HARI SELDON

Well said. I don't believe 1C appreciates the difference between a "Grog Wargamer" and a "general computer gamer". Grog Wargamers are (generally) willing to pay for added value in the games they play (ie Combat Mission, Armored Task Force, & Steel Beasts). Grog wargamers (generally) see their games an an investment of a great amount of time and hope the publishers support the games with enhancements and new content; even if that support comes with a price tag. It appears 1C treats this series as any other shooter game (WHICH IT CERTAINLY IS NOT). It appears they think it has a limited shelf life, therefore they will not put much added value in the game. I have always considered this a big mistake on 1C's part. This series has the potential of becoming a classic tactical sandbox.

That's what I do, play the history, not the game. However, is that really the history? What was US Army tactical doctrine in regard to setting up platoon positions in and near houses?

Tartari: That would be great. I hope Battlefront/1C has no issues with it. Thank you for all the work you put into TOW.

Wow. That sounds like alot of work. As someone who has never been able to even extract and modify any of the SFS files, I want to thank you for your efforts.

Will a patch be forthcoming to upgrade TOW2 games to TOW3 engine?

Another Amen for that. And getting the TOW1 editors to work on a 64 bit operation system. The workaround described on the forum never worked for me.

Amen to that. Unfortunately, IC's business model seems to preclude adding value to their old games. Pity, as I think they would generate brisk sales if they updated TOW2 games to the TOW3 game engine.

Why be limited to one game. Why not enjoy them all. Even with all it's faults, I still enjoy playing TOW-2 Kursk.

For $9 I took the plunge. Not a good sign for the TOW series.

Rosseau - thank you for your response. I agree with your thoughts on the editors. They are the single most important component in making TOW a tactical tool kit. The lack of real C2 and (in TOW2 - don't have TOW3) the infantry vulnerability are the main flaws. I hoped that my question would generate a healthy debate on the TOW series. I guess the tepid response tells you all you need to know about the future of the series.

I am disappointed with the TOW series because I view it as a flawed tactical tool kit. I believe 1C sees the series as merely a more involved RTS shooter. How does the TOW community view the series?

Par for the course. I'd assume 1C's focus is now on TOW4. Too bad this isn't a Battlefront supported series, as it has the potential to be a classic. I check into this forum from time to time with the hope that 1C will address the communities problem with the engine and upgrade the TOW2 engine with the improvements in the TOW3 engine. This series for me is Paradise Lost. Too bad for all the tactical gamers hoping for something better.

Unfortunately I fear it may fall on deaf ears. If Battlefront was the developer as well as the publisher I would be more optimistic a fix may be made. 1C's record of supporting their games post release with engine upgrades is to put it kindly. nonexistent. Yes they will put out scenario packs (ie Caen & Centauro), but back fitting engine enhancements are not done. From 1C's track record, I wouldn't be surprised if all development efforts were now focused on TOW4. If however, 1C does show respect to their customers by addressing these concerns and back fitting some of the engine improvements into Kursk, I will continue to support the series by purchasing TOW3.

I also would be willing to pay for patches / engine upgrades for TOW-2 Africa & Kursk. However, as Schrullenhaft mentioned in this thread: 1C Company is definitely attuned to the retail games market, which tends to have a short attention span for a games release/patching before going on to the next thing. I agree with this observation and can extrapolate that the TOW2 engine games will be left to die. Pity as I enjoy Kursk/Caen very much. I wanted to get into modding Kursk, but never could get the extractor to work. I wish 1C would have released modding tools and upgrades/patches for a fee. I would have paid for it. Unlike 1C, the other wargame developers mentioned earlier in this thread always supported their products post release.

1C's track record seems to be publishing a new game, wait a year to publish one add-on and then release a completely new game with an improved engine and let the older game die. I pre-ordered the upcoming Combat Mission game and will no longer support 1C's marketing strategy by not ordering TOW3.

Why does 1C never back fit current engine improvements into older games?

Sneaksie: Are battlegroups actual military formations? (ie 1st Battalion 432 RCT, 28th Division) How do we "deploy some of the troops of current battlegroup", can we say we want COMPANY A, 1st Battalion, 432 RCT, 28th division or do we pick individual squads/vehicles? In other words, are the battlegroups in the strategic game actual formations or are they merely pools of individual squads / vehicles which can be drawn from for the tactical battle with no regard to historical unit frontages and densities? If they are not actual formations, I think I will pass on TOW3.

•Updated control system focusing more on squads and not on individual soldiers How does this work? What commands are available for squad control? •Unique terrain modeling enhances the fidelity of the infantry combat simulation Does that mean the AI x-ray spotting has been fixed? •An all new Strategic game mode greatly enhances the experience of the tactical battles How does this work? What size are the tactical maps? What size units are deployed during the strategic game? If they are regimental size, does TOW then take a company from the deployed regiment to resolve a tactical battle? Does the outcome of the company level action dictate who won the strategic battle?

From the 1c TOW3-Korea page of features: Engineer Corps: real-time mining and demining.

Aside from being able to issue orders to complete squads, (which we can already do) are there any other enhancements to the infantry portion of the game? Will command squads be able to affect squads/weapon teams morale and performance? Will the infantry AI be able to execute selected battle drills? Any information would be appreciated.

Yes, I have seen the "command radius". What I have been unable to ascertain is if the presence of a command squad adds any value to any squads/weapon teams in close proximity to it. There is no reference in the manual to it and I have found no advantages to the command squad's presence in the scenarios I have created myself. Sneaksie - any information? Will there be any upgrade to the command squad's attributes in TOW3-Korea?

Other than extra infantry on the battlefield, has anyone found any use for platoon and company command squads?

I don't know about the Battlefront release, but the 1C company web page lists release as March 4.

So would I. I doubt we will get any new content or tools for TOW2 due to 1C's attention being focused on the upcoming release of TOW3-Korea (which I will purchase).

Wow, this looks great! Will we be able to import a Kursk map into the strategic editor. Since most of the equipment shown was available at the end of WW2, I wanted to be able to create a campaign with Caen/Kursk maps with the USA and USSR units. Looking forward to this.