Harpoon 4 is slated for release in the summer or fall of 2000. The
first developerment team was fired late last year and SSI hired a new
firm.
The game is being done with a loving hand and fine attention to
detail. H4 will span the period from 1986-2000. The interface looks
excellent, logical and intuitive but allowing as much attention to
management as the player prefers. Rules for the game follow Larry
Bond's rules for the board game to exacting detail. Expect this game to
bring a return to the original Harpoon with TOTAL customization and
detail.
Notice the satellite track.
H4 will be 3D accelerated like Fleet Command, but will lack the up
close 3d views, going instead for a 3d real time interface more similar
to Total Air War AWACS view. Resolutions now reach 1024x768 and may go
higher later. The engine allows you to overlay as much information as
you want, so you can selectively turn off clouds, terrain, data etc.
I have never played Harpoon II, but I did see the game a couple
of times. I haven't seen Fleet Command since last E3, but I have read
an early review and some previews.
With that in mind, and if you know anything about Harpoon II and Fleet
Command, take Fleet Command to the 10th power and you have something
close to Harpoon 4. Man, I can't wait for this one!!
If you aren't familiar with Fleet Command, think Total Air War AWACS
interface greatly improved and with vastly more flexibility and power.
You have the ability to bring up many real time windows while at the
same time you have a strategic world view where you can issue orders in
real time. There is SO MUCH going into this game. The team themselves
are pretty psyched, they know what they have going here.
HIV Notifs
At this point there are no CLEAR plans to include dual monitor support.
The ability to place the strategic map on a large screen with real time
views on the other would be icing on the cake here. And with Matrox
G400 new dual head display abilities it would be a relatively simple
matter. Those of us with two monitors would be in heaven. Er... how do
you spell d i v o r c e l a w y e r ????
Detail and complexity of H2? FAR beyond H2... !
Tactical View
Try a very powerful scenario editor with 40 scenarios prepared. 688
individual platforms modeled for 1988 alone. We may see hooks for
Flanker3 in place, since SSI would like to continue to build into the
digital battlefield. There will be at least three campaigns in place.
Watch for more soon!
