I'd suggest you guys picking up a copy of the first Steel Beasts to see if it's your cup of tea.

SB Pro is only going to be more hardcore, not less. It's not even intended to be a "game".

You got me with that. There is a mission editor. there are several huge maps (bigger than a single battleground that is used for doing a mission). There will be no height map editor, they said in the past, for manipulating the 3D modelling of the earth's surface (the military's versions of SBP have that feature, though). A map editor changing the features of this modelled surface - should be there, if modders already recreate their places of interests by the use of pthotographs, and when several American forts get rebuilded in the sim's virtual reality down to the last hut on the perimeter.

So carefully I say: yes, there is a map editor. But I check back on that to be sure.

http://www.steelbeasts.com/pe/walnut_springs_sb.png

Looks like a map editor to me.

Also compare this modder's work (WIP):

Original:

http://www.steelbeasts.com/pe/Rasdorf02.jpg

Virtual recreation:

http://www.steelbeasts.com/pe/Rasdorf-ProPE.JPG

Concerning creating your own height maps:

http://www.steelbeasts.com/index.php...ght=map+editor

Thanks, I was interested because being able to do some work with maps always extends replayability, or add entire new content, just like new OFP maps.

It seems it's not exactly easy to create a whole new map, but with enough effort, maybe we'll see some interesting new maps in the long run.

I quote the site administrator of the SB forum:

"The Professional version (the one the militaries use - not Pro PE) includes the ability to import height map data (DTED files) from mapping software, but theres no way to directly edit the elevation data in the editor.
[...] there is a terrain editor, where you can change all the terrain that lays over the elevation map, including the ability to select ground cover objects, change the textures that are used, ground cover density, various sliders to control how fast vehicles can get through the types of terrain, etc etc."

New very good video available : http://www.steelbeasts.com/pe/FuldaGap2006_Vid.wmv

8 minutes long !!!

Creator says it was done in a haste and thus tone is a little bit overdubbed, but the visual is very good and illustrates what to expect.

Can'T stand the wait much longer, those sequences really bring back the mood!

Also, this M1 gunner video (2.5 minutes) with even worse tone quality and only the gunner's GPS in heavy engagement. Not as good as the first, but anyway...

http://www.steelbeasts.com/pe/M1GunsightVid.wmv

I need a napkin.

That looks so awesome. :damn: :cool: :cry:

Mein Gott!

$125.00
Who's his target consumer, Military schools?

I think if he's wanting people to shell out $125.00 then he should seriously upgrade his Engine. I see very little differance from the first Steel Beast and if he's targetting realism then why are the little army guys waddling? And how come in that videom Sand-Storm the hinds never exploded?

It has a lot of bugs to iron out before it is worth 125.00 at the least it could use better textureing.

For $125.00 USD

I Expect the Graphics of BattleField 2( Minus the bugs.
compiled with the smooth progressive loading, fluent animations and griping detail on the surrounding enviroment in Call of duty 2
and the downright Maddening realism and control that was in Sub-Command.

Ah, yes actually. :yep:

It was not meant to be a game for the public.

Did he say - bugs...?

:-? :) :D :lol:

You are free to expect that. What you get is a different story. None of the folks following SB through the last five years shares your expectations, and all of them are specialists for SB and tank-fetishists. Only of realism you will get the full load, and then something.

A "bug" is a technical flaw, a feature that is broken, something that does not work as intended. Chances are bright that you will not see any of this in SBP. Very different to all of the GAMES you mentioned below, all of them had more or less bugs, and still have, after several patches. You will not see much patching for SBP, for a patch repairs what is broken. But you will see addons and/or mods. An addon or mod is something that replaces old against something new, or adds something new additionally.

The sim in it's current state is said to be bugfree by beta-testers (and the military of Spain, Denmark, Australia...). It is what the military wanted. Nothing less, but the PE version even is a little bit more.

I reiterate once again, as I already did repeatedly: THIS IS NOT A GAME, SO DO NOT JUDGE IT BY TERMS OF A GAME. What you want, Mustang, is toy and eyecandy. Nothing bad in that. But SBP is all this - NOT. Better do not consider to buy it, it simply is not for you. No joke, I mean it serious.

I will describe every aspect of SBP (except MP, for which I am not competent)) in depth in my review. It will not be a marketing text to promote sales, but to give the reader the knowledge he needs to form his opinion on wether this is something for him, or not.

If you want realism, than this one is for you. If you want Battlefield 2 meeting Call of Duty, avoid this one like the pleague.

Technical director of eSim, Ssnake, just said in a message, that if no new surprises pop up, shipping is planned to begin in week 6.

Take notion of "if no new surprises pop up".

I start hoping for impact of my copy on my table early in the second half of February, then. Maybe even at my birthday (14th)... ? :D

Can you command a real tank for $125? This is as close as you'll get for that amount of money with a PC Simulator.

New 15 minute-video available: Hellfire Pass! A good one ;)

http://www.steelbeasts.com/pe/hellfirelite.wmv

Why so much night-vision? Isn't it easier to spot the dark tanks against the light background?

The AAR feature is fantastic, the military are going to have ALOT of fun with this thing, training...HA! Very didactive.

But frankly, and I know you have size limitations on the internet, I think the director of this movie needs SERIOUS video editing lessons, too many cuts make it look too fast paced, the spirit of the game is definitely slower, with much more 1-shot-1-kill tension, I suppose. But I want to get my hands on it, remove the Hinds due to the lack of more appropriate AA arsenal, double or triple the enemy forces and I have my very own armageddon. :up:

Anyway, the "game*" looks great, I loved the suicidal infantry, will teach American troops in Iraq about Jihadists. :rotfl: :rock: :arrgh!: :cool: :know: :-j