By Jim Rossignol on September 21st, 2012 at 5:00 pm.
The release of the Carrier Command remake from Bohemia is almost upon us! (September 27th!) That means last-minute fancy trailers showing the game’s mix of strategy and action are now inevitable, as you can see below. I’ve played a bunch of this already, and I am keen to get my hands on the finished thing and really get stuck in. While being somewhat nostalgic, this is something of a departure for Bohemia, with them making a game that seems to put spectacle before action, while at the same time delivering strategic depth and tough tactical challenges. It’s going to be an interesting balancing act: keeping Bohemia’s wish to be faithful to the original 1980s game with modern spangles.
21/09/2012 at 17:05 Artist says:
Ive pre-ordered. And my bet is that they failed to adress the lacking AI from the beta properly! =)
Still looking forward for this!
21/09/2012 at 17:08 Artist says:
Oh, and Jim: This is not made by Bohemia Bohemia – its a different group, so I dont think “something of a departure for Bohemia” fits.
21/09/2012 at 17:18 Jim Rossignol says:
Oh, I know. It’s the team that was Black Element http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Element_Software, but Marek is still overseeing the project, and Carrier Command as a project is his baby. I’ve got an interview about it somewhere that I never found time to transcribe.
21/09/2012 at 17:38 slerbal says:
Aye, and at 0:15 they do say “From the creators of Arma” (and it is all being marketed as by BIS no matter which team made it) so I agree with you Jim that it can be seen as a bit of a departure – one they are specifically drawing attention to.
21/09/2012 at 17:29 sundhine says:
“These are hostile waters…” No? *sigh* A guy can dream…
21/09/2012 at 17:56 Ironclad says:
That’s the issue I have with this. I very much doubt it has the writing and character awesomeness of Antaeus Rising. If I play this I’ll constantly be looking for Ransom, Madsen, Patton, Lazare, etc…
And they won’t be there.
shudders
21/09/2012 at 18:26 eldwl says:
It took some digging, but I’ve just found my Hostile Waters disc! That’s my evening gone…
21/09/2012 at 19:42 Werthead says:
Interesting, as whenever I replay HOSTILE WATERS, whilst having to acknowledge its brilliance, the fact you can’t move the carrier and the carrier doesn’t have more of its own armaments as in the original CARRIER COMMAND remains vaguely grating (and of course, HOSTILE WATERS was very heavily inspired and influenced by the original CARRIER COMMAND).
Of course, the characters in HOSTILE WATERS were vastly superior (which isn’t hard, as CARRIER COMMAND didn’t have any characters at all :) ). And the UI was brilliant. I’m hoping the new CARRIER COMMAND can be in the same league.
22/09/2012 at 13:35 Yargh says:
There is no question that what made Hostile Waters so great was the fantastic voicework.
It is a real shame that the planned Carrier persona didn’t make it into the game as well.
21/09/2012 at 17:35 slerbal says:
I love Arma, want to get this and I probably will, though the lack of multiplayer/co-op really does feel like a missed opportunity.
21/09/2012 at 17:51 DuddBudda says:
I haven’t paid much attention to this, but I saw something about the campaign structure and just assumed that it would be translated into some large scale Dota-esque confliction
shame
21/09/2012 at 17:46 DuddBudda says:
Conquer the Archipelago!
seriously?
21/09/2012 at 18:14 Stevostin says:
I don’t get how Arma III can look so stunning and this one look so 2008. Design’s dull, that’s one thing, but the 3D is also very dated with the flat textures, the short line of sight and the cheap FXs.
21/09/2012 at 18:33 JBantha says:
The love of my life’s birthday is September 27th, so I’ll just sit here looking depressive.
21/09/2012 at 18:37 karazjo says:
what was that game from 90s that allowed you to control all your planes, tanks and choppers from first person perspective? I remember your base was a floating cube with antennas and you were hardwired to it… This game made me remember it after 15 years…
21/09/2012 at 18:52 Dominic White says:
Actually, Carrier Command was from the 80s. But otherwise you’re remembering it right.
Having played an early beta of this, I can say that it’s a shockingly accurate update. They’ve fleshed out some stuff, like the combat engine and attaching distinct missions to capture islands, but otherwise, this is still Carrier Command.
21/09/2012 at 19:57 karazjo says:
URBAN ASSAULT
I found it!!! aaaahhh feels so good pffffffffffffff
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_Assault
21/09/2012 at 22:20 BathroomCitizen says:
I wish there were more of these kind of games.
It’s a bit of a shame there isn’t any kind of multiplayer! I think it would have fitted the gameplay without being a tacked-on afterthought.
21/09/2012 at 22:37 Gasmask Hero says:
Carrier Command.
Really?
If they’re going to do a remake from the late 80′s/early 90′swhy not focus on something more worthwhile, like either of the Midwinters?
22/09/2012 at 12:49 Prime says:
Oh shush, you, grumpy-pants. Yes, really. Carrier Command is as beloved and just as worthwhile a remake as either of the Midwinter games. Hurrah!
23/09/2012 at 11:37 Werthead says:
That would be interesting, but I’m not sure how you’d avoid turning it into a first-person shooter (as a publisher would no doubt prefer) or an adventure game. Definitely sounds like a Kickstarter candidate though.
CARRIER COMMAND, however, is easily just as well-remembered as the MIDWINTER games, if not moreso. It’s already had one tribute game already (HOSTILE WATERS) to testify to that.
22/09/2012 at 00:47 rockman29 says:
OMG there HAS to be a mod for this game to play Red Alert, imagine taking over a Mammoth Tank or Tesla Tower or Missile Sub!!!!