Flat Tops

[briguy]

I,ve been reading alot from you folks about this game. I have never heard of it before now. And I thought I had heard of them all. Please tell me more. I really like naval games such as Bismark, Wooden Ships and Iron Men. Also, I really like the Play Station PTOII but AI is dumb as a hammer, never found anyone who had the time to play opponent. Is there another version out there for PS or PS2, or a PC version. Another good PC game of old was SSG Carriers at War (CAW). Is Strategic Studies Group still around and is there other PC versions of this game?

[GROGnads]

WOW! Here I was thinking that about the only way to get into a game of "P.T.O. 2" was with my 'Super Nintendo", since I happen to have that, and now you say that there is one for the PlayStation? That would be great! I've also played the 'O'riginal "P.T.O." against another person before, which is why I decided to get the 2nd game of this. One of their greatest aspects for 'appeal' was the ability to design, create, upgrade, repair, outfit, and generally ENJOY a Campaign Game on this epic encounter! Battles were somewhat 2-dimensional in the 1st game and the 2nd one improved upon this somewhat. You still didn't get to 'control' the Army's forces too much and that can put some real constraints on your own plans.

I don't really get into many console games, but there are a few that I really like such as: "Napoleon" for the 'regular' Nintendo; "Liberty or Death"(American Revolutionary War) for the SNES; "Carrier Aces of the Pacific"(aerial Combat where the lousy 2-man craft have the advantage with the 'tail gunner'! Well, at least when I have one of them, I'm an excellent 'Gunner' myself); "Panzer General" for the PS1(anyone ELSE able to 'Decisively' WIN as the Soviets in the "Pskov" Battle?); "Allied General" for PS1(I usually go for the 'Campaigns' since you get to proceed from one Battle to the Next); "Ghengis Khan" for SNES(I'm notorious for my 'Market' skills AND Defensive Battles where I can usually end up with MORE Troops afterwards); "Operation:Europe" for SNES(great for that 'minis' look and feel to it when you Battle!); "Battleship" for SNES(when you undergo the 'Campaign' in this for Naval Battles); and some others.

I never really cared for the "3 Kingdoms" type of games as they were lacking in the 'Battles' departments, whereas with the "Khan" game, you can have your Infantry perform 'Ambushes' as long as you have them well trained. Most folks would have their 'Leader' with lots of Troops, but I find that having 75% or MORE of the Total Troops in my Infantry is much better. Then when I send it out to lie in wait for the enemy, it inflicts greater damage in an 'Ambush'! I also like having good sized Cavalry in order to allow them to perform devastating 'Charges' upon the diminishing Enemy. The Cavalry are also good for breaking down into smaller Units and placing them before the enemy to restrict their movements with a 'screen' of these, of which this is quite the appropriate use for them, if I say so myself!

[sking500]

CAW was (more or less) Flat Top for the computer - I had the Commodore 64 version at one point. While the graphics (or lack thereof) left much to be desired by current standards, it was a pretty good adaptation of Flat Top.

I was under the impression that SSI purchased SSG at one point, and was eventually absorbed by Atari...probably wrong, but I don't believe SSG is around as an independent software develop any longer.

[E-Tool]

If you have the time to set up your machine properly there is a java based p2p (player to player) version of Flat Top available here:
http://www.vassalengine.org/

I haven't yet had the opportunity to try it out (I own the most useless machine in the history of computing), but it seems like a fun way to play when you have the time.

[vyshka]

CAW was (more or less) Flat Top for the computer - I had the Commodore 64 version at one point. While the graphics (or lack thereof) left much to be desired by current standards, it was a pretty good adaptation of Flat Top.

I was under the impression that SSI purchased SSG at one point, and was eventually absorbed by Atari...probably wrong, but I don't believe SSG is around as an independent software develop any longer.


SSG is alive and kicking. They have been developing titles that are published by www.matrixgames.com . Notably Battles In Normandy, Korsun Pocket, and a rerelease of 2000's remake of Reach for the Stars. I don't know if they are planning to remake CAW or not, hopefully they will. You can still purchase CAW at http://www.nws-online.net/

[TomJag3]

Flat Top is a complex boardgame originally published by Battleline Games and then absorbed by AH. I have 2 copies of the Battleline version and 1 of the AH version. It is a great carrier wargame.

If you enjoy WWII naval warfare, you'll love the Avalanche Press games.
http://www.avalanchepress.com/boardgames.php
The production quality is unbelievable and the games are great.

[Moderator Sinister]

Flat Top is a complex boardgame originally published by Battleline Games and then absorbed by AH. I have 2 copies of the Battleline version and 1 of the AH version. It is a great carrier wargame.

If you enjoy WWII naval warfare, you'll love the Avalanche Press games.
http://www.avalanchepress.com/boardgames.php
The production quality is unbelievable and the games are great.

Couldn't agree more. I have it and don't get to play it much because it's a complex wargame that can take forever but it's pretty cool. I own the AH version.

[thierrybo]

Another good PC game of old was SSG Carriers at War (CAW). Is Strategic Studies Group still around and is there other PC versions of this game?

You can download for free "Complete Carriers At War" from the Underdogs site, as well as the mac version on MAC Underdogs.

Even if graphically outdated nowadays, if you come from the AII or C64 version, you will be surprised by outstandings graphics/sounds and the point-and-clic interface (both Mac an Ibm version looks the same). Oh, with this version you get scenarios not only for the Salomons Sea, and a great scenario editor (and all european fleets as well).

TB