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E3: Harpoon4 Preivew
By Ed "Brandor" Reddy

SSI's previewed Harpoon4 at E3 this year. For those of you who are Harpoon fans, Harpoon4 is a brilliant follow-up from the previous versions. A treat for all those attending this year, Larry Bond was at hand in the SSI booth to demo Harpoon4.

Fig. 1. Carrier Group on the move

Larry spent six years as a US Navy officer with a wide range of tours and experience from Destroyers to Naval Intelligence. His first game "Harpoon" first appeared in 1980 and won the H.G. Wells Award in 1981. His latest addition includes his personally designed "High Tide Campaign" that is filled with many exciting features and an excellent storyline.

Fig. 2. Satellite-Battlemap View

Previous versions of Harpoon offered excellent campaign play in various "What if" Cold-War naval scenarios. The new version of Harpoon4 has taken the game interface with a 'commander chair' style. Screens of various information and assets can be placed a single click away for use. Menus for command and control are well though out with many "drag and drop" features built into the desktop. A powerful scenario editor has also been included to give everyone the chance to create and build their own exciting scenarios.

Fig. 3. Scenario Editor

Here are the documented game features for Harpoon4:

• Detailed Order of Battle with over 250 platforms from 14 nations
• A highly detailed map of the Northern European region, created from satellite imagery
• The player will be able to customize the map to display more than 25 overlays, including weapons and sensor ranges, bathymetric data, ice pack, weather, cloud cover, daylight,and satellite coverage
• A highly detailed 3D environment in which the players can view ships, aircraft, helicopters and submarines in action. The 3D environment will display weapons and radar envelopes, spectacular special effects and much more
• An extensive database of platforms, weapons, and sensors with descriptions, drawings, photos, and video (where possible). The open-architecture database will also allow players to create their own ships, aircraft and vehicles
• A powerful and flexible Scenario and Formation Editor that will allow players to make a wide variety of scenarios
• Strike and Patrol Plan builder using Time of Attack and Time on Target models
• The High Tide Campaign, written by Larry Bond

Fig. 4. Theatre View

You can expect to see Harpoon4 on store shelves later this fall.

Harpoon4 Resources:

• Official Web Site: www.harpoon4.com
• Bio of Larry Bond at twbookmark.com

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