Sunbather

Once again, this was not the argument. The argument was that never ever will be something created that is so ridiculously complex and had so much work put into it like Combat Mission. There are already several games in the works that might be "measuring up" (AB2; Broken Arrow) but again: who is the measurer and what is the measurement tool? A lot of people seem confused here between their personal opinion and having objectively measured the goodness of a product.

Some might call that a virtue.

That wasn't your argument so please don't twist my words. You said never again a wargame that "complicated and labour intensive" will be created. By stating quite a few "complex" and "labour-intensive" games, I proved your argument wrong (objectively, if you just measure the "labour" and "complexity" that went into those games with the "labour" and "complexity" that went into Combat Mission by the same curious yardstick you apparently possess).

Yeah, that kind of "argumentation" (if one is generous enough to call it that) is easily enough flipped around. Swap out CM for GT or whatever, and you have the same effect in a like-minded forum. Heck, a 17-year old could say, I've tried all games but what game I have the most hours in? Fortnite! Alas, it must be the best game ever created.

What an incredibly ill-informed statement. Ever heard of Graviteam Tactics? Armored Brigade? War in the East? CSL Campaign Series? Command: Modern Operations? Heck, even a gamey game like Warno is "complicated and labour intensive" production.

Thanks for answering me so clearly on this one! However, this is devastating news. CMBS is my favourite CM game but it always lacked a bit variety. I can understand your decision but this makes me incredibly sad. As for Slitherine/Matrix, they are soon releasing Broken Arrow. A game that features the realistic destruction of entire building blocks via rocket strikes, painstaking detail when it comes to authenticity of units and overall a very smiliar landscape to Eastern European countries. I don't really see them squirming there. Maybe because that game could be their first mainstream hit? And personally, I've never understood why contemporary conflicts are taboo while it is completely fine to have SS Todeskopf troops in your fun wargame or bomb the Vietcong without any notion of all the civilian casualties. I probably know all the arguments why this war is okay to depict but not that one. And I can even comprehend most of them. But Wargames are not some casual fun games. They are - more often than not - simulators and show us the workings of modern equipment and tactics. And, at least for me, they even have an anti-war element to them, much more than most of so called anti-war movies. And in that regard, they transcend the regular piety rules that apply for entertainment media. Anyways. It is great to hear that there is enthusiasm for other modern settings from your side. I do know that it's not gonna be a game featuring the IDF though.

Scheldt campaign if it isn't included in the Downfall module. I guess, making the maps would be really hard though.

Absolutely great news, although I would have liked a bone for the Black Sea module. There were rumours about re-discussing the embargo. After all, the IRL mess could take all from 6 more months to 6 more years. But we got what we've got. One serious notion though: the Downfall DLC page mentions very little about what the campaigns are actually about. But since the Canadians made it in, can one assume that the Scheldt campaign is included? Or is the DLC strictly 1945 only? Either way: congratulations to all contributors that this DLC sees the light of day!

Good explanation but it is NOT 3 versions. It is 1 version that can be bought from three different distributors (one being the developer himself).

Where are the facts regarding that it lies in "the nature of [insert country X here]" to slaughter other people? Why are you all about talking culture now when the lamented thread talked about nature? Kinda proves my point that the argumentation here (on whichever side) is a bit on the lazy side and words get twisted around a lot. The nature of the culture? I know it's an American expression to say "it is the nature of..." but the nature of the culture, really? It's getting Pythonesque here. And yes, it was my choice. I stand by my choice. I think it was a good choice to not read 3300 pages of "discussion", feeling already a bit damaged after only reading 4. It was meant as a joke, hence the winky smiley. But thank you for answering anyway, although I do remember the last news actually was that we will be getting news regarding the release embargo (whether or not it needs rethinking). But I'll patiently wait for the new New Year's post

Haven't touched the thread since it was like 40 pages or so. All I see now is 10 people ganging up on 1 guy. If you think he's a troll why feed him? And to be honest, most of the responses to him are even poorer than his style of argumentation. Feels a bit like kindergarden around here. Saying something like this is wrong on so many levels. Even logically, this doesn't make sense. Is it their nature now or their historical perspective? Or is nature history and history is nature? So many questions... **** But to actually contribute something: Black Sea module when?

Unfortunately, I do not know that. However, I think the base assumption leading up to that very question, namely that the Steam version and the Battlefront version (and then there's also a Matrix version if you will) are somehow different, is already misleading. There are thousands of games out there that exist simultaneously on many different distribution services (Steam, GOG, Epic, Ubisoft just to name the big ones) and quite a few of those games have mods. Until now I have never heard of any incompatibilty when it comes to mods just because you're on a different distribution system (which is exactly that: a distribution system). When it comes to Combat Mission, I can say that the game files are 100% the same (although the location of the folders is a bit different) so there is no logical reason (and isn't computer stuff all about logic?) for a mod created on the Steam "version" not to work on the Battlefront "version". It would be a completely different story when we were talking about different platforms (PC, Playstation, Nintendo etc.). What might make things confusing is that Steam, Epic, Ubisoft etc. are also called "platforms" sometimes (also by me) but strictly speaking that isn't correct. PS: While I have you here, Kohlenklau: I know you make a lot of great content but only very recently have I dived back into Fortress Italy and saw that you've created 4 Crete scenarios AND a German winter campaign for 1943. This is absolutely great and exactly (!) what I was looking for when I reinstalled Italy. Thank you for that and all the other good you're doing for this community! (I am maybe gonna volunteer to make some scenarios for Israel 1948 but first I have to see if I somehow get my worklife consolidated in the next few weeks or months. I'll let you know then!) PS2: I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!

As a dedicated Steamist, I hereby pledge to honor the modding community and Bootie`s warehouse in one of my Steam reviews for the CM games! (However, the reviews will take some more time) EDIT: On the thread topic: Yes, we do have an Anzio campaign in Gustave Line, however, it is a "What if" scenario and it's "only" about the breakout. It would be really nice to have the actual beach landings and the big German counterattack as campaigns!

I would like to pre-order as well! I'd also tentatively say that I could playtest the 5th campaign; do note, however, that I have not tested a campaign before. But I am sure I can bring imbalances, spawn bugs, faulty briefings or whatever to your attention!

*double post*

Any news on this project? I wonder if I should just start playing the single scenarios or if linking them in a campaign is still planned.

I agree. But at least 2 posts were complaining about a lack of marketing and saying that it is all (everything and everything) Steve's fault... PS: to be fair, I was the one who brought in the term "marketing" but a few people answered on that term saying that BFC sucks at it.

Again, he can't say anything if Matrix/Slitherine doesn't want him to. It's "their" product now, at least when it comes to the Steam releases. I opened this thread because I hoped that they simply forgot to tell us (not as unlikely as you might think considering how it usually works with them) or Steve is actually allowed to say something if somebody asks. Apparently this isn't so. No need for bashing Steve here. As I've explained already, I think Battlefront does perfect marketing for the fans. It might not be fancy streams on Twitch or Youtube (in which you actually learn nothing) but just plain old announcements on their main page. There you learn about patches, pre-orders and upcoming titles. I also don't think Battlefront has to market the game "beyond [their] base". If you go on wargaming forums (on Reddit, on Blitz, on Steam) Combat Mission pops up every. single. time. as the epitome of tactical wargames. Steam releases are doing the rest. You can "market" games like this only so much. The wider your reach gets, the more people will jump in and call the graphics ugly and "like 2005" and "don't buy". What I am saying is: at a specific point of reach, marketing might be reversing itself. IF people are looking for computer wargames, they will stumble upon Combat Mission rather sooner than later. No need to spend $$$ on marketing. Now... Having release dates is of course another matter, as I've explained above. Then again, we actually do have a release date, and at least for the last 3 Steam releases the given dates turned out to be correct. All I wanted to know was if the release is right around the corner or more like January. And since I got no response, I now know that they don't wanna tell us, and I am kinda ok with that.

I just like release dates. For example, I know for a full 3 months now that I will be spending 60$ on Warhammer 40k: Rogue Trader on December 7th. That's nice because so I am able to plan ahead with my budget. If there is a delay, if there is a change or whatever, just tell us. It took us months to learn that the WW2 series of Combat Mission wouldn't come out in 2022... Of course, you could argue that Final Blitzkrieg is already out and so I am tempted to just buy it. But I just have that feeling that I buy it and not much later the game drops on Steam which means an initial sale and also regionally adjusted prices and maybe even the release of the module which will make a nice and money-saving bundle with the base game. Steve can't say anything about it because it is the publisher's prerogative to announce or not announce release dates. And Slitherine/Matrix - as I said - are not good at this. Sometimes they announce a beta months ahead (e.g. for that weird Terminator: Dark Defiance game), other times they just drop a major release without any previous marketing (Fortress Italy). Their Steam prices are weird (60,68€ for CM: Normandy) because they rigorously follow Steam suggestions for currency conversion. Every child knows that you either have round prices or go the .99 cents way; it's simple psychology. Their website is sometimes bad, often times simply horrendous. You are greeted with a loud jungle when you open their main page, their forums are laggy, you get constantly and randomly logged out... All that being said, I love their products and that they give niche wargames a home. But their PR/marketing is really strange and probably not very effective. PS: Battlefront does marketing, at least for their fans. E.g. the battle pack for Red Thunder and Cold War were both announced on their main page weeks or even months ahead. I think this was very nice, since - again - it gave me the possibility to plan ahead a bit.

[nevermind]

Hmm, Red Thunder was released on June 15th, Fortress Italy followed on September 12th (with zero previous marketing). So I have a hunch that the release might indeed be around the corner. Then again, Matrix/Slitherine aren't too good when it comes to marketing, publishing or actually doing releases. So at the end of the day, we know nothing, haha.

Now that Germany is all white and wintery, I am finally in the mood for some Final Blitzkrieg. However, I do wonder if the module is right around the corner which would give me the option to just buy the bundle at a reduced price. So is the module still slated to come out together with the Steam release or even before that? St. Nick's Day is soon - and let me tell you, even grown-ups like surprises and presents

Hey there, Elvis. My English is pretty bad today so maybe a lot got lost in translation. Disregarding the other two points, let me only answer to the first one. It is and always was possible to "upgrade"/"complete" your bundle at a discounted price. In fact, it is already possible again. It was either an error in the Matrix (no pun intended) or a problem with Steam (most likely). I.e. I can now buy Gustav Line at a discounted-discounted price which is awesome since I am very tight on money right now.

I must admit I am a bit pissed that Slitherine/Matrix turned off the ability on Steam to complete a bundle when you already have parts of it. For example: you only have CM Normandy and Commonwealth. Just a few months ago you were able to buy the complete bundle at a discounted price, MINUS the parts of the game you already owned. This got changed. I have Fortress Italy and Gustav Line. However, I only have the option now to buy the full bundle at the full price of 90 euro, disregarding completely that I already own two items of the three-parts bundle. I think this is really ****ty business practice; especially since it was possible earlier.

Will be similar to the first one, I guess. Also, trailers rarely have UI elements, be it for wargames or more non-niche games. I mean, the trailer for Fortress Italy has the UI in it but probably only because they decided it would look worse if they cut off the edges like our Youtubers do to make it more cinematic.