Combat Mission Shock Force versus Close Combat Modern Tactics

[Skybird]

I would appreciate to get some opinion and advise and feedback on Combat Mission Shock Force(Battlefront), and Close Combat Modern Tactics (Matrix). I am considering the first as an xmax present to myself. Good choice?

Any nasty copy protection stuff I need to be aware of - constantly being online, or something like that?

References to WWII games of these series not needed, WWII just doesn't catch me. I am more interested in late cold war or modern present or near future scenarios. I am SP interested exclusively, MP is no argument for me.

[Dowly]

Probably best bet to go with CM. Never tried CCMT, but I think the Combat Mission
series might suit you better. :hmmm:

[Skybird]

The comments I read around the web seem to support your view. The videos I saw: also. I do not like arcadish, too fast games anymore, and CM seems to give me the time I need to really smart out the enemy. The videos of CC had the vehicles jump to the next WP like rabbits and the men weaseling like - well, like weasels.

Just wondering, if I buy the download CM, whether that will be the recent version, or if I also need all the patches, too. Could turn into a download marathon then. :hmmm:

Hm, think I go with CM indeed. A nice Bundeswehr pack they seem to offer, too. Then I just need a mod to replace those Marders with Pumas :)

[Skybird]

Just noted that there is a demo with examples from all addons included. Will try that first. Nice!

[Skybird]

Battlefront page producing many brakes, and secondary servers to download from are lame like glue flowing down a wall. They are kidding to expect being payed for a bad joke like this, yes?

53 KB/s now. Wowh. 426 MB still to go. Wowh. Just Wowh.

Somebody has to seriously consider his business model. Funding by me: refused. :nope:

[Egan]

Never had any problems whatsoever downloading games from Battlefront. Always had decent speeds. If it's really a problem for you, why don't you just order a hard copy instead?

This is the demo you are trying to download? I'm downloading it from the Worthplaying server. 6.5 minutes for 526 meg. What server are you trying. The Battlefront Fallback server explicitly states it's very slow. I imagine some of the other ones are too. As far as I know these servers are for the demo only. The game should be available from their own server.

[Skybird]

All the servers for the demo suck not just Battlefront's own.

Will get a visit tomorrow and he has paypal access, I read got info on the title and will risk to take a gamble and buy the main game for 11.80 Euros, if I converted it right. If their server is bad and the file is one GB, than I lost the gamble. If the sell their stuff from a better server, however, than I will see what I have bought myself into. Maybe I'm lucky.

Hope the patches are not causing as much headache.

[Egan]

The game is great, Skybird. No, better than that. It's superb. I was one of those that was really cynical about Battlefront doing a modern warfare game but they really delivered. I'm sure you will read stuff about how the nature of this sort of modern conflict is far too asymmetrical and geared in the US's favour. But I've got say, a company of fanatical Hezbollah armed with an RPG or two in every squad can really ruin your day..

If you decide to buy the game - and I hope you do - it's really worth buying all the expansions. They each add some fantastic stuff. You won't be buying it from an outside server. I can pretty much guarantee it. If you still have problems with the demo, I'll download it and email it to you, If you like. like I said, I had no problem d/l it in less than ten minutes.

Yeah, I am a Battlefront fanboy....:) They make truly exceptional games that deserve to be played by a larger audience. If you buy it and have problems, pm me and I'll try my best to help.


Darn it. This thread has made me hunger for a new pbem game of Normandy.....

[Skybird]

You sound like me preaching the gospel of the holy SBP. :D

Okay, I'll headjump into the pond this evening. When I find there is no water in there, I'll probably have no opportunity anymore to forgive you. :smug:

[Skybird]

You are lucky Egan :), what I see has indeed lots of potential. It certainly needs some time to get used to it, though, thanks to the interface which is not really ergonomic, I would say. But beyond that, I think I could learn to like it.

Which would be better for sure, since I followed your advice and bought the full package with all three addons, too (= ~42 Euros).

Only the downloading took three hours. However, it went slow but smooth with no interruptions. Two patches were needed, 1.31 and 1.32. Why don't they just replace the old downloadable game packages with the latest versions, saving customers from downloading patches after the game?

But okay, here we go, xmas holidays can come.

[Egan]

Why don't they just replace the old downloadable game packages with the latest versions, saving customers from downloading patches after the game?

But okay, here we go, xmas holidays can come.

I wish I knew. I only know they aren't the only ones who do that and it's something that's always annoyed me. Mind you, If you buy the modules you should be patched up almost to standard.

I'm surprised your download speed was as slow as that. At least it worked ok at last. :up:

Have fun with it!

[Skybird]

Mind you, If you buy the modules you should be patched up almost to standard.

The addons bring it to 1.30, but standard is 1.32. And before installing 1.32, you need to install 1.31.

[CCIP]

Darn it. This thread has made me hunger for a new pbem game of Normandy.....

Did I hear that right?

Email away :D

And yeah, that's very strange that you had the problems with downloads. I've redownloaded and reinstalled the CM games many times, and never had any issue, with the speeds being lightning fast. The only downside to DRM that you need to be aware of is that if you're reinstalling the game, just to be safe, you need to "release" the license key so you can install the game again. There's no limits on it, but if for example your PC dies with CMBN still on it, you'll need to email Battlefront and ask them to reset your key. Not really a big problem, but it did happen to me twice with CMSF before (losing my PC or incorrectly uninstalling the game), and it took a few days for them to get back to me with a new key.

Otherwise I support everything that Egan said. I've been a Combat Mission player for 10 years now, and while like many I've had my share of issues with CMSF and the CM2x engine in general when it first came out 5 years ago, it has matured extremely well. Battlefront not only didn't give up on the engine, but actually delivered on its promise at the end. It's ALMOST a perfect Combat Mission game. That close, really. And while my real passion in WWII history is the Ostfront, I think I can still call CMBN my favourite tactical war game ever.

As for CMSF, it's basically where it should be now and is almost on par with CMBN. They are, after all, the same engine, and in many ways are almost identical, with the Normandy game being just a little more detailed and refined. I still enjoy Shock Force a lot, and it's easy to jump between the two games.

[Skybird]

Any mod or option out there to increase the font size, and the menu at the bottom? I have difficulties to decipher that microscopic stuff on the screen. Especially the fonts are a pain.

Do you guys prefer the round-based or the all-real-time game?

[Egan]

Any mod or option out there to increase the font size, and the menu at the bottom? I have difficulties to decipher that microscopic stuff on the screen. Especially the fonts are a pain.

Do you guys prefer the round-based or the all-real-time game?

I think there are several text mods out there, but I don't use any myself so I can't really help you with that one. Should be able to find something over at the BFC website, though. Should certainly be something on the either the repository or Green As Jade's site (Which might actually be down just now...here's the link anyway: http://cmmods.greenasjade.net/ )

I go between the two modes depending on what sort of mood I'm in. I tend to prefer WE/GO for larger games and realtime for anything under a company or so in size. The advantage of WE/GO is that it's easier to work out where a killing shot came from when you can watch the replay over and over again. There are a number of players who will moan about how RT play is a 'Clickfest' that's more akin to Medal of Honour style shooters than a tactical wargame. That's a load of nonsense, and I suspect a number of those players either haven't even tried RT, or fail to understand that you can pause the game game and issue orders.

When it comes to scenarios, there were never as many user made ones as there are with the WW2 titles, but both the Brit and NATO campaigns are brilliantly put together, and any map by GeorgeMc is worth playing. The guy knows his stuff.

CCIP: Should have an email back. :salute:

[Nippelspanner]

CMBN looks very interesting, I got to check this out!

[Egan]

CMBN looks very interesting, I got to check this out!

It is. It's a very good game. It's not perfect, and there are always things I wish were a little easier or better, but I think it's probably the best there is. The new one, Fortress Italy is supposed to be pretty good as well, with a number of improvements over BN. I don't have it yet, though. You should have a look over at Battlefront for their plans for the series. It's pretty interesting stuff.

Hopefully the new BN expansions - Market Garden - will be available in the very near future. From what I can gather, it's in beta testing just now.

[Skybird]

I get the swing of this thing now, and I must say: I like this. I really like this, and a lot so. Probably finally a contender worth to replace the over-aged SBMBT on my HD - forever. So far only three small quick mission editor battles done, but that already was convincing.

[Egan]

Cool. I'm glad you like it. There is very little like it out there. Just in time, too: The plan is for CMSF2 to be out sometime 'next year'. Details aren't known yet, aside from it being set in a temperate climate zone.

I find the German and the British units the most fun to play with. Brit artillery is unrivaled in this game.

For those of you into CMBN, the 2.0 upgrade is out now. Holding off buying it for the time moment, but it looks interesting.

[Skybird]

The plan is for CMSF2 to be out sometime 'next year'.

I probably pass on it for at least another year. There is too much in the package I just got, and new things like this CMSF2 need time to mature and patched out. Better being a later guest and skip the boring slow-start phase.

[Egan]

I probably pass on it for at least another year. There is too much in the package I just got, and new things like this CMSF2 need time to mature and patched out. Better being a later guest and skip the boring slow-start phase.

It's Battlefront time we are talking about here....could be years away!

[Skybird]

Can anyone enlighten me on how to make German Fennek-mounted infantry being of any AT-use when having them picking up the Panzerfaust ammo in the vehicle? There should be launchers for it, right? The Marder has them, the dismounts grab it, grab the missiles, and use both according to how it is meant to work. The Fennek-guys just don't do it. There is no launcher listed in the equipmenent list. Just the missiles.

I also wonder what the big deal is for German infantry to fire Panzerfausts at vehicles from the roofs of houses. They just don't do it.

And finally, the Marder's Milan. The hatch for the commander must be opened so that he can use the weapon. Okay, I have it opened, and the guy sticks his head out. And there comes an enemy tank, look! What does the man do? Ha, he fires with the 20mm at the frontal armour. He does not fire the Milan, he fires with the autocannon.

And more AI issues like this. I admit my initial love has cooled down tremendously with this game. Too many frustration experiences, and too many incidents leaving big, fat question and exclamation marks over my head.