To: devnull (Hitech Simulation Mailing list) Reply-To: devnull (Hitech Simulation Mailing list) Errors-To: postmaster@onion.rain.com Precedence: bulk Bcc: hitech-sim-out Subject: Hitech Simulation Digest V1 : I50 Hitech Simulation Digest Volume 1 : Issue 50 Tue Sep 21 06:41:07 PDT 1993 Compilation copyright (C) 1993 Jeff Beadles Send submissions to "hitech-sim@onion.rain.com" Send add/drop requests to "majordomo@onion.rain.com" Archives are available via ftp from onion.rain.com [147.28.0.161] Today's Topics: Tornado: Command Camp. tactics Heinz-Bernd Eggenstein (LS2) RE:Non flight sims MORGAN@WVUGEO.WVNET.EDU ------------------------------------------------------------ From: Heinz-Bernd Eggenstein (LS2) Subject: Tornado: Command Camp. tactics Hi! I managed to end a command campaign (the first in War Zone 1) with a "ceasefire" (around day 4, enemy morale about 57%), and things are looking not too bad in my current campaign (allied MORALE: 55 %, Supply/Demand ca. 12 % (enemy 7%), Day 3 or 4., I think. Second command campaign in Warzone 1). I think morale is crucial! If it drops below say 40 %, you have a problem! Killing SCUDS helps a lot (if the priority target finder does not give you a SCUD position, that doesn't mean there are no SCUDs left!). Destroying NBC facilities and runways are other means to improve the morale. Lots of SCUDS are parked at some military bases, but I don't know whether hitting them counts. Of course, you can use the explore feature to look for SCUDs, but this is cheating, isn't it? Carmouflaged (sp????) sites are also good targets to indertict supplies to the troops! I think it also helps to fly a ADV mission yourself every few missions, to provide better cover and to kill a few fighters. Finding and destroying a flight of Floggers *before* they hit their targets should be extremely helpful, but I have not done that yet. Hmm, maybe it would help to fly to their base and wait until they return, so at least you could kill a few Floggers after they hit their targets. I've tried landing on roads and hiding my IDS under a bridge, but it doesn't work (collision with ground object :-( ), so you might have to wait circling at low altitude for some time. I think before destroying runways, one should sharply reduce the resupply routes to the airfield (use the point data window to see where the supplies are coming from), because the repair time seems to depend on the supplies of the airfield (great!!). Has anyone yet *won* a command campaign? (Which, where and **how**?) Heinz-Bernd Eggenstein ------------------------------- From: masten@beta.lanl.gov (David A. Masten) Subject: RE: Ignored by SH Scott, in a bitching mood, wrote (:-)): >It seems to me SH has always been notorious for not informing game owners >of patches and the like. I can honestly say that I have never gotten >a notice of a patch release from SH unless it was a part of a catalog >of upcoming products. I have the opposite experience. SH is one of only two gaming companies that has sent me a patch unsolicited. I did call and email to get one of the earlier patches (which they sent). Then they sent me the subsequent patch a few months later. The other company is Pursue the Pennant. >I am >of the opinion that major patches should be sent to all registered owners >REGARDLESS OF REQUEST!! That would be nice, but I don't expect it. Could get costly sending it out to everyone. Games are a lot cheaper than most professional software, so I doubt they have as much margin to implement a nice policy like this. >I wonder how many F3 fliers out there have the >original F3 on a shelf because they are not up on the trends of the >industry. Yes some gamers are just that, gamers. They could care less >about the industry and buy what catches their at the local software store. True, I know some of those F3 owners. At least they should be informed (with the next advertising blurb if necessary) that the game has been patched. Then if they are interested enough to invest a stamp and a walk to the mailbox, then maybe they should get the patch free of charge. >If a program no work, they just say it broken and put on shelf. But they do work! Just not as well as I want them too (then again, they never do! :-)) >I saw a note here a few weeks back mentioning no response from them. A week >after sending a detailed note about my lack of comms connectability in F302 >(You know, the one where they "fixed" comms) I have still to get a >response. Best thing IMO about F3 add-ons is that it means another 2 to 3 rounds of patches! How many other games are still putting out patches TWO years later? Hopefully, the CH Pro hat toggling problem will be addressed in the next (as CH intimated). Dave masten@beta.lanl.gov ------------------------------- From: "Juan A. Hermoso" Subject: RE: Ignored by SH ? Darrin writes > Am I the only person in North America who paid $70 CDN for Tornado, > sent the registration card to SH and never heard ANYTHING back from them? > There hasn't even been the average piece of junk mail land at my door, > let alone some updates on release dates for new products. I won't dare to > ask if they let out word on the 1.0b patch yet. Hey, don't feel lonely!. I also bought my copy of Tornado from SH, although not in North America but in Switzerland (at the moment I didn't know it wasn't the "European version") and when I saw that everybody else but me got their patches I decided to ask SH what was happening. I got the following answer from SH: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Received: by ihb.compuserve.com (5.67/5.930129sam) id AA21757; Wed, 15 Sep 93 15:28:34 -0400 Date: 15 Sep 93 15:17:43 EDT From: "\\\\illiam" <76004.2144@compuserve.com> To: "\"Juan A. Hermoso\"" Subject: Tornado registration & patches Message-Id: <930915191743_76004.2144_CHN110-24@CompuServe.COM> ----------------------------Original message---------------------------- At this time the patch is not yet available for Tornado, and we have not done any mailings since it's release. However if you registered your game, when we do have our newsletter or special offers, they will be sent to you... \\illiam SH ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- After reading this, I wish I would have bought the European version! ;-) Juan-Andres Hermoso ------------------------------- From: stenger@zeus.uni-duisburg.de (Joerg Stenger) Subject: Companies advertising politics (was: RE: Ignored by SH) Hi Scott and Dave, I expressed my feelings about advertising a few issues ago, so I won't bother You again with that. IMO the point is: What do I get for my registering? If a company uses registering _only_ to get Your address and bomb You with advertising why should You spend a penny for a stamp? If they send You a lot of advertising(cr*p) _but_ inform You as soon as that the game You registered for has been patched even I would accept their advertising. As far as I know DI is the first company who printed their e-mail address into the manual and I think it's a first step into the right direction. There should also be an "E-mail-address"-field on the registering- card, so they can inform You about the latest pathes without spending a cent for a stamp. (I'm lucky, my University pays for my e-mail; what does it cost to send, say, 20 lines over the Internet?) Further-on there is that csipg.annce where companies can reach really many people with one e-mail. If we talk about Tornado or F3 there's another point: the two mailing- lists. As far as I know about 400 folks join the F3-list and about 200 the hitech-sim list. If SH or DI would sent one letter to the lists they really could save their bucks. And what about if they would upload the patches instead of some kind member of the list? Ok, it's late and I still have this headache (sp?) from the weekend (Hi Scott ;-), so that's all for today. Just think about it... Joerg "Dancer" Stenger ------------------------------- From: Andrew.Stevens@prg.oxford.ac.uk Subject: Hitech Simulation Digest V1 : I49 Scott writes: >The Tornado patch does not really seem like a full patch, more like a few >fixes with enhancements. It may not fall into the above argument. This is correct. DI's policy appears to be ``frequent incremental improvements'' rather than ``occasional big leaps''. Revision 1.0c is well on its way to completion and that won't be the end either. think the idea is to avoid awkward gaps in sales / cash flow when a new patch is imminent. However, it is by no means clear what this means for the Spectrum Holobyte distributed US version. Perhaps they intend to follow the pattern they set with Falcon and release big jumps less frequently rather than do every one of DI's revision? Anyone care to to ring/hassle/whatever SH and find out? Andrew ------------------------------- From: Perry The Cynic Subject: How about non-flying games? Well, it *says* "hitech-sim", not "hitech-flightsim", so I'll ask. I'm about to get myself a shiny, new, fast PC and I want to celebrate with some simulation games. I need hints and advice. Any inhibited Sub Drivers out there? What is your favorite classic (WW2) and modern (Nuc) submarine simulation? How about the other side (Sub-hunting)? How about battle group (carrier group?) simulations? And if it has to fly, what's your favorite helicopter simulation? I've seen lots of flight-model discussions on fixed-wing sims; which 'copter simulation has the best flight and weapons model? (And that includes a decent visibility model, I hope!) If you don't want to pollute the mailing list, send me mail and I'll summarize. Thanks! -- perry ------------------------------- From: MORGAN@WVUGEO.WVNET.EDU Subject: RE:Non flight sims Perry asks >Well, it *says* "hitech-sim", not "hitech-flightsim", so I'll ask. I'm about >to get myself a shiny, new, fast PC and I want to celebrate with some >simulation games. I need hints and advice. >Any inhibited Sub Drivers out there? What is your favorite classic (WW2) and >modern (Nuc) submarine simulation? How about the other side (Sub-hunting)? >How about battle group (carrier group?) simulations? >And if it has to fly, what's your favorite helicopter simulation? I've seen >lots of flight-model discussions on fixed-wing sims; which 'copter simulation >has the best flight and weapons model? (And that includes a decent visibility >model, I hope!) >If you don't want to pollute the mailing list, send me mail and I'll summarize. >Thanks! > -- perry Well if I recall correctly, when Jeff started this list it was basically to apply to all hi tech strategy sims. (Though a little talk of World Circut slips in every now and then :-) So inquiries about sub or helo sims is alright (IMO). As far as sub sims go, I only have one, and that is Red Storm Rising by Microprose. It about 4 years old (?) Even though it is that old with somewhat cheesy graphics it is pretty good. I know alittle about sub mechanics and tactics from reading books and the like, but not much. It seems to model sub activities and weapons well enough, but is by no means as realsitic as it could be. Subs are probably the most complex weapons system going, I don't think any sub sim really does the technical aspects of the modern sub justice. Dynamix is coming out with Grey Wolf here pretty soon. I think GW is to model the subs of WWII. With the emphasis going to more complex and realistic sims, it should be something to see. If you find Red Storm Rising, it will likely be in the bargain bin and for 10 - 15 dollars it is pretty cheap for what it is. Speaking of Dynamix, what about Seal Team when it is released all? Looks like a winner from the views of the demo. It will be fun to see the war from the ground troops instead of zooming over at 400 knts. Helo sims: There are really only two, Gunship 2000 and Comanche, Maximum Over Kill. To make it simple, if you like *stunning* graphics and aracadish fun, go with Comanche. If you want a helo sim, Gunship is the better of the two. If you get Gunship get the Islands and Ice add on disk. I hear it adds alot and fixes some inaccuracies. I never got I & I however. Another startegy sim you might want check out is Harpoon by Three Sixty. In the basic game you are admiral over the north Atlantic Fleet (or Soviet fleet) and must sail you task force and complete the missions objectives. Add on disks and scenerios are available. I hear Harpoon II is due sometime soon. From what I have read it will a real improvement to an already great sim. Well there is my 2 cents Yes all my head is feeling better thank you very much :-) How bout yours Joerge? :-) Scott "I hope I got that name right" in WV ------------------------------- [[ End of digest Volume 1 : Issue 50 ]]