aaatoysandmore
Posts: 2848
Joined: 9/11/2013 Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: MrsWargamer quote:
ORIGINAL: aaatoysandmore It seems it's been years and still there are no real Squad Leader or Advanced Squad leader conversions to the PC. You'd think with all the money they must have made from the boardgames there would be a PC version by now. I'd buy it in a heartbeat even if it was $100 (as long as the AI was reported decent in it). I can't believe it's been this long since the PC age began and no real Squad Leader PC game has been released. The guys that own the initial copyright to it would be rich beyond belief I think. Oh and I know about Hasbro's or MicroProse's idiotic game called Squad Leader but it was "far" from what Squad Leader is like imo. Far far from it. The closest game(s) I've ever seen that really comes close or reminds me of Squad Leader are Steel Panthers and now recently Mark Walkers Heroes of Stalingrad. Some have said the Close Combat series is suppose to be like it but to me that is another game that is far far from the origional game. Even Steel Panthers has too much animation for me but it does feel somewhat like Squad Leader to me. I guess I want too much the real down to home tit for tat Squad Leader conversion with all the chits and counters, not lil animated units. I like the game so much I bought two sets of the origional Squad Leader game back in the 70's for extra counters and big maps and just made up my own rules and scenarios. Actually, even though Squad Leader and then on into ASL is likely one of the most famous board game wargames ever made, a veteran of the game will tell you, there is no such thing as a board game that has made money the way you suggested it had been made. MMP resolved to keep the game alive when Hasbro gained possession of it, but the game has not really made MMP rich in usual usage of the term 'rich'. They have trouble affording keeping any of the portions of the product supply for the simple truth that it is not a money making machine. Those that love the game, are all likely going to just tell you, if you absolutely must play it, and absolutely can't find anyone to play face to face, then you really just need to download VASL and play it remotely via your computer. If I were to win 50 million tomorrow, none of it would ever find its way into creating a Squad Leader computer game. There isn't any point in doing it. Your choices are play the board game solo, play the board game via VASL, or accept the fact that Steel Panthers is so close to the experience that you don't really need to look any further. Conquest of Heroes though is a damned good emulation of all that you might wish to have for a similar experience in a modern game. Close Combat vs another person is recommendable and Combat Mission vs another person is also commendable. They stumble pretty hard played against the AI though. But then the AI in Steel Panthers is not entirely satisfying either. My main complaint with Squad Battles is the interface. Battle Academy floats my boat the best though, and anyone that can't cope with the graphics of Battle Academy really just doesn't really want to play squad level tactical enough. We'll be praising the splendor that is the AI in World in Flames long before we ever see an AI play Squad Leader worth a hoot though (I'm assuming you are realizing the sarcasm in that comment :) ). I can't picture myself playing a computer version of ASL even if it as free. That is very surprising as I would have thought Squad Leader an Advanced Squad Leader would be in "every" wargamers home over the years. I mean it's still talked about and very much wanted as a computer game. I'm not saying that isn't the truth what you said about it. I just find it hard to believe as it's the best squad level game ever made imho. You are right about the AI in Steel Panthers as well. It's not the greatest thing this side of chocolate cake for sure. I do beat it regularly. I think it just needs a few more difficulty levels or handicapping settings. The maps though do remind me a lot of Squad Leader boards as well as Mark Walkers Heroes of Stalingrad maps. But, he kept saying it wasn't Squad Leader or play anything like it. (those are his words not mine). As for Battlefront's Combat Mission. While the graphics of it are nice the AI is worse than Steel Panthers. If you don't let it be the attacker in assault mode all the time it's a piece of cake to defeat. Unless you give it 2 to 1 odds and +3 (I guess on the die rolls it gets) there's not much there in the way of challenge. Now, Battle Academy I do like but how realistic is it? Is it more of a chess or card game with like tanks are 5' and 6's depending on tank and infantry are 2's or 3's? I mean does it really authenticate what the pieces actually represent from WWII? It feels more like a chess match than a wargame. I do like it though.
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