TACOPS 4
Developer: Maj Holdridge
Distributor: Battlefront

Various screen shots from TacOps.

Major Holdridge, US Marine Corps, (ret’d), has been developing the TacOps series for more than a decade. It’s a tactical-level modern wargame, played at the regimental level.

It has extensive Orders of Battle for the US, Canada, Germany, Australian and NZ from regiments down. They are all pitted against a Red force, which can be tailored to suit using a wide range of old Soviet bloc equipment.

TacOps is turn-based with one turn equalling one minute, with each turn divided into an orders and execution phase.

The battlefield is represented by a two-dimensional overhead view of a map. Units, down to squad-size elements, are designated by icons of a silhouette of the unit type or standard NATO symbols, depending on the option selected.

TacOps can be played against the PC or against human opponents via play by email, LAN or via the internet using TCP/IP protocol.

The game oversees the majority of the Battlefield Operating Systems and is focused around the application of the manoeuvre BOS, which has a large arsenal of systems.

The fire support BOS is represented by on and off-board artillery and fixed-wing air support, which are simply and effectively handled.

Air Defence BOS is covered with a large arsenal of shoulder, towed and vehicle mounted AD systems. Mobility and survivability BOS is also well represented with mines, obstacles, dug-in positions and mine clearing vehicles included in the ORBATs.

The CSS BOS has little effect on the battles with most scenarios lasting only an hour. Expended ammunition holdings can be replenished by either pressing a button (the warrior’s method) or moving a logistic package forward (the loggie’s method).

A wide range of combat service support vehicles are available to add to the force composition.

The surveillance and intelligence BOS is not covered in depth while the game and the command and control BOS is not covered at all. Unit formations, command vehicles, radio nets and unit morale have no effect on the game play.

Additionally, TacOps provides a database on all vehicle platforms and weapon systems complete with a corresponding photo.

TacOps AI plays a reasonable single player game limited to predesigned scenarios.
The AI cannot function in custom scenarios. It plays a good Red Side Advance to Contacts and a can put up a solid defence.

There are enough scenarios to make sure that players will have plenty of options to come to grips with the AI without stagnating on the same type of battles.

TacOps excels in the multiplayer area. The one-on-one games either over a network or by PBEM add a new element to the game.

The utility of TacOps comes into its own when played over a LAN with multiple participants. Up to 20 players, spread over up to eight teams can play in one scenario.

Each player is allocated a PIN and troops are then assigned to that number for the exclusive command of that player.

One of the players can be selected as umpire, controlling the flow of play introducing factors like supply levels, malfunctions, unmapped obstacles and controlling a wide selection of non-combatants. The game can also include civilian vehicles.

Multiple teams and numerous civilian types greatly expand the scope of multiplayer scenarios, with players being able to operate in an environment of multi-factional disputes within a city setting populated by non-combatant civilians.

It is well within the ability of TacOps to set up a group in several rooms, playing a Blue on Red encounter battle via LAN, with each side having an armoured, mechanised-infantry, fire support and air support commanders with an umpire who would control the movement of civilians and non-government organisation units.

For those who like to play a string of tactical battles in a ongoing campaign, the surviving ORBATs from a scenario can be exported into a new scenario. Players can set a reinforcement rate and refurbish their force before starting the scenario in their campaign.

Add all of this to a user-friendly map editor and the possible scenarios available to players are only limited by their imagination.

HQTC (Army) just secured a Corporate Licence for TacOps 4, which provides all Defence personnel an opportunity to acquire a copy of the game for professional and private use.

Army Training Command will shortly start distributing the game through Training and Land Commands.
Additionally, TC, through MAJ Holdridge is developing TacOps ANZAC 4, which will include AS/NZ specific equipments and ORBATS.

More information can be found on the game at www.battlefront.com

Double your fortune

By CAPT Jason Logue

Games up for grabs

We have a copy of Day of Defeat and SOFII(XBox) up for grabs this edition. Entries should be emailed to ADFgamesmen@telstra.com with the name of the game you would like to win in the subject line. Only one entry a person as subsequent entries will be discarded. Make sure you include your full name and mailing address in the email or your entry won’t be accepted. Congratulations to our recent winners: R Fazio, Singleton, Midtown Madness 3, and R Thompson, Mornington, Vietcong.

Soldier of Fortune II: Double Helix
Activision: www.games.activision.com/games/soldieroffortune/xbox.asp

Console owners can now reprise the role of the meanest middle-aged merc on the planet with the recent release of Soldier of Fortune II on XBox.

Players jump into the well-worn boots of John Mullins in this direct port from the phenomenally successful PC title of the same name.

The Soldier of Fortune series is renowned for its gore and high violence content ... something to be especially mindful of if you intend playing this in your family room.

The first time a severely wounded enemy attempted to scoop up his own intestines was a moment that I’ll never forget.

The conversion to console has however highlighted my poor controller skills. The game requires precision shooting ... something that I find reasonably easy on the PC but I spend far too long and far too much ammunition getting the telling shot in the console version. This is obviously a problem when 100s of crazed enemy are intent on wiping out your pitiful virtual existence.

Other than that everything remains the same – John is intent on stopping a large terrorist cell who plan to release biological devices around the world with an armoury that would make an average infantry soldier cry.

Like its PC cousin, the XBox version of SOFII can also be enjoyed multiplayer through system link or via the new XBox Live system soon to be available in Australia.

A multiplayer game via system link is a great chance to team up with some mates and waste a few hours on a rainy weekend. The levels of realism, weapon effects, and multiplayer maps will make this a hit in common rooms throughout Australia’s military bases.

It definitely takes some time to get comfortable with the controller in SOFII but if you can master it, the game is well worth the money.

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