and with that most complaints about Battlefront go poooof!

[Skoop]

i havent heard that one before - you dont like CMBN/CMFI/GL's look?

The graphics really turn me off.
The floating map,the way the roads angle,the cartoony look,bldgs and trees that don't destruct,entrenchments and foxholes that are above ground and the soldiers who look like they are riding an invisible unicycle when they run are a few of my pet peeves.I could go on but I think you can catch my drift.

I really hope they can do something with the graphics by the time they get around to the Ardennes because it doesn't look like Graviteam wants anything to do with the war in Europe on the west front.

I think the CM graphics look great, especially maxed out on my 1440p monitor with NVidia tweaks. 

I prefer the CM game play any day over the graviteam game, it's cool that they have the operational campaign layer.  The game play just seems more tactical and realistic in CM.  I feel like I had better control of units in CM. 

[jomni]

complaints about Battlefront go poooof

Not until they drop or tone down that god awful DRM/License system.

+1

[SgtRock]

Complaints that don't go pooof!

- Editor, purchase system is anal retentive, you have to purchase a force then deleted 99% of everything just to get the one thing you want.

- No auto update/patching system in their games, even when you have to pay for patches/updates, one wrong move and your games go poof!

- DRM/License system, worst in the industry, just plugging in headphones or USB device can cause your games to go poof!

- Tank commanders & vehicle gunners die faster than the red shirts in Star Trek, complete historical BS.

- Ease of use, no good CMFI/CMBN tutorials on how to create Quick battle maps with good AI plans, ever notice how few third party QB maps there are?

- 3D vehicles that pass through each other, can't think of another game that does that now a days.

[Nefaro]

I don't see anything saying that the  limited license DRM scheme is going away.  I think that more than anything is the main complaint about BF, at least from people who won't buy from them.  The download part might be the main complaint about people who've actually purchased from them.

i cant see how its a limited licence DRM anymore when you can download it an infinite number of times

The license activations are still limited, so if for some reason you have a run of bad luck with computer/game/mod problems and have to re-install or re-license a few times in a short period - you'll be locked out.  You don't automatically get permission for a new install, at that point, but once every 1 to 3 months last I looked.

I don't know of anyone who enjoys attempting to contact customer service and prove to them that you're a legitimate customer in order to get an extra install bestowed upon you.  Hell.. it'd be an improvement if they (1) removed the ridiculous time-based licensing limits, (2) Added a function to un-license in multiple ways, including via webpage login or keycode, and (3) changed it to simply allow for the reasonable 2 or 3 current activations at one time, as other such DRM does, instead of a restricted amount that slowly regenerates over a long time span. 

I'd rather not see the limited activation DRM at all, but they seem to be enamored with it so there are my suggestions as to how to make poo less crappy.  For all the past complaining about Storm Eagle Studios' previously shitty DRM scheme, at least they eventually realized that it was just pissing a lot of their customers off and changed to a system that's much more palatable. 

I get the impression that Battlefront is set on their current DRM system as this change really only relates to their previously antiquated installer download limits.  They're just getting in the now with that, but haven't changed the DRM.

[SgtRock]

Battlefront's DRM is a third party product, I wonder if anyone at Battlefront really know all of the things it does, time and time again Battlefront's support even seems to be surprised on what causes issues. Like having the DRM cause problems with their demos, which the DRM is not supposed to even be active.

[Dolan50]

If I actually thought tweeking your graphics could enhance the visual flaws inherhent in CM and that more direct control of units under your command increases the level of realism in that series.Then yes,I could agree with the above statement about CM vs APOS/GTOS.

But we seem to be looking at the issue from two oppisite sides of the spectrum and coming to two different conclusions about graphic quality and tactical realism.

I wanted to like CM because it touches on the western front campaigns during WW2 and Graviteam has no interests in gaming that theatre,but I prefer the way Graviteam formats and approaches this subject.

APOS/GTOS is more in tune with what I expect from a game of this type.
I've tried both and actually started with the CM games first over 10 years ago,but it's no longer my cup of tea and I just can't bother firing it up anymore.I have issues with APOS/GTOS too,but no where near as drastic.My issues with Graviteam are mainly subject matter as opposed to gameplay issues.

I'm basically out of luck as far as hoping that Graviteam will start doing western theatre DLCs or that BF will drastically alter the way they present their game in a way I find more appealing dealing with the graphics quality,unit micro management and a few other minor issues I feel would enhance the game.

I read the CM forums occasionally hoping for some remote hint at something that would change my mind about getting back into CM in any future modules,but so far it's still pretty much the same game with different types of wrapping paper being offered for later modules.

BF seems to be catering to certain sub group and I don't fall into that category and as long as they are influencing or influenced by this group of gamers that have much different ideas about what is and isn't important for this type of game then my hopes for ever enjoying that series again are pretty much over.

[DoctorQuest]

That's good news, undercovergeek. Thanks for letting us know that there are unlimited downloads of games purchased from Battlefront.com. It's a step in the right direction.

Unfortunately, nothing lasts forever. I've seen too many PC game companies disappear over the years to believe any of them will survive indefinitely. And what happens when a game I want to reinstall has to be activated at a website that is no longer in existence? Will I have to wait for GOG.com to make a DRM-free version and then buy the game again? And I'm not picking on Battlefront as it is just one of the many companies that use online activation as part of its activation and licensing system.

Agreed. Plenty of non-DRM games out there to keep me busy. GoG just released a remake of Rise of the Triad that looks like a real hoot.

[Skoop]

@ Dolan50 I hear you about BF, there's a million things I wish they would add or improve and their response is always the risk vs gain.

Here's the thing with CM, I just finished up the polish monte cassino campaign and boy that was one hell of an infantry meat grinder.  I walked away really appreciating the challenges of that campaign.  I just don't see anything else out there capturing the grittiness of an infantry struggle like monte cassino aside from the CM engine. 

[Boggit]

http://battlefront.com/community/announcement.php?f=124&a=652

unlimited downloads - pi** and moan no longer!

Good decision. It will stop a lot of complaints from what I see on the forum.