PANZER GENERAL (DOS) PBEM RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT SETUP OVERVIEW

The Panzer General (DOS) PBEM Research & Development "universe" ("PG - R & D") is a carefully put together PBEM PG (DOS) technical setup the purpose of which is to render this classic game title fully customisable and, consequently, infinitely extensible, as far as PBEM is concerned....... Here are its KEY components:

The Centre is gradually developing, polishing up and making available for PBEM (on a PERMANENT basis) WORTHWHILE and INNOVATIVE custom scenaria utilising an appropriately modified PG (DOS) engine. This we also call "PG Custom Scenario Add-on". Technically, the ..\DAT\AC-DOS\ sub-directory will contain all files necessary to PBEM any one of the custom scenaria comprising Armed Conflict (DOS).

By its very nature, this project is open-ended....... To boot, the QUALITY of Armed Conflict (DOS) custom scenaria is rather HIGH for PBEM purposes !!

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2. ALLIED GENERAL PG SCENARIO ADD-ON

The origins of this add-on can be traced back to my strong conviction that SSI's Allied General is a "pseudo-game" which should have been released as a PG (DOS) scenario add-on. The add-on allows one to PBEM ALL 39 scenaria natively found in Allied General via the PG (DOS) engine !! NEAR PERFECT fidelity to the original playing conditions is maintained at ALL times. Technically, the ..\DAT\AG-ADDON\ sub-directory will contain all files necessary to PBEM any one of the 39 scenaria comprising the Allied General PG Scenario Add-on.

Some time ago, Bill Haering developed a utility the purpose of which was to "translate" PG (DOS) scenaria into Allied General format. David Smid got hold of Bill's utility and reversed the process thus translating ALL 39 Allied General scenaria into the PG (DOS) format ! Glenn Andersen and Paul Kretek (former PANZERKLASSIK-PG members) carefully checked for scenario parameter discrepancies between the 39 scenaria as natively found in Allied General and their respective "translated" PG (DOS) versions. The Centre then carefully modified certain scenario parameters in order to render the playing of the add-on as close to the actual Allied General game title experience as deemed reasonable and appropriate for PBEM.

Technical advances here at the Centre now allow us to check any PG (DOS) scenario for map "flaws". In this context, a PG (DOS) map "flaw" is any instance where, UNINTENTIONALLY, a hex is iconically portrayed to be something that it is not..... The Centre has launched a technical project aiming at correcting ALL map "flaws" in ALL 39 scenaria comprising the Allied General PG Scenario Add-on ! This project will take a while to be completed.....

To date, hobbyist interest in the Allied General PG Scenario Add-on has been almost non-existent reflecting, perhaps, a widespread feeling that the 39 scenaria that are native to SSI's Allied General are of MEDIOCRE or, even, POOR QUALITY for PBEM purposes.....

A listing of all Allied General PG Scenario Add-on scenaria immediately follows:

A. NORTH AFRICAN SCENARIA

* SIDI BARRANI, EL AGHEILA, CRUSADER, MERSA EL BREGA, GAZALA, TRIPOLI, EL ALAMEIN - AG, CAIRO, TORCH - AG, KASSERINE, MARETH LINE, TUNIS

B. WEST EUROPEAN SCENARIA

* SICILY, ANZIO - AG, JUPITER, OVERLORD, COBRA - AG, MEUSE, MOSELLE, TO THE RHINE, RUHR, GERMANY

C. SOVIET SCENARIA

* FINLAND, PSKOV, LENINGRAD, MOSCOW, VYAZMA, KHARKOV (42), STALINGRAD - AG, ROSTOV, KHARKOV (43), DNIEPR, KORSUN, MINSK, PLOESTI, ZHITOMIR, DEBRECEN, LAKE BALATON, BERLIN - AG

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3. PANZER GENERAL PG SCENARIO ADD-ON

Because SSI developers were somewhat sloppy, a number of hexes in the 38 scenaria native to PG (DOS) are "problematic" when it comes to terrain. The Centre has quietly launched a technical project aiming at correcting ALL SSI map "flaws" in ALL 38 scenaria native to PG (DOS) ! This is precise technical customisation work..... This project will also take a while to be completed. The modified scenaria will eventually comprise the "Panzer General PG Scenario Add-on". At that point, one will create a new subdirectory, ..\DAT\PG-ADDON\. The above sub-directory will contain ALL "corrected" files corresponding to the 38 scenaria native to PG (DOS). Here at the Centre, we currently envisage that ALL PBEM PG (DOS) enthusiasts who decide to adopt "PG - R & D" will eventually be using this add-on to play any of the 38 scenaria native to PG (DOS) among themselves......

To date, hobbyist interest in the Panzer General PG Scenario Add-on has been almost non-existent reflecting, perhaps, a widespread feeling that the 38 scenaria that are native to SSI's Panzer General (DOS) are of MEDIOCRE QUALITY for PBEM purposes and, in any case, old hat and tired.....

A listing of all Panzer General PG Scenario Add-on scenaria immediately follows:

A. MISCELLANEOUS SCENARIA

* POLAND, WARSAW, NORTH AFRICA, MIDDLE EAST, EL ALAMEIN - PG, TORCH - PG, BALKANS, CRETE, BERLIN - PG, WASHINGTON

B. WEST EUROPEAN SCENARIA

* NORWAY, LOW COUNTRIES, FRANCE, SEALION (40), SEALION (43), HUSKY, ANZIO - PG, D-DAY, ANVIL, ARDENNES, COBRA-PG, MARKET-GARDEN, BERLIN (WEST), SEALION PLUS

C. SOVIET SCENARIA

* CAUCASUS, BARBAROSSA, KIEV, MOSCOW (41), SEVASTOPOL, MOSCOW (42), STALINGRAD - PG, KHARKOV, KURSK, MOSCOW (43), BYELORUSSIA, BUDAPEST, BERLIN (EAST), EARLY MOSCOW

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4. "PLAIN VANILLA" PG (DOS)

"PG - R & D" will ALWAYS allow a hobbyist to play any one of the 38 scenaria native to PG (DOS) IN THEIR ORIGINAL STATE, SAVE A FEW COSMETIC MODIFICATIONS. Among other things, this feature is designed to maintain some sense of commonality or connection with the PBEM PG (DOS) world "out there"...... Technically, the ..\DAT\PG-NATIV\ sub-directory will contain all files needed by the programme to revert back to "pure original SSI release status". This, here at the Centre, we call "plain vanilla" PG (DOS). As I stated earlier, I believe that the 38 scenaria that are native to SSI's Panzer General (DOS) are of MEDIOCRE QUALITY for PBEM purposes.....

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