Well, I started this thread to introduce a really good new Naval War-game Simulation to SD.
it is something I have been watching for, for a long time. That being a decent and natural, more modern, follow on to the Harpoon gaming system from years ago. (Board games in the 1970s, Computer game in the 1980s).
After several false starts with other systems that have come and gone in the past few years like Avalon Hills' 5th Fleet (1994), Jane's Fleet Command (1999), and Dangerous Waters (2005), etc., I believe I have found it. Each of those other games were fun...but none of them ever nearly reached the level of complexity and realism found in Harpoon.
Now one has.
The new Game is, "Command: Modern Air/Naval Operations," by WarFare Sims (which was a split off group from the Original Harpoon Users Group (HUG)...I believe they were originally Haproon HQ if I am not mistaken, and marketed by Matrix Games, and now more recently also available on Steam.
It is a naval warfare simulation game played out on an accurate #-D map of the world. It comes with numerous scenarios and several databases ranging from the Cold War to the Current set of units, to future data for units projected into the mid 2020s. There is huge user base and a LOT of scenarios that people hav written.
It is currently a game that you play against the computer and is not available for network play.
However, it has a very in depth scenario editor (like Harpoon) and the ability to create multiple sides to any scenario, all of which can either be played by the individual, or the computer. It literally has every major nation's vessels, weapons, sensors, aircraft, abases, etc. programmed into it that can be added to whichever side as combatants or neutral players. This allows for the development of scenarios ranging from anything as simple and straight forward as a SU-30 vs a Mig-29K, or a J-20 vs an F-22, to individual vessel scenarios, to SAGs, to fill up Fleet engagements. And you could have bases from afar...anyplace on the planet, programmed to send reinforcements at particular times or given particular parameters that trigger it. As I say, very comprehensive.
Finally, although it does not have a direct Data Base editor per sey, it does allow you to add new weapons, sensors, mounts, etc. to existing data base units and then save these as custom units.
It was first released in September of 2013 and has undergone a number of iterations, the latest being the professional edition released last summer (2015). The latest data base/software release was 1.092 in December, and they have 1.10 coming out very soon...all of which you can get free from their site to download and upgrade your system.
I looked at it, read about it, talked to some knowledgeable friends about it, and then once the new features and data base came out I decided to get it.
The game is not cheap. You will pay $75 for the download in most places, and $95 if you want the download and the box with the DVDs and printed user manuals.
(NOTE: There is a standalone expansion pack called Command: Northern Inferno, which is a much cheaper ($19.99), but very less capable package. it basically has a campaign using that postulates a sharp conflict between the US and the USSR in the 1970s and has numerous scenarios as a part of that campaign. It does not allow for other scenarios or editing/making your own. But it does allow someone to get into the game a lot cheaper and determine if they want to get the full game).
So, this weekend I went ahead and bought the game direct from Warfare Sims (). I ended up paying for both the download and the box and manual with the DVDs.
I played the first Tutorial scenario to get a feel for it, and am now building a scenario to match the first confrontation/scrimmage in my upcoming book:
"Once Upon a Maritime in the Western Pacific"
I am including Woody Island and Sanya (on Hainan Island) for the Chinese, and Anderson AFB in the Philippines and Okinawa in this scenario as places where the two SAGs coming together in the northern South China Sea will look to for support.
I have to say that I am pleasantly surprised. It has the feel and capabilities that I would say are about the closest to Harpoon of any system I have seen since Harpoon II.
So, I think I am going to end up spending far too much time with it...which is to say I think it is going to be pretty good. I find it very useful in my writing to use such a system, with this much realism, to model the scenarios...besides also playing the various scenarios and creating new ones.
Yes...it does not have the ability to have two or more players playing with and against each other over a network...but I hope they will address that in the future. In the mean time I know I will really enjoy going through all the provided scenarios and campaigns, as well as the many, many user available ones out there.
So, I highly recommend it to anyone with this level of interest and a willingness to pay $75 or more to get it.
Here's a decent YouTube video of one of the scenarios involving Russia in a conflict with one of its former satellite states):
Here's another YouTube video of the game, ;looking at a scenario n of India and China:
Finally., here's a review of the game from USNI:
Command: A worthy Successor to Harpoon
And here's another review from PC Game Review:
Anyone getting into the game can post their thoughts, experiences, or scenarios here.
I will continue to post regarding my experiences with the game.
it is something I have been watching for, for a long time. That being a decent and natural, more modern, follow on to the Harpoon gaming system from years ago. (Board games in the 1970s, Computer game in the 1980s).
After several false starts with other systems that have come and gone in the past few years like Avalon Hills' 5th Fleet (1994), Jane's Fleet Command (1999), and Dangerous Waters (2005), etc., I believe I have found it. Each of those other games were fun...but none of them ever nearly reached the level of complexity and realism found in Harpoon.
Now one has.
The new Game is, "Command: Modern Air/Naval Operations," by WarFare Sims (which was a split off group from the Original Harpoon Users Group (HUG)...I believe they were originally Haproon HQ if I am not mistaken, and marketed by Matrix Games, and now more recently also available on Steam.
It is a naval warfare simulation game played out on an accurate #-D map of the world. It comes with numerous scenarios and several databases ranging from the Cold War to the Current set of units, to future data for units projected into the mid 2020s. There is huge user base and a LOT of scenarios that people hav written.
It is currently a game that you play against the computer and is not available for network play.
However, it has a very in depth scenario editor (like Harpoon) and the ability to create multiple sides to any scenario, all of which can either be played by the individual, or the computer. It literally has every major nation's vessels, weapons, sensors, aircraft, abases, etc. programmed into it that can be added to whichever side as combatants or neutral players. This allows for the development of scenarios ranging from anything as simple and straight forward as a SU-30 vs a Mig-29K, or a J-20 vs an F-22, to individual vessel scenarios, to SAGs, to fill up Fleet engagements. And you could have bases from afar...anyplace on the planet, programmed to send reinforcements at particular times or given particular parameters that trigger it. As I say, very comprehensive.
Finally, although it does not have a direct Data Base editor per sey, it does allow you to add new weapons, sensors, mounts, etc. to existing data base units and then save these as custom units.
It was first released in September of 2013 and has undergone a number of iterations, the latest being the professional edition released last summer (2015). The latest data base/software release was 1.092 in December, and they have 1.10 coming out very soon...all of which you can get free from their site to download and upgrade your system.
I looked at it, read about it, talked to some knowledgeable friends about it, and then once the new features and data base came out I decided to get it.
The game is not cheap. You will pay $75 for the download in most places, and $95 if you want the download and the box with the DVDs and printed user manuals.
(NOTE: There is a standalone expansion pack called Command: Northern Inferno, which is a much cheaper ($19.99), but very less capable package. it basically has a campaign using that postulates a sharp conflict between the US and the USSR in the 1970s and has numerous scenarios as a part of that campaign. It does not allow for other scenarios or editing/making your own. But it does allow someone to get into the game a lot cheaper and determine if they want to get the full game).
So, this weekend I went ahead and bought the game direct from Warfare Sims (). I ended up paying for both the download and the box and manual with the DVDs.
I played the first Tutorial scenario to get a feel for it, and am now building a scenario to match the first confrontation/scrimmage in my upcoming book:
"Once Upon a Maritime in the Western Pacific"
I am including Woody Island and Sanya (on Hainan Island) for the Chinese, and Anderson AFB in the Philippines and Okinawa in this scenario as places where the two SAGs coming together in the northern South China Sea will look to for support.
I have to say that I am pleasantly surprised. It has the feel and capabilities that I would say are about the closest to Harpoon of any system I have seen since Harpoon II.
So, I think I am going to end up spending far too much time with it...which is to say I think it is going to be pretty good. I find it very useful in my writing to use such a system, with this much realism, to model the scenarios...besides also playing the various scenarios and creating new ones.
Yes...it does not have the ability to have two or more players playing with and against each other over a network...but I hope they will address that in the future. In the mean time I know I will really enjoy going through all the provided scenarios and campaigns, as well as the many, many user available ones out there.
So, I highly recommend it to anyone with this level of interest and a willingness to pay $75 or more to get it.
Here's a decent YouTube video of one of the scenarios involving Russia in a conflict with one of its former satellite states):
Here's another YouTube video of the game, ;looking at a scenario n of India and China:
Finally., here's a review of the game from USNI:
Command: A worthy Successor to Harpoon
And here's another review from PC Game Review:
Anyone getting into the game can post their thoughts, experiences, or scenarios here.
I will continue to post regarding my experiences with the game.