Steel Armour - Blaze of War - relaunch/makeover

[Eichhörnchen]

Thanks again; got the sim today and installed it. Would you believe it, there's not even a manual on the disc! So your extremely helpful links to the quick-start guide and SimDeck video in particular, are timely indeed.

I hope it's not a bad sign, but the "tutorial" just won't start. However, the mission-setup interface functions just fine and, as you say, I'm just going to have to be patient and learn the ropes first. Squirrels and heavy armour may ultimately prove incompatible, but I want to give this a try; other tank sims have all been a bit of a disappointment with either third-person viewpoint only, cruddy graphics or both.

Cheers!

[33lima]

Originally Posted by Eichhornchen

Thanks again; got the sim today and installed it. Would you believe it, there's not even a manual on the disc! So your extremely helpful links to the quick-start guide and SimDeck video in particular, are timely indeed.

I hope it's not a bad sign, but the "tutorial" just won't start. However, the mission-setup interface functions just fine and, as you say, I'm just going to have to be patient and learn the ropes first. Squirrels and heavy armour may ultimately prove incompatible, but I want to give this a try; other tank sims have all been a bit of a disappointment with either third-person viewpoint only, cruddy graphics or both.

Cheers!

I have the Gamersgate version and after installation, the manuals (tanks, tactics and controls, in the updated version anyway) are in the folder Steel Armour Blaze of War/Docs/Support.

Maybe you have installed the April update and patch already but if not, for the GG version anyway, the update process is unusual; drop the downloaded update (filename something like sabow_apr15_patch_eng.gt2extension) into the install folder, double-click the batch file update.cmd (also in the install folder) and use the dialogue window which then opens to locate and enable the update. That's the process for the GG version, likely for the disc version, too.

[Eichhörnchen]

I haven't got into that yet (I thought there might be a patch or two on the disc, but no). And no doc files on the disc at all, just the AutoRun, EULA, Setup plus three Setup bin. files... not even a Readme!

BTW, it's a "Black Lime Games"/" UIG Entertainment" release, only £2.99 so maybe you get just the barest minimum. I'll keep trying and post some screenshots if I get rolling...

E

[33lima]

Originally Posted by Eichhornchen

I haven't got into that yet (I thought there might be a patch or two on the disc, but no). And no doc files on the disc at all, just the AutoRun, EULA, Setup plus three Setup bin. files... not even a Readme!

BTW, it's a "Black Lime Games"/" UIG Entertainment" release, only £2.99 so maybe you get just the barest minimum. I'll keep trying and post some screenshots if I get rolling...

E

With a bit of luck, the manuals will be installed with the game; they're likely in one of those bin files. I'm pretty sure it won't include the updates as the UIG version pre-dates Graviteam getting the rights back and starting to patch/update the game, officially.

As the original release was reported to have some issues, and the updates - as well as adding some features, like tank-laid smoke screens - make some interface changes that you don't want to have to re-learn, I'd definitely recommend patching it right away, after installation.

There's a brief discussion about patching the boxed version here, best place to post if you hit any diffs:

http://graviteam.com/forum/index.php?topic=11932.0

[Eichhörnchen]

Check! Thanks again...

[Akula]

Hello.....

I bought this when it came out on disk. However I found the interface clunky and hard to use, I couldn't even figure out how to get in 3D mode to play the tanks in Campaign mode.

It seems this has been made a bit more accessible with a Easy Mission editor and quick game setting?

Also is it at all possible to play the Centurion now, or via mods? Would be nice to play on the side of SADF in the Angola campaign.

In any event is it better to get this from Gamergate or Steam...anything that either of the two versions don't have in terms of features, moddability or DLC?

Any does anyone know if disk customers get a discount somewhere to get the improved game?

Thanks,
G

[33lima]

Hi Akula

I had exactly the same experience with SABOW, originally finding the interface about as user friendly as the proverbial cornered rat. Parked it for another day.

When that day came this Spring, two things solved it for me. Ok, three things, at the risk of sounding like that Python sketch.

First, I decided I would make the effort, whatever it took.

Second and third, that effort was reduced by:

1. Sim Deck's SABOW intro videos, notably this one - tho I think made before the updates, they are still helpful.



2. The update's improvements, notably;
(a) the 'quick mission' option which enables you to bypass most of the wargame element and get nearly straight to the tanksimming; and
(b) the instant action missions, which go directly to tanksimming, which started with two training missions, since increased, as described here:

http://combatace.com/topic/85814-ste...r/#entry691073

There's still a lot of features I use little or at all but the tanksimming basics I find no more complicated than many another tanksim. It's well worth now making the effort also to get to grips with the wargame interface because that's needed to play campaigns fully and it adds an extra dimension to the game. Reminds me of Steel Beasts in some respects. Once you have cracked it the first time, the wargame interface's main features are suddenly fairly intuitive.

You can update the CD version, but its updates lag behind those for Steam and Gamersgate. I bought the Gamersgate version in a sale, so it was well worth it. I have the impression GG tends to get updates slightly sooner. There's no discount for CD buyers to get the D/L version but a sale renders that moot.

Modder WHUKID had a (beta, partial?) IDF mod with a playable IDF Centurion but I'm not sure it's still available and it may not work with the new version. Graviteam have said they want to start releasing DLCs, plans not public yet. Personally, dreaming being free, I want a playable Chieftain, then preferably 1970s-1980s NATO-v-WARPAC, then WW2. The first DLC is coming soon, it seems:

http://graviteam.com/forum/index.php?topic=11793.300

PS more up-to-date illustration of the increased range of 'instant action' options is here; more added since, including directing artillery fire:

http://combatace.com/topic/85925-ins...n-sabow-style/