Guess what’s being released tomorrow?
You can get it from Ogre on Steam.
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Video Game
I had some free time today to test out the Ogre video game on Steam, so I decided to play defense in a basic “Mk. III Attack” scenario in single-player (vs. computer AI) mode.
The picture at right depicts the classic “Four Howitzer Defense” by Chester Hendrix. You can read about it in detail at the SJ Games site or in the OGRE Book (p.48-49).
In a nutshell, the defender places four howitzers in such a way “so their crossfire is at once heavily concentrated and mutually supportive”. The different colours in the deployment map indicate the number of howitzers able to fire into any given hex. In the region near the command post, all four howitzers can fire upon an attacker.
As Steve Jackson comments:
Not everyone can make the four-howitzer defense work, but it’s a valid strategy – and played successfully, it can be hugely annoying to an opponent who didn’t believe howitzers were worthwhile… let alone four of them!
This is a scenario that I’ve used against human players on several occasions. I’ve also run it as a solo session many times – usually with an Attacker victory. It’s a good test case for Ogre video game, and thus is the subject of my first computer “play-through” post.
So how does an AI Mk. III fare against this defense?
Actual gameplay screenshot (Preview Version)
From the SJ Games OGRE News or the Kickstarter updates you’ve probably seen that the release of the Ogre video game by Auroch Digital is imminent. It’ll be available on Steam for Windows PCs on October 5th.
Here’s the promotional blurb:
The official adaptation of the legendary wargame from Steve Jackson Games. Engage in futuristic warfare with armored hovercraft, superheavy tanks, infantry, and giant cybernetic war machines called “Ogres”.
The game is currently undergoing beta testing, and I’ve been allowed access to a Preview build (thanks Auroch!), so will be spending some time test-driving OGREs in the near future.
What I’m really excited about is the multiplayer functionality – the ability to pit my forces against folks from around the world has me really stoked.
So expect some more posts as I settle myself back into the Command Post for some OGRE combat!
