|
Ted Spencer
United States
Lake in the Hills
Illinois
-
Just got a new notebook with Windows 7 and am looking to put one PC WWII wargame game on it.
What I'd like is an operational game, with hexes & virtual counters. Something with supply lines. Tactical is good, too. No strategic level.
That said, I'm not a Steel Panthers fan. Maybe I should be.
I don't mind plopping 6 hours down on a game in one sitting. I don't want micro-granulated data to make decisions. I want to be a general, not an actuary.
I've been eyeing Matrix games. Operation Art of War III looks like too much. Advanced Tactics: Gold looks like it might be the right thing.
Anyone with any experience with this? Thanks,
-
Robert Willeke
Germany
Bonn
-
Well, as far as one size fits all goes, Operational Art of War 3 would be the best bang for the bug. The amount of scenarios is staggering, the system plays nice and will still play reasonably well even if you decide not to dive into the system mechanics. It has some nice tutorials as well.
If not that, maybe check out HPS games. Panzer Campaigns has several titles, but you would have to decide on one campaign if you want only one game.
I personally prefer TOAW3 both for graphics and handling, but HPS has a huge circle of followers.
-
-
Gary Grigsby's War in the East. Published by Matrix Games.
Operational, but more on the strategic end of operational (units are divisions/brigades, 10 miles per hex).
-
Ted Spencer
United States
Lake in the Hills
Illinois
-
Re: Best turn-based WWII operational wargame for Windows 7
Roofio78 wrote: I personally prefer TOAW3 both for graphics and handling, but HPS has a huge circle of followers. Thanks. TOAW3 was my first choice. Then I was frightened by the reviews. I don't mind the learning curve. What I don't want is to fight the data. I want to play the game.
I also like that TOAW3 shows NATO symbols. I don't think Advance Tactics: Gold does. Any experience/comparison with that game?
-
Ted Spencer
United States
Lake in the Hills
Illinois
-
usrlocal wrote: Gary Grigsby's War in the East. Published by Matrix Games. Operational, but more on the strategic end of operational (units are divisions/brigades, 10 miles per hex).
Why do you say more strategic than operational? Thanks,
-
Ted Spencer
United States
Lake in the Hills
Illinois
-
Re: Best turn-based WWII operational wargame for Windows 7
Looks like HPS doesn't support Windows 7. 
-
-
superflat wrote: usrlocal wrote: Gary Grigsby's War in the East. Published by Matrix Games. Operational, but more on the strategic end of operational (units are divisions/brigades, 10 miles per hex). Was interested in that, too. Unfortunately, neither Matrix or HPS have demos for these better games. Why do you say more strategic than operational? Thanks,
Just based on the scale (predominantly division-level). I would call it an operational wargame.
And, yes, it is expensive and there is no demo, unfortunately. For what it's worth, I own it (digital download copy) and it's extremely impressive. Runs great under Win7.
-
-
I just re-read your original post. If you're intending on installing just *one* PC wargame, then I too would recommend TOAW3 for its breadth of scope and large number of scenarios covering pretty much each and every WW2 theatre. Be warned that scenario quality is uneven - most are very good, but some are so-so.
-
Asher D.
United States
Lexington
Massachusetts
-
For operational WWII on the PC I don't think you can beat SSG's stuff. The series that started with The Ardennes Offensive, and continued through several iterations:
Korsun Pocket
Battles in Italy
Battled in Normandy
Kharkov: Disaster on the Donets
Across the Dneper
All are carried by Matrix Games. I'm not sure if they have demo versions, but it's the best operational system I found, with a tough AI opponent to boot.
-
Ernest Schubert
United States
Polk Township
Pennsylvania
-
Watching with interest... don't think I'll have any time for anything but board games on pc's - still have to try to install and learn Vassal.
-
Thomas Marshall
United States
Rolling Meadows
Illinois
-
Ted, I run my HPS(and now, John Tiller Software - he had a friendly split with HPS. Older titles still available on HPS; newer one's on John's new site)Panzer Campaign series games on Windows 7 with no problem. Just don't accept the default location offered to you during the installation process. Make a new folder - mine is Games, then HPS, then a folder of the actual game I'm installing; don't accept it wanting to put them in the Programs folder. I've not had any major issues yet.
The HPS games are the titles I keep coming back to year after year when I want an operational level WW2 wargame. As an OLD...GRAY..board wargamer, they still seem the closest thing to board wargaming to me, though that may just be me. I have over half a dozen of them in this series - Market Garden is probably my favorite. But I still play Tobruk, Sicily and - just because it was the first one that introduced me to the system - Smolensk. Great stuff - and his tactical squad series is pretty good too, as far as I'm concerned (just maybe not AS good).
Enjoy whatever you decide to go with.
-
Bill Wood
United States
Eden
North Carolina
-
TOAW 3 is excellent stuff - played it/owned it since 1998's first version.
SSGs/Matrix Battles in ...games are excellent. I would choose Battles in Italy first because the user scenario base is huge...or its follow up game Battlefront that is sort of a quad.
HPS Sims stuff is rather good, but the most dated of graphics and the system is AI lacking to say the least.
I own many of all of the above - the games/scenarios I enjoy the most;
Battles in Italy's Sicily game and the TAO (The Ardennes Offensive) add-on (free).
Battlefront's Saipan Scenario and Marget Garden Scenario.
TOAW's Korean War scenario.
-
Kevin Conway
United States
Boonville
Indiana
-
As mentioned above, HPS games are great, however the graphics leave a bit to be desired.
Mod them:
http://volcanomods.com/
http://mapmod.hist-sdc.com/
I also like many Matrix games, if I only had the time to play them: War in the East, and War in the Pacific are fantastic.
EDIT: HPS games run fine on my Windows 7 machines.
-
Ted Spencer
United States
Lake in the Hills
Illinois
-
Re: Best turn-based WWII operational wargame for Windows 7
Thanks to all for your advice. Was hoping for a clear front-runner, but looks like I have more homework to do.
SSG? I played those games years ago! Didn't know they were still in business!
And yes, I just want one. I prefer board wargames, and hex & counter to boot. I don't mind solo, but my space is limited, and I don't always have room to leave a game up. So I thought a computer game for solo times would be the way to go.
Fun, replayability are definite considerations. Now to look up all those games you suggested!
-
Ted Spencer
United States
Lake in the Hills
Illinois
-
Wilhammer wrote: TOAW 3 is excellent stuff - played it/owned it since 1998's first version.
SSGs/Matrix Battles in ...games are excellent. I would choose Battles in Italy first because the user scenario base is huge... Bill, is this operational level? Looking at the screenshots, it looks like a strategic monster. Of course, that's only the screenshots, so I don't know.
-
Ted Spencer
United States
Lake in the Hills
Illinois
-
usrlocal wrote: Gary Grigsby's War in the East. Published by Matrix Games....And, yes, it is expensive...
HPS Market Garden looks good. Bulge '44, too. I do like me some tanks.
SSG Korsun Pocket is interesting for that reason, but no hexes, no NATO symbols. That's what's turned me away from Advanced Tactics: Gold, which--by the way--no one has recommended. From Matrix, no one's mentioned Combat Command, either.
Some great advice here. Now, in terms of value, here's a portion of the Operation Art of War 3 sales blurb "Over 200 Scenarios! 130 of the best scenario designs of the last five years are included in TOAW III, along with more than 70 classic TOAW scenarios from the original series. Spanning the years from World War I to the post 9/11 Middle East...."
Big selling point to me. For what I want, this may be the way to go. Thanks again to all.
-
Asher D.
United States
Lexington
Massachusetts
-
superflat wrote:
...
SSG Korsun Pocket is interesting for that reason, but no hexes, no NATO symbols. That's what's turned me away from Advanced Tactics: Gold, which--by the way--no one has recommended. From Matrix, no one's mentioned Combat Command, either.
...
The SSG series I mentioned is actually completely hex based, they just don't draw the hexes on the map in the default setting, but all movement is in hexes, and if you want you can make them visible. Same for NATO symbols, it's optional but present.
-
Mark D
United States
Lansdale
Pennsylvania
-
I remember a few months ago someone linked me to an Open Source Panzer General update. I think they were working on improving the AI and also porting over the maps from all 3 games in the series. A quick look at google and I couldn't find it though. Maybe someone else has more info?
-
Conrad Bendixen
United States
Coralville
Iowa
-
WebBard wrote: I remember a few months ago someone linked me to an Open Source Panzer General update. I think they were working on improving the AI and also porting over the maps from all 3 games in the series. A quick look at google and I couldn't find it though. Maybe someone else has more info?
There's a couple of different Panzer General open source projects. LGeneral is a clone, but I think you might be thinking of Open General.
-
Asher D.
United States
Lexington
Massachusetts
-
Mighty Eris wrote: WebBard wrote: I remember a few months ago someone linked me to an Open Source Panzer General update. I think they were working on improving the AI and also porting over the maps from all 3 games in the series. A quick look at google and I couldn't find it though. Maybe someone else has more info? There's a couple of different Panzer General open source projects. LGeneral is a clone, but I think you might be thinking of Open General.
I think he means Panzer General Forever at http://rudankort.spb.ru/pgforever/
However, I wouldn't call that an operational level hex and counter wargame.
-
Mark D
United States
Lansdale
Pennsylvania
-
adiamant wrote: Mighty Eris wrote: WebBard wrote: I remember a few months ago someone linked me to an Open Source Panzer General update. I think they were working on improving the AI and also porting over the maps from all 3 games in the series. A quick look at google and I couldn't find it though. Maybe someone else has more info? There's a couple of different Panzer General open source projects. LGeneral is a clone, but I think you might be thinking of Open General. I think he means Panzer General Forever at http://rudankort.spb.ru/pgforever/However, I wouldn't call that an operational level hex and counter wargame.
Thanks, that was what I meant. Sure, it's not exactly what he's looking for, but it was one of my favorite games growing up and it shouldn't be resource heavy.
-
Captain Nemo
United Kingdom
-
I am interested that nobody has mentioned Combat Mission from Battlefront and wonder wy it is not included as a suggestion.
-
Joao Lima
Scotland
Edinburgh
-
hammurabi70 wrote: I am interested that nobody has mentioned Combat Mission from Battlefront and wonder wy it is not included as a suggestion.
Not operational.
-
Bill Wood
United States
Eden
North Carolina
-
superflat wrote: Wilhammer wrote: TOAW 3 is excellent stuff - played it/owned it since 1998's first version.
SSGs/Matrix Battles in ...games are excellent. I would choose Battles in Italy first because the user scenario base is huge... Bill, is this operational level? Looking at the screenshots, it looks like a strategic monster. Of course, that's only the screenshots, so I don't know.
Operational.
-
Ted Spencer
United States
Lake in the Hills
Illinois
-
adiamant wrote: superflat wrote: ...SSG Korsun Pocket is interesting for that reason, but no hexes, no NATO symbols. That's what's turned me away from Advanced Tactics: Gold, which--by the way--no one has recommended. From Matrix, no one's mentioned Combat Command, either.... The SSG series I mentioned is actually completely hex based, they just don't draw the hexes on the map in the default setting, but all movement is in hexes, and if you want you can make them visible. Same for NATO symbols, it's optional but present.
Wilhammer wrote: superflat wrote: Wilhammer wrote: TOAW 3 is excellent stuff - played it/owned it since 1998's first version.
SSGs/Matrix Battles in ...games are excellent. I would choose Battles in Italy first because the user scenario base is huge... Bill, is this operational level? Looking at the screenshots, it looks like a strategic monster. Of course, that's only the screenshots, so I don't know. Operational.
-
|
|
