Probably the best way to review "High Command:1939-45" (i.e. HC) is to begin by listing the games that it somewhat compares with/against, using the following three categories: 1. Scope and realism of historical period. 2. Complexity of strategy and functionality. 3. Playability, breadth of details covered, and ability to play game against computer or live human. The games: PC versions of Axis and Allies and Third Reich, Clash of Steel, Call to Power 2, Civilization III, Diplomacy, Risk/Risk II, Empire Earth. SCOPE: Only High Command, A&A, TR, and CoS cover EXACTLY the topic of strategic war in Europe during 1939-45+, but only HC covers as much detail (even the graphics are the best of the bunch). COMPLEXITY: While a fun diversion, A&A is simply a kid's game. TR was better as a board game, and as such, was only a little better than A&A. TR and COS cut LOTS of corners! Winner: HC, as it pays close attention to detailed borders, rules, and choices allowable by the players. PLAYABILITY: A&A is easy to play, and a fun diversion for a couple of hours (great for a break), but it's not very realistic. Only HC comes as close as I've seen to a real strategic simulation experience. It does have flaws, however, such as limiting only 2 players (the Axis player controls all Axis countries, for example), the inability of neutrals to produce, deploy, or have any impact until actually at war, and the unrelated action phases that take a little away from the overall impact (a common flaw with most, if not all, turn-based wargames, in all fairness). But, OVERALL, you won't find anything released yet that seriously challenges it with an AI, and that's since 1993!. (NOTE: Europe in Flames (or World in Flames) looks promising, but details are sketchy). Once you realize what is left of the bunch (HC), you can approach it with a better set of expectations, and understand that yes, it is DOS-based, and yes, there are flaws in the game, but there are ways around those flaws that remedy the game back to an enriching experience. Here's a concrete example. The game was not designed to be played by email, or over the web, but it is possible. It only requires honesty from both players, and an understanding that the Allied player (on his computer) will move first, and the Axis player (on his computer) will watch the action happen. Both players' phases happen separately, and with the exception of the momentary second it takes to save the game at the start of the oppenent's phase, and then exit (to then email the files), there will be no real obstacle to making it work. There are only 3 files associated with each scenario that will be changed, and they can be emailed in a small zip file (typically under 30k, so we are talking NOTHING in terms of email). Those files are labeled for the scenario, and end with .aln, .axn, and .sav. (see details at www.ryanbailey.com/hicom/hicom.html). There are more flaws, but the steps required in building items in your factories is not one of them. You must have enough oil and minerals in a specific factory to produce whatever forces you want (land, air, sea, etc). So, you begin by moving the required resources to your factories, the same way real countries do! It takes a lot of oil and a lot of minerals, so you quickly discover how desperate you are to secure areas that have those resources (else, you'll not be able to build as much as you'd like, or physically be able to do), and keep them in a constant line of supply over land (or with merchant marine units, if over sea zones). Infantry units are cheap compared to air and naval units, so hard decisions will need to be made (just like in reality!). The concept of "guns and butter" is quickly realized in High Command, as the amount of deployability of existing units reflects the real limitation of rail and roadway capability. France does have a very hard time just surviving the game at all against even the most basic human German player, but keep in mind that you can select whatever command line modifiers (using the DOS prompt only) you need to make the game more challenging for you, whether you are playing against a human OR the computer artificial intelligence. These odds can be any number you choose, such as 1-1, or 2-1 against you (or even 15-1 against the true grognards!). See my website (ryanbailey.com/hicom/hicom.html) for all the HC goodies I've been able to assemble, and YES, all are FREE for your downloading delight. Enjoy! Hicom III is in the works, from what I'm told, and I hope we see it this year (though I have been saying that for 6 years now!). Oh yes... about CTP2, CIVIII, and Empire Earth: these games are generic in feel, and are not TRULY historically set up. You'll play these for hours and wonder where your time went, or why you even bothered.... trust me! Ryan B. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Send FREE video emails in Yahoo! Mail! http://promo.yahoo.com/videomail/