Questions

[canuckgamer]

Since this is such an old game I have a couple of questions.

First the product page says 1-2 players but under multiplayer it says "No". However I see a thread above about using Hamachi for multiplayer but the thread was started in 2007 so what is the current status and is Hamachi still the only option. I'm not interested if you can only play against the AI

From another thread it appears that it works for Windows 10.

Finally, I have my monitor set at a resolution of 1920 X 1080. Does this resolution work for CAW?

Thanks.

[dwbennett]

Well, on the game start page it has a button for Multi-Player and, clicking on it, has options to set up the hosts, etc., so, yes, the game has been set-up for Multi-player. I play strictly with the AI so I don't know how well the game plays on the internet.

I'm playing on Windows 10 and it works just fine.

Yes, you can have the monitor set to 1920x1080 resolution and a whole bunch of other options also so the resolution should be a problem.

Take care,

[ncc1701e]

What is the latest patch level? Seems V1.02.2. But I see also a V1.02.3 BETA in the download section here:
https://www.matrixgames.com/game/carriers-at-war

Thanks

[ncc1701e]

No one ?

[Propitious Crane]

Guess not. If you download and run it, though, the version it says it's installing is 1.02, with no version detail beyond that. So I am not sure how you'd establish what version you're getting.

[clamel]

I got a question about this version. I played this CAW back in C64 days and I recall the last I had was a CAW 2 and even something called Construction Kit with a very good WarRoom editor.

So mainly what's in this re-made version of CAW ? Do the Construction part comes with it. I can only read editor in the ads. Is it the advance part or just the older CAW part

[Propitious Crane]

Hi clamel

You get the whole shebang. It's been revisualised, but it's substantially the same thing as before.

Things that have changed - off the top of the head:

You no longer control what squadrons fly CAP, you specify X planes out of Y and the AI decides who flies CAP;
You can no longer see and count incoming strikes, you just get a plane icon but no real info;
You only get a relatively small number of scenarios - there's a download somewhere that provides more;
It seems easier to me to add new planes;
You can change almost everything else too including things like invasion under way graphics. As with the 1990s version, if you want a Germans/Italians vs Royal Navy set up you really need to install the game in two different places as some of the required graphics will change for all scenarios;
The combat view is top down and the shadow your planes cast indicate what height they're bombing from;
You can now have defeated TGs flee, meaning they leave the playing area;
The combat animations show a top down realistically dispersed view with planes overflying ships;
There are now range circles (and range hexes which are more precise);
You can run till a specified hour eg if you want to launch from Guam so as to hit Saipan at dawn.

And lots more.

Recommended but support died ages ago. There are some weird things you can't change, eg if you program the Matapan scenario that comes half built it calls the Italian side "Axis Japan". I half a half-built Falklands 1982 scenario and the Argentinians likewise are Axis Japan.

It's stupid cheap at present so I'd get it. You've forgotten how much you like it

[clamel]

That was a fast answer. Thanks mate.
I played it so long ago I can't remember details only that it was very good and fun. Then that's 30 years ago. Time is moving on but still I remember the AI was very good back then and WarRoom was thrilling and detailed. I got all the Run5 papers so they had several scenarios, but needed to be added in. Which was a slavework indeed. Some keys to make those changes getting Germans in using that scenario Op Pedestal I think it was called. Run5 had Leyte, Rabaul, Ceylon, Japan Sweep South and lots of more to pick from if time permits.

But now I am convince it might be a game to pick at least for old times sake.

[Propitious Crane]

I wrote quite a few scenarios for it from scratch, including in 1998 one I was really proud of, based on the planned Commonwealth liberation of the Andaman Islands. The invasion was cancelled because Nagasaki, but I created it by using all the ships not in the Coral Sea 1946 scenario.

Another one I did was Singapore 1938, where the British get the battle they were expecting. And a Guadalcanal one where I programmed the AI to send Yamato down the slot at night Wish I still had them, there's a conversion utility.

The obstacle to doing this now is that unlike the 1990s, there weren't people writing scenarios and creating graphics all over the place that you could recycle. I suspect it was a bit of a sales flop for SSG because that never developed and neither did many user-designed scenarios emerge. So there isn't the ready made library of ships and planes out there ready to pull into your scenario.

On the other hand, you can do things not possible in the 1990s. You can use Google Earth to create new scenario maps, you can measure distances in Google and you can use freeware like GIMP to stretch your Google Earth map so the distance from eg Saigon to Singapore is correct to the hex

You can also rip aircraft drawings off the web and add any plane you like. Someone somewhere has already drawn it for you on the web. Orders of battle, ship stats - all out there.

[clamel]

My memory isn't that clear of how it was done but isn't all info in those Run5 magazines to create a scenario, even the map. You got a picture of the map and it's just sea or land I think. I'm not sure what that extra disk in the Construction Kit had but all the inbfo on ships and planes was on appendixes in the manuals, but needed to type in.
Graphics on ships and planes of course not so that will have to be added.

I might go hunting for those old stuff. Some might be still out there. Who knows.
SSG had some great games beside this CAW, but they might not have been ready for the conversion to better PCs. Recall some Decisive Battles and Battlefront. Found manuals in an old drawer with those Run5 magazines.

[Propitious Crane]

I never saw Run 5 unfortunately because they had canned it before I got to it.

Making maps now is very easy. You import your map from Google Earth or whatever, and then go to a screen where you can alter the transparency of the map. So you bring your map up, make it translucent so you can see through it, and then block in the land and sea hexes behind it. Very quick and neat.

You need to have at least 10 posts to post pictures...when I get there I'll put some screenshots up.

[clamel]

I found something for you. All 25 Run5 magazines to DL.

You got a PM with links, since I can't post any here. New member I think

I even got hold of that scenario pack CAW_Megamod, so now I'm set to go. Thanks for answers

[Propitious Crane]

Oooo! Many thanks!

Let me know if you buy CAW, I can ping you all the extras I know of.

[clamel]

I just bought it and as you see found the CAW_Megamod
looks like most of the scenarios from the Run5 magazines.

Could save a huge slavework if they work OK.

[Propitious Crane]

They work pretty well but some of the maps are a bit poor. The Force Z one springs to mind. I have a WIP to improve that one with the correct bases and RTAF aircraft....