Supreme Commander Preview - bit-tech.net Forums

WilHarris · 5th Jan 2007, 08:03

http://www.bit-tech.net/gaming/2007/...Preview/1.html

eddtox · 5th Jan 2007, 08:26

OMG! I wants! I wants! I wants! NOW!!! Ok, childish excitement out of the way, when is this supposed to come out? Hopefully not for a while yet, as i need a new computer before I can go anywhere near it. I love the concept of it. Although I never played the original TA, I'm a massive fan of the RTS genre and it's nice to see another exquisite and innovative game join its ranks. I absolutely love the idea of being able to use a dual monitor setup. I've been waiting for games, especially RTSs, to do this for a long time. I think this style of game enjoys a far greater gameplay benefit from dual monitors than, say FPSs.

-ed out

BioSniper · 5th Jan 2007, 08:53

It's good but a shame that it had a total fit and really just didn't run right on my system at all. Even on low :/

airchie · 5th Jan 2007, 09:05

Sounds like it'll be worth a purchase.
And the purchase of a 2nd monitor...

JADS · 5th Jan 2007, 09:45

TA was possibly the best RTS game ever so I may be swayed to return to gaming, but as I am unlikely ever to play an online multiplayer gamer I do hope it has some form of offline singleplayer

Springs · 5th Jan 2007, 09:49

i played the beta.... great game!!! it played on my system but every now and then it did struggle... paused every now and then... it look me a little while to figure out how to get started... first couple of times i played it against the AI about 30 mins into the game the AI had the big spider at my base... :S

Emon · 5th Jan 2007, 10:04

Looks fantastic...this and C&C3 might get be back into RTS games.

yakyb · 5th Jan 2007, 10:26

looks fantastic im very excited esspecially about the dual monitors idea i wonder how this will be implemented tho will it support 2 monitors at different resolutions i.e one widescreen and one normal as although it would be brilliant i couldnt really justify buying another widescreen

Garside · 5th Jan 2007, 10:43

yakyb - yes it does, if you have a widescreen panel and a standard panel you will be able to use different resolutions on both.

JCBeastie · 5th Jan 2007, 11:26

Can somebody please write a sentence explaining why I should be at all interested in this? It looks terrible!

Way too much micro-management, colourful plastic toy graphics and is there any plot??

Or is it just the giant walking robots that make it? Cos they're frankly just passe.

Veles · 5th Jan 2007, 14:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by JCBeastie

Can somebody please write a sentence explaining why I should be at all interested in this? It looks terrible!

Way too much micro-management, colourful plastic toy graphics and is there any plot??

Or is it just the giant walking robots that make it? Cos they're frankly just passe.

Because it's the most awesome game evar thats why.

And it's not micromanagement at all really, sure there are thousands of units in each game, but it's all about macro management. Build a big group of units, and tell that big group of units to attack another big group of units with one click and the AI deals with all the rest.

[USRF]Obiwan · 5th Jan 2007, 14:42

So it is basicly "mass-micro-management"

I always hated the "tiberium" controlled teritory. "One who controls the spice controls the universe" Seems that this is the same with SC. Once you take over a mining field and kill all harvesters of enemy you practicly win scenarios.

And second, it seems that "get up to the highest tech level as quickly as possible and crush enemy with your mighty weapon" scenarios are also at play. So basicly there is no improvement but same as any other RTS in the past.

Correct me if this is not the case with SC.

hitman012 · 5th Jan 2007, 16:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by [USRF]Obiwan

I always hated the "tiberium" controlled teritory. "One who controls the spice controls the universe" Seems that this is the same with SC. Once you take over a mining field and kill all harvesters of enemy you practicly win scenarios.

If you can't defend your resource production, then you will probably lose. That's not a problem with the game; it's part of the strategy. In any case, you can make a fairly self-sufficient base in SupCom using mass fabricators to compensate for a lack of extractors.

Quote:

Originally Posted by [USRF]Obiwan

And second, it seems that "get up to the highest tech level as quickly as possible and crush enemy with your mighty weapon" scenarios are also at play. So basicly there is no improvement but same as any other RTS in the past.

Many decent games will end before you can upgrade to the highest tech level. And the scale of SupCom is balanced fairly well - you can destroy a high-tech force with a sufficient number of cheaper units to a certain degree... after that point, you've no excuse not to be at the same tech level as your opposition. Even the experimental mobile factories and Monkeylords (the big spider things) aren't difficult to take out if you overwhelm them. Each unit has its weakness - many of the experimentals will fold easily if you use planes against them.

Tibby · 5th Jan 2007, 17:56

Does anyone know if you can use dual mode on a Widescreen Monitor?

Kinda just have a smaller tactical map on the right?

Bladestorm · 5th Jan 2007, 18:53

What size monitors, well more to the point maybe, what resolutions were used when stuggling to get it smooth ?

With a bit of luck I can finally get that 215TW I've been drooling over for the past what 5?6? months now in the next week and delegate my 17" to duty as a secondary..

Ringold · 5th Jan 2007, 19:14

Some types of games (like this rts) just arent for everybody, perhaps? Just like I'm not a big fan of fps's, usually. If they could make a game for everybody, we'd all be playing... the Sims...

But I drew first RTS blood with TA, and until just recently played TA:Spring (open source community remake) almost daily. Micromanagement was not an issue in TA:Spring any more than, say, Starcraft (there was metal and energy, you make a mine and let it do its thing, and energy producing facilities and they do their thing, not even little SCV's running about). Spent much more time trying to balance my army/navy/airforce to counter my opponent, and then pressing any advantage I might occasionally get.

TA, and I assume SC, is a different breed of RTS apart from C&C its safe to say.

If you can deal with a slightly clunky interface, google TA Spring. Not too expensive (free), and you'll see where the developers 'roots' are with the XTA mod loaded. Might have to look in to whatever AI can fight its way out of a paper bag these days, though. Last I checked XTAI was best, but could of changed now. Just don't let the AI sit to its own devices for too long; it'll 'turtle' and it'll take you half a day to carpet nuke its defenses.

moshpit · 5th Jan 2007, 22:00

Something I haven't seen mentioned is the excellent multithreading support this game has already, even while in beta. This screeny says it all I think:

Using 3 AI's, one on balanced and 2 on medium produces a 91% CPU usage (combined) on a E6600 overclocked to 3.2Ghz (ignore the reading of 3600mhz maximum in iTAT, it's a known multiplier bug when you use a lower multi then default) and runs fairly smoothly but when the same scenario is run on any of my single core machines, including on Athlon 64 OC'd to 2.6Ghz, it runs like a dog and pegs CPU usage at 100%. This game is thread hungry with dual cores, not sure how well used quad core will be tho I imagine the returns will be less at best.

Edit: I should add that when multimonitor mode is used on my Core 2 Duo rig, the CPU usage spikes at 100% across both cores, but performance still tanks down a noticeable amount but still remains playable. GPU is important, but this game is insanely CPU hungry first and foremost.

1e8o · 5th Jan 2007, 22:25

DAMN, I want to buy!!!!

Echo · 5th Jan 2007, 23:07

Is it just Total Annihilation with online multiplayer and bigger maps? From the pictures, it doesn't look like they've thought much further than a tweaked version of TA...

abreev8 · 6th Jan 2007, 04:10

Is there even a chance I can play this on a 2.4c P4, 9600 pro, and 1 gig ram?

5th Jan 2007, 08:03	#1
WilHarris Just another nobody Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Oxford Posts: 2,671	Supreme Commander Preview http://www.bit-tech.net/gaming/2007/...Preview/1.html

5th Jan 2007, 08:53	#3
BioSniper I Mod, Therefore I Own Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Somewhere in the south Posts: 3,460	It's good but a shame that it had a total fit and really just didn't run right on my system at all. Even on low :/ __________________ My Flickr :: Bit-tech Flickr Wii: 1792 1527 2926 7945 :: Xbox Live: BioSnipr :: PSN: Biosnipr

5th Jan 2007, 09:45	#5
JADS Et arma et verba vulnerant Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Portsmouth, UK Posts: 2,919	TA was possibly the best RTS game ever so I may be swayed to return to gaming, but as I am unlikely ever to play an online multiplayer gamer I do hope it has some form of offline singleplayer __________________ [AMD A64 2800+ + Zalman 7700][MSI K8N Neo Platinum][1GB Corsair PC3200][Leadtek Geforce 6600GT][Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 80GB + Maxtor Diamond Max Plus10 200GB + Maxtor Diamond Max16 120GB][Plextor PX-716 DVD-RW + 2x Plextor Premium 52x32x52 CD-RW + 16x Samsung DVD][Coolermaster ATC-201 BXT][Antec TruePower 430][Dell 2405FPW + Mitsubishi Diamond Pro 2070u][Logitech MX1000][Matias Tactile Pro][Griffin Technology PowerMate Black] Email Me

5th Jan 2007, 09:49	#6
Springs Boing boing Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Farnham, England Posts: 1,954	i played the beta.... great game!!! it played on my system but every now and then it did struggle... paused every now and then... it look me a little while to figure out how to get started... first couple of times i played it against the AI about 30 mins into the game the AI had the big spider at my base... :S __________________ Sys Specs: Core 2 Duo \| 2gb Ram \| 320gb Sata Drive \| 2x 500gb Storage drives \| 7900GTo 512mb \| NEC Dual Layer 16x DVD-RW \| Slot Load DVD drive \|

5th Jan 2007, 10:26	#8
yakyb CK is God!!! Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,069	looks fantastic im very excited esspecially about the dual monitors idea i wonder how this will be implemented tho will it support 2 monitors at different resolutions i.e one widescreen and one normal as although it would be brilliant i couldnt really justify buying another widescreen __________________ Gaming Box:: q6600 @3.0 :: 9800gtx :: Abit IP35 :: 4gb :: 1.4TB :: akasa eclipse :: Win7 Development:: PhenomII 955BE @3.2 :: 4200 :: asus M4A785 M Evo :: 1.25TB ::Win7 Media Centre :: q6600 @3.0 :: x1950pro :: asus p35 epu :: 8gb :: 320 GB :: Lc17B :: Win7 server:: I7 860 :: p55 gd65 :: 3450 :: 8 TB :: 8gb :: Rebel 12 :: server 2008 R2

5th Jan 2007, 08:26	#2
eddtox Supermodder Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Medway Posts: 345	OMG! I wants! I wants! I wants! NOW!!! Ok, childish excitement out of the way, when is this supposed to come out? Hopefully not for a while yet, as i need a new computer before I can go anywhere near it. I love the concept of it. Although I never played the original TA, I'm a massive fan of the RTS genre and it's nice to see another exquisite and innovative game join its ranks. I absolutely love the idea of being able to use a dual monitor setup. I've been waiting for games, especially RTSs, to do this for a long time. I think this style of game enjoys a far greater gameplay benefit from dual monitors than, say FPSs. -ed out

5th Jan 2007, 10:04	#7
Emon Hypermodder Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Cleveland, OH Posts: 672	Looks fantastic...this and C&C3 might get be back into RTS games.

5th Jan 2007, 10:43	#9
Garside Supermodder Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: London Posts: 395	yakyb - yes it does, if you have a widescreen panel and a standard panel you will be able to use different resolutions on both.

5th Jan 2007, 11:26	#10
JCBeastie Multimodder Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Sunny Cornwall Posts: 75	Can somebody please write a sentence explaining why I should be at all interested in this? It looks terrible! Way too much micro-management, colourful plastic toy graphics and is there any plot?? Or is it just the giant walking robots that make it? Cos they're frankly just passe.

5th Jan 2007, 14:42	#12
[USRF]Obiwan Ultramodder Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Netherlands Posts: 1,220	So it is basicly "mass-micro-management" I always hated the "tiberium" controlled teritory. "One who controls the spice controls the universe" Seems that this is the same with SC. Once you take over a mining field and kill all harvesters of enemy you practicly win scenarios. And second, it seems that "get up to the highest tech level as quickly as possible and crush enemy with your mighty weapon" scenarios are also at play. So basicly there is no improvement but same as any other RTS in the past. Correct me if this is not the case with SC. __________________ Mascleta: "The most accurate simulation of thunder, humans can simulate..." The answer is 42, so... whats the question again? If you know what 'Peek' and 'Poke' represents, then you are probably as old as me.

5th Jan 2007, 17:56	#14
Tibby Technologic Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: London / Sheffield Posts: 2,003	Does anyone know if you can use dual mode on a Widescreen Monitor? Kinda just have a smaller tactical map on the right? __________________ Tiberius - Master Of Pie My Xbox360 Can Talk!

5th Jan 2007, 18:53	#15
Bladestorm Hypermodder Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 682	What size monitors, well more to the point maybe, what resolutions were used when stuggling to get it smooth ? With a bit of luck I can finally get that 215TW I've been drooling over for the past what 5?6? months now in the next week and delegate my 17" to duty as a secondary.. __________________ Athlon 64 X2 3800+ @ 250x10 (1.475v) \| EVGA GTX 260 55nm SSC \| A8N-SLI Premium \| 2x(4GB) Corsair Twinx2048-PC3200C2 \| Asus Xonar DX \| Antec truepower 550w \| Akasa Eclipse-62 DDC12VPlus1, DD TDX, 3/8 tygon r3603 tubing, PA120.2, DD double floppy bay res

5th Jan 2007, 19:14	#16
Ringold Minimodder Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 48	Some types of games (like this rts) just arent for everybody, perhaps? Just like I'm not a big fan of fps's, usually. If they could make a game for everybody, we'd all be playing... the Sims... But I drew first RTS blood with TA, and until just recently played TA:Spring (open source community remake) almost daily. Micromanagement was not an issue in TA:Spring any more than, say, Starcraft (there was metal and energy, you make a mine and let it do its thing, and energy producing facilities and they do their thing, not even little SCV's running about). Spent much more time trying to balance my army/navy/airforce to counter my opponent, and then pressing any advantage I might occasionally get. TA, and I assume SC, is a different breed of RTS apart from C&C its safe to say. If you can deal with a slightly clunky interface, google TA Spring. Not too expensive (free), and you'll see where the developers 'roots' are with the XTA mod loaded. Might have to look in to whatever AI can fight its way out of a paper bag these days, though. Last I checked XTAI was best, but could of changed now. Just don't let the AI sit to its own devices for too long; it'll 'turtle' and it'll take you half a day to carpet nuke its defenses.

5th Jan 2007, 22:00	#17
moshpit Minimodder Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 49	Something I haven't seen mentioned is the excellent multithreading support this game has already, even while in beta. This screeny says it all I think: Using 3 AI's, one on balanced and 2 on medium produces a 91% CPU usage (combined) on a E6600 overclocked to 3.2Ghz (ignore the reading of 3600mhz maximum in iTAT, it's a known multiplier bug when you use a lower multi then default) and runs fairly smoothly but when the same scenario is run on any of my single core machines, including on Athlon 64 OC'd to 2.6Ghz, it runs like a dog and pegs CPU usage at 100%. This game is thread hungry with dual cores, not sure how well used quad core will be tho I imagine the returns will be less at best. Edit: I should add that when multimonitor mode is used on my Core 2 Duo rig, the CPU usage spikes at 100% across both cores, but performance still tanks down a noticeable amount but still remains playable. GPU is important, but this game is insanely CPU hungry first and foremost. Last edited by moshpit; 5th Jan 2007 at 22:08.

5th Jan 2007, 22:25	#18
1e8o Supermodder Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Netherlands Posts: 272	DAMN, I want to buy!!!! __________________ NEW!!! X2 4200+\| 2 x XFX Geforce 6600 gt in SLI \| Asus A8N-SLI Deluxe \| 4 x hitachi 250 gb sata hdd + Maxtor 160 usb 2.0 total of 1160 GB \| 2 x 1024 MB DDR-400 (2 GB ) \| Tagan U force 580 Watt \| Saving money for an macbook and an Iphone (2nd edition)

5th Jan 2007, 23:07	#19
Echo Supermodder Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: UCLAN, Preston Posts: 264	Is it just Total Annihilation with online multiplayer and bigger maps? From the pictures, it doesn't look like they've thought much further than a tweaked version of TA... __________________ ++ Intel E6400 \| Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro \| ASUS P5N-E SLi \| 2xMSI 7800GT \| G-skill Ultra DDR2 PC6400 (2x1Gig) \| Seasonic S12-600w \| Samsung Spinpoint P120s 200Gb \| 2 X 22" Samsung SyncMaster 225bw ++

6th Jan 2007, 04:10	#20
abreev8 What's a Dremel? Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Minnesota, US Posts: 15	Is there even a chance I can play this on a 2.4c P4, 9600 pro, and 1 gig ram?