Impression

[LitFuel]

ORIGINAL: jimrad1

ORIGINAL: LitFuel

Jimrad1,

Dozens?..anyways, I just don't have much sympathy for you, there was plenty of info on the forums before release of what this game re-release and series was all about not to mention at CSO and other CC sites and on the web, screenshots, data, etc.. People just don't want to read and have to do any research anymore, and that's just beign lazy..is that Matrix's fault? No. Take some responsability for your own actions, that would be novel for the world we live in now.

Your comment might have some merit, but your posting habits are very telling of your habitual attitude. What is Beign by the way? and responsability? If your going to be a sarcastic know it all, at least learn to spell.

Jim

At least your not a lazy spelling checker, I'll give you that [:D]

[HardRock]

Following wargame forums for years I can't help but think most live in shanty's... and they still only cost $40. I guess inflation passed wargames by.
 
To the poster who thought there are few changes..download the zip file to see them. Yeah it had to be zipped its so long.
 
The AI is better. The GD mod is down right hard.
 
Even if Matrix re-did the whole thing just to make it easy to access that's worth $40 to me. Time is money and my free time is worth more than $40. With all the crap you had to put up with getting CC3 to run and figuring out all the plugins...(I just gave up)..it's worth it to me to be able to do all this with a couple mouse clicks. Something made easier to do is not a bad thing.
 
WTG Matrix and all involved. 

[warishere]

ORIGINAL: Shaun Wallace

  Although 3D is nice, I do agree with this. For a game like this you need sprites. However, I don`t see anything wrong with 3D maps and 2D sprites. And giving players the option to adjust the camera angle would be a nice addition to CC6.

We have had many discussions on this subject and what we can say is that the future of CC is top down We looked at other options, what other games had done and really for control and other reasons it has to be top down (maybe a AoE type view as well) but staying with top down as main view. We may have to move the graphic engine forward for various reasons, 3D is much easier to mod, to generate graphics for and for versatility, but whatever it has to feel like classic CC. We did a poll on CSO and this came through loud and clear!

Sulla

Thats fine Shaun, top down works really really well for this type of game but at times, it would be nice to spin the camera while maintaining that top down view. When i`m playing CC, there are times when it can be difficult to get an idea of whats going on and being able to 'spin' the map would help a lot and perhaps being able to tilt the map a little would be a nice addition aswell.

And what about off-map air and artillery strikes? Will we see them in CC6? Perhaps the maps in CC6 will be big enough to put the long range arty cannons on the map. That would be a sight to see. And maybe an air-field on the map too.... think about it....

[Shaun Wallace]

Thats fine Shaun, top down works really really well for this type of game but at times, it would be nice to spin the camera while maintaining that top down view. When i`m playing CC, there are times when it can be difficult to get an idea of whats going on and being able to 'spin' the map would help a lot and perhaps being able to tilt the map a little would be a nice addition aswell.

Actually once its moved to 3D, even though its top down, much much more becomes possible within the engine

Sulla

[namzo6]

Speaking for myself,I knew what I was buying with this release,it was stated over and over again as NOT a "new"game.As for the $40.00,so what !!! It's a 1 time investment.I wish I could spend $40.00 on beer and get to drink whenever I want without shelling out any more $.Now that'd be cool,lol.
 
 I guess the only negative thing I'd comment on would be I wish there'd be more single player campaigns with the game.I know I can mod in other camps(I've played them quite a bit with cc3),but I was hoping for more.
 
 I had always been all for camps covering the whole war as far as years go.Starting out with pzIIIh's and looking forward to eventually upgrading them to panthers eventually while trying to keep the crews alive is what it's all about for me.I realise that with most mods that's not possible historically and I'm not ripping on ANY mod at all.
 
 Guess that's why I like cc3 more than 4 or 5.With the latter two,I never felt the same connection to individual units per se.And no offence,but having a battlegroup with 20 or 30 MG squads was always pointless to me.
 
 All in all CC3COI is just fine for me.Hats off to those that toiled on this project and on all the mods so patiently all this time.
 
 C-YA
 

[Beeblebrox]

it's worth it to me to be able to do all this with a couple mouse clicks

As the production mostly consisted of weather beaten CC Grogs, we are intimately aware of the hassles involved dipping into the world of Mods, which is why we spent particular effort in trying to make this as humane as possible.  It's still not perfect, but a newbie should not now need to go through the pain barrier in order to enjoy the benefits of so many people's hard work (and by this I mean the CC COmmunity in general over the years).
 
Thank you for the comment.  We are only human, so it does help to know when we have done the right things, as well as when we have made mistakes.

[Prince of Eckmühl]

ORIGINAL: KG Erwin

OK, I'm gonna chime in restate something I expressed in my own "Impressions" thread: I bought the game to show support for continued development of the series, and to express the hope to ultimately see Close Combat: the Pacific War, with emphasis on a USMC campaign. There -- my personal agenda is now spelled out.

I want to echo the sentiment expressed in the post above. An important consideration in my decision to purchase CoI was my belief that, someday, there will be a CC6. There have been important advances in PC gaming technology that will make it possible to improve stuff like online play and to implement "scroll-wheel-zoom" for the overhead map. What's needed to make items like that a reality isn't an upgrade, no matter how expansive, but rather a whole new game. I hope that my support for CoI will in some small measure make this possible.

As for the setting of the next game, the theater of opeations, please, ANYTHING but the Eastern Front!!! [:-]

PoE (aka ivanmoe)

[Beeblebrox]

As for the setting of the next game, the theater of opeations, please, ANYTHING but the Eastern Front!!! [:-]

as it happens I agree...

[UndercoverNotChickenSalad]

 
I hope you guys consulted Mo' before doing this.  He hasn't commented on this thread yet I wonder if he's ok.  Anyway I want CC made w/ a 3d engine w/ the top down view.  2d graphics suck right now.  3d engine will give better explosions and lighting effects an all that good stuff.  Bring it on. 
 
Grogs don't care about graphics, sure, but those guys will mostly be dead w/in the decade.  Can't build u future on selling games to those guys.  Target their grand kids w/ the flashy stuff.

[Brady]

I bought it and I am glad I did, I played the heck out of the originial one and I am rediscovering the game with the present vershion of it, the great thing about this game is endless modabality of it, so many player made maps and all kinds of fun units to work with, it is truly a clasic game, and I am all for suporting it and its future in anyway I can, I know I will have countless hours on it and the cost per hour for me i the end  will be pennys.
 
 

[warishere]

ORIGINAL: Shaun Wallace

Thats fine Shaun, top down works really really well for this type of game but at times, it would be nice to spin the camera while maintaining that top down view. When i`m playing CC, there are times when it can be difficult to get an idea of whats going on and being able to 'spin' the map would help a lot and perhaps being able to tilt the map a little would be a nice addition aswell.

Actually once its moved to 3D, even though its top down, much much more becomes possible within the engine

Sulla

Sounds good... one last question, will we see reconnaissance planes in CC6?

[Shaun Wallace]

Hmm,
 
This maybe CC7. Bear in mind that this would be on the strat layer NOT tac layer. On the tactical layer of the game recon planes would really have no place, but on the strat layer, yes they would and intel then passed on down to tac layer. On a tac level yes the info has a place but on a pratical level is it important to see them? With modern mil sims its important to have the FAC/JTAC/FAO because they play such a key role in modern warfare, but thats for air strikes and recon in a modern enviroment.
 
What would you LIKE to see? what is your vision of the role that could be played in CC on any level by recon planes?
 
Sulla

[warishere]

With modern mil sims its important to have the FAC/JTAC/FAO

Huh??? I`ll have to admit, I don`t know what these abbreviations stand for.

because they play such a key role in modern warfare

So CC6 will be more advanced than previous CC games that focused on WWII? I read on some preview of CC6 that it will be based on the Korean war. Is this still in the works or have you guys changed it?

what is your vision of the role that could be played in CC on any level by recon planes?

I was actually thinking of recon on the tac level. In a previous post you said the maps in CC6 will be 4 times bigger than the current maps in CC. I think it would add to the game to give players maybe 2 recon planes, one to find infantry and tanks on the map and one to find the long range arty guns. One recon plane would be enough... mainly I just want to see a pre-fight phase where you place the long range arty guns which are invisible to your enemy but can be spotted by recon planes. However, players can only send the recon plane in a certain direction and the plane must follow that direction. So the recon mission is not guranteed to work. You could also make the recon mission part of the pre-fight phase. Like after everyone places their units then you have a recon phase.

This would add another layer to the game. Like if your recon plane does spot the long range arty guns you might want to take them out when your air-strike becomes available or you might choose to use your air-strike for something else.

It just adds more strategy to the setup phase and the battle phase.

[Terl]

ORIGINAL: warishere

With modern mil sims its important to have the FAC/JTAC/FAO

Huh??? I`ll have to admit, I don`t know what these abbreviations stand for.

FAC = Forward Air Controller
JTAC = Joint Tactical Air Controller
FAO = I believe is your Field Artillery Observer

Anyway, just bought the game last night. Wow! I am so pleased I did. I can see I have some reading to do so I shall get cracking on that. Well worth my $40 despite other opininions cited earlier in this thread.

One thing I did notice on the install: Once the game installs it then asks about java virtual machine and .net stuff. I did those and the pc restarted as it said. The problem is it then misses the command center install. I noticed because I kept clicking on the modswap and nothing happened. Anyway, I found the docs and they explained what I should see. I ran a reinstall and voila, the second time around I skipped the JVM and .net (already done) and then up pops the window for the command center. Minor stuff but could get confusing for some I suppose. It seems like the command center install portion gets lost among the JVM and .net installs and then the restart.

Anyway, I have graduated boot camp (this was easier than the real one I did over 30 years ago. [:D] ) and will be getting into it tonight.

[sapper_astro]

To the poster who said "Just look at the zipped file, etc", I have looked at it and I can hardly make heads nor tales of it.
 
Having played the shit out of the original game, can anyone who is a CC veteran tell me what they have noticed in the new variant that is improved for the single player campaigns.
 
Eg: AI? How is it better? Is the armoured 'dance of death' still present? do the AI troops conduct an attack better? do they hide their AT guns better? etc?
 
Also, how are the mods going? can I use my old CC3 mods with the new one? is there an easy plugin interface with the new version (The old one was easy to me, but if theres an easier version now, do tell).
 
Basically, tell me in normal language how this new version is better, for someone who will only play single player, than the original version (Barring getting it to work on XP. I already have my CC3 setup with mods and it works fine).

[HardRock]

ORIGINAL: Beeblebrox

it's worth it to me to be able to do all this with a couple mouse clicks

As the production mostly consisted of weather beaten CC Grogs, we are intimately aware of the hassles involved dipping into the world of Mods, which is why we spent particular effort in trying to make this as humane as possible.  It's still not perfect, but a newbie should not now need to go through the pain barrier in order to enjoy the benefits of so many people's hard work (and by this I mean the CC COmmunity in general over the years).

Thank you for the comment.  We are only human, so it does help to know when we have done the right things, as well as when we have made mistakes.

Your welcome:) Not only easier for a newbie but a veteran gamer such as myself you simply wants to play and not hassle getting it running. As I said..my free time is precious and if I can spend $40 to cut it down I will. I wanted to fire up the old CC3 but was not willing to spend the time to get it to run on XP or pluging in the mods.
Now I can play it:) Nevermind all the other improvements:)

[HardRock]

ORIGINAL: sapper_astro

To the poster who said "Just look at the zipped file, etc", I have looked at it and I can hardly make heads nor tales of it.

Having played the shit out of the original game, can anyone who is a CC veteran tell me what they have noticed in the new variant that is improved for the single player campaigns.

Eg: AI? How is it better? Is the armoured 'dance of death' still present? do the AI troops conduct an attack better? do they hide their AT guns better? etc?

Also, how are the mods going? can I use my old CC3 mods with the new one? is there an easy plugin interface with the new version (The old one was easy to me, but if theres an easier version now, do tell).

Basically, tell me in normal language how this new version is better, for someone who will only play single player, than the original version (Barring getting it to work on XP. I already have my CC3 setup with mods and it works fine).

I'm not a hardcore person for details so I'll answer in layman terms.
Preface: NO AI is as good as human..not even close. Thats true with all games and just the way it is.
That said. The AI is better. Enough difference to make it playable with some challenge. The veh path finding is much better and I have no problems with it.

Mods. Right from the game menu you can click to go to where the mods are available for COI. Put them in the plugin folder and done. Again from the main menu (everything is from the main menu now) click on mod swap. Presto..install and uninstall any mod you want.
They are fast in coming out. If you want a challenge..try the GD mod.

As to the zip file changes. Just reading down through all them without getting detailed you get a "sense" what has been improved.

Battle Room within game added for H2H multiplay.
Mulitplay campaign of all Russia, single or H2H. Runs 24/7 whether you're on or not.

More realistic moral and squad behavior. Better cover in bldgs now. An AT gun that suprises me in a bldg I'd say is hidden well:)

The CC3 mods don't work per se. The have to be modified for COI which they are as we speak. Several already available and again..this is all from the main screen game menu. All the links you need..right to the newest mods for COI.

[Hertston]

ORIGINAL: Shaun Wallace

What would you LIKE to see? what is your vision of the role that could be played in CC on any level by recon planes?

If I may stick my oar in on that one, none. Ditto the/a strategic layer. My reasoning for same is that unless you stick with a relatively simple resource managing thingie to link scenarios within a campaign (as in CC2, where it was done superbly) you are likely to end up with a second rate strategic game bolted on (with all the associated development costs) to a first rate tactical one. Which is a total waste of time when there are several first rate strategic WW2 games. If the tactical combat couldn't stand up by itself, a CC game wouldn't be good enough to release. Trying to do too much is a mistake, IMHO, I can think of precisely one series of games that succesfully married strategic and tactical layers; Total War. There are plenty of others that have failed, many of which have been 'saved' by the fact that one layer or the other (usually the strategic one) was good enough to stand up by itself. Trying to put in too much always results in compromising what a game should be really about.

All that aside, what would I like to see? A new engine (a 3D engine used in a top-down fashion approach as discussed elsewhere sounds promising) that allows much larger maps, combined with modern multiplayer facilities (easy to use in-game browser). The format I'm suggesting would be large maps allowing maybe 8 players a side, perhaps with one taking a distinct 'commander' role, as in a few other games, directing objectives and allocating off map resources (including, maybe, on that larger tactical level, recon planes. [;)]) That would help if people stroll off halfway through as well, as the same general commands could be given to the AI (until somebody else shows up) as well, and maybe the commander could even take direct command if those AI troops were in a critical sector. Chuck in a ranking system of some sort (mainly to ensure the right commander is selected) as well.

Or why not really push up the map size and have CC, the REAL MMOG? WW2 Online (or whatever they call it these) only with CC rather than FPS gameplay.[:D]

[Andrew Williams]

It seems like the command center install portion gets lost among the JVM and .net installs and then the restart.

 
I've noticed this myself.
 
Can be fixed quick by Running:
 
C:\Program Files\Close Combat\Close Combat III\Support\CloseCombatCC.exe

[LitFuel]

Has anyone had any troops go berserk while playing in COI?...it wasn't taken out was it?...I remember in playing CC3 it only happened a few times to me the whole time I played it but it was a riot when it did. Loved that yell...lol