, true German practice was to always stop and fire, but Soviet practice was especially in the early war years to fire on the move. Early British practice for the smaller 2lbr guns was also to fire on the move. Smaller guns don't suffer as much from vehicle movement. Soviet thinking stated that a lot of guns firing on the move would unnerve German crews, which in practice the Germans, who trained their crews to a higher standard than any of the allies were not too fazed by. I can live with the AI firing on the move but all too often I feel that the game treats firing on the move as the vehicle having stopped momentarily. Thus no penalty for actually moving seems to have occurred. I may be wrong but I often have that 'no way' moment when a panther fires on the move and achieves a 700 meter first shot kill. Is there a penalty for moving and firing?

All good and valid point, but its BFC making he announcements and they make the games and I would think that they know best. Bearing in mind that they could hit delays at any time, it's still official statements that I have to go on. Fair enough that we won't see 3 games before June this year but I've seen nothing official on these boards to refute the statement I quoted. So all I have to go on is that. If its changed then its up to someone at BF to give us some kind of update. I'm interested in the EF game and the MG module, would be nice to know if we can expect them in the next six months. I don't mind delays, have got very used to them, but some form of update would be nice and it doesn't have to be an in depth explanation, a simple update would be very welcome.

Damn I was going on Moons announcement here http://www.battlefront.com/community/showthread.php?t=104854 In June 2012 he said we would see those three games within the next year which I took to mean 12 months. Any ideas when the EF Game will be out as that's the only one I want together with the MG module.

Can we have a separate area for new scenarios? I think this would be a good addition as this aspect of the game is lacking in my opinion. I can't design one for toffee but I know a good one when I come across it. George McEwan has got to be the current scenario Diva in may opinion and for several years now I have lapped up his products from CMBB to CMBN. mark Ezra is a very very close second but there have been and continue to be some excellent scenario designers, so why don't we have more visibility of the guys that are producing the quality stuff? I think a separate discussion for new scenarios would be a great addition as its a key part of the game for me.

Sounds good but what will it bring over CMBN? A few vehicles? I imagine it will follow the same pattern with US vs Germans in main game and then the Brits. What other modules will be there possibly be? Apart from a Pershing and some snow, what can the Bulge module bring that the talented scenario designers can't do with CMBN? Or are the talented scenario designers tied to producing stuff for the current modules? I'm not sure this is true as my favourite designer George Mc has produced a most excellent brace of EF scenarios set in the CMBN universe. I might just skip the Bulge game and look forward to the Ostfont game.

I think you will be pleased as the way ahead thread states that before June this year we will see 3 base games for sale, CMSF 2, EF and I imagine the Bulge game?

I agree if it was the case but CMSF2 will be set in modern+ Ukraine. I'm not saying any conflict there would be as easy as Iraq but I really don't see how in reality it would either happen or that in a non nuclear endgame, how a current Russian force could hold its own against NATO air power. I don't see a situation that would warrant a conflict there or even a situation where any of the main powers would get into a hot war directly between each other. You never know though but I suppose that's what games are for. I do look forward to the discussions about weapon and vehicle modelling and how the data was compiled. Lots to look forward too though.....

I can see this upgrade business getting quite pricey as new titles are released. In future if you owned CMBN, FI, EF, CMSF2 and Bulge, then it would be $40 to upgrade all of your games. Of course you don't need to upgrade or own all of the games. Personally I'd like: CMBN MG title which I believe will arrive in 13. EF title, not sure if we will see this. Something not ww2 but not modern - highly unlikely I imagine. Not really interested in the following: CMFI - cant see any longevity in this game. And cant see what another title would bring that couldn't reasonably be simulated with CMBN. CMSF2 - despite liking and occasionally still playing the original Im not gripped by the setting of this one and I'm not sure it won't be too one sided again as I don't really see how Russia could stand up to a NATO force in a conventional setting. Bulge - strangely this also does not grip me as much as I thought it would, in fact I'm not entirely sure that it could not be simulated with the current CMBN title and future Mods (except for snow). Finally, I'm liking the pick what you want model here as I can concentrate on what interests me. I predict one new game and 2 modules for 2013 but would be happy to be entirely wrong.

BF have always stated in the past that game families will be accompanied with Modules that are stand alone. This means you won't have to buy a previous module to play another one. If this model hasn't changed then you won't need the CW Module to play MG Module. As for the original question, I'm seeing a very small increase graphically in the new version, but of course it does have other improvement like amour arcs that slightly improve the game for me.

With the old CM you could pick the oth bts from the allies, which was a bit gamey really as you could have the good US Infantry backed up with the better UK armour. US paras with fireflies and Churchils was a good combination. Although the Allies did operate together a lot, they didn't to my knowledge pick and choose the best weapon mix. I like the new system better.

UK Para mortar crews are portrayed as standard UK infantry. Ammo bearers are Paras though. I'm sure Paras had their own mortars.

So I got the upgrade. What am I supposed to be seeing? I haven't noticed any difference graphically at all. Obviously the new commands are there etc, but what should I be seeing, and I have all my options on best, fastest etc etc.

Of course, someone MUST know the date/state of the patch, until then the game is rendered pretty much unplayable for Win 8 users. I can only play games with certain units/forces at the moment. Would be nice to know roughly when I can play again?