Carrier Command sequel

[Brolan]

If you enjoyed Carrier Command's vector-graphic raster-shaded goodness, you may be interested in a sequel:

http://www.carriercommand.com/

It's hard to know where they will go with the new version.  Will there be RTS or RPG elements?  Or will they stick with the first-person aspect?

[DraconianOne]

I used to drink with one of the developers of the original Carrier Command in a pub in Leeds.  Nice bloke but can't remember his name for the life of me.  The game was, um, interesting. Don't think I had the patience for it on account of it not having a save feature or something.

[Brolan]

I know it had a save, I just downloaded it from the 'net and ran it inside the DOSBox emulator.  I forgot the PC version didn't have much for sound, I'm used to the Amiga version.  But I'm not sure it's worth the trouble to get an Amiga emulator running.

[Ironwood]

Carrier Command was one of the best games ever, but didn't they already do a sequel ?

I was sure they had.

[eldaec]

Battle Command.

You drove a tank.

It was shit. Never speak of it again.

[Ironwood]

Um, no.  Not that one.  Since it didn't exist.

I was sure there was another one that had 'Rogue Trooper' type AI chips that you could insert into the wee drones.  I remember reading a review of it as a Spiritual Successor to Carrier Command and I thought :  That's Shit.

[Ironwood]

AHA

[eldaec]

All games should have Tom Baker narration.

[DraconianOne]

Wow! I knew this game existed but it came out at a time when I just wasn't playing anything much. Since then, I've always thought of it as a submarine simulation, not a futuristic game that's written by Warren Ellis.

A Tom Baker narration though - how does that work? "It's half past Birmingham and it's time to drive your tank to the enemy base. I had a tank once but then the wife walked in."

Is it actually any good?

[tkinnun0]

I finished it back then and liked it. A good blend of first person vehicle combat and RTS.

[Mrbloodworth]

Sweet, going to be watching this one.

[eldaec]

Is it actually any good?

It's good, but not omfg fabulous.

It's also cheap on steam, so go find out.

[Mrbloodworth]

Is it actually any good?

It's good, but not omfg fabulous.

It's also cheap on steam, so go find out.

Any other way to get it? I don't do steam.

[DraconianOne]

It's good, but not omfg fabulous.

It's also cheap on steam, so go find out.

Are you sure about that? What's it listed under?

[eldaec]

Looks like steam has taken it off sale.

Amazon.com are showing exactly one copy in stock.

[Sir T]

I loved Hostile Waters. And Tom Bakers narration is actually really, really good.

[apocrypha]

This has now entered paid beta, or what they're calling "Play & Contribute" in this case. I have to say, it looks pretty good!

[Ghambit]

Thanks for the necro.  Lost track of this one.

This is just about a must buy imo. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sR7gir9ApMM&feature=related

Though, no multiplayer.   

[Mrbloodworth]

 

[Ghambit]

 

I take it there's no sarcasm in your grin, 'cause BI kicks much arse.  Hence why it's a must buy.  No MP is a killer though.  Cant have an RTS w/o MP, sorry.

[tgr]

I showed this to a friend of mine, it didn't quite have the effect I was anticipating... he booted up the amiga emulator and began playing the original, and it almost sounded like he was going to start crying tears of joy.

[tar]

Shit. I think my summer just got eaten. 

[apocrypha]

 

This is also my reservation. I am expecting the interface to be... questionable.

[5150]

I'll second the thanks for the necro.

I loved the original on my ST (and also second the Battle Command was shit) and lost hours to it although the AI was a bit stupid once you realised how to trap and kill it at the first island.

One thing I never got though was the description of the Manta long range comms pod which said it also worked with the Walruses - Did anyone get it to work (or was it passive if you had a comms pod equipped Manta nearby?).

I found a PC version in a bargain bin years ago and snapped it up - unfortunately it was hugely buggy.

[Sir T]

I never played the original Carrier Command, but this defiantly looks from the video to have a serious Hostile Waters vibe to it...

Gosh, why did my credit card suddenly appear majicamagicly in my hand?  All this needs is Tom Baker!

[Mrbloodworth]

 

I take it there's no sarcasm in your grin, 'cause BI kicks much arse.  Hence why it's a must buy.  No MP is a killer though.  Cant have an RTS w/o MP, sorry.

Nope. None. Just waiting for the reaction of others.

[Sir T]

Ok, I'm in the beta, and there does not seem to be an NDA so I;ll give my first impressions...

Well the learning curve on this thing is approx like getting slapped in the face with a dead fish. Theres no tutorial in the beta, ad the game badly needs one. But for a beta its very very impressive. I've seen more feature complete games get launched.

I am finding my units difficult to control hoever. I'm more of a sit back, position my units and let the AI sort out the actual fighting kinda guy, but the game seems to be designed so you take control of the actual units and fight yourself. Which is fair enough I suppose, as you only have about 9 units including the carrier.

The controls are a little awkward, and in the beta you can't change the key layout.

But first impressions is this game is going to be fucking awsome on release.

[5150]

I am finding my units difficult to control hoever. I'm more of a sit back, position my units and let the AI sort out the actual fighting kinda guy, but the game seems to be designed so you take control of the actual units and fight yourself. Which is fair enough I suppose, as you only have about 9 units including the carrier.

Probably because thats how the original played, your units didn't have AI, they just had you or 'autopilot to waypoint'

Which basically mean you either attacked an island with the carrier (turret or cruise missiles) or with a Manta (since I rarely made it to/off the beach with a Walrus.)

[bhodi]

So I never played the orig, and so I have no nostalgia factor. I'd play it, until I looked and they want $35.

Yeah... no. This is a $15 game.

[Sir T]

They want 35 buchs for the full thing with benefits. You can get the game for 20 bucks now if you don't care about the soundtrack, an icon on their forums and a copy on Steam as well, and it will give you rights to download the full game at launch same as anyone else.

https://store.bistudio.com/play-and-contribute

[Sir T]

Press release

http://www.carriercommand.com/2012/05/news-shipping-date-platforms-announced/

We’ve just announced the shipping date and launch platforms for Carrier Command: Gaea Mission. The game will see a galaxy-wide release for Windows PC and the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system on 27 September 2012!

Set in a massive archipelago, Carrier Command: Gaea Mission floats a refreshing gameplay combination of 1st/3rd person action with a hint of real-time strategy. The studio has been developing for Windows PC and Xbox 360 simultaneously, to ensure an optimal gameplay experience across the two platforms. The content in both versions will be the same.

Bohemia Interactive’s founder and CEO, Marek Španěl, adds:

    “I and my brother Ondrej were addicted to playing Carrier Command on our Atari ST. In fact, it was what inspired us to develop games ourselves. Now, almost 25 years after the original was released, it’s exciting to see our re-imagination, Carrier Command: Gaea Mission, finding its way to the massively expanded PC and immense console gaming audience.”

Bohemia Interactive is also proud to announce their partnership with Mastertronic, who will oversee the European distribution of both the Windows PC and Xbox 360 physical retail copies.

Andy Payne, Managing Director of Mastertronic, concludes:

    “We are really honoured to be working with such a talented and successful games developer as Bohemia Interactive. They have a fantastic track record of producing great games. Indeed it is a real co-incidence that one of the first games I worked on way back in the 80′s was the original Carrier Command and my company, The Producers, now part of Mastertronic, helped Rainbird get that game in the hands of real fans. With that heritage in mind, Mastertronic will shout loud and proud about Carrier Command and we will ensure we help bring legions of new fans enjoy this great game.”

Trailer

[5150]

Pay to beta offer ends at the end of the month and is replaced by a more expensive offer

[eldaec]

They want 35 buchs for the full thing with benefits. You can get the game for 20 bucks now if you don't care about the soundtrack, an icon on their forums and a copy on Steam as well, and it will give you rights to download the full game at launch same as anyone else.

https://store.bistudio.com/play-and-contribute

Or for 15 dollars, six months after launch in a steam sale.

[Sir T]

The released an Xbox Trailer a few weeks ago. The first person parts are from the Campaign where you have to get off the carrier to do stuff (actually in the first mission you have to capture the carrier in the first place)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iADnsXPqrgc

[Sir T]

Release on this was today. Pretty much the universal view on this is that it is really really fun. The only downsides are that it starts off with a pretty lackluster FPS mission that at least introduces you to the world, and the ground tank AI is pretty crappy. It gets caught up on obstacles a lot and has problems navigating.