View Full Version : Silent Storm
I've just been reading up about this new turn-based 3D strategy game in the mold of Jagged Alliance 2 and X-Com. It's set in a kind of alternate timeline WW2 and looks pretty good (not out in the US yet though):
http://www.silentstorm-online.com/main.php?lang=en
See the screenshots here:
http://www.silentstorm-online.com/content.php?lang=en&rid=599
The features include a campaign with non-linear missions, PLUS the ability to take your squad on any number of randomly generated missions to level up etc. There is apparently fully destructible terrain. This ranges from bullet penetration of various surfaces (the higher the calibre weapon, the more it'll penetrate) to full scale building demolition if you've got the right explosives (with all the accompanying nice graphical effects).
Basically, I've gone from being completely unaware of this game's existence to desperately wanting it in about half an hour. Here's (http://www.gamershell.com/reviews_SilentStormReview.shtml) a pretty favourable review. Here's (http://arstechnica.infopop.net/OpenTopic/page?a=tpc&s=50009562&f=39309975&m=8340908495) another from Ars Technica forums.
Hieremias
11-13-2003, 07:33 AM
If you end up buying it can you post ASAP a mini-review? I've heard of this game and am thinking of buying it, but it doesn't come out until January, at which point Jagged Alliance 2: Wildfire will likely be out. Compared to Jagged Alliance 2, how do you think it'll stack up?
I've heard good things about its RPG elements, strong tactical side, and X-Com style gameplay. I've heard bad things about its small map size, unrealistically short weapon ranges, and incredibly long wait periods during the AI's turns.
Yeah, I heard about the ridiculous waiting times as well. I'm prepared to put up with that if the game's as complex and interesting as it looks though. To be honest, from what I've read it sounds like a fully 3D version of JA2 (with buildings with more than one level! woohoo!) with all the shiny graphical bells and whistles. If it's anywhere as near as deep and involving as JA2 then I'll be happy! I don't think I'll be buying it too soon though since I'm getting married shortly and preparations for that are taking up the majority of my time right now! I'll let you know when I do though...
By the way, there's a demo available (~200MB). Here's (http://www.3dgamers.com/games/silentstorm/) a link.
Hieremias
11-13-2003, 08:26 AM
You're getting married soon? But there are so many good games coming out!! Talk about bad timing!! Geez, people call themselves "gamers" but they have their priorities all mixed up.
Oh well, congratulations I guess. I'll be going through the same ordeal* in the next year or so. Don't become like Static_Fred, with your wife tossing out all your games on a whim. Take charge!! Of the computer room, at least. Be prepared when your wife says "We're going to sit down and watch the entire Anne of Green Gables anthology tonight. I'll put on a pot of coffee." The proper response is "No honey, I'm going to go shoot gangsters and watch Mona Sax taking a shower, and that's the way it's going to be. Have fun watching Anne, you can give me a summary tomorrow, in 25 words or less."
* Note: I looked up in the thesaurus an alternative to "ordeal", 'cause I thought ordeal sounded too harsh. But all of its synonyms are worse! Misfortune, calamity, curse, squalor, mortification, <i>crucifixion</i>?? Yikes.
I just read the review. This game sounds good. Real good.
Static_Fred
11-13-2003, 10:46 AM
<div class=\"smallfont\">You're getting married soon? But there are so many good games coming out!! Talk about bad timing!! Geez, people call themselves "gamers" but they have their priorities all mixed up.
Oh well, congratulations I guess. I'll be going through the same ordeal* in the next year or so. Don't become like Static_Fred, with your wife tossing out all your games on a whim. Take charge!! Of the computer room, at least. Be prepared when your wife says "We're going to sit down and watch the entire Anne of Green Gables anthology tonight. I'll put on a pot of coffee." The proper response is "No honey, I'm going to go shoot gangsters and watch Mona Sax taking a shower, and that's the way it's going to be. Have fun watching Anne, you can give me a summary tomorrow, in 25 words or less."
* Note: I looked up in the thesaurus an alternative to "ordeal", 'cause I thought ordeal sounded too harsh. But all of its synonyms are worse! Misfortune, calamity, curse, squalor, mortification, <i>crucifixion</i>?? Yikes.</div>
LOL!!! Hey, i'm not married yet!!! But i'm in the same boat as you Hieremias, i'm getting married in the next year or so. It's just so damn expensive! We can't afford a decent wedding on our student budget, so we're waiting until i graduate, which will be in March.
But congratulations Moya! You can be my mentor in husbandry. You better practice up on the Sims for the next few weeks. ;)
Renzatic Gear
11-13-2003, 11:10 AM
LOL!!! Hey, i'm not married yet!!! But i'm in the same boat as you Hieremias, i'm getting married in the next year or so. It's just so damn expensive! We can't afford a decent wedding on our student budget, so we're waiting until i graduate, which will be in March.
But congratulations Moya! You can be my mentor in husbandry. You better practice up on the Sims for the next few weeks. ;)
Apparently anonymous sex with random strangers is too good for you two...getting married...good god. You both still have so much life left to live!
Hieremias
11-13-2003, 12:31 PM
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LOL!!! Hey, i'm not married yet!!! But i'm in the same boat as you Hieremias, i'm getting married in the next year or so. It's just so damn expensive! We can't afford a decent wedding on our student budget, so we're waiting until i graduate, which will be in March.
But congratulations Moya! You can be my mentor in husbandry. You better practice up on the Sims for the next few weeks. ;)</div>
I'll be getting married sometime between August 2004 and May 2005. And don't remind me of the expenses. Our wedding will be cheap cheap cheap, and the honeymoon expensive (I'm hoping for Tahiti; Portugal is another possibility). Why blow all that money on a party for other people, when we can blow it all on ourselves?? :)
Static_Fred
11-13-2003, 12:32 PM
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I'll be getting married sometime between August 2004 and May 2005. And don't remind me of the expenses. Our wedding will be cheap cheap cheap, and the honeymoon expensive (I'm hoping for Tahiti; Portugal is another possibility). Why blow all that money on a party for other people, when we can blow it all on ourselves?? :)</div>
Good choice! I know some people that spent $10,000 on the wedding... I'd rather spend that on a down-payment for a house!
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Good choice! I know some people that spent $10,000 on the wedding... I'd rather spend that on a down-payment for a house!</div>
$10K is nothing. A lot of families spend $50K and more on weddings. And I'm not talking wealthy families with money to burn, but ordinary middle class people who take out the second mortgage to throw the big event for their son or daughter.
You're getting married soon? But there are so many good games coming out!! Talk about bad timing!! Geez, people call themselves "gamers" but they have their priorities all mixed up.
LOL, don't worry, when we're back from honeymoon I'll be catching up on my gaming fix. Hey, my wife-to-be's even agreed that our so-called "guest room" will primarily be for my PC so's I don't disturb her chick flick sessions with screams of german soldiers getting capped in Silent Storm! ;)
Oh, and as for the cost... You're not wrong - it's just astronomical! I was shocked when I heard that the average wedding budget in the UK is £11,000. That's the price of a car or a deposit for a house spent on a day out! We're not spending anything like that, and thankfully both sets of parents have pitched in to help us out with the cash. Otherwise we wouldn't have been able to afford it - nowhere near.
Thing is though, when the parents get in on the act, the wedding becomes a different beast altogether. Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful for all their help, but we were originally (and somewhat naively) planning a small get-together, but the thing about weddings is that they seem to have a life of their own and it just got bigger... and bigger. And now there are going to be 125 people at the reception! And then there's the flowers, the cake, the DJ, the cars, the suit hire, the dresses, the stag do (that was last weekend - I've got some great pics of me dressed as a girl for a tart and vicars party, which I may try to upload to my webspace time permitting), the "going away outfits" (don't ask me - it's gurlspeek), the first night hotel, the rings, the honeymoon, and the new place to live all to arrange (and *cringe* pay for).
We're honeymooning over in Dublin for a week -> we're on a really tight budget. Anyway, I'm sure it'll be a great day. And the honeymoon after will be a great break from all this sodding planning - we'll get a chance to see the new Matrix movie (among the other things that one does while on honeymoon...) ;)
Hieremias
11-13-2003, 03:39 PM
The concept of big expensive weddings is only post-war. I'm not going to buy into it at all. The wedding industry is as bad as the funeral industry; it takes advantage of people at an emotional time to convince them they NEED to spend a lot of money to make the day special or meaningful.
Nuts to that. My wedding will cost no more than $3000 CDN. Though we aren't "officially" engaged yet (she has no ring), we've already started planning the wedding. The only real, significant cost will be feeding the 100+ guests.
As far as what Aku said, I would say anyone who mortgages their house to play for a $50,000 wedding has some serious emotional security problems. But that's just me, I'm too pragmatic to blow tons of cash on a one-day party that I'm not going to enjoy planning anyway.
<div class=\"smallfont\">As far as what Aku said, I would say anyone who mortgages their house to play for a $50,000 wedding has some serious emotional security problems. But that's just me, I'm too pragmatic to blow tons of cash on a one-day party that I'm not going to enjoy planning anyway.</div>
I got married in Lake Tahoe, California for $2000 (but that was back in the 80's, so you'd have to double it today). Small church wedding among the redwoods, about 30 guests, reception at a small hotel on the lake. Steak dinners, open bar. Included photographer, video, and the wedding cake. Even today it's easy to find inexpensive reception rooms at the less fancy hotels, and have food catered. Lake Tahoe has always been a cheap place to throw a party.
Static_Fred
11-14-2003, 01:20 PM
$2000???? I"M THERE!!!
Alright, i need the directions, start from Oregon and please be detailed. ;)
<div class=\"smallfont\">$2000???? I"M THERE!!!
Alright, i need the directions, start from Oregon and please be detailed. ;)</div>
Why, it couldn't be simpler. Hwy 5 south all the way to Sacramento, then Hwy 50 east all the way to Tahoe. The hotel is right on 50. :)
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