http://www.supremecommander.com/
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theotherguy
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Even though the models are like... Mario 64 level of polygons and DOOM II level of texturing, and the lasers are just lines, TA graphics weren't that bad for the day, and they certainly aren't that bad in TA spring. But its not the graphics that count, its the gameplay.
TA had brilliant gameplay for a few reasons
1. Simulation!- TA was all about simulation rather than "rock-paper-scissors", meaning that units weren't arbatrarily balanced by some set of rules that said how much damage they did versus air units/tanks/infantry etc. Units were balanced on pure physics and simulation. You would have weak units that fired simple machineguns and did very little damage, but they could overpower everything else if you had enough of them, and you wouldn't buy them just to defend against another unit, you would buy level one units because they were cheaper. And virtually any unit could fire at another one, but then again a tank isn't going to be so great at hitting a jet.
2.Resources- The resources were mind-blowingly simple. Metal and Energy. That's it. And both were infinite. Energy could be generated by power plant's on the spot (no gathering retarted crystals) and metal was taken by making mines. Thus, the gameplay would revolve around controlling metal mines.
3.Scale-The scaling of units and maps in TA was very very good for its day, and you had large, towering units like the Krogroth versus the tiny, almost invisible Flea. Artillery was capable of firing all the way across the map, there were anti-aircraft guns that could cover half the map, aircraft had brilliant flight dynamics and flew very very fast (unlike most rts games where all aircraft act like helecopters). And the game fully utilized land, sea and air combat in ways never seen before.
TA will forever be one of the greatest RTS games of all time.
TA had brilliant gameplay for a few reasons
1. Simulation!- TA was all about simulation rather than "rock-paper-scissors", meaning that units weren't arbatrarily balanced by some set of rules that said how much damage they did versus air units/tanks/infantry etc. Units were balanced on pure physics and simulation. You would have weak units that fired simple machineguns and did very little damage, but they could overpower everything else if you had enough of them, and you wouldn't buy them just to defend against another unit, you would buy level one units because they were cheaper. And virtually any unit could fire at another one, but then again a tank isn't going to be so great at hitting a jet.
2.Resources- The resources were mind-blowingly simple. Metal and Energy. That's it. And both were infinite. Energy could be generated by power plant's on the spot (no gathering retarted crystals) and metal was taken by making mines. Thus, the gameplay would revolve around controlling metal mines.
3.Scale-The scaling of units and maps in TA was very very good for its day, and you had large, towering units like the Krogroth versus the tiny, almost invisible Flea. Artillery was capable of firing all the way across the map, there were anti-aircraft guns that could cover half the map, aircraft had brilliant flight dynamics and flew very very fast (unlike most rts games where all aircraft act like helecopters). And the game fully utilized land, sea and air combat in ways never seen before.
TA will forever be one of the greatest RTS games of all time.
Pesmerga
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One of? It's the best RTS game, ever. Homeworld and Dawn of War are merely... variations of the same genre 
I agree, theotherguy, TA is just... god, so underrated. I don't know why it's not on the top of the charts like Starcraft is.
I agree, theotherguy, TA is just... god, so underrated. I don't know why it's not on the top of the charts like Starcraft is.
destrukt
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remember the year when gamespy [or was it another large site like that ?] put ta as the #1 rts game and all the starcraft fans went crazy, i remember visiting a bunch of sc sites where they were trying to petition gamespy to change it.
ta was/is amazing and i would say it is the best rts, ever and i freaking love the command & conquer series (pre generals/ra2), warcraft (#1 was rhe best), starcraft, homeworld and other good ones like those.
i miss cavedog [and westwood].
ta was/is amazing and i would say it is the best rts, ever and i freaking love the command & conquer series (pre generals/ra2), warcraft (#1 was rhe best), starcraft, homeworld and other good ones like those.
i miss cavedog [and westwood].
theotherguy
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Raziaar said:
they say supreme commander is all about tactics and strategy rather than mindless fighting...since the maps are so huge you have to actually think about which army you're going to send where, how long it will take them to get there (they give you a clock), and what forces your enemy has there. Radar and secrecy will also be important, because the only way for your enimies to see you without giving off their position is to listen for radar "pings" from your own radar stations. Pinging shows you every unit within range of the radar (usually close to the entire map) but gives away your position. Doing this late in the game usually results with your radar station (and if youre stupid enough to put it in your base) your entire base getting nuked.
So yes, I'd say that because of the scale, strategy is immensley important.
spookymooky
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Is TAS (that game that was linked to) singleplayer at all, or just multiplayer?
Also, why does mine look ugly as hell compared to that?
Also, why does mine look ugly as hell compared to that?
theotherguy
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spookymooky said:
Multiplayer only. But you can download various AI mods for skirmishes.
it probably doesnt look that good because that was a screenshot taken under ideal conditions on one of the most beutiful maps. There is a setup program in the start menu that you can run and turn all the settings up, and that should help quite a bit, it also takes a while to get used to the camera modes. Pressing ctrl+J 3 times should bring you into FPS mode (my favorite mode) in which you can rotate the camera with the middle mouse button and move around much like the Hammer editor. (which was how that great angle was taken on the screenshot)
