Please help! Need Christmas gift ideas for SP-loving dad!

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Please help! Need Christmas gift ideas for SP-loving dad! - 12/5/2007 4:07:37 AM

pixel8

Posts: 13
Joined: 12/5/2007
Status: offline

Hi everybody!

My dad used to hate, I mean HATE computers. Until, that is, someone gave him the original SP for Christmas one year. He became an addict! A few years ago I downloaded the free sequel that the SP developers released on the internet, he now plays both. Every day, every chance he gets!!

Well, here we are at Christmas and I'd like to get him a new game. I am poor, but I know there must be some good games out there that are free to download. I can make him a CD and he will be the happiest man on earth.

A few things about him...
--he's not on the internet
--I'm pretty sure he's running XP, but he does something funny to get the old game to work, I think it involves restarting the comp., maybe under a different OS?
--he doesn't care for pretty graphics and bells & whistles, he's all about strategy. People have tried buying him other war games but nothing has held his interest like SP.

Awhile ago I did some research on the net and wrote down a few games, what do ya'll think of these:
--SP II (that may be what I gave him before, I dunno)
--SP W@W....is that only for people with internet?
--Main Battle Tank
--Sid Meier's Gettysburg
--SP III (is that only avail. for purchase?)

Please help a sistah out with any thoughts you may have. I'm also wondering what the deal is with scenarios, is there a chance of getting a virus with a download, are they easy to figure out how to install and can you recommend any good ones?

THANK YOU!! And happy holidays to all!

Post #: 1

RE: Please help! Need Christmas gift ideas for SP-lovin... - 12/5/2007 5:37:58 AM

JEB Davis

Posts: 443
Joined: 12/27/2005
From: Michigan, U.T.B.
Status: offline

I will just put in a good word for SP:WAW. For me it is the best there is

You can play it solo vs the computer, online over a LAN or the internet, or by email.
It runs fine in XP, and according to what you said he likes, he should love it.
There is also a large following on 2 forums for this game: this forum, and the SPWAW Depot, which you can find at www.spwaw.com (also, download the Enhanced DV & DVRN mods for SP:WAW at the Depot). You will need to d/l SP:WAW version 8.2 full install (about 430MB) and then the upgrades: 8.30, 8.4, and 8.403 (the latest).

_____________________________

Reduce SP:WaW slaughter, "Low Carnage":
Settings: 80Spot,80Hit,100R/R,XXXTQ,110TkT,150InfT,180AvSoft,130AvArm,150SOFire / Command & Ctrl ON / AutoRally OFF
Enhanced http://enhanced.freeforums.org
Depot https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/spwawdepot/

(in reply to pixel8)

Post #: 2

RE: Please help! Need Christmas gift ideas for SP-lovin... - 12/5/2007 5:55:22 AM

pixel8

Posts: 13
Joined: 12/5/2007
Status: offline

Thank you JEB, I'm downloading SP:WAW version 8.2 right now! I didn't know about all the upgrades, I will be sure to put those on the CD for him as well. I also didn't know about SPWAW Depot, or the enhanced versions

, you have been a HUGE help! Even though I'm broke this Christmas, I think it will be Dad's best Christmas ever. Thanks for helping me make some magic for the best dad on earth (he really is)!

If anyone has any info on the scenarios, please let me know. I'm clueless, I don't have any idea what they are, if they are safe, worthwhile, etc.

Thanks again JEB!! Hope you have a wonderful holiday!

(in reply to JEB Davis)

Post #: 3

RE: Please help! Need Christmas gift ideas for SP-lovin... - 12/5/2007 3:43:52 PM

Goblin

Posts: 5547
Joined: 3/29/2002
From: Erie,Pa. USA
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: pixel8

Thank you JEB, I'm downloading SP:WAW version 8.2 right now! I didn't know about all the upgrades, I will be sure to put those on the CD for him as well. I also didn't know about SPWAW Depot, or the enhanced versions , you have been a HUGE help! Even though I'm broke this Christmas, I think it will be Dad's best Christmas ever. Thanks for helping me make some magic for the best dad on earth (he really is)!

If anyone has any info on the scenarios, please let me know. I'm clueless, I don't have any idea what they are, if they are safe, worthwhile, etc.

Thanks again JEB!! Hope you have a wonderful holiday!

MY dad is the best dad, and could kick your dad's butt!

There are TONS of scenarios included in the game already, as well as campaigns. I recommend the Depot's scenario/campaign section for additional ones (for either ENH or vanilla SPWaW - I recommend ENH), or for ENH scenarios, try http://enhanced.netboardz.com/ - it is a forum dedicated to ENH. Stuff is usually cross-posted between them both. Both sites are trustworthy.

Goblin

_____________________________

http://www.spwaw.com/phpBB2/index.php

(in reply to pixel8)

Post #: 4

RE: Please help! Need Christmas gift ideas for SP-lovin... - 12/5/2007 10:40:32 PM

Alby

Posts: 4855
Joined: 4/29/2000
From: Greenwood, Indiana
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: pixel8

Thank you JEB, I'm downloading SP:WAW version 8.2 right now! I didn't know about all the upgrades, I will be sure to put those on the CD for him as well. I also didn't know about SPWAW Depot, or the enhanced versions , you have been a HUGE help! Even though I'm broke this Christmas, I think it will be Dad's best Christmas ever. Thanks for helping me make some magic for the best dad on earth (he really is)!

If anyone has any info on the scenarios, please let me know. I'm clueless, I don't have any idea what they are, if they are safe, worthwhile, etc.

Thanks again JEB!! Hope you have a wonderful holiday!

For all the info on the "Enhanced" upgrade and for all the Enhanced Scenarios and Campaigns..go here
SPWAW ENHANCED FORUM

This site is dedicated to SPWAW ENHANCED and also has some extra goodies for the game.

< Message edited by Alby -- 12/5/2007 10:42:04 PM >

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Post #: 5

RE: Please help! Need Christmas gift ideas for SP-lovin... - 12/6/2007 5:09:27 AM

pixel8

Posts: 13
Joined: 12/5/2007
Status: offline

OK, Goblin, Christmas day, my dad vs your dad, in a chain-link ring, whether they like it or not. My dad's gunna campaign your dad's scenarios (whatever that means)!!

Great to know there are tons of scenarios included in the games, I had no idea!

Love the link, and the safe places to get scenarios and campaigns--VERY helpful. I'm stoked, can't wait to see dad's face on Christmas morning. Ya'll have a great community here! Thank you thank you!

(in reply to Goblin)

Post #: 6

RE: Please help! Need Christmas gift ideas for SP-lovin... - 12/6/2007 5:17:15 AM

pixel8

Posts: 13
Joined: 12/5/2007
Status: offline

Waaaaay cool, Alby!

I already found the DV and DVRN downloads with patches applied (thanks Goblin for the link, too), perfect for dad who hates computers! Also found a great explanation for what those games are. I can tell I'm going to be there awhile, this is soooo awesome!!

I was lost before ya'll came around, I can't thank you enough. I'm really amazed at how deep this game runs--how many add-ons there are and how many sites there are dedicated to it. Zowie! Hopefully I can someday get dad & the internet together, his mind will blow!!

(in reply to pixel8)

Post #: 7

RE: Please help! Need Christmas gift ideas for SP-lovin... - 12/7/2007 3:54:12 PM

Alby

Posts: 4855
Joined: 4/29/2000
From: Greenwood, Indiana
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: pixel8

Waaaaay cool, Alby! I already found the DV and DVRN downloads with patches applied (thanks Goblin for the link, too), perfect for dad who hates computers! Also found a great explanation for what those games are. I can tell I'm going to be there awhile, this is soooo awesome!!

I was lost before ya'll came around, I can't thank you enough. I'm really amazed at how deep this game runs--how many add-ons there are and how many sites there are dedicated to it. Zowie! Hopefully I can someday get dad & the internet together, his mind will blow!!

Have fun and Merry Xmas!!

_____________________________

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Post #: 8

RE: Please help! Need Christmas gift ideas for SP-lovin... - 12/8/2007 2:38:44 AM

Goblin

Posts: 5547
Joined: 3/29/2002
From: Erie,Pa. USA
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: pixel8

OK, Goblin, Christmas day, my dad vs your dad, in a chain-link ring, whether they like it or not. My dad's gunna campaign your dad's scenarios (whatever that means)!!

Great to know there are tons of scenarios included in the games, I had no idea! Love the link, and the safe places to get scenarios and campaigns--VERY helpful. I'm stoked, can't wait to see dad's face on Christmas morning. Ya'll have a great community here! Thank you thank you!

Lol

Glad we could help, and Happy Holidays to you and your dad. Let us know how the gift went over!

Goblin

_____________________________

http://www.spwaw.com/phpBB2/index.php

(in reply to pixel8)

Post #: 9

RE: Please help! Need Christmas gift ideas for SP-lovin... - 12/9/2007 8:26:56 AM

pixel8

Posts: 13
Joined: 12/5/2007
Status: offline

Hey ya'll, you da best! Alby, thanks for all you posts on http://enhanced.netboardz.com/, when I first emailed you on here I didn't realize you were the one giving me (/the world) so much cool stuff there (like the patches applied). I'm not really a forum gal, have not done this much, but I am so impressed with your site! I am an artist/pacifist, I expected a whole lot of attitude, but my experience has been the complete opposite. I wonder how that can be, that ppl fascinated with war can be so cooperative, but I have to say dad would be the same way if he was online. Maybe I haven't seen enuff trolls here, they must be around somewhere!!

And Goblin, u r fun! Still will see u Christmas day with our dads in shackles. Thanks for taking the time for me, I see you are a moderator and must dedicate tons of time to the cause. I'm impressed, and like I said, so much fun.

BTW, I never thought of it until another member emailed me, but I must sound like a teen looking for, well, anything for dad. I'm 38. Dad is 61. Just to give you a point of reference. Please (anyone) let me know if there are any scenarios you love beyond the DV and DVRN. I'm learning....I think I've figured out the difference btwn the two and how to use ModeSwapper. Should I just hand him WAW & Enhanced and save the add-ons for his birthday?

Thanks again u guys for taking an interest in a newbie!

(in reply to Goblin)

Post #: 10

RE: Please help! Need Christmas gift ideas for SP-lovin... - 12/9/2007 11:33:43 PM

JEB Davis

Posts: 443
Joined: 12/27/2005
From: Michigan, U.T.B.
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: pixel8
I'm not really a forum gal, have not done this much, but I am so impressed with your site! I am an artist/pacifist, I expected a whole lot of attitude, but my experience has been the complete opposite. I wonder how that can be, that ppl fascinated with war can be so cooperative, but I have to say dad would be the same way if he was online. Maybe I haven't seen enuff trolls here, they must be around somewhere!! ...

BTW, I never thought of it until another member emailed me, but I must sound like a teen looking for, well, anything for dad. I'm 38. Dad is 61. Just to give you a point of reference. Please (anyone) let me know if there are any scenarios you love beyond the DV and DVRN. I'm learning....I think I've figured out the difference btwn the two and how to use ModeSwapper. Should I just hand him WAW & Enhanced and save the add-ons for his birthday?

Hey pixel8, glad I could be of service, and I hope your dad loves this game as much as all of us do. Wow, you're almost as old as me (41), but my dad has 21 years on yours so I won't go sayin' he's gonna whip your dad

.

As for we "war" lovin' folks, yeah we can be pretty nice sometimes... after all we're just regular average guys with jobs and families and kids and all that stuff (except for Goblin of course

).

To go with SPWAW and Enhanced you should give him lots of scenarios that have been revised for Enhanced so he doesn't run into any compatibility issues (using original "vanilla" scenarios with the Enhanced mod swapped in will make things weird). Of course, you have already found where to d/l those scenarios. You sound like you have figured this stuff out pretty well

. Just make sure you don't start enjoying playing at "war" yourself now, okay?

< Message edited by JEB Davis -- 12/9/2007 11:36:11 PM >

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Post #: 11

RE: Please help! Need Christmas gift ideas for SP-lovin... - 12/10/2007 12:40:56 AM

Goblin

Posts: 5547
Joined: 3/29/2002
From: Erie,Pa. USA
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: JEB Davis

after all we're just regular average guys with jobs and families and kids and all that stuff (except for Goblin of course ).

Bah.

Lies.

Goblin

_____________________________

http://www.spwaw.com/phpBB2/index.php

(in reply to JEB Davis)

Post #: 12

RE: Please help! Need Christmas gift ideas for SP-lovin... - 12/14/2007 8:15:53 AM

JEB Davis

Posts: 443
Joined: 12/27/2005
From: Michigan, U.T.B.
Status: offline

...

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Post #: 13

RE: Please help! Need Christmas gift ideas for SP-lovin... - 12/29/2007 10:14:11 AM

pixel8

Posts: 13
Joined: 12/5/2007
Status: offline

Hey ya'll, just wanted to say hi and let ya know how everything went Christmas morning! Dad loved loved loved the CDs I made for him of SP. Even though we weren't supposed to exchange gifts until the guests arrived, I handed him SP while we were still bleary-eyed and drinking coffee, so I could load the games on his computer before things got too crazy. Good thing, too, even though it seemed like a fairly simple install to me, he was befuddled. So now he's loaded up with Enhanced and has plenty to do! He said some of the scenarios (or campaigns?) look familiar. He also said the game looks pretty much the same from a player's standpoint, and he was very happy about that.

I told him about how much help I had got from the mssg boards and he was impressed. I hope he someday gets internet and can meet ya'll!

In the meantime, he will be playing his heart out on SP and I have many thanks to offer. I wish I knew how to do that box thing you all do with comments, but many thanks to JEB, Alby and Goblin for making Dad's Christmas merry! I will post again when I get some feedback from him about the game.

Much love to Christmas helpers!! You make the world go round!

ps I gave him some scenarios but didn't load them....I didn't want to wipe out the new scenarios he got with the Enhanced. Will new ones load into the avail slots automatically? Let's say Enhanced ends at 345, will the new ones load at 346 ect?

(in reply to JEB Davis)

Post #: 14

RE: Please help! Need Christmas gift ideas for SP-lovin... - 12/29/2007 6:20:22 PM

Alby

Posts: 4855
Joined: 4/29/2000
From: Greenwood, Indiana
Status: offline

Hey great, hope he has a blast....my advice would be to make a back up folder of�your scenario and campaign folders...just call it "Original scenarios", and the other one "Original campaigns" or some such...and copy all your original�scenarios and campaigns into them, �That way if you install the 'Enhanced scenario and campaign pack'� you will still have a copy of all the original scenarios and campaigns.

to do the box thing, use the "quote" button instead of the "reply" button..

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Post #: 15

RE: Please help! Need Christmas gift ideas for SP-lovin... - 12/30/2007 5:23:55 AM

JEB Davis

Posts: 443
Joined: 12/27/2005
From: Michigan, U.T.B.
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: pixel8

ps I gave him some scenarios but didn't load them....I didn't want to wipe out the new scenarios he got with the Enhanced. Will new ones load into the avail slots automatically? Let's say Enhanced ends at 345, will the new ones load at 346 ect?

You can unzip the scenario files in a temp folder, change the filenames to a new number that won't conflict with existing ones and then move them into the spwaw scenario folder.

_____________________________

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Post #: 16

RE: Please help! Need Christmas gift ideas for SP-lovin... - 12/30/2007 6:06:03 AM

Goblin

Posts: 5547
Joined: 3/29/2002
From: Erie,Pa. USA
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: pixel8

but many thanks to JEB, Alby and Goblin for making Dad's Christmas merry! I will post again when I get some feedback from him about the game.

Glad to hear he enjoyed it! It would be good to gather another member into the community, but I know how dads are, lol. At least he is having fun. We're happy to have helped.

Happy New Year pixel8.

Goblin

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(in reply to pixel8)

Post #: 17

RE: Please help! Need Christmas gift ideas for SP-lovin... - 12/30/2007 6:08:29 AM

Goblin

Posts: 5547
Joined: 3/29/2002
From: Erie,Pa. USA
Status: offline

quote:

DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT SOUND IS, HIGHNESS? THOSE ARE THE SHRIEKING EELS. IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME, JUST WAIT! THEY ALWAYS GROW LOUDER WHEN THEY'RE ABOUT TO FEED ON HUMAN FLESH.

LMAO, JEB!!!!

Great movie.

_____________________________

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Post #: 18

RE: Please help! Need Christmas gift ideas for SP-lovin... - 12/31/2007 7:22:45 AM

JEB Davis

Posts: 443
Joined: 12/27/2005
From: Michigan, U.T.B.
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Goblin

quote:

DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT SOUND IS, HIGHNESS? THOSE ARE THE SHRIEKING EELS. IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME, JUST WAIT! THEY ALWAYS GROW LOUDER WHEN THEY'RE ABOUT TO FEED ON HUMAN FLESH.

LMAO, JEB!!!!

Great movie.

Not just great... the best

I'll change my sig line now and then to give you some more good laughs

Unfortunately, the 255 character max won't let me do justice to some of the scenes.

< Message edited by JEB Davis -- 12/31/2007 7:28:01 AM >

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RE: Please help! Need Christmas gift ideas for SP-lovin... - 1/12/2008 7:25:35 AM

pixel8

Posts: 13
Joined: 12/5/2007
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Alby

to do the box thing, use the "quote" button instead of the "reply" button..

hey, it worked! cool, thanks, Alby!

(in reply to Alby)

Post #: 20

RE: Please help! Need Christmas gift ideas for SP-lovin... - 1/12/2008 7:28:42 AM

pixel8

Posts: 13
Joined: 12/5/2007
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Alby

Hey great, hope he has a blast....my advice would be to make a back up folder of your scenario and campaign folders...just call it "Original scenarios", and the other one "Original campaigns" or some such...and copy all your original scenarios and campaigns into them, That way if you install the 'Enhanced scenario and campaign pack' you will still have a copy of all the original scenarios and campaigns.

oops...i think i knew i was supposed to back up the original scenarios but i forgot. i have a feeling i overwrote them when i installed enhanced. good to know, at some point i'll reinstall everything for him the CORRECT way. you are soooo helpful!

(in reply to Alby)

Post #: 21

RE: Please help! Need Christmas gift ideas for SP-lovin... - 1/12/2008 7:33:45 AM

pixel8

Posts: 13
Joined: 12/5/2007
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: JEB Davis

You can unzip the scenario files in a temp folder, change the filenames to a new number that won't conflict with existing ones and then move them into the spwaw scenario folder.

Ah, I think I get it, beee-yooo-tiful! Thanks a ton, JEB, will do!

(in reply to JEB Davis)

Post #: 22

RE: Please help! Need Christmas gift ideas for SP-lovin... - 1/12/2008 7:39:45 AM

pixel8

Posts: 13
Joined: 12/5/2007
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Goblin

Glad to hear he enjoyed it! It would be good to gather another member into the community, but I know how dads are, lol. At least he is having fun. We're happy to have helped.

Happy New Year pixel8.

Happy New Year to you, too, Goblin!

Yup, it will be around 2025 that dad joins, thanks on his behalf for the early welcome ;)

(in reply to Goblin)

Post #: 23

RE: Please help! Need Christmas gift ideas for SP-lovin... - 1/12/2008 7:47:04 AM

pixel8

Posts: 13
Joined: 12/5/2007
Status: offline

TO EVERYONE:

A small update: Dad is loving the new game. He said it is much more realistic. I think he has a sort of love/hate thing going on with the realism, for instance he said that you can no longer helicopter tanks to a location. He says you can't do that in real life, but removing the option makes the game more challenging and I kinda think he thought it removed some of the fun. He didn't come out and SAY that, it was just the impression I got. But overall he is happy happy happy. That's all I can remember from our last conversation (he's not one to go on and on), but I'll pop in from time to time and say hi and let you know if dad gives any more feedback.

THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL KINDNESS! May it come back to you all a hundred-fold!

(in reply to pixel8)

Post #: 24

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