I had to come out of lurk mode and re-register just to comment in this thread.
That Alpha AAR, to this day, remains one of the most exciting things i have ever read on the internet.
I could not imagine that a game was being created that would allow me to participate at the level being shown to me in that AAR. It was simply unheard of at that time.
I still remember that AAR vividly and it was many many moons ago. I can picture those ambush teams hiding in the woods.. and the artillery falling.. man, so cool.
I have never wanted a game so badly in my entire life.
A really great memory from a long time ago.