Simulation

Bust Up That Asteroid!

Submitted by Scott Tortorice on Fri, 04/02/2010 - 20:40

One of the many promising space sims looming on 2010’s horizon is Keen Software House’s Miner Wars. Currently under development, Miner Wars will be a single player / multiplayer experience that promises to put the gamer in the shoes of a space miner…well, not really the ‘shoes’ per se, but certainly the cockpit of a mining vehicle. The player will be able to mine all sorts of fully destructible asteroids, all the while attacking and dodging the attacks of various groups, including the game’s equivalent of an interplanetary Green Peace (shudder). It’s early yet, but Miner Wars sounds like it will prove to be a gold mine of entertainment (and yes, you can mine gold in the game).

Today, the team behind Miner Wars released a video showing the devastating effect of “asteroid buster rockets” which reputedly can “vaporize an asteroid with a few shots.” Sounds like fun! Unfortunately, they will also be “quite expensive stuff in the final game.” Oh well….

Check out the vid:

Normandy Never Looked So Good

Submitted by Scott Tortorice on Wed, 03/31/2010 - 21:22

Looks like we have another bit of wargaming news today….

Battlefront.com’s Combat Mission is perhaps one of the most popular wargames of all time. Incorporating modern production values with an addictive WEGO turn system, Combat Mission: Beyond Overlord wowed the grog community like no other WWII wargame before it (I can attest to this as I had at least one PBEM game underway for three years straight!). After the phenomenal success of CM:BO, and two expansions, Battlefront updated its engine and unveiled CM: Shock Force, this time taking the series to the modern era of Middle Eastern conflict. Unfortunately, it was here Battlefront stumbled a bit as the game was initially very buggy and the contemporary setting left some of the WWII grogs cold like a desert at night. Nonetheless, CM:SF went on to successfully carve out its own niche even if it never achieved the lofty status of its predecessor.

Combat Mission: Normandy

Submitted by Scott Tortorice on Wed, 03/31/2010 - 20:53

Simulation

Currently under development, Combat Mission: Normandy will mark this popular wargame franchise's return to World War II.

World of Tanks Reveals Tank Trees

Submitted by Scott Tortorice on Fri, 03/12/2010 - 21:24

I didn’t realize that tanks grew on trees (darn public school education!). Regardless, Wargaming.net’s World of Tanks is yet another forthcoming wargame that has piqued my curiosity with its modern graphics engine and its trendy gameplay mechanics - in this case, MMO mechanics. While actual gameplay details are still scarce, it does seem like Wargaming.net is going for that sweet spot between realism and fun. This is yet another 2010 game to keep an eye on.

Today, Wargaming.net revealed the first details on the game’s upgrade and development system for American, German and Soviet tank lines. I guess this is more than a little important when you have a game that sports over 150 armored machines from pre-WW2 era up to the Korean War!

Details:

“On launching the game for the first time a player can select a ‘starter’ vehicle from any of the three nations. While fighting in the WORLD OF TANKS, a recruit tanker receives experience points and credits which allow exploring and buying modifications or new battle units from the American, German or Soviet tree branches, which a player has chosen to follow.

World of Tanks

Submitted by Scott Tortorice on Fri, 03/12/2010 - 20:58

Simulation

WORLD OF TANKS is the first and only team-based massively multiplayer online action game dedicated to armored warfare. Throw yourself into the epic tank battles of World War II with other steel cowboys all over the world. Your arsenal includes more than 150 armored vehicles from America, Germany, and the Soviet Union, carefully detailed with historical accuracy.

A flexible system of authentic vehicle upgrade and development allows you to try any of the vehicles and weapons in the game. Whether you prefer to exhaust your foes with fast and maneuverable light tanks, make deep breaches in enemy lines with all-purpose medium tanks, use the force of giant tanks to eliminate opposing armored forces, or become a heavy sniper with long-range howitzers, each unit type has its own advantages and can be extremely effective when operated by a true tank ace.

A.C.E. 2 version 1.0 released for ArmA II

Submitted by Scott Tortorice on Tue, 03/09/2010 - 20:39

ArmA II is one of those games that you either love or hate. In fact, to call it a ‘game’ is a mistake as ArmA II is an authentic military simulator with a heritage that stretches all the way back to the original Operation Flashpoint (not to be confused with Codemasters dreadful sequel, Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising). It is a ground combat simulator (and decent air sim, for that matter) that is simply unrivaled. Period.

Unfortunately, because it is a true simulator and not a mere game, people who are looking for another CoD: Modern War 2 clone are often infuriated by the game's hardcore and deadly combat model. Try to play Rambo in ArmA II. I dare you. And that is where the hate comes in...well that and the loads of bugs and quirks.

Enter the modders. Bohemia Interactive, unlike Codemasters, has the wisdom to realize that they could never smooth out every last rough edge in such a complex sim. As a result, they are more than willing to allow modders to take their solid mil-sim and attempt to elevate it to something epic.

ArmA II

Submitted by Scott Tortorice on Tue, 03/09/2010 - 20:20

Simulation

ArmA II is an authentic mil-sim from Bohemia Interactive. It features:

Player-driven story
Role-playing and resource management elements. Command your troops through a branching campaign full of twists and surprises.

Extensive multiplayer
Play the entire solo campaign cooperatively or dive into huge PvP battles for control of the whole map.

Mission Editor
The Intuituive, powerful mission editor lets you design your own missions in minutes or create intricate and unique campaigns. Infinitely extend the game!

Authentic weapon simulation
Bullet ballistics and deflection, material penetration, real-world magazine capacity, tracers, ammunition types and stopping power.

Unique AI
No scripts, no pre defined pathways. AI adapt and use the open environment on the fly. AI share information, flanking and taking cover to surprise and outsmart players.

Ironclads: Schleswig War 1864 Announced

Submitted by Scott Tortorice on Mon, 03/01/2010 - 21:22

After a lengthy drought, it looks like fans of naval simulators have more than a few titles to choose from. Storm Eagle Studios kicked off the trend with their well-received Distant Guns, Creative Assembly followed suit with the addition of detailed naval combat in Empire: Total War and Nitro Games added themselves to the mix with their East India Company. During this flood (ahem) of naval wargaming, a smaller Russian company, Totem Games, has also been releasing their own take on warfare on the high seas with their equally well-received Ironclads series.

No doubt to the joy of armchair admirals everywhere, today Totem Games announced a new entry to the series, Ironclads: Schleswig War 1864.

The press release reads: