Combat Mission: Black Sea: Difference between revisions
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==Expansions== |
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[[Image:Vimy0002.JPG|thumb|right|Controversy ensued when the purchasers of the initial release were given the option of selecting a "special edition" that included a battle map of the campaign area and a [[mouse pad]]. Subsequent patches rendered the key to the complicated command system less useful; there was also at least one shortcut on the mouse pad to a command that was never actually included in the final version of the game.]] |
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===Marines=== |
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{{Video game reviews |
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| title = Combat Mission: Black Sea - Marines |
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| MC = 73/100<ref name=MC2>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/combat-mission-shock-force-marines/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |title=Combat Mission: Black Sea - Marines for PC Reviews |website=Metacritic |accessdate=September 20, 2017}}</ref> |
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| IGN = 6.7/10<ref name=IGN>{{cite web |last=Butts |first=Steve |date=November 10, 2008 |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/11/10/combat-mission-shock-force-marines-review |title=Combat Mission Black Sea Marines Review |website=IGN |accessdate=September 20, 2017}}</ref> |
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| PCGUK = 75%<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Combat Mission: Black Sea - Marines |magazine=PC Gamer UK |date=April 2009 |page=69}}</ref> |
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An expansion, called ''Combat Mission: Black Sea - Marines'', was released in September 2008 and marketed by direct sale through Battlefront's website, requiring ''Combat Mission: Black Sea'' to play. The module was sold by direct download, physical disc, or both, and included the latest patch for the ''Black Sea'' base game, which was also made available via free download to all non-''Marines'' customers and works without the module for owners of the base game. The Content of ''Marines'' includes an increased number of units, 15 standalone scenarios, a 14-mission campaign, and 25 new Quick Battle maps. New units represent [[United States Marine Corps]] and Ukrainian Airborne troops, as well as regular Ukrainian units such as the [[T-90]] tank.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.battlefront.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=178&Itemid=234&limit=9&limitstart=9 |title=Marines (Page 2) |publisher=[[Battlefront.com]] |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090415180505/http://www.battlefront.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=178&Itemid=234&limit=9&limitstart=9 |archivedate=April 15, 2009 |url-status=dead |accessdate=September 20, 2017}}</ref> |
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''Marines'' received "average" reviews, a bit more positive than the original ''Black Sea'', according to Metacritic.<ref name=MC2/> [[IGN]] said that ''Marines'' was "slightly improved."<ref name=IGN/> |
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===British Forces=== |
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A second expansion module was released on July 29, 2009, bringing the [[British Armed Forces]] to the Ukrainian battlefield.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.battlefront.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=216&Itemid=332 |title=Introducing: Combat Mission Black Sea - BRITISH FORCES |publisher=Battlefront.com |date=November 25, 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201084454/http://www.battlefront.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=216&Itemid=332 |archivedate=December 1, 2008 |url-status=dead |accessdate=September 20, 2017}}</ref> This new module introduces units, vehicles and weapons currently in service with the [[Great Britain|British]] military, such as the [[Challenger 2]] tank and [[Warrior IFV]], and also includes the US [[IBCT]]. There is a new campaign from the British perspective, and new standalone scenarios. There are minor changes to the Ukrainian side, and the expansion patches the base game to version 1.20. |
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===NATO=== |
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A third expansion module for the game was announced on May 13, 2010.{{citation needed|date=September 2017}} This module features [[NATO]] and [[Coalition of the willing|Coalition]] forces, specifically the [[German Army|German]], [[Canadian Forces Land Force Command|Canadian]] and [[Royal Netherlands Army|Dutch]] armies.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.battlefront.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=257&Itemid=421 |title=Combat Mission Black Sea - NATO |publisher=Battlefront.com |date=May 13, 2010 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100523123918/http://www.battlefront.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=257&Itemid=421 |archivedate=May 23, 2010 |url-status=dead |accessdate=September 20, 2017}}</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 19:49, 30 January 2024
| Combat Mission: Black Sea | |
|---|---|
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| Developer(s) | Battlefront.com |
| Publisher(s) | Paradox Interactive |
| Designer(s) | Charles Moylan Stephen Grammont |
| Programmer(s) | Charles Moylan |
| Composer(s) | Daniel Sadowski Matt Faller |
| Series | Combat Mission |
| Platform(s) | Windows |
| Release | |
| Genre(s) | Computer wargame |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
Combat Mission: Black Sea is a computer wargame by American studio Battlefront.com in the Combat Mission series of games that covers a fictional Russian invasion of Ukraine.[2] Since the events in Crimea and eastern Ukraine in 2014, the government in Kyiv and Russia have continued to clash over the status of the disputed regions. This confrontation culminated a few years later with Ukraine's dramatic announcement that it would join NATO and the EU. Tensions exploded as Russia, perceiving a direct threat to Russian citizens, once again massed troops on the Ukrainian border, while Western governments, welcoming the possibility of NATO and EU influence expanding eastward, also mobilized. The escalation continued until the summer of 2017, when a major firefight broke out between Ukrainian and Russian forces in the Donetsk region. The next day, fighting broke out on the border, and on a dark morning in June 2017, pre-positioned Russian and NATO troops entered Ukraine.
Players can command American, Ukrainian, or Russian ground forces in the increasingly complex and deadly environment of modern combined arms warfare. The Black Sea represents three modern armies in great detail, including the United States Army, Ukrainian Ground Forces, and Russian Ground Forces. This includes the combat formations and equipment used by infantry, armored, Stryker, motorized rifle and tank brigades.
History of development
During the development of the Black Sea in early 2014, a real armed conflict broke out between Russia and Ukraine. In response to this event, Battlefront announced on its website:[3]
It is important to note that the storyline for Black Sea was first developed in 2009 and production started in 2013. In early 2014 Russia invaded Ukraine, making our story much less hypothetical. As a direct result we slightly modified the story's timeline to minimize contradictions with real life events. However, we deliberately made no attempt to portray an ongoing, undecided conflict. This means Black Sea is not equipped to simulate the "frozen conflict" that has since evolved in eastern Ukraine.
Content
The game shipped in a jewel case with a DVD-ROM and a printed manual. "Special Edition" versions shipped with a printed full-color poster of Ukraine with unit dispositions of the fictional invasion from the "Task Force Thunder" campaign marked on it, as well as a custom printed mouse pad.
Game content included a campaign of several linked scenarios, pre-made scenarios ("battles"), and maps for the "Quick Battle" system which permitted random play in one or two player mode. The game shipped with a fully operational map and scenario editor, as well as a campaign creation tool.
Reception
Wargamer wrote that "the true graphic triumph of this game lies in its presentation of the 183 units and weapon systems complete with variants. The 3D detail is incredible from the teeth of the biggest tanks’ drive sprockets to the features of the much criticized M9A1 pistol. Players can almost see through the sights of a team-crewed automatic grenade launcher. American, Russian and Ukrainian vehicles are featured with the changes in variants visible. Animation further enhances the feeling of authenticity as the TOW module on a Bradley folds out or a Javelin AT rocket goes into its initial horizontal stage followed by its ballistic approach to target and its final, lethal downward plunge onto the top of some doomed AFV. Helicopters buzz around the battlefield while jets zoom in to strike if the revolving turrets of anti-aircraft vehicles don’t get to them first. Individual troopers are not neglected as they run or crawl through terrain in their forest camo dress holding and firing their weapons."[4]
References
- ^ "Combat Mission: Black Sea - PC". IGN. Retrieved September 20, 2017.
- ^ "Black Sea". Battlefront.com.
- ^ "Black Sea: Overview". Battlefront.com.
- ^ "COMBAT MISSION: BLACK SEA REVIEW". Archived from the original on 27 January 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2022.