Other "underground" games...

[Unknown_Enemy]

Yep, Steel Panther World at War is to my opinion the best tactical wargame you can get.

AND IT IS FREE !!

What you must pay are the Mega Campigns, some dynamics add on campaigns retracing 6 to 10 months of a particular phase of the war. At the moment, there are 3 mega campaigns, one as germany in north africa, another with germany in 41 on the eastern front, and the Last one with US troops in guadalcanal. So far, north africa was a bLast of mobile warfare, eastern front was a bloody and harsh struggle and I am still in close combat in guadalcanal with US troops fightings japonese, climat and diseases. I bought all these more than 1 year ago.

Speak about longevity. Matrix is another company doing some great job.

You'll also find good forums with plenty of map/scenarios designers, willing to help and nice to newbie.

The only thing that may be a problem for Matrix is their Art Of Wargaming forum, which is a free for all place where extreme opinions are very frequent. I fear this particular forum could be a nuisance to Matrix's reputation. But I maybe wrong, and that does not change the fact that Matrix game does some great games I love to play as much as SE4.

Let's just say it is a very good thing that widely different opinions has been expressed in SE4 forum without harsh or hate words.

[tesco samoa]

Taz we can mail it to you...

Just send a PM to some one with fast connection

I have the game as well...

I taught my MOM how to do a hard flank attack with t-34's timed with smoke and dropping off the eng's for that close combat feel....

QUite effective.

[Ruatha]

Another way is to use a download manager. That way it downloads in the background everytime you go on-line. It might take you some weeks but eventually you'll have it at home. I used to do that when I had a modem in the pre-historic age

[Gandalph]

I have to start by saying that I love strategy and micromanagement. To that end, this game, Knights and Merchants, from a German publisher, really impressed me. The story is rather linear, on the first Version, but was still really fun to play (and difficult). I enjoyed it enough that I bought the sequel and it is written all in German which I do not understand. The sequal allows for single scenarios, mutiplayer, and a new linear campaign. I know Amazon sells it, might be found elsewhere as well.

[JesusFreak]

Steel Panthers looks ok. Reminds me of one of my all time favorite series: Close Combat.

Are there any games like Close Combat out there that I am unaware of?

[Hugh Manatee]

Go to Crisium.com and get the Stars! demo. You'll love it. It's a 4X grand strategey game, but it's a little on the low tech side. the full Version has up to 26 tech levels in 6 fields, and huge 16 player galaxies. After playing it you'll cry because they haven't released Stars! Supernova Genesis.

[Krsqk]

What about Titans of Steel? I had the Last free Version they put out (1.4?) before they joined Matrix Games. There seemed to be a lot of noise about it then, but I haven't heard much since. Did it flop, or is it still going well? (Or does anyone else even play it? )