Steel Battalion

[Porksta]

So I will be buying a complete Steel Battalion off of Craigslist this evening and just wanted some advice. Are there any SB problems I should be aware of? Screws I will need? Common controller problems? Any help is appreciated. I already know about the screwdriver thing it comes with. Is it just a generic tool ie can I buy it in stores if the seller doesn't have it?

[miaandjohnrule]

you have to figure out how to play it- on a table? in your lap? Build something? I have a deck for mine that I bought. The tool is common, It's just a little hex head key.

[slackur]

Congrats on your SB find! Still one of my favorite games. Shame they killed the online server.

Anywho, the options menu has a controller manual diagnostics check you will want to run. It basically lights up when anything is done on the buttons, pedals, sticks, etc. Great for testing the 40+ things on the three-foot monster.

Also, a little heads-up, since the game does not allow you to pause, might I suggest setting up the controller breakaway plug within reach (The game will stop if it detects the controller unplugged,) great for bathroom breaks during those long missions

[DefaultGen]

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[Porksta]

Congrats on your SB find! Still one of my favorite games. Shame they killed the online server.

Anywho, the options menu has a controller manual diagnostics check you will want to run. It basically lights up when anything is done on the buttons, pedals, sticks, etc. Great for testing the 40+ things on the three-foot monster.

Also, a little heads-up, since the game does not allow you to pause, might I suggest setting up the controller breakaway plug within reach (The game will stop if it detects the controller unplugged,) great for bathroom breaks during those long missions

Interesting, i will definitely use that diagnostics check. I believe I will be buying the later release (blue buttons). Is there any difference between the two outside of the colors EDIT: and the foot pedals? Is it also possible to just pop the blue buttons off and replace them with greens at a later time?

[slackur]

I have both and have not really noticed any difference between blue and green. I haven't tried to replace the buttons, but I've rebuilt broken SB controllers before and they are quite simple to work with, not much to the insides, so if you really wanted a mod, it should be simple.

Since this is your first time through SB, if you get bored/frustrated with the game, try the unlock codes (have to gamefaqs it, can't remember) to see what the mid-to-later mechs are like. Just the difference in the screen visibility and speed makes it feel like a different game! Also, every time you complete the game you unlock a faster mode, and on the fastest, its more like a fast strategy arcade game, where once you could lumber out of a slow incoming missile, now you pop that slide as soon as the 'incoming' alert is heard. Once you play the later modes with the 3rd gen VTs, you'll never go back to the thundering clodhoppers the game starts out with.

A lot of would-be fans of SB probably never got through the halfway mark in that game, which is where it really begins...

Aw, thanks, now I gotta go play mine again after remembering how great that experience was. *sigh* As cool as the progressive campaign was, with the lag issues and small installation base, I guess it was never meant to be.

Good thing the single player experience gets so good.

[ProgrammingAce]

Just make sure you know how to put it back in the box...