Oh dear.. so many bugs even with version 2 ( as in V2.01 from the Blitz website). I can't play any linked campaigns as the display goes haywire when trying to save the lcd file at the start of the campaign. This might be to do with the fact that I couldn't install the product properly usung the setup.exe file - I just copied the contents of the CD into a Divided Ground directory. (I am running XP SP3 - so, anyone who can throw light on the installation issue gets my thanks immediately).
To the point though. Will all, albeit revised and improved versions, of the DG + mods scenarios & linked campaigns be in Modern Wars? Will all of the Vietnam mod scenarios be in there too? (I'm not too bothered about Dynamic games at present because I found the game generator to be pretty dire in the Talonsoft originals. As yet I haven't tried Dynamic Campaigns in the new JTCS - has the facility been improved by the way?)
Personally I would be happy with a first and early release of Modern Wars I to just be 'Divided Ground Middle East Wars ' so to speak with the Vietnam War part to follow as version 1.02. To have both would be great.
When will Modern Wars be shipping? I can't wait....
Meanwhile JTCS is due for Release 1.05? When will this be available?
There are a load of improvements that I would like to see for the game. These changes would apply to new/improved features and the 'intelligence of HAL/the AI. The latter, I understand, is a rather complicated matter.
For example;
- Can units be split? It would be useful to enable splitting and re-joining of say an infantry platoon into sub sections of 2 and/or 3 points to represent squads of soldiers. Very useful for small unit actions.
- Buildings that burn and produce smoke after being shelled by artillery or where fighting has been taking place in building hexes. The resulting fires would interdict infantry and soft skinned vehicles and the smoke impede visibility.
- Optional ammunition supply and levels to be by units at Battalion level. Take for example any '7th Cavalry to the rescue' scenarios. Its pretty daft to have the besieged units at the same levels of ammunition as the rescuing forces.
- Artillery supply to be exhausted after so many firings or number of turns to represent short but massive artillery barrages. (I would also argue that any hex targeted by several pieces of artillery should have the effect of automatically dropping the morale of all 'human' units in that hex).
- Is poison gas to be included for the Middle East conflict - Iraq/Iran war?
- Helicopters to be on the ground before they can load passengers and equipment.
- Helicopters to be at varying height(s) either flying or hovering. That is to enable hiding behind hills but when flying normally to be seen without restriction from the ground depending on the weather conditions. Seemingly, in DG helicopters are treated as any other units and can hide behind an obstacle that might be only a few metres in height.
There are quite a number of other suggestions I could make but I won't ramble on any further at this juncture. I hope this post gets some responses.
Final question. Does anyone know what programming language the game is written in and is it possible to look at the source code? 'Idle' curiosity as I would like to know how it all works.
Bye All.[/size]
Martin Heard[/font][/size]
