Carrier Command Beta due out tommorow...

CaptainHaplo · 04-05-12, 09:41 PM

Its $22 bucks to preorder it now and get the beta in the meantime.....

One way to get beta testers...

https://store.bistudio.com/play-and-contribute

I admit - I want this game so bad I sprung for it..... God I hope it doesn't suck!

Arclight · 04-06-12, 06:03 AM

Let us know, if possible. Think quite a few around here are interested.

NeonSamurai · 04-06-12, 06:04 AM

So did I, I played the absolute heck out of the original. This one is looking very good so far.

CaptainHaplo · 04-06-12, 03:23 PM

Its downloading now

Skybird · 04-06-12, 05:52 PM

A multi-years-long rumour - finally coming to a good end?! It must be 5 or 6 or more years since IU first osted a link to some news event saying that somebody, not even a company, was taking on redoing Carrier Command.

Let us know, CH.

Drewcifer · 04-06-12, 07:07 PM

VERY interested but not quite ready to spring for it... as I have my doubts.

NeonSamurai · 04-07-12, 08:55 AM

Well I have managed to play it a bit. The current incarnation definitely has its bugs and issues. It does look very nice, and I see a lot of potential. One thing for sure is that the devs really seem to have tried to stay faithful as much as possible to the original, even down to the somewhat awkward controls

It will be interesting to see where it goes from here. The beta is pretty limited, there are only a few islands to take and not all the equipment is present (like the hammerhead missiles).

CaptainHaplo · 04-07-12, 10:07 AM

OK I have played this for a little bit. Remember - its still beta.

Right now the beta has no tutorial, but it did come with a basic manual. Its easy enough to figure out how to do things, but that is only because I played the original. The first few missions in the campaign are set to be tutorial in nature.

Beta has no campaign, right now just a single, randomly generated 9 island map. You can modify how many islands you vs the AI control. I expect there will be a setting for number of neutral islands later.

The game LOOKS gorgeous. Now with that said, realize my standards are lower than most when it comes to graphics. I would say its very "Crysis" like regarding realisitic looks. It does suffer from some drawbacks, sight distance is not as high as I (or others) would like.

Interface is well designed. Controls are good, though you do have to fiddle with them initially to keep the mouse from seeming "heavy". Turn down the sensitivity (called horizontal/vertical resolution) and it becomes much crisper.

Gameplay - well now - this is where its at. This game FEELS like Carrier Command did back in the day, with a great look and lots more flexibility.
All islands have some defences, and you have to tackle each island with forethought to crack it. Your choices are "hack" it or destroy the command center and build anew - just like the original. However, to hack it you have to recon the island, find the various firewalls and take them out, or else the hack takes longer (which exposes your Walrus to greater fire - thus more likely to be destroyed before the hack completes). Want to just take out the Command Center? I remember in the original, a fully loaded A2A Manta could hit the CC with every missile, then kamikaze in and take out the CC. Nice trade at the time. Not so here. The CC is shielded - and yes - just like firewalls, you have to take out the shield generators if you want some decent chance to make the CC go boom. Ground units now fire at you (and you can fire from your Walrus at enemy Manta's), close air support is a necessary task unless you want to try and send your units in under AI control. Combat is basically a major step up, it takes some thinking, but only to minimize losses. I expect the tactical AI will mature some.

About the AI... it is a work in progress.... Tactically its a bit careless with its units right now. When it gets replacements (yes, until the CC is down it does get some replacements) - it throws them at you immediately - basically a hull and machine gun - no armor because the AI feels it HAS to stop you and doesn't take the time to properly equip its units. Yes - changing loadouts on a hull takes time. Static defenses are done well. mobile units tend to be used in semi-random ways. I can't seem to figure out how the AI decides to counter certain things - one time its a Manta doing CAS, others its a single walrus trying to get me in range of static defences, and others its 5 units coming over a hill or in the air or both to take me out.....

Strategically the AI does need some work. It seems to use a somewhat random choice for what island should be what type. Where common sense says "choke point" - it might put a factory instead of a defensive island. Things like that. I am fairly sure that is also being worked on. I have seen the AI attack islands where it has little reason to do so, because the island would not connect to its chain, nor would it break mine.

Defensive islands not only are tougher, but they actually help "connected" islands with their defenses - supposedly. Haven't been able to prove that yet. If so, its a nice touch. One great thing is that the island types can be changed remotely now. It takes time, but if you have a larger map that will come in great usefulness. A lot of the "I wish I could" from the original are now available in this game. That means a lot to gamers like me.

I have personally not encountered any hangs or crashes. Others have. Its still beta to be sure, but it doesn't FEEL like one most of the time, so it feels closer to an RC.

One final note. I sprang for the base purchase. The "upgraded" version only includes a soundtrack thing from the game and some other minor stuff... I am one who always turns off the music in a game - its a distraction. Suprisingly, I didn't with this game - and won't. The musical score is hauntingly beautiful, is tempo'd with the game, and just amazing. I am looking to upgrade my purchase if possible for the soundtrack - its that good.

Arclight · 09-13-12, 10:15 AM

Regarding Carrier Command, Bohemia’s Other Game

Skybird · 09-14-12, 08:23 AM

A video made just days ago, so although representing the xbox version it probably is representative for the state of things right now, since thgey made no simple port-overs, but ran dediacted developements for every platform. After one year of public beta here is hope that the game also does not suffer from major bugs. I therefore consider to get it on release date.

04-05-12, 09:41 PM	#1
CaptainHaplo Silent Hunter Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 4,404 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 0	Carrier Command Beta due out tommorow... Its $22 bucks to preorder it now and get the beta in the meantime..... One way to get beta testers... https://store.bistudio.com/play-and-contribute I admit - I want this game so bad I sprung for it..... God I hope it doesn't suck! __________________ Good Hunting! Captain Haplo

04-06-12, 06:03 AM	#2
Arclight Navy Seal Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Land of windmills, tulips, wooden shoes and cheese. Lots of cheese. Posts: 8,467 Downloads: 53 Uploads: 10	Let us know, if possible. Think quite a few around here are interested. __________________ Contritium praecedit superbia.

04-06-12, 06:04 AM	#3
NeonSamurai Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Socialist Republic of Kanadia Posts: 3,044 Downloads: 25 Uploads: 0	So did I, I played the absolute heck out of the original. This one is looking very good so far. __________________ SH3 Newbie Guide Links and other helpfull stuff

04-06-12, 03:23 PM	#4
CaptainHaplo Silent Hunter Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 4,404 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 0	Its downloading now __________________ Good Hunting! Captain Haplo

04-06-12, 05:52 PM	#5
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,612 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	A multi-years-long rumour - finally coming to a good end?! It must be 5 or 6 or more years since IU first osted a link to some news event saying that somebody, not even a company, was taking on redoing Carrier Command. Let us know, CH. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

04-06-12, 07:07 PM	#6
Drewcifer Commodore Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 601 Downloads: 38 Uploads: 0	VERY interested but not quite ready to spring for it... as I have my doubts.

04-07-12, 08:55 AM	#7
NeonSamurai Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Socialist Republic of Kanadia Posts: 3,044 Downloads: 25 Uploads: 0	Well I have managed to play it a bit. The current incarnation definitely has its bugs and issues. It does look very nice, and I see a lot of potential. One thing for sure is that the devs really seem to have tried to stay faithful as much as possible to the original, even down to the somewhat awkward controls It will be interesting to see where it goes from here. The beta is pretty limited, there are only a few islands to take and not all the equipment is present (like the hammerhead missiles). __________________ SH3 Newbie Guide Links and other helpfull stuff

04-07-12, 10:07 AM	#8
CaptainHaplo Silent Hunter Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 4,404 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 0	OK I have played this for a little bit. Remember - its still beta. Right now the beta has no tutorial, but it did come with a basic manual. Its easy enough to figure out how to do things, but that is only because I played the original. The first few missions in the campaign are set to be tutorial in nature. Beta has no campaign, right now just a single, randomly generated 9 island map. You can modify how many islands you vs the AI control. I expect there will be a setting for number of neutral islands later. The game LOOKS gorgeous. Now with that said, realize my standards are lower than most when it comes to graphics. I would say its very "Crysis" like regarding realisitic looks. It does suffer from some drawbacks, sight distance is not as high as I (or others) would like. Interface is well designed. Controls are good, though you do have to fiddle with them initially to keep the mouse from seeming "heavy". Turn down the sensitivity (called horizontal/vertical resolution) and it becomes much crisper. Gameplay - well now - this is where its at. This game FEELS like Carrier Command did back in the day, with a great look and lots more flexibility. All islands have some defences, and you have to tackle each island with forethought to crack it. Your choices are "hack" it or destroy the command center and build anew - just like the original. However, to hack it you have to recon the island, find the various firewalls and take them out, or else the hack takes longer (which exposes your Walrus to greater fire - thus more likely to be destroyed before the hack completes). Want to just take out the Command Center? I remember in the original, a fully loaded A2A Manta could hit the CC with every missile, then kamikaze in and take out the CC. Nice trade at the time. Not so here. The CC is shielded - and yes - just like firewalls, you have to take out the shield generators if you want some decent chance to make the CC go boom. Ground units now fire at you (and you can fire from your Walrus at enemy Manta's), close air support is a necessary task unless you want to try and send your units in under AI control. Combat is basically a major step up, it takes some thinking, but only to minimize losses. I expect the tactical AI will mature some. About the AI... it is a work in progress.... Tactically its a bit careless with its units right now. When it gets replacements (yes, until the CC is down it does get some replacements) - it throws them at you immediately - basically a hull and machine gun - no armor because the AI feels it HAS to stop you and doesn't take the time to properly equip its units. Yes - changing loadouts on a hull takes time. Static defenses are done well. mobile units tend to be used in semi-random ways. I can't seem to figure out how the AI decides to counter certain things - one time its a Manta doing CAS, others its a single walrus trying to get me in range of static defences, and others its 5 units coming over a hill or in the air or both to take me out..... Strategically the AI does need some work. It seems to use a somewhat random choice for what island should be what type. Where common sense says "choke point" - it might put a factory instead of a defensive island. Things like that. I am fairly sure that is also being worked on. I have seen the AI attack islands where it has little reason to do so, because the island would not connect to its chain, nor would it break mine. Defensive islands not only are tougher, but they actually help "connected" islands with their defenses - supposedly. Haven't been able to prove that yet. If so, its a nice touch. One great thing is that the island types can be changed remotely now. It takes time, but if you have a larger map that will come in great usefulness. A lot of the "I wish I could" from the original are now available in this game. That means a lot to gamers like me. I have personally not encountered any hangs or crashes. Others have. Its still beta to be sure, but it doesn't FEEL like one most of the time, so it feels closer to an RC. One final note. I sprang for the base purchase. The "upgraded" version only includes a soundtrack thing from the game and some other minor stuff... I am one who always turns off the music in a game - its a distraction. Suprisingly, I didn't with this game - and won't. The musical score is hauntingly beautiful, is tempo'd with the game, and just amazing. I am looking to upgrade my purchase if possible for the soundtrack - its that good. __________________ Good Hunting! Captain Haplo

09-13-12, 10:15 AM	#9
Arclight Navy Seal Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Land of windmills, tulips, wooden shoes and cheese. Lots of cheese. Posts: 8,467 Downloads: 53 Uploads: 10	Regarding Carrier Command, Bohemia’s Other Game __________________ Contritium praecedit superbia.

09-14-12, 08:23 AM	#10
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,612 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	A video made just days ago, so although representing the xbox version it probably is representative for the state of things right now, since thgey made no simple port-overs, but ran dediacted developements for every platform. After one year of public beta here is hope that the game also does not suffer from major bugs. I therefore consider to get it on release date. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.