Flashpoint Campaigns: Cold War Released

[Pete Dero]

https://www.matrixgames.com/game/flashpoint-campaigns-cold-war

https://store.steampowered.com/app/3170350/Flashpoint_Campaigns_Cold_War/

50% off if you already own Flashpoint Campaigns: Southern Storm


Flashpoint Campaigns: Cold War is a grand tactical combat simulation on the Cold War battlefield. As the force Commander, you will plan and then issue orders and Standard Operating Procedures to your battalion, brigade, or regimental forces, shaping the fight by maneuver and your intent. Your forces will engage the enemy in rendered real-world map locations. Each hex is 500m of militarily significant terrain on maps covering 20km x 15km or greater locations across the German area of battle. Each battle can last 4 to 24 hours of in-game time. Your troops will meet their foes at any time of day and in any realistic weather conditions.

This latest entry into the iconic Flashpoint Campaigns series features the largest number of Cold War scenarios and campaigns, encompassing the highest number of nations ever included in a single new game release.  In addition, for the first time in this series, it includes Air Assault as well as other new features described below.

The game's engine is based on asynchronous WEGO turns. Players issue orders and then watch a variable amount of time unfold on the battlefield. They then issue or adjust orders to react to what has happened as they execute their battle plan to outmaneuver and outthink their enemy's battle plan.

Flashpoint Campaigns: Cold War is a deep simulation of combat operations where forces are arranged in maneuver units of companies, platoons, and sections of tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, infantry squads and teams, recon forces, engineers, air-defense and anti-tank systems, helicopters, and more. As the Commander, the player must use available off-map assets like long-range artillery, rockets, or airstrikes as force multipliers in the battle space. The Commander may be faced with the specter of using chemical or nuclear weapons to support their forces on the map and win the day.

In this complex battlespace, the player's efforts are constantly tested by modeled features such as Electronic Warfare, Air Superiority, and Realistic Weather. You'll also need to consider Line of Sight and Fire, Terrain and Elevation, Smoke and Mines, and human factors like training, morale, and readiness. To help you master the situation and understand your force's capabilities, the game provides a variety of information dialogs, map overlays, and range rings.

Flashpoint Campaigns: Cold War is a data-rich simulation where each nation has information on National Characteristics, Command Parameters, and Orders of Battle. Data Tables are packed with era-specific equipment and troops. Weapon Systems of the time, such as guns, missiles, precision munitions, small arms, and much more, are comprehensively modeled.

The game allows players to create their own scenarios and campaigns, modify game data, artwork, and sound effects as they see fit. All these modding capabilities are supported by detailed documentation.

    Over 100 Cold War scenarios in total.  60+ independent scenarios and 10 campaigns, both in solo national efforts or with allied nations.

    Covers Germany on 80 plus maps and an extensive selection of military equipment from 1980 to 1989: United States, Great Britain, France, Canada, Belgium, West Germany, Russia (Soviet Union), East Germany, Poland, and Czechoslovakia.

    Several Tutorials (scenarios and documentation) that look at the basic, intermediate, and advanced features of the game system, so players can learn at their own pace.

    New Tactical Transport feature (includes Air Assaults) for moving forces with helicopters or trucks around the battlefield in a coordinated and planned way.

    Every scenario has multiple computer player battle plans for replayability, which, coupled with the game's base computer player, which reacts and deviates as needed from those plans, means every battle is dynamic and different.

    Refined unit SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) and order queuing with an improved user interface for both new and experienced players.

    Illumination rounds light up the night skies and help see enemies.

    Improved AI and UI for formation moves and unit behaviors like withdrawal and target selections.

    Refined control and improved UI for resupply of ammunition and setting of critical munitions to resupply.

    Improved spotting and combat models

    New and refined information dialogs and overlays provide important details to the players.

[Con]

I already purchased using the 50% bundle for previous owners of Flashpoint series - nice of the developers to remember their early customers

Question for anyone here working on the game
Are the upgrades and improvements on the new release going to be added to the previous version?

[Crossroads]

First day purchase for me as well with the bundle discount. Haven't had a chance to properly play it yet but it looks like a slick update on an already great looking and playing game. Lots of new content as well. Well done, OTS 

[MikeGER]

Question for anyone here working on the game
Are the upgrades and improvements on the new release going to be added to the previous version?

Got it on release day with the dicount 

From my understanding Cold War is a merge of Red Storm and Southern Storm when it comes to scenario places and according involved nations. So yes and no. there will be no updates to the old games, but yes you can fight over the old ground known from the old games. now with all the latest improvments.     

[Con]

Question for anyone here working on the game
Are the upgrades and improvements on the new release going to be added to the previous version?

Got it on release day with the dicount 

From my understanding Cold War is a merge of Red Storm and Southern Storm when it comes to scenario places and according involved nations. So yes and no. there will be no updates to the old games, but yes you can fight over the old ground known from the old games. now with all the latest improvments.     

Ah got it

I only installed the game and fired up the meeting in Arolsen scenario - I didnt realize that it was a complete update of the core game with the new features and maps/scenarios
I looked at that scenario because my family farm and village is right in Arolsen.  They got the topography right but my little village didn't make the cut to make it on the map, but the next size village Twiste is there and I can place where our farm would be based on the road intersections.  My grandmother used to feed and wash the clothes of the Belgian and US soldiers (they were always doing joint maneuvers) when they dug in on our farm.  She used to get Christmas cards from them which amused her no end and I had to translate the English and French for her.  My grandfather always asked the soldiers if they were going to fight and kill Russians - he fought on the eastern front and was captured by them - no love lost there.  He made it home one of the few to do so. 

So of course I am looking forward to trying out some battles on that map since I have a very personal connection and it would have been my family that was on the ground there if the balloon really went up then.

[Jarhead0331]

Nice post, Con. Thanks for sharing the story about your family connection to this game. It really helps bring history to life.