WWII Online Turns 5, Invites all Players back for a Trial

[bapenguin]

WWII Online has turned 5 years old. To celebrate Playnet Inc. is reactivating more than 300,000 accounts to come back and play.Game's history surpasses 125 million combat sorties and 61 million player casualties

The largest promotion in the 5-year history of the PvP-based MMOG, "WWII Online", is set to begin June 22nd to celebrate the game's evolution and to thank players for supporting one of the longest-running MMOGs in the history of gaming.

The “Welcome Back Soldier” promotion will activate accounts of approximately 300,000 players for 14 days between June 22nd and July 6th. In addition, all former and current players who join the action during the promotion will be eligible for prizes such as t-shirts, drink coozies, free yearly subscriptions and more.

Read the full press release Here (http://www.evilavatar.com/forums/showthread.php?p=312461#post312461).

I had this game at launch. It was definitely an interesting experience. I may have to go back and see what's changed.

[bapenguin]

"WWII Online" Celebrates 5 Years- Welcomes Back Thousands


Game's history surpasses 125 million combat sorties and 61 million player casualties


Bedford, TX, June 16th, 2006 – The largest promotion in the 5-year history of the PvP-based MMOG, "WWII Online", is set to begin June 22nd to celebrate the game's evolution and to thank players for supporting one of the longest-running MMOGs in the history of gaming.

The “Welcome Back Soldier” promotion will activate accounts of approximately 300,000 players for 14 days between June 22nd and July 6th. In addition, all former and current players who join the action during the promotion will be eligible for prizes such as t-shirts, drink coozies, free yearly subscriptions and more.

Playnet Inc. and its in-house development studio, Cornered Rat Software, launched "WWII Online: Blitzkrieg" in June of 2001 with follow-up retail releases, "Readers' Choice Edition", "Macintosh Edition" and most recently, "Battleground Europe" in many European countries. The current version is available through direct download at www.battleground-europe.com or as a game-on-demand through Matrix Games (www.matrixgames.com)

"Its been a roller-coaster ride beginning with one of the earliest MMOG launches to growing and supporting a fiercely-loyal player community all the while trying to continue the innovative and unique approach to development that's seen WWII Online stand alone as the ultimate PvP MMOG available", says Al "Rafter" Corey, Executive Producer for Playnet. "We're so proud to stand up and say that we're still here and thriving after 5 years. This promo is just a small way for us to say thank you to the thousands of players, past and present, who helped make it possible."

More details of the 'Welcome Back Soldier' promotion and how to get a 14-day free trial of "WWII Online: Battleground Europe" are available at www.battleground-europe.com.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE "WWII ONLINE" TIMELINE

June '01

- "World War II Online- Blitzkrieg" launches with players fighting with and against thousands of others in combat infantry action and in command of one of dozens of accurately modeled WWII vehicles and aircraft.

- Game exceeds 5,000 concurrent users- most ever for a first-person shooter.

Sept '01

- First naval combat vessels go live delivering first MMOG combined-arms virtual battlefield featuring land, sea and air units.

Jan '01

- Winner of IGN's "Readers Choice: Persistent World Game of the Year" beating out "Dark Age of Camelot".

- Winner of GameSpy's "Gamers Choice: Sim of the Year" beating out "Microsoft Flight Simulator".

June '02

- "World War II Online- Readers' Choice Edition" released.

- "World War II Online- Macintosh Edition" released.

Feb '03

- "Channel Dash", a two-day special event ends, delivering first ever MMOG naval battle with 1,040 sorties completed and 590 player casualties.

May '03

- Bomber aircraft added signaling strategic bombing against enemy factories tied to research, development and production of in-game combat units.

- Delivery of 21st weapon class/type bringing the total of player-controlled weapons & vehicles above 80.

Sept '03

- "World War II Online" surpasses 150,000 registered users.

- Local language support added featuring French, German, Spanish and Italian.

- First recorded complete Allied vs Axis campaign ends in Allied victory. 2,708,424 combat sorties completed with 1,410,973 player casualties.

Jan '04

- "Combat Stats & Records" feature added providing detailed historical player and combat statistics. 4,152,910 entries recorded in first 24 hours.

- Additions to game terrain now include 36,546 strategic objects such as buildings, bunkers and bridges placed among 4,090 facilities in 445 cities and towns. Largest MMOG environment measuring 354,889 square miles.

Mar '04

- Game environment update includes new special effects system and the addition of more than 4 million 3D trees and bushes to game world.

Jun '04

- Longest Axis vs Allied campaign ends in Axis victory after 87 days. 5,928,585 combat sorties completed with 2,683,128 player casualties.

Dec '04

- Airborne Infantry added. These specialized paratroop units board, ride and parachute from new transport aircraft assaulting enemy positions or supporting troops under attack. 3,800 paratrooper sorties recorded in first 8 hours of availability.

October '05

- Brigade structure integrated adding player-run Divisions and Brigades bringing a new level of tactical and strategic realism to the virtual battlefield

Dec '05

- Fulfilling long time request by players, snipers are added to infantry class bringing the total of player-controlled weapons & vehicles above 100.

- "Battleground Europe" retail release makes game available in Europe for the first time.

June '06

- "World War II Online: Battleground Europe" surpasses 350,000 registered users.

- Historical totals equal 125 million combat sorties with player casualties exceeding 61 million.

[Goronmon]

I love the idea of this game, but considering how awful the launch was at the months following it, it would take a lot of glowing reviews to get to me to even try it out.

[Cupelix]

I totally read the headline as "Invites all 5 players back"

[AspectVoid]

Wow, I thought this game died years ago. I had no idea that it was still up and running. That being said, as Goronmon pointed out, it had a horrid launch and a lot of technical problems at the start, so I never bought it. I think I still won't buy it.

[JudasGoat]

I played this at launch too. The engine had major issues at the time. It would literally take you about 15 minutes of walking throught the wilderness to the front lines, then you would die. Repeat procedure.

No matter what they've done, it's going to seem great now.

[Zawath]

There are still lots of players playing it and a good community. It's the only game of its kind so people stick with it.

[Goronmon]

There are still lots of players playing it and a good community. It's the only game of its kind so people stick with it.But is it any good?

[Wyrm]

Yeah, I was wondering the same thing myself. Did it ever get better?

[Argus]

I mostly fly in it. I played those first months and left. I started it back up about 16months ago. It is a good game now. The graphics still lag behind but the game play is good. It still has a very big learning curve. There is no VOIP built in so each side has their own TeamSpeak server. If you play try to get hooked up on TS. I think the best way to judge the game is that it was about as bad as a game could be when released but it is still alive and well 5 years later. It is a very small dev team so it does not change quickly but it does change. You will not find anything else like it. It tried.

[Goronmon]

I mostly fly in it. I played those first months and left. I started it back up about 16months ago. It is a good game now. The graphics still lag behind but the game play is good. It still has a very big learning curve. There is no VOIP built in so each side has their own TeamSpeak server. If you play try to get hooked up on TS. I think the best way to judge the game is that it was about as bad as a game could be when released but it is still alive and well 5 years later. It is a very small dev team so it does not change quickly but it does change. You will not find anything else like it. It tried.Ever played Planetside? And if so, how does it compare?

[Knightsaber]

It's not even the same game as it was at launch. There's so many new units in the game that I can't list them all without looking like a nooblet.

It's by and far worth a try if you like to blow something up, especially if you like knowing that the guy you just blew up is sitting behind a PC somewhere really really pissed off.

But yes, the bugs present in the 2001 launch are long gone, it's much nicer looking, and much more complex.

The only problem I have with it is that it is a system hog. Say, a 4,000 pound hog. With big pointy teeth. If you have dialup, fuggedaboudit.

But an awesome game nowadays, this is true.

[Goronmon]

But an awesome game nowadays, this is true.Nice, as soon as I can convince Verizon that I can get DSL in my apartment, I'll have to give it a shot.

[Argus]

Ever played Planetside? And if so, how does it compare?

Sorry never have. Knightsaber is right. It is a system hog, mostly RAM. Make sure you have at least a gig of ram and good video card. The draw distance and number of units displayed really kills system performance. I think planes draw in at 6km.

[Citizen Philip]

I had this game at launch. It was definitely an interesting experience. I may have to go back and see what's changed.

LOL! Me too! I bought the game when it first came out. The first time I spawned, I appeared somewhere in the middle of France as a German solider.

I then walked to a fight. It took 40 minutes. Walking and running, on a road.

I fondly recall all their warnings and disclaimers about the challenges of flying: which was true, considering the planes flew through the ground when doing divebombs. Of course, it was easy to land and take-off pretty much anywhere once you learned the trick.

I would be curious about it.. not sure if it would be enough to play again. Red Orchestra is very nice.

[Citizen Philip]

Ever played Planetside? And if so, how does it compare?

My experience is with the original release game of both Planetside (which I played for about 6 months) and WWII when it first came out (played until original subscription ran out, a month? maybe two).

Planetside would be considered a more polished game, fanciers graphics and more varied gameplay (vehicles, weapons, etc). OTOH WWII online had a more authentic experience, in some instances, when you fly along railway lines and people all getting into a deuce and half to get carried over to an enemy town, the tank combat also quite good.

Planetside had a more arcade "click and shoot" feel, while WWII online had a more.. complex (?) method of combat, rifles needed 2-3 clicks to fire, and a key or two to reload: as with grenades.

The actual combat itself -between the original versions- would be: in Planetside you would get lag with too many people fighting over the same nexus, in WWII you would get lag crossing over server boundries (planes popping, changing position magically) and general server lag.

I don't know about either of them now.

[DigitalMystic]

I've thought about giving this game another go for almost a year now, but aren't they still stuck in 1940, fighting for control over Belgium with just British, French, and German forces?

When I originally bought it, the game was marketed as eventually moving through the whole war and playing through all the different campaigns and theaters where the result of player battles was to determine the final outcome in each theater, which would then be redone at intervals in new overarching campaigns.

However, FIVE years later and it's still the same stand-off with the same forces on the same chunk of map?

Wake me up after Pearl Harbor...

[Argus]

Ya still France, Belgium, Germany area. Here is a very good review. This person put some time into it before reviewing the game. I think it is acurate. He lays it all out warts and all.

http://www.simhq.com/_land2/land_044a.html

Edit: It is long. The conculsion sums it up well.

[Wyrm]

I read the whole thing and he complains about everything and then says it's actually a pretty good game. I know he was just trying to point out the short comings, but come on.

After reading that review, I'm thinking it's not for me. I want to like this game, just like I did with Planetside. Played the beta for about a month. Wanted really badly to like it, but I just couldnt bring myself to keep playing it after all of the idiocy that went on with the company that made it and the players I fought alongside.

[fndarkone]

pulling out the time machine, remember what OldManMurray had to say about this?
http://www.oldmanmurray.com/features/70.html