Why are the icons so small?

[Von Manteuffel]

Ok, so I installed the game and it seems to run well, but the unit icons are VERY small.
There are only two zoom levels and even the closest one is too far out.

It seems that it must be a technical issue because it's very hard to play the game like this.
What's going on?

[JudgeDredd]

When you first install and run the game, you are asked if you have a high end or low end computer. If you specify lower, there are only 2 zoom levels (max zoom level is not available).

This isn't really a bad thing to be honext. I very rarely play in max zoom as there is no benefit except for "bigger" unit graphics....there is no info on the unit itself so max zoom doesn't really offer anything. The middle zoom is ideal for theatre operations and the max zoom out is only really good for strategic view...but I play mostly in the middle zoom. I find it adequate for theatre and strategic operations.

I don't know of any way to change it once the game is installed and your selection is made. I wouldn't recommend it though, tbh. As I said, I don't think it adds anything of value imo.

[Dave Ferguson]

there is a thread somewhere which tells you how to change your low/high computer status after installation and i had to as i entered a high level machine but 'only' had 768Mb of RAM. Playing mid zoom is fine especially if you use the nato symbols rather than the 3D. With 3D you can confuse units, i have done so on many occasions.
 
I don't know why the game is such a memory hog, especially at high resolution, after all the big map is only a 32MB graphic.
 
Dave

[IainMcNeil]

The map is compressed and uncompressed in to memory so actually gets a lot larger and it has to store all 3 versions in memory. We're going to look at ways to keep it compressed in memory for the future and uncompress on the fly by until we imprive general performance this isn't an option. You can edit your settings.txt file (might be another name but I cant check from home so look for a text file in the root dir) to change from high spec to low spec. Dave & dave - could we chat by mail so we can try and get together a help file for anyone trying TCP/IP. You can mail me at iain@slitherine.co.uk

[Dave Ferguson]

Iain
dave42 and I are now fairly confident that we have the TCP play issues under control, at least it was that way today and yes I and I am sure dave42 will help with preparation of a help file.
 
dave

[targul]

Ok Judge so you are young and your eyes are still good.  But I can tell you if I couldnt go to level 3 zoom I wouldnt be able to play without a magifying glass.

[JudgeDredd]

so you are young

I haven't been called that in ages!...Makes a nice change, though...thx [:D]

[targul]

Well Judge dont know your age but I have been playing store bought war games since Avalon Hills first release in 1959.  But I didnt like it as much as Tactic II its second release.  Was overjoyed when Third Reich was released.  Bought everything SPI made normally paid for it 2 years before its release.
 
Most of the sixties and seventies I was enjoying the pleasures of the army.  They were sending me to exotic and fun places to meet the peoples and kill them.
 
Eighties rushed by as I tried to make a living and establish myself.
 
Retired in 1995 to live off my savings in poverty.  Love it.  (Not that bad we still travel to Europe and Asia about once a year.)