Hi Everyone!

[CtahhR]

Welcome to the show!

I don't know about combining collecting with gaming but there certainly are some crossovers. I know there are so many great games out there that offer an insight (some are more informed than others) into Soviet awards.

Microsoft's Close Combat III: The Russian Front (later released as Cross Of Iron by Matrix) award combatants after battle but a WIA/KIA is an instant OPW2 and the higher "theatre command" type awards were awarded for kill quotas. Worst of all Lenin was completely missing. I suppose having the awards there is an extra part of the game where the player as commander can attempt to inspire his men to greater feats but more often than not it ended with all the boys KIA or MIA.

Blitzkrieg was a bit of a game changer for that genre as it opened up gameplay to logistics. No logistical support - no battle. I don't think I bothered with Blitzkrieg 2 as the Russian produced "Soldiers" series had begun.

I've spent many an hour on Hearts Of Iron 2 and the spin offs/mods for it. Lots of fun to be had.

There is another game where you lead contemporary nations called Leaders Of The World where you act as a head of state. I played as DPRK to give it a try and within 2 years had annex the ROK, had all UN sanctions lifted, become a permanent member of the security council, had an economic growth of c1500% and produced c97% of the annual automobile output - seemed a bit too easy.

There are just so many Patriotic War and Cold War games out there they are too many to list but it is great to see their entertainment expanding the interests of others into something a little more reality based.

[Bulmer]

nice to see someone replied and understands. I see in some games soviet medals and the certificates. no idea what they say so they might be wrongbut it all adds to the fun.

where is everyone else? too ignorant to talk to a noob?

[Auke]

Not sure if such a remark is a great way to start your membership here, but welcome... Many users who used to be very active have since left the forum, so the place is more quiet than it used to be, but there are still quite a few loyal members here. In any case, there's more than enough to read and discuss.

[CtahhR]

There is so much to read through, I've not even got though half of it!

Some members have died, some given up (mainly due to lack of funds or other interests) , some decided to be dodgy rather than legit, etc. etc. Many new members turn up and they are always welcome - as is the Crimson Tide.

I previously forgot to mention Red Orchestra. That is a fine game! In fact the only game I have on steam....

None of us here are permanent but we are close to the historic events, we can only set the foundations for the future. Positively hopefully.

[desantnik]

Welcome. I don't have a lot in common with videogaming and recognize these awards were given for actual exploits - many of which involved more than virtual violence.

[Bill Garvy]

where is everyone else? too ignorant to talk to a noob?

First of all, welcome, and I suspect you misspoke, meaning to say "newbie" and not "noob"...

[CtahhR]

I found this screenshot I took of a particularly pivotal battle in one play-out of the Great Patriotic War in the game Hearts Of Iron 2. The Axis really didn't want to let the Red Army down the leg of Italy. Suffice to say the Red Army's tanks rolled all the way down to Sicily at full speed after regrouping in Venice.

[Henry Sakaida]

Not sure if such a remark is a great way to start your membership here, but welcome... Many users who used to be very active have since left the forum, so the place is more quiet than it used to be, but there are still quite a few loyal members here. In any case, there's more than enough to read and discuss.

He's right of course. It has been very quiet here. The big problem is that the good stuff is very hard to find and there are simply too many fakes out there. I see high end fakes on that well known auction site that I don't even alert you guys here anymore. I simply catalog the fakes for my own reference.

[CtahhR]

Long gone are the days that a fake was a rarity and had to be announced to less informed enthusiasts. Now it is more the case of "look at this real one!".

This area of interest and collecting has changed considerably not only in the items out there but the information and research available.

Twelve years ago, when this forum started, shouting "don't buy this fake!" was an infrequent cry but now it would be a full quadrophonic choir.

Hopefully this forum has been essential in many realising the fairy tales out there have been fairy tales even if sometimes it's not a happy truth that has to be realised.

[Bulmer]

I am using my lunch break to write this and it is worth losing lunch to publicly thank forum member CtahhR for all his help, hospitality and assistance.

we met at the cenotaph yesterday so i could find out if he could help me with a pair of medals i have bought on the forum but i wasn't expecting what i got! without destroying too much privacy i can say that this super-moderator is a very well known person here. i have seen him in local and national newspapers and on the tv so it was absolutely fantastic that he could share some time for me. not only did i get all the information about the medals but i got full translations too. the medals are for a trophy hunter. the sort of actions that can be reenacted in some computer games.

i was invited to his home for a meal and to look at some of his collection. his collection is absolutely stunning. some rooms are stacked to the ceiling with military pieces. medals and paperwork everywhere, uniforms and field equipment and a record collection that a dj would be jealous of. i've even seen some of his collection in local museums before but nothing like this. far too much to take in over a few hours. as well as the help with the medals i bought here he gave me a frame to frame them, some old uniforms, some other bits for my new collection and enough wine to last me until next christmas!

he has a skip full of korean awards, so many i couldn't even start to count them and so many framed groups that the walls are just covered. awards to many brave and famous people. he told me how big his backlog of things to post here is and it looks like he could post a new item every day for the rest of time. big unopened boxes of medals and paper waiting to be sorted. the amazing thing is he could find almost anything immediately. i got a chance to see anything i could think of almost straight away but there was so much that i just couldn't think.

thank you very VERY much and i hope to see you again soon. i know how extremely busy you are so giving this beginner so much time and help is the greatest.

the forum is a very lucky place! i'm so lucky to have found it. far more than i was expecting.