[StarSlayer]

I have the hankering of late to take a modern MBT and go tearing across the countryside.  I played through BFBC2s campaign and my thirst was not slaked in the least,  in fact I was horribly disappointed.  After a cursory search of the net my best apparent option in Steel Beasts Pro PE, a 2000 era tank sim.  Seems as if it is a hardcore tank sim, in fact there is a non public version used as a military training tool.  It seems like it has a pretty good community building scenarios and mods and the Pro PE version has been updated with modern hardware such as the Leo 2 A6 EX and STRV.122.  On the down side she ain't a looker, the the tank models are nice but no working suspension and the infantry are 2d pixel jobs ala pre Rome Total War.  This is a no frills tank sim so no campaign or story either, just the combat scenarios.  Last but not least its expensive, 125 USD.  

Is anybody have any experience with this?  Is it worth the pickup?  I assume its going to have a steep learning curve but hopefully not to the point of being boring to tears.

Gameplay Vid

Gameplay Vid

http://www.steelbeasts.com/

[Thaeris]

I've not tried ARMA2, but I have reason to believe that it simulates mechanized combat fairly well. Perhaps you could try that?

[NGTM-1R]

ARMA 2 is a *****. It is, however, a glorious, amazing, incredible *****.

There was an abandonware tank sim by Microprose where you lead a platoon of M1s that I've played I would recommend as giving a good feel if a somewhat crappy visual experience, if only I could find the damn thing's name again.

[Thaeris]

You know, I've been interested in looking into ARMA 2...

...What in particular makes it so bad?

[NGTM-1R]

...What in particular makes it so bad?

Basically, the same stuff that makes it good. This is the single most utterly brutally accurate combat simulator ever released. As such, it is quite good at simulating the many, many ways you can die on the modern battlefield. About the only thing I haven't see happen in Arma 2 is artillery barrages, which is just as well when you're mostly commanding an infantry squad. Instant total party kill is no fun at all.

...mind you this doesn't mean such things can't happen in the game. I'm just not real eager to check, the game might wake up and remember too.

[mxlm]

There was an abandonware tank sim by Microprose where you lead a platoon of M1s that I've played I would recommend as giving a good feel if a somewhat crappy visual experience, if only I could find the damn thing's name again.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M1_Tank_Platoon

There was also a sequel released in 1998 or somefink.

Is it worth the pickup?  I assume its going to have a steep learning curve but hopefully not to the point of being boring to tears.

Haven't played it, but it's basically a military-grade simulator. That's fun for some people. Are you one of them?

You know yourself better than we do, after all.

[Pred the Penguin]

Is there anything particularly wrong with Operation Flashpoint in this area? Just curious...

[Thaeris]

Flashpoint and ARMA are pretty much the same thing, if I recall properly. The team split at some point, and the ensuing products are thus different and the same.