Windows SPMBT!!!!!!!!!

[Paul Wykes]

Hope its ok to post this one here, as I`m sure it`ll interest a few people.

Its finally here. Windows SPMBT !!!!!

Looks like it will be released tomorrow!

http://www.strategyzoneonline.com/forum ... post358984


HURRAH!!!![:)]

[DuckofTindalos]

Now where's that smiley with the crossed fingers...

[Alby]

Release date of June 22nd 4pm North Carolina Time...is last thing I saw..

Quoting Pyros...

"Andy Gailey just authorized me to tell you that this is not a rumor - and that is the planned release date &
time (by 4PM at whatever time zone that would be in North Carolina, USA)"

http://www.shrapnelgames.com/SPCamo/index.htm

[DuckofTindalos]

Well, the thing IS available for D/L now at Shrapnel, but OMG it's unstable! For all practical purposes, it's unplayable. Too bad...

[Arralen]

ORIGINAL: Terminus
Well, the thing IS available for D/L now at Shrapnel, but OMG it's unstable! For all practical purposes, it's unplayable. Too bad...

Please make sure your download isn't corrupted:
Please check the size of the WinSPMBT.exe (self-extracting installer which is in the zip file):
Just downloaded and got 104.847.109 Bytes

If the file (seemingly) is uncorrupted, check some other CPU-intensive game - maybe you PC has a thermal problem. Due to it's DOS-heritage, WinSPMBT runs with 98% CPU usage (shown), so it may get a bit warmer than usual.

Otherwise, please be so kind as to head over to the shrapnel forum and post your systems specs (DxDiag, SysInfo) there. Thanks

Stefan

EDIT:
Just had the downloaded game run for 18:51 in 800x600 windowed, message delay turned to 0 and klicking "next turn" 15 times or so in Scen-001. Run fine.

[DuckofTindalos]

The self-extracting executable I have is exactly the size you posted (104,847,109 bytes). The game usually crashes within two to five minutes. It was my understanding that the windowed mode was even more machine-intensive than fullscreen, which I'd been running it under. Was I wrong?

Believe me, I had no intention of bad-mouthing the game; I really want it to work, because I've been seriously missing a modern, turn-based tactical game for years.

[Arralen]

Windowed mode is slightly more CPU-intensive. Sligtly, because most of the time it's in some kind of DOS-loop waiting for input. There's actually a little bit more for it do when things are moving around in the game or on the desktop, but if it's a thermal problem then it's the overall "strain" that counts.

As I said, please be so kind as to head over to the Shrapnel WinSPMBT forum and post your machine specs there. (run DxDiag etc.)
Or post them here and I'll get the data to the devs and testers.

[DuckofTindalos]

Arralen, just curious, what would you consider a "too hot" CPU?

[Arralen]

Depends on the type of the CPU - I still don't see your machine specs...
85°C definitly kills an AMD 2200, and even at 75°C it will produce frequent crashes and smaller errors. Early Celeron will get into trouble at (IIRC) 55°C ... if you're running at <40°C you should be fine with every CPU.

[Alby]

anyone else experiencing this....

slooooooow graphics...everything moves in slow motion...especially when a unit fires.....sounds cut in and out... [>:]

[DuckofTindalos]

I run a P4 2.8 GHz CPU; In "idle mode", i.e. just looking at the desktop with nothing else running, it averages around 35-37 degrees.

I ran my thermometer utility again, while the game had been running for a little while, and got 49 degrees. I'll give it another chance, and if there are more problems, we can continue this on the Shrapnel forum - I just registered...

[Arralen]

Graphics in 1024x768 look much better (sadly, one has to pay for them..) I wholeheartedly agree that graphics in 800x600 are less than .. optimal

Slow-motion isn't something that occured on my machine (C4-1500, 512MB, Win2K). If sound cuts in and out it's more likely a problem with your machine than with the game.

You can, however, fiddle with the animation speeds by editing
"\Game Data\Camogame.ini" and look for the follwing entries:

[graphics]
; graphics timings

; minimum graph delay (in milliseconds) between frames
; set to 0 to pump out graphics as fast as your CPU can handle,
; try larger numbers to slow down very fast CPU/GFX cards
Graphdelay=40

;How much to wait per hex a unit moves (Milliseconds)
UnitMoveDelay=50

Set both to 4 or 5 resp. and watch the action fly by.

Stefan Weniger

[rich12545]

I fooled around with it for a bit and found no problems. Sound was fine. Graphics at least as good as spwaw imo. Units move kind of fast so I'm glad to see a way to slow them down. Looks like the original MBT scenarios at the Wargamer work fine. At first I was perturbed at the cost for the "Enhanced" version until I read the blurb at the end of the manual and it's ok. If, after playing a while, I like it then I'll get the cd to help support the game.

[Alby]

ORIGINAL: Arralen

Graphics in 1024x768 look much better (sadly, one has to pay for them..) I wholeheartedly agree that graphics in 800x600 are less than .. optimal

Slow-motion isn't something that occured on my machine (C4-1500, 512MB, Win2K). If sound cuts in and out it's more likely a problem with your machine than with the game.

You can, however, fiddle with the animation speeds by editing
"\Game Data\Camogame.ini" and look for the follwing entries:

[graphics]
; graphics timings

; minimum graph delay (in milliseconds) between frames
; set to 0 to pump out graphics as fast as your CPU can handle,
; try larger numbers to slow down very fast CPU/GFX cards
Graphdelay=40

;How much to wait per hex a unit moves (Milliseconds)
UnitMoveDelay=50

Set both to 4 or 5 resp. and watch the action fly by.

Stefan Weniger

This helped big time, now to get the right speed, 10 is even to fast.
Thanks
The sloow graphics was buggin me...took forever to see a tank shot go across the screen.
still things dont seem to happen as smooth as SPWAW.
need to change out some sound files
some of these mpegs seem to have a slight delay at their begining.

[DuckofTindalos]

To close out this thread (from me, anyway), it seems to work for now.

[Alby]

I changed a bunch of sounds
things seem more "Insync" and smoother now...[:D]

[Wild Bill]

I downloaded it as soon as I saw the announcement. I've only barely tinkled with it. So far I get no sound in computer vs computer. When a human player is involved sound is fine. Graphics are nice. Seems to be a nice selection of scenarios and so many possibilities. I hope to move some of my old SP3 campaigns into SPMBT, especially the Vietnam campaigns (Air Cav, Blackhorse, and Riverine).

I'll work with it some more after Origens. I'm glad to see a modernized Steel Panthers in Windows mode. It gives yet more life to the old girl.

A big step forward.

WB

[KG Erwin]

Hey, if this could result in a Great Battles of the Vietnam War series, then I think it's worthwhile pursuing. My second favorite unit of all time is the 1st Air Cavalry Division--they were pioneers in their style of warfare, and gained immortal fame in the battles in the Ia Drang area (subject of the movie "We Were Soldiers").

[Wild Bill]

The two systems are are different and I'll have to play around for awhile to get accostumed to the differences and the nuances of play.

BUt it is on my to do list and before the end of the year I hope to have at least a campaign on "The First Team" (Ist Cav) completed and ready for play.

Thanks for the encouragement

[Alby]

I sem to remember theis scenario from SP3....
called LZ xray I think???

Man I am old!! [:(]