The "Uber" Command: Modern Air/Naval Ops Thread

[spelk]

I just whacked the airbase with some Corsairs tooled up with Walleyes, but just as my Iron bomb brigade set about their approach, the game has gone milky grey cataract coloured, with a "(Not Responding)" in the title bar :(

And I'd just got the Event message that I'd gained some points, to take me over the 0 (Minor Defeat) victory condition.

Hoping it will come back, so I can see those HAS's go boom, but its not looking good at the moment. :(((

[JudgeDredd]

ANother "interface" thing...Looking at the Scenario Briefing window (for Side Briefing) you can increase the size of the window in height but the text area doesn't increase - it only increases if you adjust the width of the window after increasing the height (or by pulling diagonally down and right/up and left)

[Dimitris]

I just whacked the airbase with some Corsairs tooled up with Walleyes, but just as my Iron bomb brigade set about their approach, the game has gone milky grey cataract coloured, with a "(Not Responding)" in the title bar :(

And I'd just got the Event message that I'd gained some points, to take me over the 0 (Minor Defeat) victory condition.

Hoping it will come back, so I can see those HAS's go boom, but its not looking good at the moment. :(((

That's a hard freeze, I'm afraid. You'll have to kill the Command.exe process from Task Manager and restart.

You can resume where you left off, by loading the autosave.scen file.

Once you do, can you mail me that very file? It helps a lot in troubleshooting cases like this. Thanks!

[spelk]

The only reason we did not ship images for the DB was IP/copyright concerns, it was simply too much of a risk and we didn't have the resources to procure commercial images in quantities to matter. So we did the next best thing, we provided the architecture to add images "after market" at leisure and the already growing Command community roared into action; check the Command downloads page here.

I suppose the amount of hardware you have detailed, it's tricky to source images without forking out to an artist to get busy. But still, it was the biggest initial disappointment I had with the game, when I opened up the database on my favourite Falklands kit, to see no imagery.

A suggestion I would make, would be to display any associated image in the right hand chrome at the bottom, when you select a object - just to add a little "militaryporn" style imagery whilst you're waiting for a long haul strike mission to play out. That would be really nice.

Also, while I'm on quick first impression suggestions, how about a slider, or button array for the time shifter, rather than a drop down list?

Sounds - our experience from both Harpoon and now Command has been that folks almost invariably play with the sounds turned off :D . however we do recognize that some people do appreciate the presence of sound effects to enhance the action and have provided a number of sounds effects, which are in fact fully customizable (check the \Sound\Effect folder). We have been requested to add hooks for more sound-generating events and we will take this into consideration.

Sound effects, they can be quite simple, and it's a boon to have the ability for a modder to put together a community pack with cool ones for flavour. But I still think an atmospheric theme, even if its just for the splash screen, really does set the scene for the game. It doesn't have to play all the time, but it can make the difference compared with pure silence. First impressions and all that. I couldn't imagine playing the Decisive Campaigns games, without hearing their distinctive theme music playing. Only a few tunes, but they do really flavour the quite dry operational experience. This isn't a biggie, I just expected something, a rousing 80's number or some ephemeral cold war ambience.

Terrain up close. That's a valid point no doubt but one has to remember that we are covering _the entire planet_ and we're already by far the biggest download Matrix has ever put (I bet their ISP is cursing us ATM ;D). We actually thought about upgrading to ASTER (up to 15m/cell) but that would probably mean having to distribute Command in multiple hard disks rather than DVDs. We are, however, looking at improved tile resolution for future releases but this time probably on a local theater basis (e.g. if we do a Falklands-centered scenario pack we'll include a super-detailed map for the Flaklands).

I think it really looks the part zoomed out, but zoomed in would the possiblity of a plain single coloured map be an option at all?

Falklands centered pack... sign me up. You've already sold your first copy! :)

Again, thanks for the feedback! It is extremely important to us that we are aware of what our customers like and don't like, so we can do more of the former and less (or ideally none) of the latter.

Thanks for listening so intently.

[Dimitris]

> I think it really looks the part zoomed out, but zoomed in would the possibility of a plain single coloured map be an option at all?

Try the relief map layer, I think you will like it quite a lot.

[spelk]

That's a hard freeze, I'm afraid. You'll have to kill the Command.exe process from Task Manager and restart.
You can resume where you left off, by loading the autosave.scen file.

Ah ok, sweet - I thought I'd lost all of this evenings play - so back to it! Thanks for that.

Once you do, can you mail me that very file? It helps a lot in troubleshooting cases like this. Thanks!

Will do.

[JudgeDredd]

More interface....

1. It would be nice to be able to resize the Mission Editor window
2. Mission Editor window - I can see what weapons are on the aircraft, but I can see quantity. So when I selected my targets (10 Aircraft Shelters) I went to assign aircraft - and I'm at risk of assigning too many or not enough because I can't see what's on each aircraft
3. When going to the Database Viewer - the information displayed there (for example the A-7E Corsair II) is different to that of the Mission Editor window...so if I wanted to check the database to view the aircraft and see loadouts, I am provided with 7 variants - but I don't know what ones are included in my mission when looking at the Mission Editor

I apologise if all this seems picky - but I'm trying things or wanting to try things and can't - and wonder why...

Maybe I'll stop now, go through this on my own, out of the forums and provide you a detailed list of things I am trying but can't...save you having to go through them piecemeal. Also - I'm fully aware I might not just get it and I haven't read the manual, but to me these are things I want to do - and it should be OK to do them (imo).

[JudgeDredd]

That's a hard freeze, I'm afraid. You'll have to kill the Command.exe process from Task Manager and restart.
You can resume where you left off, by loading the autosave.scen file.

Ah ok, sweet - I thought I'd lost all of this evenings play - so back to it! Thanks for that.

Once you do, can you mail me that very file? It helps a lot in troubleshooting cases like this. Thanks!

Will do.

I just got the exact same issue   :(

[spelk]

Well I managed to get going again, from the autosave file, and I did some damage so heres the report:

MINOR VICTORY: 1300

SIDE: CVW-15
===========================================================

LOSSES:
-------------------------------
1x F-14A Tomcat
1x A-7E Corsair II
1x E-2C Hawkeye Basic


EXPENDITURES:
------------------
8x AIM-9L Sidewinder
13x Generic Chaff Salvo [5x Cartridges]
8x AIM-7F Sparrow III
9x AIM-54A Phoenix
11x 20mm/85 M61A1 Vulcan Burst [100 rnds]
6x AGM-62B Walleye II ER/DL
160x Mk82 500lb LDGP
12x AGM-45B Shrike [ARM]
16x GBU-10E/B Paveway II LGB [Mk84]



SIDE: Red Side
===========================================================

LOSSES:
-------------------------------
4x MiG-23ML Flogger G
4x MiG-21bis Fishbed N
12x SA-2f Guideline Mod 1/2 Single Rail
2x Vehicle (Spoon Rest C [P-12])
8x SA-7a Grail [9K32 Strela-2] MANPADS
2x Vehicle (Fan Song F [RSNA-75M])
1x A/C Tarmac Space (4x Very Large Aircraft)
6x A/C Hardened Aircraft Shelter (1x Medium Aircraft)
2x Runway Access Point (Very Large Aircraft)
1x Radar (Tall King A [P-14])
2x AvGas Bunker (400k Liter Tank)
5x Vehicle (Flat Face B [P-19])
2x SA-3c Goa Quad Rail


EXPENDITURES:
------------------
8x AA-7 Apex C [R-24R, SARH]
11x SA-2f Guideline Mod 1 [S-75M2 Volkhov, 5YA23 / V-759]
30x SA-3c Goa [5V27D, V-601PD]
4x 23mm Gsh-23L Burst [40 rnds]
26x SA-6b Gainful [9M336]
9x SA-6a Gainful [9M336]

I sort of ran out of hardware to chuck at them, and I probably didn't prioritise targets all that well, sending some expensive kit in to hit the main Runway, that might have been more effective on the SAM's. I found the HAS (Hardened Aircraft Shelters) quite numerous for the amount of kit I sent to take it out.

I killed it after all my missions had completed, and they were returning to gear up for some more - but I hadn't knocked out all the SAM's and I could see things were going to go south, with my limited armaments. So I settled for 3 losses for a Minor Victory. Not bad I think, for a complete novice, whose only dabbled a bit in Harpoon.

Aside from the hiccups, I enjoyed the rumble, and I've certainly learned a lot more about the aircraft and loadouts. I think I need to digest it all a bit more, and have a few more goes at the same tutorial scenario, to get a better feel for the game. And this is only the air war at the moment!

The relief map does look better zoomed in. It seems to cache a bit more, in square chunks, that I didn't notice with the normal map mode - but I guess the relief mode is a bit more detailed/higher res?.

I can see taking it all in is going to be a bit of a long haul investment in terms of time and knowledge of the interface.

[bostonmyk]

Hi Guys,

2nd Shift punching in.

More interface....

1. It would be nice to be able to resize the Mission Editor window

Request added to our list.

2. Mission Editor window - I can see what weapons are on the aircraft, but I can see quantity. So when I selected my targets (10 Aircraft Shelters) I went to assign aircraft - and I'm at risk of assigning too many or not enough because I can't see what's on each aircraft

I made a video that discusses this abit. Short story go into the database viewer and look at the aircraft stores info (damage points, and target types) and then do the same for the target. This will get more intuitive the more you do it and learn the weapons.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CpRRAqI-mc

3. When going to the Database Viewer - the information displayed there (for example the A-7E Corsair II) is different to that of the Mission Editor window...so if I wanted to check the database to view the aircraft and see loadouts, I am provided with 7 variants - but I don't know what ones are included in my mission when looking at the Mission Editor

We have a way. Game Drop Down->Browse Scenario Platforms . Few less clicks.

I apologise if all this seems picky - but I'm trying things or wanting to try things and can't - and wonder why...

Maybe I'll stop now, go through this on my own, out of the forums and provide you a detailed list of things I am trying but can't...save you having to go through them piecemeal. Also - I'm fully aware I might not just get it and I haven't read the manual, but to me these are things I want to do - and it should be OK to do them (imo).

Go here for a bunch of tutorial videos we've made. Save you a little time.

[JudgeDredd]

"2nd shift punching in"...lol

Thx bostonmyk

As I said to Dimitris - congratulations on the release

Would the ability to double click an aircraft on the Mission Editor to bring up the database viewer for that specific aircraft be do-able?

[Nefaro]

I buckled like JD.    ;)

Found an old Matrix Coupon with some value left on it (thanks 2ndACR!) so it took the bite out of the price and broke my will. 

Besides.. these guys obviously need another UI-obsessed person to give it a shakedown.

[panzerde]

Downloading  8)
... i skipped Rome 2  (which will be on a sale soon, and the tactical AI may get patched to decent) while CMANO will not be on sale for a year or longer  ...and the AI is already there ! (or i hope so ;-) ) 

Same reasoning here.  I decided to wait a bit on Rome II and decided I probably wouldn't play EU IV enough to justify the investment, but this I'll play.  Downloading (slowly) now.

[bostonmyk]

"2nd shift punching in"...lol

Thx bostonmyk

As I said to Dimitris - congratulations on the release

Would the ability to double click an aircraft on the Mission Editor to bring up the database viewer for that specific aircraft be do-able?

Thanks man.

We will talk about this but I think we have another click event in that dialog. We are actively collecting what you guys tell us to make mods and hopefully make it easier to drive.

[JudgeDredd]

I meant to say - it's nice to see the devs here - I know they must be busy over at Matrix...so thx. Appreciated.