By Jim Rossignol on June 9th, 2011 at 12:00 pm.
Carrier Command is being remade by Bohemia Interactive. I know! I’ve even been playing it, and I’ll be putting up a hands-on preview, as well as interview with BIS boss Marek Spanel, on Monday. In the meantime you can take a look at the trailer they’ve released for the E3 reveal of the game. It’s an all-new engine, not the Arma 2 engine, as we’d previously thought, and it’s really not much like BIS’ other games. Intriguing indeed! More on that next week.
09/06/2011 at 12:08 Deccan says:
Carrier Command!
I still play the original from time to time. Anyone know of any proto-sandbox games that came before it (i.e. before 1988)?
09/06/2011 at 12:24 leeder krenon says:
Echelon?
http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/articles/echelon.htm
Not sure if this pre-dated CC though.
09/06/2011 at 12:33 MrFoo says:
Not sure if it pre-dated it, but around the same time there was Midwinter
09/06/2011 at 12:57 MartynEm says:
ArmourGeddon was similar, though the exact pun-formulation you may have to look up yourself. If I remember rightly, it added just the right level of extra complexity to transform the structure of Carrier Command into a baroque unplayable nightmare. I was fascinated by it.
09/06/2011 at 12:59 Jim Rossignol says:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armour-Geddon
Yes, I am fairly sure that game couldn’t be completed without the cheats.
09/06/2011 at 13:06 noom says:
There was a game called Hunter, that I remember from that era, though googling tells me it happened three years later. Definitely in the CC/Midwinter mould though.
09/06/2011 at 13:13 Orzo says:
Mercenary
09/06/2011 at 14:30 frymaster says:
That bloody Paylar commanders’ brother-in-law!
09/06/2011 at 19:02 dogsolitude_uk says:
How about Damocles, the sequel to Mercenary as well?
I remember waiting years for that to come out, dreaming about it, writing to Novagen and pestering them to get it released…
It finally arrived, oddly enough, on the day I started Sixth Form. It had fully solid 3D, a whole solar system to explore (sort of) and planets that orbited the sun. It was pretty sandboxy, and had six different endings.
Running on the ST and amiga, there was a rumoured PC version until Psygnosis canned it.
Google for the free MDDClone if you fancy having a go :)
09/06/2011 at 20:00 leeder krenon says:
oh yeah, i just thought of one.
ELITE.
we are all stupid.
09/06/2011 at 20:07 leeder krenon says:
and of course, GTA Romford:
http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/articles/turboesprit.htm
09/06/2011 at 20:15 tossrStu says:
Cholo?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cholo_%28video_game%29
09/06/2011 at 21:12 leeder krenon says:
Driller – http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/articles/driller.htm
10/06/2011 at 02:23 MadMatty says:
BEFORE carrier command…. /fail guys.
Yeah Hunter was fun, but unlike Carrier Command.
Anyone interested in the latest clone in all but name, should check out Hostile Waters
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hostile_Waters:_Antaeus_Rising
10/06/2011 at 07:48 leeder krenon says:
OH NO SOME OF THE GAMES LISTED ALSO CAME OUT IN 1988 OR MAYBE EVEN A YEAR AFTER. WHATEVER ARE WE GOING TO DO. WE HAVE ALL “FAILED!” IN THE EYES OF THIS INTERNET FELLOW! MY LIFE IS OVER.
09/06/2011 at 12:09 Anthile says:
Is that part of this Atari remake series?
09/06/2011 at 12:10 Jim Rossignol says:
No.
09/06/2011 at 12:13 InsidiousBoot says:
Looks sweet, I haven’t played the original though.
09/06/2011 at 12:13 CMaster says:
Oooh, Planetsidey
09/06/2011 at 12:20 Biscuitry says:
Huh, I thought this had vanished into the aether. Glad to see it’s still in the works.
09/06/2011 at 12:22 leeder krenon says:
played the original on the Speccy. looks a bit different…
09/06/2011 at 12:24 Biscuitry says:
The Spectrum port was hardly representative. Look up the version that appeared on Amiga, Atari ST and DOS; the trailer actually paints it as being pretty close to the mark – from what little you can see from it.
EDIT: Whoops. Got my versions mixed up. It was the C64 version that was rendered differently.
09/06/2011 at 15:39 jonfitt says:
I think they changed the icons in this new version.
11/06/2011 at 18:56 Negativeland says:
Hey, at least it’s not a Facebook game.
09/06/2011 at 12:25 Vexing Vision says:
If the Carrier has the same amount of different systems, damage mechanics and everything from the original, I’ll die of dehydration due to not being able to leave my computer once this comes out.
Although the islands look pretty big.
09/06/2011 at 12:27 icupnimpn2 says:
Trying to figure out what is so uncanny about the guy saying, “Sir, welcome on board.” I think it’s that he opens his mouth in a closed-tooth grin to make an “ess” sound.
10/06/2011 at 08:43 Shadowcat says:
It’s more that his mouth hardly moves *from* that position :) It’s weird… when he says “board” the sides of his mouth do actually move inwards just slightly, so they can do it, but even the “W” sound has his lips stretched out wide. I think maybe the default position is simply too wide. Or hell, maybe they lip-synched it using someone who looks like that when they talk. Who knows!
09/06/2011 at 12:29 Urael says:
While this is based on the not-exactly-acclaimed Gaea novels I do hope it retains enough of it’s distinguished parent DNA to be the modern update I think many of us are looking for.
Retro-deliverance fairies, please don’t let me down.
09/06/2011 at 12:33 misterk says:
My memories of the original are of being utterly rubbish, taking over at most one island then running out of resources ’cause I couldn’t work out how to resupply. One game I decided to just go for an epic battle, and headed directly for the enemy carrier… so I waited… and waited…. and got bored and had lunch, then came back to my carrier being on fire. Wasn’t quite the epic conflict I craved…
09/06/2011 at 12:35 Colthor says:
It looks like Carrier Command! Please be like Carrier Command.
09/06/2011 at 12:35 Jim Rossignol says:
It is like Carrier Command.
09/06/2011 at 12:39 Colthor says:
Fantastic. Thanks, Jim.
09/06/2011 at 12:51 Vexing Vision says:
I’m crying tears of joy.
So, is this a console port?
*hides*
09/06/2011 at 12:52 Jim Rossignol says:
It is also coming out on 360.
09/06/2011 at 14:16 LionsPhil says:
It doesn’t sound like Carrier Command.
I will basically love them forever if they spiffy up David Lowe’s theme tune for it, though.
09/06/2011 at 22:05 djtim says:
I was 6 when this game came out, but I somehow managed to have the full boxed original on my Amiga 500. Probably the only original disk I had. I think it took me until I was about 10 before I was actually able to destroy the enemy carrier and take over all the islands.
I still actually have the bonus audio tape as well!!
09/06/2011 at 12:36 Rossi says:
Brilliant! Loved this game on the Amiga!
09/06/2011 at 12:42 westyfield says:
Never played a CC game before, but Bohemia Interactive does future strategy/vehicle combat? My monies, take all of them.
09/06/2011 at 12:45 BooleanBob says:
Phew! Good thing he managed to roll out of the way of that missile, eh?
09/06/2011 at 13:06 Gap Gen says:
I guess it’s also a good job it didn’t explode right behind him with a blast radius smaller than the distance between them.
09/06/2011 at 15:37 jonfitt says:
He should have gone for the header!
09/06/2011 at 12:50 Lord Byte says:
I actually liked Hostile Waters more! While not as free-form it was brilliant in many other ways!
09/06/2011 at 12:55 Bursar says:
How does it compare to Hostile Waters?
09/06/2011 at 12:55 Diziet Sma says:
This is very good and interesting news indeed. Carrier Command was ace but bastard hard. Hopefully this will be hard but less of the bastard.
09/06/2011 at 12:58 Heliocentric says:
That’s right bald headed man, be careful that missile doesn’t hit you directly, because then it would be a hittile.
09/06/2011 at 12:59 _Jackalope_ says:
Please tell us it will have multiplayer!
09/06/2011 at 13:00 Jim Rossignol says:
I believe it is single player only.
09/06/2011 at 13:05 _Jackalope_ says:
How brutally ironic. I tend to only get single player games, saw the trailer and immediately wanted to play it against my mate. Oh well, yay for single player!
09/06/2011 at 13:07 subedii says:
That is a real shame. Hostile Waters felt lacking without multiplayer as well. Would’ve loved to have played that against someone.
09/06/2011 at 13:08 SprintJack says:
In Gamespot interview they said it’s planned to be included in patch after release. Sounds weird though.
09/06/2011 at 13:59 bascule42 says:
With Bohiemia Interactive there will more likely be a LOT of things added with patches, Like stability, optimisation, major bug fixes…lol, just kidding, BI, as well as being awesome, are well known for supporting thier titles way way way into the mists of future time when the release date is but a distant pleasant memory.
09/06/2011 at 15:31 Urael says:
Single player only? *massive grin*
09/06/2011 at 18:44 Lachlan says:
@SprintJack – multiplayer “due in patch after release” in an action/strategy game about an aircraft carrier? That sounds ominously familiar…
Here’s to another Hostile Waters, an awesome game that deserved far better.
09/06/2011 at 13:05 nickylee says:
I used to spend hours playing this on my Amiga. I hope it lives up to the original.
09/06/2011 at 13:08 Gap Gen says:
It’s great Bohemia finally have the space to breathe and branch out. Maybe this means that the ArmA series will finally have the budgets and production values it so desperately deserves?
09/06/2011 at 13:31 fuggles says:
I still have hostile waters and still love it! Can’t wait for this.
09/06/2011 at 19:05 JB says:
I think I might have to find my HW disc and reinstall. Love that game. Loved CC back in the day too.
I miss my Spectrum.
09/06/2011 at 13:58 Turin Turambar says:
Well… it’s not the arma 2 engine… because it’s the arma 2.5 engine, an in between step between arma 2 and arma 3.
09/06/2011 at 15:34 royaltyinexile says:
While Take On and A3 are on parallel development of the next-gen of arma platform, CC is a completely distinct engine engine with its own tool set and technology.
09/06/2011 at 14:08 pepper says:
For those that where waitin for respawn when Carrier command came out:
http://www.abandonia.com/en/games/1027/Carrier+Command.html
09/06/2011 at 14:13 bill says:
Looks remarkably like Hostile Waters. That is awesome.
09/06/2011 at 14:43 Rii says:
The trailer didn’t actually turn me off the game, but nor did it give me any indication as to whether this is in fact something I want to play or not.
Looking forward to your preview Mr. Rossignol.
09/06/2011 at 15:53 Doth Messar says:
Kinda looks like Ground Control II a bit. Except for the 1st person part.
09/06/2011 at 17:05 Jake says:
Oh so close, that aircraft carrier almost managed to shoot a guy in the arse with a missile. That would have been one to tell the grandkids about. Probably unlocks a really rare achievement too.
09/06/2011 at 18:27 Ed says:
Mushroom clouds are the new lens flare
09/06/2011 at 19:06 dogsolitude_uk says:
Wow… Really looking forward to this. I had it on the Atari ST back in the day, and thoroughly enjoyed playing it very badly and not getting anywhere in it!
Definitely on my ‘buy’ list :)
09/06/2011 at 19:38 SquidgyB says:
In my mind’s eye I can see the jewel case of my Hostile Waters CD.
Buggered if I can find it though.
:(
09/06/2011 at 19:39 JB says:
OK, Hostile Waters has been found and reinstalled!
Pugio In Averso Belli etc etc
09/06/2011 at 20:11 Johnny99.1 says:
So excited I registered after, like, a year of lurking just to comment.
Seriously, this was like the first proper, complicated, challenging game I ever played (i.e. not Double Dragon II or Treasure Island Dizzy). I must have been about ten. Bless the Atari ST.
I borrowed it, loved it, got my dad to photocopy the whole manual which was needed for the copy protection, played it for a whole summer. Totally failed to get anywhere. Repeatedly.
Play the game where you start at opposite ends of the islands, have about ten islands with a supply chain working, then the enemy carrier arrives and takes your islands off you, going wherever you aren’t.
Play the game where you both start with an empire in the middle. Try and fight the enemy carrier. It runs away. Tail it around your empire constantly failing to catch it. Lose.
Once I ran into it, wounded it so its engines weren’t working properly. Caught it up properly. It sunk me.
Great game. Love to know if I was just ten, or if it was really difficult. Anyone? Anyone beat it? Did you exploit a flaw or was it actually beatable in straight play?
09/06/2011 at 23:07 Sardaukar says:
Oh man oh man. I always wanted to play the original CC, but my only experience with this sort of thing is Hostile Waters.
I have connections to someone at BIS, though, maybe if I beg enough he’ll let me in on whatever beta there is, if any.
10/06/2011 at 01:37 FRIENDLYUNIT says:
I have been patiently avoiding checking on this game and waiting for this moment.
Pleasebegoodpleasebegoodpleasebegood.