Combat Mission: Shock Force 2 - at Steam

Skybird · 08-05-20, 04:34 PM

Just wanted to let you all know that one of the probbaly best tactcial ground combat simulations soon will be released on Steam, in two weeks from now on.

The game is a rewiork of the first title, broght to their latest engine.

All three modules for it will be available, too.

Battlefront is often criticised for their PR, I read. Their business model is their biggest handicap, they really did what they can to find themselves not more customers than was inevitable. I could not order from them at all, since it seems they only accept payment by credit card, and I have given up on that, and preloaded cards are not available over here anymore. No paypal. (For the same reason I do not have the latest version of Steal Beasts anymore: they too only accept credit card).

For all who had this or other reasons why they did not want to buy from Battlefront directly, Steam is the elegant solution. Price is not announced yet. Unfortunately I cannot benefit from the massive price drop for oweners of the first version this way. But okay, I can afford it, and the game is really solid.

I played the first one extensively, best tactical ground combat sim I ever played. Not flawless, but good enough.

Unfortunately, Combat Mission: Black Sea is not listed at Steam. I would be interested in that one, too.

https://www.battlefront.com/shock-fo.../?tab=features

https://www.slitherine.com/news/comb...on-august-25th

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1...Shock_Force_2/

Bilge_Rat · 08-06-20, 06:59 AM

yes, great game, I have both 1 and 2. CMSF2 has basically the same content as 1, but brings all the engine improvements done over the years, many graphical improvements and most of the new toys from "Black Sea" like drones, so it actually feels like a new game. It is the best simulation of modern tactical combat out there IMHO.

The scenarios and campaigns have also been upgraded to take advantage of the improvements.

Note that if you own 1, you can get a huge discount on 2 by buying directly from the Battlefront website.

Only CMSF2 is coming to Steam, but I would expect all the other titles to eventually be available.

Skybird · 08-06-20, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bilge_Rat

Only CMSF2 is coming to Steam

Yes, but with all three modules (British troops, Marines troops, Dutch/German/Canadian troops). Each comes with not only new units and wepaons, but its own campoaigns and single missions. Plenty of fodder.

Has the interface changed? One review also complaine dabout the AI having single entities in panci mode running headlessly inc ircles until getting put down, and some other AI issues, but that was after release 20 months ago.

I wonder which mind had the great idea to imagine the Germans would ever engage in strength in a ground war in Syria. Will not happen, never. LOL

The main game 2 costs 60 dollars and each module 35 dollars. Idf you order at BF and can convince them that your account is still valid and you have serial numbers from game 1, you can get game and all modules for I think 65 dollars (instead of 165 dollars).

The Steam release is on August 25th, btw.

Bilge_Rat · 08-06-20, 09:06 AM

Interface is the same. As far as I can see, pretty much all AI issues have been fixed. There was a bug regarding how infantry behaved under artillery fire, but that was fixed in the last patch.

The NATO forces involved, i.e. U.S.Army, USMC, Germans, Canadians and Dutch was based on who was active in Iraq and Afghanistan when the game was designed, i.e. 2005-2007 ish, since it was easy to get info on how the comabt groups were deployed in actual combat operations.

For example, the Canadian Battle Group in CMSF, basically a reinforced infantry battalion, was a carbon copy of the BG deployed to Afghanistan. They also used the Princess Patricia BG because that was the one due to rotate to Afghanistan in mid-2008 and the one most likely to have been involved in the fictional invasion of Syria.

re: the Germans. Part of the reason they were chosen is because everyone loves to play with German forces. It's a holdover from WW2 games. They also have some cool equipment!

I was a beta tester on both CMSF1 and CMSF2 so have a lot of hours in that game.

Skybird · 08-06-20, 09:17 AM

That argument for the Germans is understandable, but still: Germans in a major war operation with tnaks and such in the ME: totally unrealistic. Zeitgeist and history would never allow that. They went to extensive intellectual distortions to not call the Afghanistan mission a war at all.

Anyway, I think I will go for it at Steam, I am in the mood for having another go with it all.

I would also like to see Combat Mission: Black Sea at Steam. Everbody loves to play as the Germans, you say. Well, everybody also loves to fight the Russians. And I would expect them to be more capable a force than the Syrians. Plus Ukraine geographic ambience (Eastern European wood- and famr lands i nstead of arid desert places).

For those not knowing the games, don't be alarmed: both games were designed BEFORE the real world wars in Syria and the Ukraine broke out. They did not intend to profit from the real world events.

I hope the Germans handle better than in the firts game, I vaguel reclal that I found severla bugs in them, related tio how to make them going for Panzerfaust reloads stored in their PCs, and such things. It made playing them am excercise in painful micromanagement, and bug-related failure at times, the Panzerfausts did not work as is to be expected. I found it very difficult to play as the Germans, their force strucxture did not match with my ideas.

Bilge_Rat · 08-06-20, 10:06 AM

Hi, the bug with the panzerfausts had already been fixed with one of the last patch for SF1.

Black Sea and Shock Force are different of course, the Russians are generally better trained and have better equipment than the Syrians. Syrians were generally equipped with older equipment and the Russians did not export their latest technology. Intrestingly, it was easier to get info on what the Syrians had and their capabilities based on the fact that most of the equipement had been acquired many years before and a lot of the same type of weapons had been used against Israeli and NATO forces. It is harder to get a handle on what the Russians can do since they keep their best stuff under lock and key.

08-05-20, 04:34 PM	#1
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 41,432 Downloads: 9 Uploads: 0	Combat Mission: Shock Force 2 - at Steam Just wanted to let you all know that one of the probbaly best tactcial ground combat simulations soon will be released on Steam, in two weeks from now on. The game is a rewiork of the first title, broght to their latest engine. All three modules for it will be available, too. Battlefront is often criticised for their PR, I read. Their business model is their biggest handicap, they really did what they can to find themselves not more customers than was inevitable. I could not order from them at all, since it seems they only accept payment by credit card, and I have given up on that, and preloaded cards are not available over here anymore. No paypal. (For the same reason I do not have the latest version of Steal Beasts anymore: they too only accept credit card). For all who had this or other reasons why they did not want to buy from Battlefront directly, Steam is the elegant solution. Price is not announced yet. Unfortunately I cannot benefit from the massive price drop for oweners of the first version this way. But okay, I can afford it, and the game is really solid. I played the first one extensively, best tactical ground combat sim I ever played. Not flawless, but good enough. Unfortunately, Combat Mission: Black Sea is not listed at Steam. I would be interested in that one, too. https://www.battlefront.com/shock-fo.../?tab=features https://www.slitherine.com/news/comb...on-august-25th https://store.steampowered.com/app/1...Shock_Force_2/ __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert. Last edited by Skybird; 08-05-20 at 06:05 PM.

08-06-20, 06:59 AM	#2
Bilge_Rat Silent Hunter Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: standing watch... Posts: 3,812 Downloads: 344 Uploads: 0	yes, great game, I have both 1 and 2. CMSF2 has basically the same content as 1, but brings all the engine improvements done over the years, many graphical improvements and most of the new toys from "Black Sea" like drones, so it actually feels like a new game. It is the best simulation of modern tactical combat out there IMHO. The scenarios and campaigns have also been upgraded to take advantage of the improvements. Note that if you own 1, you can get a huge discount on 2 by buying directly from the Battlefront website. Only CMSF2 is coming to Steam, but I would expect all the other titles to eventually be available. __________________ Last edited by Bilge_Rat; 08-06-20 at 07:26 AM.

08-06-20, 09:06 AM	#4
Bilge_Rat Silent Hunter Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: standing watch... Posts: 3,812 Downloads: 344 Uploads: 0	Interface is the same. As far as I can see, pretty much all AI issues have been fixed. There was a bug regarding how infantry behaved under artillery fire, but that was fixed in the last patch. The NATO forces involved, i.e. U.S.Army, USMC, Germans, Canadians and Dutch was based on who was active in Iraq and Afghanistan when the game was designed, i.e. 2005-2007 ish, since it was easy to get info on how the comabt groups were deployed in actual combat operations. For example, the Canadian Battle Group in CMSF, basically a reinforced infantry battalion, was a carbon copy of the BG deployed to Afghanistan. They also used the Princess Patricia BG because that was the one due to rotate to Afghanistan in mid-2008 and the one most likely to have been involved in the fictional invasion of Syria. re: the Germans. Part of the reason they were chosen is because everyone loves to play with German forces. It's a holdover from WW2 games. They also have some cool equipment! I was a beta tester on both CMSF1 and CMSF2 so have a lot of hours in that game. __________________

08-06-20, 09:17 AM	#5
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 41,432 Downloads: 9 Uploads: 0	That argument for the Germans is understandable, but still: Germans in a major war operation with tnaks and such in the ME: totally unrealistic. Zeitgeist and history would never allow that. They went to extensive intellectual distortions to not call the Afghanistan mission a war at all. Anyway, I think I will go for it at Steam, I am in the mood for having another go with it all. I would also like to see Combat Mission: Black Sea at Steam. Everbody loves to play as the Germans, you say. Well, everybody also loves to fight the Russians. And I would expect them to be more capable a force than the Syrians. Plus Ukraine geographic ambience (Eastern European wood- and famr lands i nstead of arid desert places). For those not knowing the games, don't be alarmed: both games were designed BEFORE the real world wars in Syria and the Ukraine broke out. They did not intend to profit from the real world events. I hope the Germans handle better than in the firts game, I vaguel reclal that I found severla bugs in them, related tio how to make them going for Panzerfaust reloads stored in their PCs, and such things. It made playing them am excercise in painful micromanagement, and bug-related failure at times, the Panzerfausts did not work as is to be expected. I found it very difficult to play as the Germans, their force strucxture did not match with my ideas. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert. Last edited by Skybird; 08-06-20 at 09:26 AM.

08-06-20, 10:06 AM	#6
Bilge_Rat Silent Hunter Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: standing watch... Posts: 3,812 Downloads: 344 Uploads: 0	Hi, the bug with the panzerfausts had already been fixed with one of the last patch for SF1. Black Sea and Shock Force are different of course, the Russians are generally better trained and have better equipment than the Syrians. Syrians were generally equipped with older equipment and the Russians did not export their latest technology. Intrestingly, it was easier to get info on what the Syrians had and their capabilities based on the fact that most of the equipement had been acquired many years before and a lot of the same type of weapons had been used against Israeli and NATO forces. It is harder to get a handle on what the Russians can do since they keep their best stuff under lock and key. __________________