COMBATSIM.COM | The Ultimate Combat Simulation and Strategy Gamers' Resource.

2017 WinSPWW2 and WinSPMBT Upgrade Patches Released

Twenty tons of metal mayhem thundering from our servers to your computer, crushing all false wargames, Camo Workshop and Shrapnel Games raises once more the crimson flag of glory with the 2017 WinSPWW2 and WinSPMBT upgrade patches! Unleash a storm of new content, revisions, and bug stomping that will leave you breathless. Clear your calendar and plunge into the fire of the most intense tactical wargaming available on your PC!

The WinSPWW2 upgrade patch updates the game to version 10.0 while the WinSPMBT version updates that game to version 11.0. These patches are applicable to both the FREE and the Extended CD versions. Owners of the Extended CD version will be excited to hear about some of the new features that are only available for you, so be sure to keep on reading.

Before we get into the nitty-gritty of the upgrades it’s time for that annual public service announcement. DO NOT apply the upgrade patches while in the midst of a secure PBEM game as the game will fail. You have been warned.

As to be expected, both patches add plenty of additional content to the games. So, by the numbers we have the following bits of greatness…

WinSPWW2, upgrading to version 10.0 includes:

20 new scenarios, 17 revised scenarios, and 2 revised campaigns.
4 new maps.
134 new or revised photos.
36 updated OOB files.
73 new or revised vehicle/aircraft icons.
135 new or revised icon and terrain graphic files.
3 revised text files, 71 campaign text files.
7 new or revised sound files.
7 new terrain sets, 10 revised terrain sets.

And WinSPMBT, updated to version 11.0 has:

15 new scenarios, 6 revised scenarios.
10 new or revised map files.
77 new or revised photos.
176 new or revised vehicle/aircraft icons.
93 updated OOB files.
138 new or revised icon and terrain graphics files.
6 new or revised text files.
2 revised picklist files.
18 new or revised sound files.
7 new terrains, 10 revised terrains.

While all of the above is nothing to sneeze at there is also the long list of bug fixes, enhancements, new features, and more. Click here to read the full press release. There you will find links to the respective game forums for full list of changes and links to download the upgrade patches.

Strategy and Wargaming winSPMBT - winSPWW2 | Donster | March 3, 2017 |

GIGABYTE Z270X Gaming 9 Motherboard Review

By Daniel Dobrowolski @ HARDOCP

GIGABYTE is one of the most well-known and respected motherboard manufacturers in the industry today. Following suit with its competition, GIGABYTE has recently started its “Aorus” brand to target the gamers and some enthusiasts who can appreciate the gaming focused aesthetic qualities common to motherboards in that market. The Z270X Gaming 9 is part of the Aorus family, and it is the premiere LGA 1151 entry. Make no mistake about it, this is not positioned as a value motherboard. At the time of this writing this monster comes in at $499.99. There are a lot of reasons for this and in a sense, it is a value option because of all that comes with it, but its cost is no doubt at the very ceiling of what you’ll see in the “mainstream” gaming motherboard market. I’ll expand more on this point later, but I think a few of you will come to see this motherboard as a good deal if you planned on buying many of the devices included with the motherboard.

Read The Review Here

Hardware Motherboards | Donster | March 3, 2017 |

ASRock Z270 SuperCarrier 4-Way SLI ATX Motherboard Review

By Thomas Soderstrom @ Tom’s Hardware

We recently marveled at how one of ASRock’s competitors was able to pack a full array of enthusiast-class features into a board that was only slightly oversized, stating that fitting all of those components into a standard ATX motherboard would have required a miracle (or more PCB layers). The standard ATX, lower-priced Z270 SuperCarrier is even better-equipped in some ways, but is it the miracle we were looking for?

Read The Review Here

Hardware Motherboards | Donster | March 3, 2017 |

Just Announced Hardware for 3 March 2017

Check out these latest hardware announcements for today from around the web. Also included are some hardware news bits, and on some days, a few rumors tossed in for good measure. Click on the links below to read the official press release, visit the products web page, or to an independent news source.

Hardware | Donster | March 3, 2017 |

Paradox Allies with Eugen Systems to Deploy Steel Division: Normandy 44

Execute Real-World Tactics with Historically Accurate Units in Big Multiplayer Battles

Paradox Interactive, a publisher on the front line of gaming, has announced that it has partnered with Eugen Systems, a renowned developer of games such as the Wargame-series and R.U.S.E., to release Steel Division: Normandy 44, a new tactical real-time strategy game for Windows PCs.

Steel Division: Normandy 44 is a game that puts players in command of historically accurate tanks, troops, and vehicles at the height of World War II, and will feature a single-player campaign alongside online multiplayer modes, up to and including 10-versus-10 battles. The game will be available later this year.

Steel yourself for battle with this trailer!

Steel Division: Normandy 44 features thorough attention to historical detail, from the carefully rendered tanks to the in-game maps – based on actual aerial reconnaissance photos of Normandy in 1944. The game runs on the latest version Eugen’s IRISZOOM engine, allowing players to zoom from an aerial, battle-wide perspective all the way down to a single unit, and keep track of the dynamic front line as they plan and execute maneuvers, ambushes, and more. From creating a battlegroup of historically accurate infantry, tanks, and vehicles, to troop positioning and real-time engagement with the enemy, players will need to be clever and cunning in order to win; raw firepower alone will not be enough.

“Few developers appreciate strategy and history as much as Eugen Systems, and that’s what makes this partnership so ideal,” said Fredrik Wester, CEO of Paradox Interactive. “The level of detail they’ve included in Steel Division is impressive, and I know it will meet the high standards that Paradox fans have when it comes to their historical games.”

Steel Division: Normandy 44 will feature:

Command Over 400 Historically Accurate Units: Whether fighting for control in intense multiplayer battles with up to 10-vs-10 players going head-to-head, playing alone or working with friends in ranked matches, players will need to coordinate their selection of historically accurate infantry, tanks, aircraft, and support vehicles to counter enemy units in this Tactical RTS game.
Real-world Tactics: Battles rage over three distinct phases, where different units unlock over time, mimicking the movements of real-world armies and adding variety to the ever-changing theatre of war. A dynamic front line illustrates the ebb and flow of the conflict. Pin down your opponent’s infantry to gain the advantage and force a retreat, or push through with a perfectly executed plan.
Real-world Setting: Using the latest version of Eugen’s IRISZOOM engine, players can smoothly zoom from a tactical aerial view all the way down to a single unit, and see 400 different real-world vehicles and units designed with careful historical detail and accuracy. Maps are designed based on actual aerial reconnaissance photos of Normandy in 1944, requiring real-world tactics and strategies to cover and control.
Outplan, Outsmart, Outgun: From battlegroup customization to troop positioning and maneuvering, winning battles requires cunning and strategy, not just raw firepower. Each unit lost presents a growing tactical disadvantage, and players will need to fight to gain — and keep — the upper hand.

For more information on Steel Division: Normandy 44, visit the games official website.

Steel Division: Normandy 44 Strategy and Wargaming | Donster | March 2, 2017 |

Supreme Ruler The Great War Announced

supreme-ruler-the-great-war BattleGoat Studios is delighted to announce the development of their upcoming Real Time Geopolitical Strategy/Wargame, Supreme Ruler The Great War. BattleGoat’s Lead Programmer and Co-Founder George Geczy commented, “Supreme Ruler: The Great War adds a new era to the franchise, building upon a game system which has evolved over more than a decade. The combat, diplomatic and economic systems developed for the series continue to offer a unique strategy experience, one which has always been well suited to global conflicts. The First World War remains a topic of great interest to historians and gamers alike, although few games model the strategic challenges that the great powers faced during that era. Adding a World War I title to the series fills a gap in both the franchise and within the PC strategy genre.”

Game Designer and Project Lead Christian Latour added, “Since completion of Supreme Ruler Ultimate, the community has continued to ask if we’ll be developing more content. Most players wanted us to go further back in history, and the First World War remained the most popular request. The scope of an entirely new era goes beyond adding another DLC to one of the existing games, it fits best as its own title within the franchise. Having developed the later eras already, we are able to add the earlier time frame and flow seamlessly into the gameplay experiences for which the Supreme Ruler titles are so well known. With the required development tools and an experienced team in house, we know that we can build the World War I strategy game fans have been asking for.”

About Supreme Ruler The Great War
Expanding on sixteen years of development on the Supreme Ruler series of Real Time Geo-Political Military Strategy Games for PC and Mac. Supreme Ruler The Great War brings players back to 1914, to a world that has little understanding of the devastation that will be unleashed as long-time alliances and animosities drive ever-growing conflicts. Whether leading a major power or a minor nation, players can experience the tensions of a world descending into chaos. Campaigns follow paths similar to historical events while allowing players control of their own destiny, with the opportunity to change those events and chart their own course. Set-Piece Scenarios will provide for a shorter game focused on specific events from the era. As well, the ever popular sandbox mode allows players to customize their gaming experience by picking any nation and choosing their own preferred Victory Condition. With the further option of multiplayer matches, Supreme Ruler The Great War provides incredible amounts of replayability.

World War I Campaigns for various major powers from the era.
Take Control of any Nation in Sandbox Mode and impact the outcome of the conflict.
Start in 1914 and progress well into the 21st century for an Epic Game-play experience.
Challenge yourself with Set-Piece Scenarios for a faster-paced game.
The butterfly effect… Influence the timeline and outcome of thousands of historical events.
Use Diplomacy, Trade, Espionage, and Intimidation to influence the policies of other nations.
Guide your Nation through the first war waged on a global scale.
Modernize your economy to support whatever social and military policies you choose.
Comprehensive Tech Tree features over 100 years of technology and equipment advances.
Sophisticated Real-Time Strategic and Tactical Control of your Military Forces.
Detailed historically-accurate Armies down to the Battalion level.
Choose your level of control. Make all decisions or use your Cabinet Ministers to help.
Battle the elements! Fully integrated weather model influences battlefield outcomes.
Up to 16 players in Multiplayer over local network or Internet.

Strategy and Wargaming Supreme Ruler The Great War | Donster | March 2, 2017 |

New Europa Universalis 4 Expansion Looks East – Mandate of Heaven Announced

europa-universalis-iv-mandate-of-heaven Dynasties come and dynasties go, but China is eternal. An unbroken chain stretches through the millennia, and now this mantle lies on your shoulders. Rest secure in the Forbidden City, husbanding your power for the storms you know are coming. Your neighbors will kowtow and bring tribute to your palace. Does anyone dare challenge you, the heir to the Mandate of Heaven?

Mandate of Heaven is the newest expansion to Europa Universalis IV, the renowned historical grand-strategy game from Paradox Development Studio. Mandate of Heaven enhances the game experience for playing the major nations of East Asia, especially Ming China, Japan, and the Manchu tribes.

One of the centerpieces of Mandate of Heaven is managing the Celestial Empire, similar to how the Holy Roman Empire has been handled in Europa Universalis IV. Increase the power of your mandate by commanding tribute, then use your mandate to reform the imperial system, strengthening your grip on the Middle Kingdom and the continent as a whole. Embrace the meritocracy of China’s civil service to pass decrees that meet your empire’s immediate needs. Can you hold off challengers to your claim?

Mandate of Heaven’s features include:

Ages and Golden Eras: Earn perks in four historical ages for meeting specific goals, building up to declaring your nation’s single Golden Era – 50 years of prosperity and power.
Meritocracy: The Chinese emperor can hire good advisers more cheaply, keeping the empire functional no matter who rules.
Tributaries: Some Asian nations can demand that weaker powers pay an annual tribute, whether in gold, manpower or monarch points.
Manchu Banners: Manchu provinces can provide cheap and effective Banner armies drawn from the traditional tribe system.
Japanese Shogunate: Compel the loyalty of your daimyos with new interactions that require them to submit to your authority, contribute to your power or even commit seppuku
Diplomatic Macrobuilder: Common diplomatic actions are now easily available from the macrobuilder interface.
New Events and Decisions: Most of these new systems are connected to new event series or decisions, enhancing your historical immersion.

Mandate of Heaven will also ship alongside new Content Packs fitting the theme of the expansion, with new unit designs for many of the East Asian powers and other updated army models. Watch the Europa Universalis IV: Mandate of Heaven Announcement Trailer here.

Europa Universalis IV: Mandate of Heaven will available soon on Steam and at the Paradox Store.

Europa Universalis IV Strategy and Wargaming | Donster | March 2, 2017 |

AMD Ryzen 7 Review Roundup

AMD today released the first three models of its highly anticipated, high-performance AMD Ryzen desktop processor. Starting today there are three 8-core Ryzen 7 models available. With that announcement, there are a number of websites that have the new Ryzen 7 CPU’s and have been putting them through their paces. Will the much anticipated AMD Ryzen desktop processor compete or beat the latest from Intel? Check out the reviews listed below and find out.

Hardware Processors | Donster | March 2, 2017 |

Just Announced Hardware for 2 March 2017

Hardware | Donster | March 2, 2017 |

Strategic Command Garand Update Available

strategic-command-ww2-war-in-europe The first official update of Strategic Command WWII: War in Europe is finally available for download!

The “Garand” Update brings a huge list of bug fixes and improvements, thanks to the extraordinary amount of feedback coming from the community!

Some highlights:

Fixed a rare disappearing Capitals error;
Fixed several ‘on_left_button_down’ errors related to unit selection and movement;
Soviet Shock Army Build Time increased from 1 to 4 months;
Vichy France will now deploy its navy if it joins the Axis or Allies for the 1939 to 1942 campaigns

The changelog is very long, so be sure to check it out here!

You can download the update from here.

NOTE ABOUT MULTIPLAYER

The “Garand” Update does not include PBEM which is not quite ready but we didn’t want to delay the many improvements and fixes that Hubert and Bill have made any longer. Nevertheless, the multiplayer is almost finished and we hope to release it very soon! Thanks for your patience!

Get more information about Strategic Command WWII: War in Europe from its official product page!

Strategic Command WWII: War in Europe Strategy and Wargaming | Donster | February 24, 2017 |