Looking for.......
 

Hello all!
With all the expertise floating around out here (no pun intended) I was wondering if I could get a bit of info. I have several favorite sims (SH3, Mig alley, Il-2, Bliitzkreig), but I would really love to find a game that allows you to take more of an overall command perspective. I enjoy the strategy and tactics involved, but dont particularly like "first person shooter" type games. I guess I was looking for something like a dynamic campaign in an Admiral position.....planning air strikes, sending out task forces, engaging in surface battles with multiple ships etc.

That new Midway game sounds great, and the graphics look awesome, but I think you have to pilot a plane or captain a PT boat and the like. Even if an older game, does anyone know of a game like I'm looking for? I've been shot at, shot down, depth charged and sunk enough times to know that now I want to sit on the bridge of my flagship, drink a cup of navy coffee and send the young guys out to do the dirty work!
Thanks for your time.
(Oh, I saw the "Uber Mom" on a post over here, Hope you have been well!)

Some old really old but classic dos games fulfil those requirements such as

• Microprose Task Force 1942
• Great naval Battles series

Both of which have command perspective and the ability to "jump in" TF1942 is surface only but the later GNB games have airplanes for spotting etc. These games should be available through eBay etc and can be run through utilities such as "DosBox".

the windows 95 game

• Fighting steel - surface only if you get this make sure to get the latest free navalwarfare.net "Fighting Steel project file" which adds tons of new ships and enhancements to AI etc

and more contemporary XP games such as

• Distant Guns: a well researched and deep 3d tactical sim of fleet action in the Russo Japanese war
• Pacific Storm: A vast game in 3d which places you in charge of the Pacific naval war. You can play at strategic level tactical level or even jump into a ship or plane at the action level.
• Fleet Command (available in Sonalysts Naval Combat Pack) modern day air/surface tactical level game
• Harpoon III no 3d but the classic moderrn day strategic/tactical level sim with hundreds of user created missions etc. The viewpoint is similar to that of a video display in the CIC of an Aegis equipped cruiser.

I am now playing "War in the Pacific" by 2by3 games purchased thru
Matrixgames.com. It's a very intensive strategic game where you
are the person-in-charge. There are no tactical situations where
you do any controling of RTS or FPS stuff. It is turn based and
the turns run either 1 day or can be expanded to run longer (not
recommended) Certain aspects can be placed under computer control
but also not recommended. You make your turn, then the AI does its
turn, then the game runs everything for one day. You see the battles
and stuff happening as a overall commander would. This game is NOT
for the casual gamer. The amount of realistic detail is truly amazing.
The AI is a very good player. You can aslo play PBEM vs. another
human but you will have to throw away the historical book because
anything goes in those games...

JIM

I used to play Panzer General on my PlayStation.

If Harpoon 3 is a bit intense remembering the commands etc. you can do Harpoon Classic 2002 which is easier on the mind. I play both. As far as War in the Pacific I would suggest visiting Matrix's site and visit their forums and see if thats what you really want. Fleet Command crashes a lot.
You have plenty of choices though.

Battlestations:Midway?

Task Force 1942

Fleet Command (especially with the Navalwarfare Fleet Command Project Mod)
Fighting Steel (especially with the Navalwarfare Fighting Steel Project mod which includes subs too)

Harpoon Classic 2002
Harpoon 3

This games I still play if I got the time for that.

Greetz

Have you ever tried "The Operational Art of War"? Its one of those turn based, hexagonal shifty war games.

http://www.matrixgames.com/games/game.asp?gid=317

Thank you gentlemen.....I will read up on those and start shopping! Thanks again.

game
 

Theatre of war .
general overall command ww2 land type battle with ability to zoom down to personel level

I definitely reccomend Harpoon III Advanced Naval Warfare. Also if you want a fantastic land combat command sim, you absolutely cannot go wrong with Highway to the Reich and it's sequel Conquest of the Agean. Those games are real time strategy games, but they aren't your typical RTS and will REALLY give you that "In the WWII bunker, looking at that map and making all the decisions while the operation rages around you" feeling. What you see on the map isn't even your real units but an approximation of the locations of where they are and you can check to see the relative area that they're spread out in. You can even send orders down the chain of command for the units as well so you don't have to micromanage EVERY unit on the field.
Also.. like Kapitan Philips, I definitely reccomend The Operational Art of War III if you're looking for more of a boardgame feel.

I havn't tried War in the Pacific but from what I've read about it, I'd love to try it. It's pretty pricy though.

All these reccomended games are by Matrix Games. http://www.matrixgames.com/
It almost seems like Matrix can't come out with a bad wargame :D

I would highly reccommend Distant Guns. Especially if you have any interest at all in the era.

PD