@Joel Billings what ever happened to.. (Full Version)

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wodin -> @Joel Billings what ever happened to.. (7/1/2015 7:33:47 AM)

Ed Williger?

Computer Ambush looks like a wargame that would be superb updated.After reading what he first wanted in the game and that now could be done easily I'd love to see what his original design would play like using todays tech.

"During the last six months I've learned the hard way the
limitations of small computers and my own limitations in simulations.
I think the game you have in your hands is a very good one, certainly
worth playing often, and it should be a lot of fun. But honestly,
folks, as soon as we all get a home Cray II computer . My original
game had 30 different weapons, the map was 100 x 100 squares, there
were prisoners, guards, medics, communications, campaign games
c-rations..."

So is he still around and would be be up for revisiting his old game and making it into the game he originally planned.



Joel Billings -> RE: @Joel Billings what ever happened to.. (7/1/2015 4:56:09 PM)

I don't know what happened to Ed. IIRC I last spoke to Ed around 20 years ago. I'm guessing he's around 65-70 now (although everyone seemed so much older than me back then even if they were only 25). I wonder if we now all have the equivalent of Cray II's on our desk. I know we have a lot more memory than the multi-million dollar Amdahl computers I was involved with back in 1979.

I'd love to see a new Computer Ambush game made. When it was redone in assembly language a few years after the initial release, it became a very playable and enjoyable game. Of course it was inspired by the boardgame Sniper which I'd played double blind, although I'm not sure that Ed ever played Sniper. Ed had no idea the limitations he'd run into writing a game like Ambush in BASIC, but I'm glad he didn't let that stop him.



E -> RE: @Joel Billings what ever happened to.. (7/1/2015 10:17:38 PM)

I PBEM'd a couple games of Computer Ambush, earlier this year... first time I ever got to play the Germans! So the game is still alive! (Playing a game I bought over 30 years ago... half of the reason I'll never buy a steam game, or their ilk)

However, Solidiers at War was sort of a sequel... according to the cover graphic! *grin*

[image]local://upfiles/26541/1B53EBA1EFEB4AD482507D20D370FF6F.gif[/image]

[image]local://upfiles/26541/9E856AA119364FE3AEE9219FF56E76E8.jpg[/image]



aaatoysandmore -> RE: @Joel Billings what ever happened to.. (7/1/2015 10:58:45 PM)

Ahhh the days of keyboard only play. Modern day computers have made us lazy. I've gotten to where I hate to press a button in a game, I want the mouse to do everything. Movement is such a waste of energy now. [:D]



jamus34 -> RE: @Joel Billings what ever happened to.. (7/1/2015 11:27:03 PM)

Not that it was a wargame but I was a huge fan of the Roadwar (2000 & Europa) series



E -> RE: @Joel Billings what ever happened to.. (7/1/2015 11:35:44 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: aaatoysandmore
Ahhh the days of keyboard only play. Modern day computers have made us lazy. I've gotten to where I hate to press a button in a game, I want the mouse to do everything. Movement is such a waste of energy now. [:D]

I'm the opposite... I only use the mouse when I have to (even my Apple IIgs is set up to be menu driven). Keyboards are faster in most scenarios around here...

"Oh, I want to save this file, let me move my mouse from the center of the screen and try to hit "File," now I have to scroll down to "Save," and now I have to click it again. But then I can move my mouse all the way back to where I was working in the screen." --OR-- "Hit ctrl-s. Done."
(one could surmise that the keyboard is actually the most "lazy" of the two methods. But I prefer to use the word "efficient." *grin*)

But it is good of you to love and support Apple's invention (you're a Mac user by proxy!).





JEB Davis -> RE: @Joel Billings what ever happened to.. (7/2/2015 2:03:59 AM)

If you took a typing class in high school or otherwise learned to type without looking at the keyboard then it's *much* faster than using the mouse. I've always preferred key commands to mousing around.



jwolf -> RE: @Joel Billings what ever happened to.. (7/2/2015 2:11:46 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: JEB Davis

If you took a typing class in high school or otherwise learned to type without looking at the keyboard then it's *much* faster than using the mouse. I've always preferred key commands to mousing around.


+1 It's also much less wear and tear on the hand and wrist.



E -> RE: @Joel Billings what ever happened to.. (7/2/2015 2:34:34 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: JEB Davis
If you took a typing class in high school or otherwise learned to type without looking at the keyboard then it's *much* faster than using the mouse. I've always preferred key commands to mousing around.

For key commands, no typing class needed. I had one, forgot it all, then computers came out (I'm back up to being a four-finger typist!). Simple repetition can make most all key commands easy and fast. I'd be willing to bet almost everyone on has already used this to some extent.

I would think that a typing class would actually slow you down... just setting up your fingers in the right spot versus just hitting ctrl-s, etc.

Now as for typing a letter, or even making a post... a typing class would most handy. And a mouse doesn't even come into the equation.

And besides, if you're one of those boycotting Apple from another thread, you should go all the way and never use a mouse again!

(I had a mouse die recently, and had to learn many keyboard-only tricks to just about completely mimic the functions of a mouse (sans any paint programs/functions *grin*). No, not using mousekeys, but mostly TAB, ENTER, ARROWS and Shift-Function keys. Although it took me until just last night to perfect (read: repeat) being able to sort in windoze detailed explorer.)



wodin -> RE: @Joel Billings what ever happened to.. (7/2/2015 1:21:38 PM)

Thanks for the info Joel. Maybe you could get onto it as a side project:)



aaatoysandmore -> RE: @Joel Billings what ever happened to.. (7/2/2015 10:51:26 PM)

quote:

(you're a Mac user by proxy!).


HOW DARE YOU!! (in the voice of Doug Heffernon in King of Queens) [:D]

If the last computer on earth was a MAC I would not be using one. [:'(]



wodin -> RE: @Joel Billings what ever happened to.. (7/2/2015 11:00:03 PM)

SAW was a game that brought me over to Matrix forum due to looking for scenarios on the Wargamer website..that and Combat Leader.
quote:

ORIGINAL: E

I PBEM'd a couple games of Computer Ambush, earlier this year... first time I ever got to play the Germans! So the game is still alive! (Playing a game I bought over 30 years ago... half of the reason I'll never buy a steam game, or their ilk)

However, Solidiers at War was sort of a sequel... according to the cover graphic! *grin*

[image]local://upfiles/26541/1B53EBA1EFEB4AD482507D20D370FF6F.gif[/image]

[image]local://upfiles/26541/9E856AA119364FE3AEE9219FF56E76E8.jpg[/image]




wodin -> RE: @Joel Billings what ever happened to.. (7/2/2015 11:00:34 PM)

Remake? Yes please!
quote:

ORIGINAL: jamus34

Not that it was a wargame but I was a huge fan of the Roadwar (2000 & Europa) series





Jeffrey H. -> RE: @Joel Billings what ever happened to.. (7/3/2015 12:55:30 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: jamus34

Not that it was a wargame but I was a huge fan of the Roadwar (2000 & Europa) series



One of my early favorites too, "it's night................."




Jeffrey H. -> RE: @Joel Billings what ever happened to.. (7/3/2015 12:59:15 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Joel Billings
...Of course it was inspired by the boardgame Sniper which I'd played double blind, ...


Those trapezoidal tanks were a bit clumsy to play around with though. The whole canted perspective was a bit odd.

Good game though.




Alex777 -> RE: @Joel Billings what ever happened to.. (7/3/2015 1:52:02 AM)

And, from the manual ...

[image]http://cryhavocgames.net/images/ComputerAmbush.png[/image]

I think Computer Ambush owed a lot to SPI's Commando (which drew upon Sniper & Patrol).



aaatoysandmore -> RE: @Joel Billings what ever happened to.. (7/3/2015 9:05:49 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Jeffrey H.


quote:

ORIGINAL: jamus34

Not that it was a wargame but I was a huge fan of the Roadwar (2000 & Europa) series



One of my early favorites too, "it's night................."





Me too. Played the dog out of that game. Remember winning by "spoiler alert"




shooting out the tires before anything else.



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