Combat Mission Final Blitzkrieg

[Boggit]

I'd love to see Battlefront start doing some earlier WW2 stuff like the Blitzkrieg period. O0

I also think something like the "operational" level seen in Graviteam's games - giving continuity to firefights, would work extremely well for CM2 games, and would be something a lot of gamers would pay for as a dlc.

[sandman2575]

My own feeling about the Combat Mission franchise is that the core experience -- the core game -- remains excellent and deeply engrossing. Yet a lot of what supports the core experience has grown pretty ricketty over time. Beyond the actual combat and unit modeling, much of CM needs a dramatic overhaul and facelift.

I really think BFC needs to look carefully and critically at Graviteam's recent Mius Front. On many levels, Mius Front puts CMx2 to shame. Take something as simple as roads. In Mius Front, roads wend naturally, look real, and you can give your units a "follow road" command that is hugely convenient.

In CM, roads are a travesty. The maps can't support something as basic as roads drawn on a diagonal. Instead, you have these utterly ridiculous 'zig zag' patterns all over the map -- and no way to give your vehicles a 'follow road' command, which leads to all sorts of delightfully tedious micromanagement.

Graviteam Tactics' UI has long been a subject of frustration and derision -- "it makes no sense!" -- and while yes it certainly is idiosyncratic, it's actually quite effective once you get the hang of its quirks. CMx2's UI is indeed pretty sub-standard by comparison. "Flexible" and "Feature rich" are not words one could use to describe it.

Last point I'll make -- Mius Front's campaign layer is light years ahead of what CMx2 offers.

While I'm very sympathetic to the argument that "BFC is a very small team with limited resources" -- well, same goes for Graviteam. I actually don't begrudge BFC at all what they charge for their games (although the upgrading system is really a shambles) -- I think Graviteam undercharged for Mius Front at $35. These are specialist games and if we're willing to drop $60 on AAA titles like The Witcher, why not expect that kind of pricing for high quality niche games?

I still love CMx2 and own all the modules. These are games that will always be on my hard-drive. But I think it's past time for BFC to start thinking ambitiously about what the future holds for this series. The core game is great, but everything that surrounds it is badly in need of updating and improvement.

[Michael Dorosh]

I really think BFC needs to look carefully and critically at Graviteam's recent Mius Front. On many levels, Mius Front puts CMx2 to shame. Take something as simple as roads. In Mius Front, roads wend naturally, look real, and you can give your units a "follow road" command that is hugely convenient.

Panzer Command had realistic roads as well. My big bugbear is the fact that running water can only exist at a single elevation (for that matter, ditto standing water) though they did introduce a new "stream" type in CMFB (which is nonetheless non-animated and you have to piece it together just like the highways in the editor.)

While I'm very sympathetic to the argument that "BFC is a very small team with limited resources" -- well, same goes for Graviteam. I actually don't begrudge BFC at all what they charge for their games (although the upgrading system is really a shambles) -- I think Graviteam undercharged for Mius Front at $35. These are specialist games and if we're willing to drop $60 on AAA titles like The Witcher, why not expect that kind of pricing for high quality niche games?

I still love CMx2 and own all the modules. These are games that will always be on my hard-drive. But I think it's past time for BFC to start thinking ambitiously about what the future holds for this series. The core game is great, but everything that surrounds it is badly in need of updating and improvement.

Agree with all this. CMFB was very much a let-down, though I think the very nice maps that shipped with it salvage it to at least a degree. Every other family before it shipped with at least one or two significant upgrades - with CMRT, it was flame weapons, with CMFI, it was winter weather effects. The addition of triggers is another example. CMFB was delayed several months, and I'm struggling to see what differences there are. It *seems* like snow has more of an effect on movement but I haven't tested this yet. Streams are mentioned. I keep waiting for field engineering to undergo its necessary revamp.

[Michael Dorosh]

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[Grim.Reaper]

Looks like a patch is nearing completion...

http://community.battlefront.com/topic/122890-v101-patch-almost-here-patch-notes-inside/

[Zulu1966]

My own feeling about the Combat Mission franchise is that the core experience -- the core game -- remains excellent and deeply engrossing. Yet a lot of what supports the core experience has grown pretty ricketty over time. Beyond the actual combat and unit modeling, much of CM needs a dramatic overhaul and facelift.

I really think BFC needs to look carefully and critically at Graviteam's recent Mius Front. On many levels, Mius Front puts CMx2 to shame. Take something as simple as roads. In Mius Front, roads wend naturally, look real, and you can give your units a "follow road" command that is hugely convenient.

In CM, roads are a travesty. The maps can't support something as basic as roads drawn on a diagonal. Instead, you have these utterly ridiculous 'zig zag' patterns all over the map -- and no way to give your vehicles a 'follow road' command, which
leads to all sorts of delightfully tedious micromanagement.

Graviteam Tactics' UI has long been a subject of frustration and derision -- "it makes no sense!" -- and while yes it certainly is idiosyncratic, it's actually quite effective once you get the hang of its quirks. CMx2's UI is indeed pretty sub-standard by comparison. "Flexible" and "Feature rich" are not words one could use to describe it.

Last point I'll make -- Mius Front's campaign layer is light years ahead of what CMx2 offers.

While I'm very sympathetic to the argument that "BFC is a very small team with limited resources" -- well, same goes for Graviteam. I actually don't begrudge BFC at all what they charge for their games (although the upgrading system is really a shambles) -- I think Graviteam undercharged for Mius Front at $35. These are specialist games and if we're willing to drop $60 on AAA titles like The Witcher, why not expect that kind of pricing for high quality niche games?

I still love CMx2 and own all the modules. These are games that will always be on my hard-drive. But I think it's past time for BFC to start thinking ambitiously about what the future holds for this series. The core game is great, but everything that surrounds it is badly in need of updating and improvement.

Yes I agree roads could be done better on a diagonal and column movement is  by far my biggest gripe about the game. I sometimes avoid playing scenario's if it's clear they involve a lot of road movement.

That said this comparison to the graviteam game, which is the only game that bears some comparison is flawed. You cannot build maps in the game. And therin lies the issue, you can build almost anything in the CM games. The maps that came with first Blitzkrieg were stunning. The new game from graviteam was the first to have proper hills in them. They're two different beasts and perhaps the graviteam game's would be more of a comparison if you were not stuck with the one map. That was obviously a technical design choice. It doesn't have multi storey buildings and most of the maps in the games are pretty bland flat open spaces. There's vastly more the cm map editor can accomplish and the game attempts a whole lot more detail in the actual things that happen on a map.

As for the ui it could be better but it's infinitely better than the other.

I also find it strange when you and others complain about the cost of first Blitzkrieg which offers a huge amount of content. Offers a new theatre and units plus the ability to create virtually limitless further  encounters -yet you state that muis front was undercharged? It's essentially the same game as the original. Doesn't expand the scope of the game much outside the original timeframe and offers you one situation on one map. Granted I really like their campaign system and whish cm had something similar but I just don't understand that logic in comparing the games.

[Elvis]

Looks like a patch is nearing completion...

http://community.battlefront.com/topic/122890-v101-patch-almost-here-patch-notes-inside/

There is one thing on that list that someone else had requested and makes no one else on this planet happy except for me. I got a chuckle when I saw it included on the list because, seriously, I can't of anyone else in the world that would want it, other than me.  :)

[Father Ted]

.... the graviteam game... You cannot build maps in the game. And therin lies the issue, you can build almost anything in the CM games.

Agreed.  CM games may not be the prettiest, but I guess that is the price paid for having such a flexible map editor.

[IronX]

Looks like a patch is nearing completion...

http://community.battlefront.com/topic/122890-v101-patch-almost-here-patch-notes-inside/

There is one thing on that list that someone else had requested and makes no one else on this planet happy except for me. I got a chuckle when I saw it included on the list because, seriously, I can't of anyone else in the world that would want it, other than me.  :)

Now I'm curious. What was it?

[Ubercat]

OK, I just skimmed this entire thread because I thought I remembered that Elvis or someone had made a post that detailed how to actually buy and maintain CMXX products but I couldn't find it.

I own CMBN2.0, CMFI vanilla and CMRT vanilla. I may also own the Commonwealth expansion for CMBN but I don't recall for certain. I decided to give my CM games another shot and discovered that I can't even run CMBN and CMFI. Both games gave a popup that said there were issues with my license#  ::). CMRT appears to run fine. I'll resist the paranoid urge to assume that not being able to run the first two games is due to some plot by BFC to force me to pay $10 per patch increment for each ($30 total?).

So, does anyone know of a webpage or post somewhere that explains what to do? I skimmed the BFC website and couldn't find anything that looked pertinent. (Jesus, why do they have to make things so difficult?)

[sandman2575]

I also find it strange when you and others complain about the cost of first Blitzkrieg which offers a huge amount of content. Offers a new theatre and units plus the ability to create virtually limitless further  encounters -yet you state that muis front was undercharged? It's essentially the same game as the original. Doesn't expand the scope of the game much outside the original timeframe and offers you one situation on one map. Granted I really like their campaign system and whish cm had something similar but I just don't understand that logic in comparing the games.

I don't understand this. I said that CM is absolutely worth what BFC charges for it. I'm not complaining about the price and never have. And I think Graviteam could easily have charged more for Mius Front. A game of its quality is very clearly worth more than $35 in my view.

[Cyrano]

As much as I admire Graviteam and what they're on about, I am out until they figure out MP.

Very surprised they've placed such a low priority on it.

[Pete Dero]

I'll resist the paranoid urge to assume that not being able to run the first two games is due to some plot by BFC to force me to pay $10 per patch increment for each ($30 total?).

3.0 patch (CMBN) is only needed for the vehicle and battle packs so this can't be your problem.  Reinstalling might help if you have all you keys available (and didn't use up you activations / 4 + 1 restored activation per year).

Installation guide CMBN  (without all in one installer) : http://battlefront.mojohelpdesk.com/help/article/127908
Installation for CMBN 3.0 (all in one installer) is easier but then you must spend the $10 : http://battlefront.mojohelpdesk.com/help/article/134841

More info can be found here : http://battlefront.mojohelpdesk.com/
If nothing else works you can submit a ticket here (or to ask for new activations) : http://battlefront.mojohelpdesk.com/login/create_request#/ticket-form/19756

[IronX]

First patch is out: http://community.battlefront.com/topic/122963-v101-patch-is-here/

[Elvis]

OK, I just skimmed this entire thread because I thought I remembered that Elvis or someone had made a post that detailed how to actually buy and maintain CMXX products but I couldn't find it.

I own CMBN2.0, CMFI vanilla and CMRT vanilla. I may also own the Commonwealth expansion for CMBN but I don't recall for certain. I decided to give my CM games another shot and discovered that I can't even run CMBN and CMFI. Both games gave a popup that said there were issues with my license#  ::). CMRT appears to run fine. I'll resist the paranoid urge to assume that not being able to run the first two games is due to some plot by BFC to force me to pay $10 per patch increment for each ($30 total?).

So, does anyone know of a webpage or post somewhere that explains what to do? I skimmed the BFC website and couldn't find anything that looked pertinent. (Jesus, why do they have to make things so difficult?)

Hiya Uber, drop me a note here:http://battlefront.mojohelpdesk.com/

I can get you cleared up pretty quickly. When you open a ticket, just make sure to mention what Upgrades or modules that you have for each of those. You don't have to purchase anything to get back up to speed (although, I'd pay the $10 for the 3.0 Upgrade....but that's just me :) ).