Les_the_Sarge_9_1
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Matti Kuokkanen
quote:
ORIGINAL: Les_the_Sarge_9_1
Steel Panthers (referring to all here) is like a chocolate bar, what can be gained from saying which one is better, it's all good :)
Please define good.
Steel Panthers, made by SSI and Gary Grigsby in year 1996, takes only 30 MB of hard disk space + some patches = maybe some 40-50 MB. I would call that good.
Now what's good in SPWAW? Or what's different?
I agree, SP1 coming in at 30 megs had a very small footprint in comparison to today (weighs in at over 400 just as an instillation file).
It was good enough back then to grab our attention.
Graphically is looked like Squad Leader in the first place.
Ease of use existed right from the start (I was not all that computer capable in 1995).
It had a large array of scenarios on day one, and more than one way to play.
But it wasn't ALL perfect.
If I pooched my computer (and I was particularly good at doing that in 1995), it meant the system was basically formated and I lost everything in the way of installs.
In 1995, you didn't necessarily just insert a disc with Steel Panthers and install it. Some of you likely could, but I recall constantly ending up asking my buddy to help me with my dumb game.
It wasn't until around Win98SE that SP also became less of a burden for me.
Eventually I achieved simultaneously an OS (XP) and a version of SP (SPWaW) that were truely that, just something I loaded.
I entered the scene mostly with Steel Panthers World at War at around version 4.3
I had owned SP1 through the Ultimate Wargame Collection cd compilation release actually. But I was yet to actually become seriously hooked.
Then I noticed Matrix Games, and through the forum, gained a greater familiarity with it over all.
The program itself is to some extent no longer really the same.
If you load up SP1 from it's original version, the mouse won't move right, and the game play is all different.
SPWaW is built on the software that was made for SP3 as well.
So essentially, they are in some manners of thinking, two different games, both called Steel Panthers, both purporting to be SP1 after a fashion.
But SP1 is like a plain ordinary commercial chocolate bar, and regardless if it is Jersey Milk, Hershey, Cadbury, peanuts or no peanuts, you can bet it isn't going to equal fine imported mainland European truffles.
You can only call both chocolate to a point.
Neither will be that mass made brown sludge thrown in on Easter though :)
Over time Steel Panthers in it's many versions known collectively as SPWaW, has many little details tweaked to render it "just a bit better". Over time, the version number has been editted to reflect that some times the changes have added up enough that it was time to just change the number.
The unit ratings have evolved, sometimes being altered several times.
The sounds have been editted added too and altered.
The images have been changed and added to.
The game data incorporated more for supplemental amusement has greatly been modified.
Some substantial mods have been built up for it. I think the H2H mod being likely the first most significant departure.
A GREAT wealth of additional scenarios and campaigns have been created over time.
The original game has not lost it's own shine, and can still be enjoyed just as it is. But today's SPWaW is indeed a deluxe treat.
Some will not like all the changes, that normal.
SP Camo has done a GREAT service for the fans by offering up a sizable option to choose.
Steel Panthers is really just like Squad Leader, in that the original game, the one responsible for the deluxe experience even existing, is still a worthy fun experience.
SPWaW is like ASL, in that the game is yes a lot more to swallow, but is also such a great deal more to experience.
I don't suspect there is any more persons playing original Steel Panthers, than there are people willingly playing Squad Leader.
With Squad Leader, its a one box purchase, and you can likely buy it for peanuts.
With Steel Panthers original, you won't have any trouble downloading the small file. It won't force you clear off hard drive space. But it probably WILL require you to back date your system in order to run it.
So, you CAN call both games good, as they both have their strengths.
Depends on your needs.
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I LIKE that my life bothers them,
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