Hi guys,

As per thread title, i'm looking for a surface combat sim (both a modern and/or WW2), and i want some sugestions. To help you guys: my biggest dream is: 1º - a Pacific Storm: Allies that had a more deep/real ballistics/damage, and clear of the downside on EVERY aspect of the game (i simply can't play the game, awesome concept though). 2º - a modern naval/air combat strategy game with the "Lock On" engine. I used to make some scenarios to see the ships fighting each other, shooting down the planes, etc. The detail is simply incredible.

For a long time i read about Harpoon, but as Command: Naval ops are almost on beta, IDK if harpoon is worth it now. Besides, if i get Harpoon/Command, i'll also look for a game with 3D view.

Fleet Command has dated graphics, but i read in some places that it better than Naval War: Arctic Circle (downloading demo right now), i heard of the "NAVAL WARFARE PROJECT" mod for it.

Although i'm focused on WW2/Modern, Jutland looks like the best option in "gun combat", and Fighting Steel "looks" nice too, but IDK if it will run in win7/newer GPUs, or if it run in lower resolutions only (i dont mind crappy graphics, but i can't stand windowed crappy graphics).

The game "moddability" is big parameter for me, in my experience the player community fixes/improves a lor of aspects of modable games, see Silent Hunter series.

I'll be grateful for any advice on purchase, or if there are any game in beta/nearing release.

Thanks!

Steam and Iron is far better than Jutland if you like WW1 gun action. It is a superb new game.

It sounds like you will enjoy NWAC if you really want 3D images. I find them terrible, but they are there.

Since you do not mind trying demos, Harpoon also has two demos you can run for free.

Global Conflict Blue 2 (GCB2) is also a game you would probably like. It is currently in perpetual Alpha, but it is free and runs. It has 3D and more extensive than NWAC.

I'm playing the demo of NWAC, really the 3D isn't great, not far away from GCB2, which i have played. GCB2 is nice, but as a freeware things develop slowly, wish they had a commercial project.

I'll get the harpoon demo too, and i'll look into Steam and Iron (i'm installing the steam clone of Jutland, to get the demo).

Thank you for your advice!

GCB2 is freeware at this time, but I suspect that it will get locked down as it approaches a commercial release.

A few video AARs for SaI have been posted:

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLC0B7E1E012583E22&feature=plcp

Steam and Iron looks real nice and realistic, but, concerning WW1/WW2 naval combat, i prefer a sim with a 3D mode. A good battle editor it's a nice feature too, because usually i like to play with few ships, i can only manage larger scenarios if the sim has a a sort of AI control of squads/divisions (and a good AI, obviously), just like the "RTS" Conquest of the Aegean.

I have been playing the Jutland demo (10min time limit on each battle) and it's very nice, there is a campaign mode, but i don't work on the demo version, it's kind of a strategic layer, just like a kind of WW1 naval "Total War", it's something that really adds to the immersion, i love dynamic campaigns.

Jutland is also reasonably priced, but i would like to know if they keep improving the engine (both physics, meta-game and rendering), and adding more scenarios/theaters, besides if it is modable. You know, Brazil was one of the first countries to have a dreadnought, it would be cool to make a scenario and sink it, to avenge the my great-grandfather, who paid taxes for it, and the ship saw no action in it's life :-).

If this is a requirement, I think you just need to grit your teeth and go with SES Jutland or Distant Guns.

Yeah, i think so... usually only after playing something less complex (Jutland) i know if i can jump to somthing deeper (Steam and Iron). Thank you for your advices, i'll keep an eye for SaI, as i'm for Command.

edit: the only doubt now on purchase of Jutland is that of continuous development... looks like there are some bugs in the campaign since the release of the game, and the devs won't do nothing about it because it's kind of a "design limitation". Although i'm having fun with Jutland demo, i know myself and, without a "non-frustating" campaign, i'll get bored very easily of the tactical battles. But, as you said, it's the only choice if i want a 3D game.

If you want to have a modern Naval sim(controlling one platform), try out Dangerous Waters (you get it pretty cheap via steam)...there is no more sophisticated modern naval sim available, especially with mods.