Wishful thinking - a Combat Mission SDK

[Gordon Berg]

I'm assuming one doesn't exist, but wouldn't it be cool if it did? My favorite board games of all time have used hidden moves and plans mapped out ahead of time before the simultaneous execution of everyone's turn each phase (i.e. Avalon Hill's Gunslinger, and the WWI hexgrid-based Blue Max). It seems that the Combat Mission engine could be adapted to such games. Even the tabletop version of Battletech would be a great match.

God I miss playing those games.

As a side note, it was through Blue Max tourney's at gaming conventions in SoCal that I first met Tsuyoshi Kawahito (of Longbow and EAW fame, and now the infamous Strike Fighters). This was long before he was a programmer and was still a student at UCI. I used to referee the tourneys and I think he attended just about every one.

[deanco]

Oh, man, just thinking about that makes me drool. I would dedicate the next 3 years of my life to making a game if the CM SDK was released. Instead of Panzers, call 'em Eliminators, color 'em red, reduce the number and kind of units by 85%, reduce the size of the maps, do some MAJOR work on the graphics, set it so when anything dies it goes up in a massive ball of flames no matter what, add blood, and fix it so you could string the turns together and watch it like a movie once you've finished, and voilà: you have CM For The Masses. I for one am convinced it would sell, as people are getting bored with RTS and are looking for something new.

As an aside, isn't it ironic that the one 3D game system that actually permits you to fully appreciate, look at, and drink in the 3D game world without having to click like a madman, is tied to one of the funkiest looking 3D game engines out there? I mean, I think Warcraft 3 is a beautiful game, but I really don't have time to appreciate it in all its splendor, now do I?

DeanCo--

[Aszurom]

If the SDK was out? One word...

Battletech.