Tank Crew Speculation

[Porkins]

I was thinking about the Tank Crew expansion that's been announced, and I wondered if this release would also see an improvement in the ground activity across all platforms? When I'm flying between missions I will often cycle through the ground units to see what they're doing. I think the vehicles and ships are generally well made and well animated, but the infantry is pretty lacking. Unnatural running animations, very unnatural transitions, they seem generally detached from the physics of the game much of the time. I'd also say that actual battle between AI units is a bit of a weakness of the series at the moment.

 

As Tank Crew will be its own game played exclusively from the ground, I'm hopeful that it is an opportunity to improve on the ground units. I think this would represent a big leap forward in terms of immersion for tankers and flyers alike.  

[MarderIV]

Doubtful if there will be infantry. I think Jason has stated in a Q&A somewhere with the Stormbirds blog that they're not a priority. But at any rate if the tank modules we have in our current build is any indication of what we might get, there will be a lot of improvements on the ground. 

 

Right now I think the Devs will have to do a lot of optimization work, since players have noticed that when a lot happens even at this state there are significant performance impacts all around. So initializing ground units with complex physics might be a challenge I guess. I'm looking forward to how they'll do it - Combined Arms I mean.That and the current list of tanks are pretty interesting too. 

 

The Su-152 is something I want to get into. 

[SCG_Space_Ghost]

Simple infantry like Steel Fury has would be pretty sweet.

[Brano]

42 minutes ago, Space_Ghost said:

Simple infantry like Steel Fury has would be pretty sweet.

Yep,it gives the game another level of entertainment. Frankly,tank battles without infantry are boring. Steel Fury has them, attacking with tanks or dug in trenches,firing AT rifles and throwing grenades at you. Even legendary Panzer Elite had infantry squads included (only 2D sprites but hell they were annoying ?)

[falle96]

6 minutes ago, Brano said:

Yep,it gives the game another level of entertainment. Frankly,tank battles without infantry are boring. Steel Fury has them, attacking with tanks or dug in trenches,firing AT rifles and throwing grenades at you. Even legendary Panzer Elite had infantry squads included (only 2D sprites but hell they were annoying ?)

It's really impossible to simulate armored combat in the Second World War without approximating foot soldiers somehow. Even simple 2D or 3D models a la DCS: World would do the job nicely, all things considered.

 

Also, thank you for reminding me of Panzer Elite. It was a game that I played when I was very young and eventually my father's copy of it was lost. I've always wanted to give it another go as an adult.

Edited March 26, 2018 by FarflungWanderer

[Brano]

Oh,belive me,I spent years playing Panzer Elite. It is a pitty that Steel Fury development went south. It had a good potential to become new PE. I still have the disk somewhere + all Ostpak mods ?

[EAF19_Marsh]

Presume that the map will also be flyable?

 

And FC as well, so we can use 109s and Spits over Western France?

[sevenless]

13 minutes ago, EAF19_Marsh said:

Presume that the map will also be flyable?

 

And FC as well, so we can use 109s and Spits over Western France?

 

I REALLY would love to see the air battle of kursk being integrated in the current career system. I guess all the major relevant airplanes of both sides we have already. 

[danielprates]

3 hours ago, Space_Ghost said:

Simple infantry like Steel Fury has would be pretty sweet.

 

I agree. Even just a little infantry suffices, it doesn't have to be something that much complex.

 

The old but excellent "panzer elite" had infantry squads. they were depicted in the crudest of manners, but they did the job.

2 hours ago, FarflungWanderer said:

It's really impossible to simulate armored combat in the Second World War without approximating foot soldiers somehow. Even simple 2D or 3D models a la DCS: World would do the job nicely, all things considered.

 

Also, thank you for reminding me of Panzer Elite. It was a game that I played when I was very young and eventually my father's copy of it was lost. I've always wanted to give it another go as an adult.

 

You can get it on GOG.com. I have it, and it ROCKS even today. Its an eyesore by today's standards, but boy was that game good!

 

Steel Fury Kharkov is just as good, but it did not create anything 'panzer elite' hadn't done already. How I wish game developers would still deliver gems like that today!

[SCG_Space_Ghost]

29 minutes ago, danielprates said:

-snip-

 

Steel Fury Kharkov is just as good, but it did not create anything 'panzer elite' hadn't done already. How I wish game developers would still deliver gems like that today!

 

If the existing tank content is anything to measure by, I fully expect that Tank Crew will be just as good as Steel Fury but with updated graphics, controls and gameplay mechanics.

Edited March 26, 2018 by Space_Ghost

[CountZero]

I hope they will add binoculars for comanders position, and ability to turn your head in comanders position independently on turret, thouse two things i miss now in tanks we have in game. 

[danielprates]

7 hours ago, Space_Ghost said:

 

If the existing tank content is anything to measure by, I fully expect that Tank Crew will be just as good as Steel Fury but with updated graphics, controls and gameplay mechanics.

 

Yes, quite agree. Actually, my point was that if such a good game could be done some 15 years ago, I am sure tank crew could do at least the same. Or better! 

 

7 hours ago, 77.CountZero said:

I hope they will add binoculars for comanders position, and ability to turn your head in comanders position independently on turret, thouse two things i miss now in tanks we have in game. 

 

I too am eager to see this. I am understanding that what we can see in the game today, is just a little 'taste'. Heck, it's impossible that they are planning a tank sim with only the driver and the gunner positions.... I hope. 

 

Steel fury is still a good example (as is panzer elite) of what to do. Interior views, outside views from the crewmen's positions, special action views (i.e., the gunsight for the gunner, a binoculars for the commander etc.). 

 

There is little to add to that, gameplay-wise. If your have your head outside, you're more liable to get killed or injured (steel fury and panzer elite also had that). I would remove the all-seeing map of steel fury, at least in more advanced realism settings. The fun in a tank is to go by either vulnerable but with good visibility, or near-blind with some protection. 

 

Ideally, there would also be the possibility of calling airstrikes or artillery strikes (panzer elite had that!), some basic commands to coordinate with other arms such as infantry... that pretty much  covers a tank sim! The rest is graphics, user interface and content! 

[Legioneod]

Will tank interiors be fully modeled? or will it just be certain parts like the driver, gunner, and commander position? I hope to see full interior modeling with all crew positions. Would be really nice to have to work as a team with other players in order for your tank to operate efficiently.

 

I really hope the loader position is modeled as well, I know most people would think its boring pressing a button to load a round but it'd be interesting if they could come up with a way to make loading the gun more engaging.

Edited April 6, 2018 by Legioneod

[Eicio]

56 minutes ago, Legioneod said:

Will tank interiors be fully modeled? or will it just be certain parts like the driver, gunner, and commander position? I hope to see full interior modeling with all crew positions. Would be really nice to have to work as a team with other players in order for your tank to operate efficiently.

 

I really hope the loader position is modeled as well, I know most people would think its boring pressing a button to load a round but it'd be interesting if they could come up with a way to make loading the gun more engaging.

 

The tanks have been improved with the last update, if you have the game you can test it. From what I saw that is fully modeled, or at least I've never seen that level of interior modeling, in the pzIII you can even close or open the hatches !

 

This battle of prokhorovka is going to be more than just great !

[kestrel79]

I have faith that Tank Crew will set a new bar for tank sims. Looking forward to multicrew tank missions.

[-TBC-AeroAce]

Tank crew will be especially hard without good in game communications. I hope they really think about that.

[Legioneod]

29 minutes ago, AeroAce said:

Tank crew will be especially hard without good in game communications. I hope they really think about that.

One of the things I want most for this game is voice chat. Would make is so much better and easier to communicate with other players. 

They could make it simplified and have channel 1-9 or something and have one global or team wide channel. A chat system similar to squad would be nice, where you can chat with your squadron/crew or chat with the whole team.

[seafireliv]

I`m a bit disappointed at the disappearance of crew on the airfield. I never see anyone any more.

[[APAF]VR_Spartan85]

On 2018-03-26 at 9:43 AM, FarflungWanderer said:

...... Even simple 2D or 3D models a la DCS: World would do the job nicely, all things considered.

 

 

Basic Infantry would be such a helper for living up the field...  although I would fear that devs would be scrutinized on the infantry fm/dm....  

max marching pace, 3-5kmh

russian troops take more hits than German troops,

german feet get shot off too easy,

russian troops have unlimited boost...

german troops follow player right to airfield and don’t retreat until killed...

russian troops armed with potatoes instead of real grenades....

half russian troops carry ammo and no rifle other half carries rifle and no ammo....

....

 

 

 

ok ive gone to far lol

[Yogiflight]

4 hours ago, spartan85 said:

russian troops armed with potatoes instead of real grenades....

German troops don't use barbed wire, but Sauerkraut

[[APAF]VR_Spartan85]

Lend lease troops are overpowered....

[Finkeren]

10 hours ago, seafireliv said:

I`m a bit disappointed at the disappearance of crew on the airfield. I never see anyone any more.

 

I see them almost every career mission when I taxi after landing.

[Haza]

Gents,

 

This is a bloody flight sim, why are you all bothering to worry about tanks!

 

PS  I'm mega excited and will be the first to pre-order the tank release!  Even better if we can incorporate those tanks into a real CAS/BAI type battle!

 

Regards

 

Haza (tank fodder)

Edited April 8, 2018 by Haza

[sevenless]

I´m wondering if they can draw some know how from this older 1C Publication called Theater of War?

 

http://www.1cpublishing.eu/game/640-theatre-of-war-colection

 

Doesn´t look too shabby. Haven´t played it back then though.

 

 

 

[falle96]

8 hours ago, sevenless said:

I´m wondering if they can draw some know how from this older 1C Publication called Theater of War?

 

http://www.1cpublishing.eu/game/640-theatre-of-war-colection

 

Doesn´t look too shabby. Haven´t played it back then though.

 

 

 

I'm surprised at the quality of the sound design. It's very impressive.