Screenshots (memories) ...

[MarkShot]

Do you recall?

[MarkShot]

Do you recall?

[MarkShot]

Do you recall?

[MarkShot]

Do you recall?

[MarkShot]

Yes, it is RDOA. PG's first game with this engine.

Screenshots are from my favorite scenario for beta testing "Deelen Day 1". Dave, finally removed it in the late HTTR beta process.

I had time to reload it this afternoon, but not enough time to play. However, I am looking forward to finding time to play a game and see how it feels compared to where we are today. I must say that it runs blazingly fast. (I recall the larger scenarios taxing my PIII/600 at the time.) That is one of the pleasures of loading old games on modern systems. You never have to ask will it run choppy?

[MarkShot]

03/26/2002 at www.battlefront.com

Hi everyone,

My name is Dave O'Connor. I am the President of Panther Games Pty Ltd, the developers of Airborne Assault. Apart from handling all the yucky business stuff, I am responsible for game design, programming the artificial intelligence (AI) and assisting in the scenario development.

Panther Games is a small Australian company based in Canberra, the nations capital. We have been in the wargame business since 1985 when we released the board game "Trial of Strength". We released our first computer wargame in 1988 called "Fire Brigade" which won many awards.

Our aim is to develop the most realistic military simulations and to provide you with the most enjoyable wargaming experience.

My comrades in arms are Paul Scobell, Stephen ( Sos ) French and Steve Barnes. They will be introducing themselves in due course.

Dave O'Connor
President
Panther Games Pty Ltd

And so, Dave and the engine make their first appearance on the world stage. This changed my life. Before that I was struggling to make my 3D sprites fight on the battlefields of France and Germany. Now, I moved up from hundreds of combatants to tens of thousands of combatants and the use of counters. I did not know it then, but I was on my way to being a wargamer.

Finally, it led to my first and only time being a beta-tester. It's been quite a ride. Besides meeting interesting people and some downright strange ones, it has been rewarding to watch a game develop and be able to peripherally contribute to its design. In another life, I would have loved to be a game developer. This had allowed me to live a little part of that dream.

[Banquet]

Nice thread Markshot. I don't have RDOA. I didn't realise how similar it looks to HttR!

[MarkShot]

Off hand, I recall:

- More maps and scenarios.
- Bug fixes.
- More detail in the modeling/OOB (from battalions down to companies).
- New textures.
- Intel and friendly unit filters.

I don't think the UI changed too much.

[MarkShot]

Oh, I think the scenario and mapmaker applications went from open beta status to supported applications.

[sterckxe]

ORIGINAL: MarkShot
Finally, it led to my first and only time being a beta-tester. It's been quite a ride. Besides meeting interesting people and some downright strange ones

heh [;)]

ORIGINAL: MarkShot
, it has been rewarding to watch a game develop and be able to peripherally contribute to its design.

Peripherally my lower backside - a bit more than that Mark [;)] - nice trip down memory lane there with RDOA

Greetz,

Eddy Sterckx

[JeF]

Sure I recall.
Deelen day 1 was a fine nice scenario.

It is strange that you happen to post such a nostalgic thread, I just stumbled into the below screenshot and a copy of the post I wrote on BF.C forums at the time. The Juggernaut scenario is another scenario that didn't make the cut in HttR.

Is the AI able of planning a spoiling attack ?

Hi Guys,

the title says it all, but maybe a small context might help.

Potential scenario spoilers ....

.... You've been warned.

I was playing the Juggernaut scenario as the Allied. Everything was going as planned on day 1. Planned objectives secured, etc ...
On day 2, I assaulted Deelen Airfield from multiple sides : south, west, east (well quite ...). To my surpise, the AI was sneaking on my right flank. It took me time to assess that the German forces were more than a simple probe and I ordered the Hussars to break their assault and close the breach on the right.
That's what you see on the right of the picture below.

That the AI was able to flank me was already a surprise, but it is not finished.

During day 2, I could secure Deelen airfield objective and the village, thanks to the two infantry bde I had in reserve. Men took rest during night and I continued my attack further North.
The screen capture below is taken on the morning of day 3.

I hold the right flank.
I've planned my attack, with my two bde, accross the woods.

This is where things do not turn as expected and you clearly see it on the picture. The AI is counter attacking at Deelen. I left a gap large enough for it, so it is my entire fault I believe.

So the question remains :
- was the flanking maneuver just a spoiler for the main counter attack ?
- is the AI able to have such reasoning ? It looks so, from my seat.
- does the AI knows about Bil H. principle : "attack where he is weak" ?
- should I deseperate ?
- who should I thank for such a good (to my eyes at least) sparring partner ?

To which Dave humbly admitted that it certainly was coincidence and that the StratAI is not able of such "complex" reasoning.
But the search for the path of least resistance is a feature.
IIRC, Dave's comment were : "Watch out ! The AI is gunning at you." [:D]

Take care,

JeF.