Platform Editor aka PE (aka HCRE ugh) note that the RCS values allow much more varied levels of radar stealth than earlier versions.
PE again, this time showing sonar BSL drop-down, making the base passive noise level of ships and subs editable, the previous method was really not very good for a game with an editable database.
Scenario Editor aka SE, showing air defense units, ground based radar, and the newish ability to really craft defenses around installations. There are some armored units in there too but they are hard to pick out in the screenshot.
SE again, in case you missed the green units in the first SE screenshot HC has a neutral side now. In time that will be evolved into a Green side, not neccessarily neutral, but that's wayyyyy down the road.
Orders Writer, I forgot this one on the first posting. This utility will be improved after the release of HCE to better allow pasting from Word and other word processing programs.
Game Engine aka GE, the game itself showing the start positions of the groups in the little SLBM scenario I whipped up. The textured ocean isn't really playable (nor the textured land imho) as you can barely pick out the three Blue Ohio class SSBNs out there in the Pacific.
The Staff Assistant got a facelift for HCE, as did many of the other graphics, and sounds. As you can see, he has a rather important message to deliver.
My three submarines fire 54 of their 72 missiles in hopes of destroying every Chinese target on the map. Harpoon Classic doesn't directly model MIRVs so these 23 targets really wouldn't need 54 missiles but still, this much damage without even emptying 3 boomers is pretty impressive/scary/insane.
How I play the game, light grey land and light water for good contrast between the game icons and the map. The mini report window tells us that the Trident missiles are zipping along at 7,000kts
The missiles start spreading out enroute to targets. Some people think simulating nuclear encounters in Harpoon is in some way wrong. I can't disagree strenuously enough. Having the capability to compare conventional and nuclear strategies, formations, and loss rates isn't only educational but can be fun as well.
2 seconds until the first two impacts! Oh, if you didn't believe that HCE runs on Windows Vista, see the task bar at the bottom of the screenshot...
Harbin destroyed and irradiated, note the Message Log as well, if you haven't been around Harpoon Classic for a while it will be new but we did have it in HC Gold.
More death and destruction. Hmm, what else was that down on the taskbar, BSBuilder... The release of HCE should be just the beginning of the fun, more is planned once release happens, Falklands anyone?
The obligatory game results screen, not a good day for Red.
Even better would have been launching the missiles singly, more targets, and doing a time on target attack instead of the fire all at the start approach I took. Anyway, that's pretty much what HCE looks like. As with many similar games, most of the bigger improvements are 'under the hood'.
