After losing my job 2 years ago, I decided to conserve money and work on my gaming backlog.  I recently reentered the workforce and I think I've made as much progress as I want to on my backlog.  (there are a surprising number of games I still don't want to play even though I'm bored of what I do play... That should teach me for buying just because it's on sale.)

There's a number of games I noticed that I definitely want to get:

Panzer Corps (I loved Panzer General 2 and still play with the adlerkorps mod sometimes)

Strategic Command WW1 or Global Conflict (I've played alot of SC2 lately and would like to get a new game)

Scourge of War: Gettysburg (I've lost most of my love for tactical level games but this looks great)

Rise of Prussia (the last "good" Ageod game I don't already have)

I'm not sure about CK2, I don't usually like Paradox games but people seem to like it. 

I'll probably pick up a post Medieval 2 TW game at some point.  I realize there's a sale right now, but I don't get paid until tomorrow. 

Now a couple questions if someone will indulge me.  Is there a Panzer Corps gold in the works?  Is the DLC worth it?

Is SC:GC that big of an upgrade over SC2 (non battlefront version) or should I just go with the new theatre and SC:WW1?

Other than that, did I miss anything?  I'd like to get another ACW game but I haven't seen any new ones lately.  I usually prefer strategic over tactical games as well.  The above could probably keep me happy for awile, but I'm always looking for good new games.

Can't advise you too much on games as you seem to like a lot I don't have but congrats on entering the workforce again!

Welcome back...

If you are interested in WWI, then you may be interested in Commander - The Great War...still 2+ months or so away...

Congratulations on getting back into the workforce. Now is a great time to be a strategy gamer so take your time and enjoy. There are a lot of great titles that are quite affordable.

Unity of Command

Conflict of Heroes

Warlock: Master of the Arcane

Unstoppable Gorg

Battle Academy expansions

Must be more but that is allI can think of off the top of my head.

If you've been away the past 2 years, you've missed alot. All of the post Medieval Total War games have been great, Empire, Napoleon, and the latest and best yet, Shogun 2 and it's add-ons Rise and Fall of the Samurai(that's 2 add-ons not just one). In addition, there are some fantastic mods available for all 3 games as well as MTW too. Possibly the greatest RPG of all time, Skyrim is available and with many mods that can change almost evert aspect of the game. You say you don't like tactical, but Combat Mission Battle for Normandy and it's new add-on, Commonwealth Forces may change your mind. Any game you consider, check it out first here for impressions and then look it up on YouTube for  video/gameplay examples. Good hunting.

Frozen Synapse.

Check out Scourge of War: Gettysburg, Achtung Panzer: Operation Star, and Command Ops: Battles from the Bulge.

Originally Posted By JaguarUSF (21 JUN 2012 9:12pm)

Frozen Synapse.

Frozen Synapse and Battle Academy were 2 games I forgot about.  Time for some more research!

Well I can't stop personally recommending Norbsofts Gettysburg:Scourge of War and the more recent Antietam expansion. Plus Crusader Kings 2 is Paradox's best release since EU. Great dynasty building game of fun and patch 1.06 plus being able to play the Muslims DLC just around the corner for it.

I enjoy tactical games more than strategic anymore. So, Panzer Command: Osfront would be another suggestion I'd throw up there.

Battle Academy just got a recent update and you can't go wrong getting Command Ops:Battles from the Bulge from Matrix Games. I also like Distant Worlds and they continue to patch and add things to it all the time.

Even if you prefer strategic level over tactical I'd still definitely try Combat Mission: Battle For Normandy. I also think expansions to Hearts of Iron 3 might be worth checking out.

I wholeheartedly endorse Gettysburg: Scourge of War, a really, really great game.

Crusader Kings 2- whew, tons of strategic goodness there.

and, Skyrim, perhaps one of the best, if not THE best RPG's of all time.  Don't let Ghostryder discourage you, it is an AMAZING game.

Congrats on the new job.

I also endorse Combat Mission: Battle for Normandy and Scourge of War: Gettysburg.

Congrats on getting back into the working sector! As for games, what everyone above has said are all good choices.

I've been enjoying Sniper Elite V2 more than I should for a third-person/first-person sniper game, nothing more satisfying than shooting the greandes on a soldier's belt to make him and his buddies explode

I would add

Warlock: Master of the Arcane

Endless Space

If you enjoy turn-based sci-fi or fantasy grand strategy.  I think their AI's could use more improvement, but they're both actively being worked on - notably the latter since it's still technically in beta but you can get in early a few bucks cheaper.

As said before, Scourge of War: Gettysburg is a must have tactical game.  You'll find that it plays out differently from most of the ones you're used to.  Great fun.

Originally Posted By ScottP (22 JUN 2012 9:51am)

I've been enjoying Sniper Elite V2 more than I should

That game is really fun for about five minutes at a time, and then it gets old.

So just quit and play five minutes tomorrow!

Originally Posted By Nefaro (22 JUN 2012 10:42am)

Endless Space

Oh yes, that too.

Congratulations, Pat!  As someone who was out of work for a long while myself, I'm especially happy for you. 

Originally Posted By Sir Slash (21 JUN 2012 8:33pm)

If you've been away the past 2 years, you've missed alot. All of the post Medieval Total War games have been great, Empire, Napoleon, and the latest and best yet, Shogun 2 and it's add-ons Rise and Fall of the Samurai(that's 2 add-ons not just one).

I disagree with at least part of that statement, as I found Empire to be utter rubbish.  Perhaps mods make it somewhat fun (although I can't vouch for that myself), but the vanilla game is crap-tastic. 

On the other hand, Shogun 2 has received almost nothing but praise, and is by nearly all accounts worth checking out. 

Originally Posted By JaguarUSF (22 JUN 2012 9:17pm)

Originally Posted By ScottP (22 JUN 2012 9:51am)

I've been enjoying Sniper Elite V2 more than I should

That game is really fun for about five minutes at a time, and then it gets old.

So just quit and play five minutes tomorrow!

Originally Posted By Nefaro (22 JUN 2012 10:42am)

Endless Space

Oh yes, that too.

 

I disagree.  Sniper 2 is one of the games I actually finished and really enjoy more than 5 minutes at a time.  Just something about it that draws me back and that says a lot since I don't know many games I actually finish until the end.

Originally Posted By Pat Cleburne (21 JUN 2012 2:38pm)

 

Is SC:GC that big of an upgrade over SC2 (non battlefront version) or should I just go with the new theatre and SC:WW1?

 

SC GC (with the new GOLD expansion) and SC WW1 are today more or less equipped with the same game engine, which is quite more advanced and way better than the original SC2 engine.

I can recommend both games, because each one of them has its own beauty and strength. The WW1 game includes a free WW2 campaign game (European Map), while SC GC offers a world map to play the entire WW2 (ETO and PTO).

Check out the Demos at Battlefront.com. This way you can find out best which one suits you more.

And congratulations and all the best wished for you and your new job!

I'm having a great time playing SC:WW1 as the Central Powers. I really like this game and I think it portrays World War One nicely.

I include screenshots of the western and Caucasus fronts of my game for which the date is June 1917.

Ummm where's the Red Baron and all those fun areoplane battles in the skies?

Thanks guys.  Lots of gaming to look through.  I think I will go with WW1 to start with because, well, I don't have any WW1 games and I want one.

Originally Posted By Wolverine101 (24 JUN 2012 1:48pm)

Ummm where's the Red Baron and all those fun areoplane battles in the skies?

I see a few different types of aerial contraptions scattered about in those shots.

Originally Posted By Wolverine101 (24 JUN 2012 1:48pm)

Ummm where's the Red Baron and all those fun areoplane battles in the skies?

LOL

Germany has some fighter and recon bomber units on the eastern front along with an Austrian fighter and recon bomber unit in Galacia.  Austria also has a fighter unit on the Italian. The Ottomans have a single fighter unit in Palestine, but none on the Caucasus front.

On the western front, I have one single fighter unit with two zepplins. I lost a fighter unit last month in the west and I'm rebuilding it, but it won't arrive until mid-July.

Germany's production for July/August 1917:

Originally Posted By Grim.Reaper (23 JUN 2012 2:36pm)

Originally Posted By JaguarUSF (22 JUN 2012 9:17pm)

Originally Posted By ScottP (22 JUN 2012 9:51am)

I've been enjoying Sniper Elite V2 more than I should

That game is really fun for about five minutes at a time, and then it gets old.

So just quit and play five minutes tomorrow!

Originally Posted By Nefaro (22 JUN 2012 10:42am)

Endless Space

Oh yes, that too.

 

 

I disagree.  Sniper 2 is one of the games I actually finished and really enjoy more than 5 minutes at a time.  Just something about it that draws me back and that says a lot since I don't know many games I actually finish until the end.

I think what draws me in is that the game doesn't give you a lot of SMG rounds and a weak pistol, forcing you to rely on trickery or making perfectly-time sniper shots to take out the enemy. While there are the "lots of enemies, hold this point" sections, putting the game on Sniper Elite and dealing with wind and bullet drop while trying not to die gave some tense moments.

If you are going with WW1 take a look at Guns of August. It isn't flashy but I have had lots of fun with it. The interface is different but it doesn't take long to pick up gameplay.