Hilmer Posted July 11, 2000 Share Posted July 11, 2000 CM sounds very interesting and I’m a big fan of Atom's Close Combat series, so I would love to try the demo to see if this game would suite me. I have a P2 450, 64ram, SB AWE 64 and a Voodoo 2 “Orchid Righteous” but the demo won’t start on my system. I don’t get any error messages, nothing.. plz help! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vcents Posted July 11, 2000 Share Posted July 11, 2000 Couple of questions: I assume you are running 9x/NT..when you click to start the game, does the screen flicker/go to black or just sit there? Also, when the game doesn't start after starting it try a Ctrl-Alt-Del and see if it is running in the task list. If it is running then something is stopping it. Most likely Voodoo2 drivers...make sure you have downloaded the latest reference drivers for Voodoo2. Try www.3dfx.com they will have the latest reference drivers for the card, as well as links to the major card makers. Also, for a quick fix, try uninstalling/reinstalling the game. Let me know what you find out. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vcents Posted July 11, 2000 Share Posted July 11, 2000 Oh yeah..the game is a riot. Not to start another CC V CM war but I find it far better in simulating combined arms warfare than Close Combat. Just an observation and personal preference, so don't flame me! [This message has been edited by vcents (edited 07-11-2000).] 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DEF BUNGIS Posted July 12, 2000 Share Posted July 12, 2000 Just a quick note, CM does not / will not / no way in hell what ever you do, run with Windows NT. ------------------ Better to make the wrong decision than be the sorry son of a bitch to scared to make one at all 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hilmer Posted July 12, 2000 Author Share Posted July 12, 2000 The answers to your questions: Yes I’m running a pretty fresh Win98 installation and I’m using the latest Voodoo 2 drivers, version 3.02.02 updated Jan 27 2000. I have no trouble what so ever playing Ground Control or Earth 2150 from Sierra, so the card works fine. When I run the .exe file, my HD makes some noises for a second or two “prob loading CM” and then everything simply stops. I don’t’ get any black screen nothing and I don’t have anything running in the task list afterwards. I have tried extracting the files several times making sure I get the entire folder structure correctly “the CM-demo doesn’t have any real installation program”. This is what bugs me, nothing happens so I can’t figure out why it wont’ start! I have PC-support and network administration education so I normally know enough to handle myself when I have PC related problems Thanks anyway, I’m glad someone can enjoy this warsim as it sounds very interesting. I’m a big fan of WW2 strategy and simulation games. I’m not much for modern war or futuristic weapons and units where you can’t identify them or figure out their capabilities. In a WW2 sim, you know for example that it would be stupid to try taking out a Tiger with only 2-3 Sherman tanks if you can’t flank it undetected, or if you have some support form a couple of M10 DT’s. I like the idea of a full-scale war scenario where you can use bort air, water and land units with detailed simulation of both armor and infantry. A couple of year ago I got hold of a WW2 sim called Muzzle Velocity from Digi4Fun, ever heard of this title? I still find it to be pretty enjoyable despite it’s ugly graphics and terrible sounds just because you have this full-scale war with 100’s of different units from various nations like infantry, armored vehicles, tanks, transports, mortar, artillery, ground attack fighters and bombers even ambulances in fact and it’s all in 3D (software) with huge maps complete with nice landscapes with cities and woods, a game with potential for it’s age! The only game I ever heard about that’s similar to Muzzle Velocity is Combat Mission, so I’m not giving it up yet Best of luck in the field general* 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hilmer Posted July 12, 2000 Author Share Posted July 12, 2000 About “Muzzle Velocity” again.. the official site is: http://www.digi4fun.com/MuzzleVelocity.html You can download the demo there, but I only recommend it for those who can enjoy a good WW2 sim without the latest in computergraphics MV is a real-time WW2 strategy/simulator where you control a full-scale war between American/English and German forces. From the map you can double-click on any unit and take part of the action in full 3D and lead your troops to victory. Call in air support or even bombers to prepare that city for your invasion or even hide your troops in the woods and ambush enemy units passing by. Capture surrendered infantry with the ambulance or call in the engineers to repair your damaged tank so you can put it back into action again the combat scenario’s can get pretty detailed with this game, but I doubt that it stands up to Combat Mission. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hilmer Posted July 13, 2000 Author Share Posted July 13, 2000 Guess what, I changed the desktop resolution to 800*600 and the Combat Mission DEMO started without errors. Perfectly fine (I thought) but now I get a complete lockup when the text “loading 3D-graphics” appears! Not a very stable code is it? I won’t flame this game anyway, I blame it on my system. Plz get back to me if you have any idea on how to resolve this new problem, thanks By the way, I tried the modern Tank sim Steal Beasts yesterday and I’m pretty impressed with this engine. Everything you can expect in a modern tank sim is there and very well simulated. The AI driver has no trouble what so ever to find a good hull-down position (most other tanks sims don’t even have this critical feature) and the sounds from the tanks engine, turret servo and artillery is almost perfect. Simply put- a better version of Tank platoon 2! Cheers 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vcents Posted July 13, 2000 Share Posted July 13, 2000 Hilmer: When it locks up at the loading 3D features, can you hear the battle and background noises? When I updated my Matrox card with the new drivers, I ran into this same problem (along with a host of other 98 issues, but I digress). Is your V2 card a passthrough card or combo? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hilmer Posted July 13, 2000 Author Share Posted July 13, 2000 Actually, I guess it crashes even before it starts to load the 3D-graphics, right after the loading text appears. Nope, can’t hear any sound/fx. Plz explain what a passthrough / combo card is. I’m using two cards: 2D = ATI 64 (something) with only 2mb, and 3D = Voodoo2 Orchids 12mb What’s so different about CM-3D engine? All other games/programs works perfectly fine with my system! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schrullenhaft Posted July 13, 2000 Share Posted July 13, 2000 If you delete your CM prefs file (in the C:\PROGRAM FILES\CMBO directory) what do you see on the screen when you first attempt to run CM ? It should be a black screen with white/white-blue text on it describing your resolution and what display adapter you're using. Does it say anything about "primary display" ? I'm not sure what the Voodoo-based accelerator cards are supposed to see below the resolution when they initialize CM. Somebody who is using a Voodoo2-based card could hopefully answer this one. What version of DirectX are you running ? Since you are playing some other games I can assume that you are running v. 6.1 or later. You may want to consider updating your DirectX version if it isn't 7.0a (though it's no guarantee that this is what is stopping the 3D graphics from initializing): Microsoft DirectX 7.0a: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/release.asp?ReleaseID=16819 Looking at ATI's website if you have a card based on any of the mach64 series Windows98 has the latest drivers included. So you are up to date in that sense (if your 2D card made a difference here). BTW you are using a passthrough card, your Orchid Righteous is using an external cable to map the display onto its video signal. The combo board is the Banshee-based products where the Voodoo2 features where combined with 2D display features for a single video card. You may want to load up your DirectX diagnostic (C:\Program Files\DirectX\Setup\DxDiag.exe) and check out the Display tab. I'm not sure what options you'll have here, because apparently they can be modified by your video card's DirectX driver. Some of the functions you will have here include DirectDraw, Direct3D and AGP support (which you probably aren't using to my knowledge). If these features are enabled then the disabled button will be raised, while the enabled button will appear as plain text with no button border. You may want to experiment with these settings to see if CM will load with any of them disabled. You may also have some options in the Display control panel regarding your Voodoo2. I'm not sure what they'll look like, but you may want to experiment with some of the settings (possibly turn off Glide support if it is an option). 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vcents Posted July 13, 2000 Share Posted July 13, 2000 Passthrough card = One video card and one V2 card hooked together by a cable. Combo - both V2 and video in one. Have you updated the drivers on your regular video card? Have you overclocked your V2 card? I know on my Soundblaster V2 card I can overclock the card through preferences, but when I did the system started acting goofy so I just went back to the default. Just a couple of ideas..... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krm Posted July 14, 2000 Share Posted July 14, 2000 Where did you get such new drivers for your V2. The ones I have are from 98, and are apparently the newest ones! ------------------ I'm always in the ****, it's only the depth that varies. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hilmer Posted July 14, 2000 Author Share Posted July 14, 2000 Schrullenhaft: Yes I get the black screen if I’m running my desktop at lower resolutions, it’s two of them right? It says something like 800*600 120hz. Everything works fine until I’m about to launch the single player campaign, it crashes as soon as the “loading 3D-graphics” text appears I’m running DirectX 7.0a <- also reinstalled Yup my ATI can prob. not get more updated then this I’m using the default configurations for my Voodoo 2 and DX My system use to be very stable and compatible with most programs. I now know only two titles that won’t run on my system and they are: Motorcross Madness 2 and Combat Mission. I don’t care less about MM2, but my problems with Combat Mission is tearing my heart out.. literary! krm: the most logical place to look for new 3Dfx drivers wold be at www.3dfx.com http://www.3dfxgamers.com/drivers/voodoo2/voodoo2_win9x_new.stm 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hilmer Posted July 17, 2000 Author Share Posted July 17, 2000 I just got myself a working copy “for evaluation purposes” of CM So what can I say about CM now that I have played if for a couple of hours.. ZZzzzz.. ZZZzzz .. I’m not impressed, this is just another example of those games that would do better without 3D-graphics! There is no “back” button anywhere in CM’s menu, “when for example; making a custom scenario” so if you forget something in the scenario presets, you have to quit and restart CM and do it all from the beginning again.. sharp thinking! CM doesn’t simulate the full-scale war scenarios I thought it did, just small battles, why this hype? No full-length campaigns with historical accuracy like in Close Combat! Line of sight isn’t realistic enough and units can shoot and drive threw buildings etc. Units can’t spot for mortars, so you have to position the poor mortar infantry teams on the front lines “taking heavy fire” just so they can identify the enemies themselves.. I thought mortars utilized indirect fire. Smoke within CM ... I don’t think I have to mention this one do I? Don’t get me wrong, CM has some notable qualities like nice tank-skins, sound spotting .. hmm lemme think.. perhaps a well done armor penetration algorithm? So I guess that’s enough for some wargamers, ehum. Big Time Software made another title that I’m pretty happy with: TacOps3 (modern war/strategy without failing 3D-graphics) fairly realistic battles with believable outcomes.. nothing like CM where this english Piat-inf knocked out a tiger threw a two story building from 150m “now that’s what I call a jolly good rocket launcher” I think I pass on CM [This message has been edited by Hilmer (edited 07-17-2000).] 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Big Time Software Posted July 17, 2000 Share Posted July 17, 2000 Charles 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stodge Posted July 18, 2000 Share Posted July 18, 2000 You're passing on CM? My life is over!!! Thanks for trying your "evaluation" copy. Sorry it didn't appeal to you. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hnh3_cm Posted July 18, 2000 Share Posted July 18, 2000 LOL, Charles. Yours is probably the most perfect reply I have ever seen. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayne Posted July 18, 2000 Share Posted July 18, 2000 So what can I say about CM now that I have played if for a couple of hours.. ZZzzzz.. ZZZzzz .. I’m not impressed, this is just another example of those games that would do better without 3D-graphics! I can't believe it! Any one who finds this game boring is no wargamer. CM is the best game I've ever played. The realism is beyond description. Have you even played the game? Wayne ------------------ Blessed be the Lord my strength who teaches my hands to war and my fingers to fight. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred Posted July 18, 2000 Share Posted July 18, 2000 Hilmer, what is a "working copy for evaluation purposes"? You do not want to tell us, that you got a pirated CD? Later on you wrote about "historical accuracy" in relation with "Close Combat"...hey that was a good one. Still on the floor and LOL! Your posting really has some entertaining value! And I understand that it is very hard to see, how an invincible Tiger was killed by a lousy PIAT. You are right, according to my sources, the Wehrmacht never lost a Tiger. Guess that is why Germany won WW2... Hmm, looks like you better stay with your real time Command&Crap clickfeast clones and stay away from consims... Fred 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hilmer Posted July 19, 2000 Author Share Posted July 19, 2000 Wayne, yes I played CM for a couple of hours before my post and I’m still playing it. Despite its flaws I find this game pretty interesting. CM’s editor is pretty neat and I find it somewhat fun to pit different units against each other to see if they behave like expected (I feel like a beta-tester) Now that I have spent some more time with CM, I noticed that it’s very similar to the Close Combat series in many ways. It’s almost a copy CC with exactly the same interface! But in Close Combat, the mortars can utilize indirect fire and the sneak, ambush and hide features seem to work better there as well. I say this because I haven’t been able to ambush enemy units effectively yet in CM, they always get detected “might just be bad luck”. I also noticed that the graphics is very similar to Muzzle Velocity’s from Digi4Fun and the sound/FX “wav files” are exactly the same as in MV! I believe that the same team that created Muzzle Velocity, actually created CM… am I rights Charles? > Wayne; CM is the best game I've ever played Have you tried; Hidden & Dangerous - Illusion Softworks, Panzer Elite - Wings Simulations, Panzer General 3D Assault – SSI, Close Combat 4 – Atomic? Download the “Close Combat IV; battle of the bulge” demo http://www.closecombat.com/ Close Combat 1 "Best war game 1997"- PC Gamer Close Combat 2 "Best war game 1997"- Online Gaming Review Close Combat 3 "Editor's Choice"- PC Gamer Close Combat 3 "Editor's Choice"- Gamespot Close Combat 4: http://www.gonegold.com/reviews/cc4/index.shtml http://www.gamecenter.com/Reviews/Item/0,6,0-3551,00.html 9 of 10 “Editors Choice” Why I like Close Combat better: Campaign system allows movement of multiple battle groups on a strategic map of the Ardennes! Real-time battles without annoying pauses and you can issue orders anytime! Better situation awareness, no need to navigate a clumsy camera around a 3D-landscape! You can easily list and locate your units on the battlefield! Beautifully made landscapes and tanks made up of 3D-polygons that follows the landscapes accordingly! Working line of sight/fire without failures! Victory counts; the loser relinquishes control of the contested area. If the conquered area is a crossroads, the opponent can no longer move through those roads, and if your enemy captures one of your supply dumps, you take a reserve hit. On the other hand, the victor's men live to fight another day (and so do some of the vanquished). It's a simple yet engaging system that makes you not only concerned about the battle's outcome but also concerned about the men fighting it! You can find Close Combat in any PC-game related store around the world so you don’t have to give away your credit card number over the Internet! (I doubt it, but I will pay for CM if I continue to play it) > Wayne; The realism is beyond description. compared to / based on what? Nuff said, I guess you all get the point. Thanks vcents and schrullenhaft for the technical support regarding the CM-DEMO! / Hilmer > Fred well.. Command & Conquer <- you can’t spell that? Is one of the first great hit’s regarding RTS-games.. I bought it, played it and loved it! [This message has been edited by Hilmer (edited 07-19-2000).] [This message has been edited by Hilmer (edited 07-19-2000).] 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Big Time Software Posted July 21, 2000 Share Posted July 21, 2000 Hilmer, Uhm... you don't appear to know much about what you are talking about. We have never played Muzzle Velocity (tried but couldn't get the demo to run). And saying everything is "exactly the same" as [fill in the blank] really is a funny one. We don't even have the MV or CC4, so how could they be the same? I suggest... 1. Play CM before you start saying it can't do stuff. Most of what you mentioned is just flat out wrong. 2. Close Combat is about as realistic as... well... I guess I should keep my mouth shut on that one 3. Can't resist... CC's campaigns are a work of fication. Fun, perhpas, but realistic they certainly are not. 4. You said, "Working line of sight/fire without failures!". If you mean that CM has this, you are correct. If you mean that Close Combat has it... oh boy... And what the Hell is an "eval copy"? We have no such thing. Are you using a pirated copy? If so, please at least stop asking for help getting it to run. Cripes... Steve [This message has been edited by Big Time Software (edited 07-21-2000).] 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayne Posted July 21, 2000 Share Posted July 21, 2000 <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Big Time Software: Hilmer, 1. Play CM before you start saying it can't do stuff. Most of what you mentioned is just flat out wrong. 2. Close Combat is about as realistic as... well... I guess I should keep my mouth shut on that one 3. Can't resist... CC's campaigns are a work of fication. Fun, perhpas, but realistic they certainly are not. 4. You said, "Working line of sight/fire without failures!". If you mean that CM has this, you are correct. If you mean that Close Combat has it... oh boy... And what the Hell is an "eval copy"? We have no such thing. Are you using a pirated copy? If so, please at least stop asking for help getting it to run. Cripes... Steve [This message has been edited by Big Time Software (edited 07-21-2000).]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Ditto! Wayne. ------------------ Blessed be the Lord my strength who teaches my hands to war and my fingers to fight. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hilmer Posted July 21, 2000 Author Share Posted July 21, 2000 First of all Steve, that was a question, I didn’t say you created Muzzle Velocity did I? Not very professional to criticize “the more experienced” Atomic / Microsoft and Close Combat without even playing it Steve, not very professional! Atomic is responsible for some of the best, first and most loved strategy games ever created and the Close Combat series is just one of them. Do you think you can beat their success with Combat Mission? Perhaps you should take a look at other titles and learn what you could do better instead of flaming games that came out long before yours did. Some answer to your questions; 1. If you read my post, you might notice something mentioning playing CM! You can’t point out what part? 2. Ehum.. It’s pretty obvious you ditched school on those history lessons. 3. Perhaps you should play CC4 first! CM doesn’t even have a real campaign system.. geezus! 4. Like I said, play before say! I’m not the only one mentioning problems regarding line of sight in CM! 5. Yes I’m using a pirated copy! The demo wouldn’t work so I had to try the full version instead. Regarding the sounds, it’s possible you got them from the same source as Digi4Fun. If you want’ to, I can list exactly what wave-files that been used in MV on the very same weapons. From what I learned on this forum, I can say for sure that I wont’ buy any title from BTS or recommend anyone to do so. Did you name yourselves Big Time Software to compensate for the small team of youngsters under 25 thinking you’re the best there is¿ Wouldn’t “Small Time Software” be more suitable? Listen and learn or you will spoil your prosperity! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironcross Posted July 21, 2000 Share Posted July 21, 2000 as youve admitted using a pirated copy i suggest you check your email box as that was reported,funnily enough the software industry has a department geared to low lifes who buy,use pirate companys products. They,ll probably want to check your computer over too. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pfalz XII Posted July 21, 2000 Share Posted July 21, 2000 Ignorant, arrogant, hypocritical, and dishonest to boot! Is your other hobby drowning newborn kittens? Hilmer, I believe you have just rocketed to the top of this forum's honorary Hall of Shame. Quite an accomplishment, I might add. Oh, and please DO tell all of your "friends" not to buy CM. You and your ilk will not be missed. Good day, sir. [This message has been edited by Pfalz XII (edited 07-21-2000).] 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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