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November 15, 2004

I Feel Sorry...

...for all the poor saps who are spending their time puttering away playing HALO II (or worse, standing in line waiting to buy it) when they could be playing Combat Mission - Afrika Korps and Combat Mission - Barbarossa to Berlin.

CMAK and CMBB are games for those of us who remember the glory days of Avalon Hill's classic "Squad Leader" and Advanced Squad Leader boardgames. They combine decent graphics with comprehensive, very-well-modelled equipment, a glorious scenario generator, a really excellent tactical AI, excellent play-by-IP or play-by-email, and an international and obsessive fan base that has created an immense library of scenarios and even game modifications.

And word has it we're close to a huge update.

So keep blasting away at your fictional apocalyptic fantasies, kiddies. I'll be busy saving democracy.

(Yeah, I know. Don't knock it until I've bla bla bla. Games that feel like arcade games have never felt the least bit compelling to me).

Posted by Mitch at November 15, 2004 05:29 AM | TrackBack
Comments

If you hadn't said the magic words "Squad Leader," I would have ignored this game altogether. Now, of course, I must have it. And I see that there is/will be a Mac version available!

"Honey, do you want to take the baby and go visit your parents in Texas next week? Don't worry about me, I'll be fine."

Posted by: Drew at November 15, 2004 09:49 AM

I rarely comment, but I am a regular reader and couldn't let this one pass by without adding my 2 cents.

I am a HUGE fan of both the Combat Mission games and of Halo 2. My opinion of this blog just increased and decreased at the same time (you really shouldn't be dissing Halo). I especially loved the PBEM option in Combat Mission and was regularly beat by opponents across the USA by that method.

Keep up the good work on the blog.

Posted by: Zach at November 15, 2004 11:13 AM

I'm not so much dissing Halo (beyond a tongue-in-cheek level) as expressing my lack of interest in most FPS games. I'll admit it's not a position taken on the basis of much information. I could be convinced. That being said, military history gaming has always been my jones.

Thanks for the comment!

Posted by: mitch at November 15, 2004 03:14 PM
hi