Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!tektronix!tekig5!tekig4!ronb From: ronb@tekig4.TEK.COM (Ronald Bannick) Newsgroups: comp.sys.cbm Subject: C64 game review.... Keywords: Tank simulator Message-ID: <3622@tekig4.TEK.COM> Date: 13 Jan 89 21:56:42 GMT Organization: Tektronix Inc., Beaverton, Or. Lines: 67 I am in Syria doing 60 MPH cross country heading for an enemy ammo dump. Sitting in the Commanders mini turret of my M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank I scan the horizon for anything out of place. Below, the gunner is at the ready. The 120mm main gun is loaded with an APFSDS (Armor-Piercing fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot) round. The most effective anti-tank round make. This round was selected because a Russian T80 Front Line Tank might be in the area. Suddendly I spot something in the periscope. Bring the tank to a stop, it rocks back and forth as I try to get a fix on the object. As the gunner identifies the target I use the laser rangefinder to get target range. A Soviet BMP-2 at 2755 yards. The BMP-2 is a fast lightly-armored APC with 30mm autocannon and an AT-5 Spandrel Anti-Tank Guided Weapon. I instruct the loader to change to a HEAT (High-Explosive Anti-Tank) round, and decide to take the shot myself and move to the gunners position. In a short time the loader signals the main gun is loaded and ready. I wait for the right moment. They haven't seen us yet, suddenly the BMP-2 turns toward us. We might have been spottted but he is well within range and my finger is on the fire button. Fire, the big gun recoils belching fire and smoke. Watching through the periscope at 10x magnification I see a direct hit. An explosion, fire, smoke and when it clears there is nothing left but rubble. STEEL THUNDER American Battle Tank Simulation By ACCOLADE I found a dandy in this program. This has to be one of the best and it is less than $20. The documentation is a very well done 43 page booklet that also gives equipment reference strategy and tactics and a know your enemy section. A keyboard overlay is also included. The intro is also very well done with a full screen picture of each tank and a brief description below. After getting past the Sentry you are standing in front of the CO in his office. The CO will usually give you a number of missions to choose from. You can also select an M48A5 Patton, M60A3, M3 Bradley or M1A1 Abrams for the mission. You also select your driver, gunner, loader, ammo and armor. Your main job is Commander but you can be Driver or Commander/Gunner anytime you want. After each mission your personnel file is updated. Once you are in the tank the disk drive is not used. Moving from one station to another is done in a flash. Scrolling is very smooth, graphics and sound are just as good. I only have two complaints: 1. There is no terrain or anything to hide behind. The tank does dip and buck as if going over irregular ground but no trees or burned out buildings to hide behind. 2. I haven't been able to make a backup and this worries me as this disk is getting well used. Other than that it is a great program and the missions get real challenging. Squint Skinner PS: I would like to hear reviews, tips and tricks of programs you like and dislike. Posted for a friend who has no UNIX access. I will forward any e-mail replies to him. We have nothing to with the company that made and sells this program he is just a happy customer. I haven't tried this program..... ___________________________________________________________________________ Ronald Bannick Tektronix Inc. ronb@pical1.LIM.TEK.COM 11k Plug-ins P.O.Box 500, M/S 47-247 ronb@tekig4.LEN.TEK.COM LIM Product Test Beaverton, Oregon 97077 phone----(503) 627-3408 uucp {ucbvax,decvax,ihnp4}!tektronix!teklim!pical1!ronb CSnet teklim!ronb@tek ARPAnet teklim!ronb.tek@csnet-relay ronb%pical1.lim.tek.com@relay.cs.net __________________________________________________________________________ -- Ronald Bannick Tektronix Inc. ronb@pical1.LIM.TEK.COM 11k Plug-ins P.O. Box 500, M/S 47-247 (503) 627-3408 LIM Product Test Beaverton, Oregon 97077 ronb@tekig4.LEN.TEK.COM