TacOps
fun for war gamers
TACOPS
4
Developer: Maj Holdridge
Distributor: Battlefront
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.
 |
RedBacks
you’ll be happy to have around
By
PTE Simone Heyer
The
lure of the video shop is often too much to bear. Despite
the icy winds and sub-zero temperatures, I’m still drawn
there to hire the latest offering to popular or semi-popular
culture.
The convenience of popping up the road to the video shop is
not always on the cards for much of our Defence Force, particularly
the guys deployed around the world.
If you’ve time to watch a DVD and an internet connection,
RedBack DVD comes to the rescue.
They’ve got a huge selection of DVDs covering old and
new releases.
Director RedBack DVD Todd Meynink says they are constantly
updating to keep on par – if not well-ahead of regular
video hire shops.
You choose the DVDs you’d like to watch and they’re
sent to the address you nominate.
When you’re finished, you send them back.
The
way it works
- Visit
the web site www.redbackdvd.com.au
- Sign-up
using your e-mail address, create a password and give your
credit card details over a secured server.
- Choose
a list of DVDs
- When
they become available, they will be sent to you.
- Watch
the DVDs then return them by mail at your leisure.
- At
this point you have two options.
1.
You can go back to your RedBack account and let them know
the DVDs are in the post; they will send the next group off
to you.
2. Or you can sit tight, and when your DVDs get to RedBack,
they will be processed and the next group sent.
Payment options
You
can have one, two or three DVDs delivered to you at any one
time depending on your level of membership – $12.95,
$29.95 or $39.95.
Nearly 2000 customers know they’re onto a good thing
and Mr Meynink says the subscriber numbers are increasing
in leaps and bounds.
The options for a postal DVD service are endless.
Navy personnel at sea can have them ordered and delivered
fleet mail.
While most round trip times for delivery are 48 hours, obviously
delivery to ships will be longer.
A free trial service is available to get to know RedBack.
Turn around time.
The web site says you can keep the DVDs for as long as you
want to – even a year, if that’s your bag.
This is perfect for that favourite movie where you want to
learn all the lines to impress your friends.
We’ve been using the service for at least three months
and have found it to be exceptional.
The turn-around is very quick and they’ve got a great
selection.
The convenience of ordering online and receiving DVDs by post
is a real attraction.
Definitely worth a try.
