[aldo_14]

Thought this might be of interest to at least a few people

Sort of out the blue, too.....

http://www.bluesnews.com/cgi-bin/board.pl?action=viewthread&threadid=60591

That, and it cunningly reminds me to DL the thing tomorrow

[Charismatic]

COD 2 YAY! Gota love COD. Metls in mi mouth..

[Mefustae]

Meh, it's an alright demo, but not much has improved over CoD1 & UO. A point in note, I was very dissappointed to see that they could not - for some reason - use the Swastika, instead opting for the Iron Cross on a red & white banner...

...it's also a little short for my tastes, especially for a good 600 meg download that doesn't have the eyecandy of something like F.E.A.R. (for which the large download was justified). I'm hoping the full version will look and play a lot better than this...

[Turnsky]

Originally posted by Mefustae
Meh, it's an alright demo, but not much has improved over CoD1 & UO. A point in note, I was very dissappointed to see that they could not - for some reason - use the Swastika, instead opting for the Iron Cross on a red & white banner...

...it's also a little short for my tastes, especially for a good 600 meg download that doesn't have the eyecandy of something like F.E.A.R. (for which the large download was justified). I'm hoping the full version will look and play a lot better than this...

the reason for lack of swatstika may be a political one more a design problem. too many stupid irritable people out there.

[Primus]

Isn't swatstika a banned mark in some countries? I never seen it in games...

[IceFire]

Originally posted by Primus
Isn't swatstika a banned mark in some countries? I never seen it in games...

In germany it is banned. About the only place where games are sold where it is acceptable is in the CIS or the former Soviet Bloc countries.  The reason being that the swastika was more of a symbol of German imperialism (to them) than a symbol of an unthinkable racial genocide crime that it is in the western world.

Case in point is the IL-2 Series.  If you buy the Russian version of the game...there is the symbol on the tail of the German fighters and bombers.  If you buy the everywhere else version it is missing this detail (regular German crosses are still of course used).

I say its a fair call...its banned for inciting hate and its not something we really want to encourage.  Largely because the symbol has taken on a much larger meaning than most others do.

[Turnsky]

serious eyecandy in this

[aldo_14]

Originally posted by IceFire

In germany it is banned. About the only place where games are sold where it is acceptable is in the CIS or the former Soviet Bloc countries.  The reason being that the swastika was more of a symbol of German imperialism (to them) than a symbol of an unthinkable racial genocide crime that it is in the western world.

Case in point is the IL-2 Series.  If you buy the Russian version of the game...there is the symbol on the tail of the German fighters and bombers.  If you buy the everywhere else version it is missing this detail (regular German crosses are still of course used).

I say its a fair call...its banned for inciting hate and its not something we really want to encourage.  Largely because the symbol has taken on a much larger meaning than most others do.

I don't think so, myself.  Firstly because it's not exclusively a Nazi symbol, but we've immortalised it through banning it based on that association.  Secondly because it's a historical symbol; we wouldn't ban coats of arms or flags, why this?  Plus I think the reason why they ban it (in Germany; I'm not aware of any other countries that do, it probably doesn't always crop up in european-localized games simply to avoid the extra versioning work) could surely be covered by anti-hate* legislation anyway.

I'm pretty sure the UK versions of WW2 games have used the swastika, anyways (can't be bothered checking for sure); it won't be in this because it's internationally accessible, so Germans can grab it too.

*Ok, that sounds a bit like 'anti-thought' or something.  But you know what I mean

[Turnsky]

Originally posted by aldo_14


I don't think so, myself.  Firstly because it's not exclusively a Nazi symbol, but we've immortalised it through banning it based on that association.  Secondly because it's a historical symbol; we wouldn't ban coats of arms or flags, why this?  Plus I think the reason why they ban it (in Germany; I'm not aware of any other countries that do, it probably doesn't always crop up in european-localized games simply to avoid the extra versioning work) could surely be covered by anti-hate* legislation anyway.

I'm pretty sure the UK versions of WW2 games have used the swastika, anyways (can't be bothered checking for sure); it won't be in this because it's internationally accessible, so Germans can grab it too.

*Ok, that sounds a bit like 'anti-thought' or something.  But you know what I mean

it's prolly to make it "politically correct" for some anal-retentive lobbists, however..
besides, i think we're putting too much thought into it.

[Slasher]

To me it seemed like Call of Duty version 2.0.  It played much the same as the original with a few new perks here and there, only all the models have a higher polygon count.  If you're expecting something other than Call of Duty with better graphics and new levels, you're probably going to be pretty disappointed.  Otherwise I found it good fun for an hour and a half download.  I'll probably wait for some reviews and to see how long the full game is before I buy, but unless I learn it's only 7 hours long or something I think I'll get it.

Some things I noticed:

- running on my P4 1.5Ghz, 1GB RAM, GeForceFX 5200, I was able to run at 1028x764 in DirectX 7.0 mode with all details set on their highest level and hardly had a slowdown.  In this mode it looks like a slightly improved CoD.  If I turn the "Force DirectX7.0 Mode" off and try and play I'm immediately reminded my computer is almost four years old, but I do get to see some nice bump mapping, slideshow presentation style.  

- now even the friendly tanks are named.  "Divine Intervention," "Jerry's Medicine," and other designations pop up when you point your crosshair at one of the Crusader tanks, kind of like with the friendly soldiers.

- a little marker appears on screen showing you where a grenade has landed, kind of like the indicator that shows where you're taking damage from.

- no health indicator, and no health packs.  I only played on Easy which is no challenge at all, so I don't know how well this system actually works on a real difficulty level.  I did notice that when I took several hits in a row I was told I was injured and had to find cover, though of the few times I died, it was mostly being bashed to death by a Nazi rifle butt.  (I ran into a smoke cloud, one I deployed no less, forgetting there was a bad guy still alive in there.  He clubbed me severely.)  

- other than the two types of grenades you get (smoke and frag), you can only carry two guns, period.  In the demo you begin with the Lee Enfield and the Thompson (which is limited to 20 rounds a clip, anyone know why?) but can pick up a Kar98k, MP40, or Luger after Jerry drops one.  Or if Tommy bites a bullet you might find a Bren, so basically there weren't any guns here you couldn't find in CoD.  But there is no special slot for a pistol; if you want one it takes up one of only two gun slots you get.

- oh, the friendly soldiers are pretty talkative.  "I got the bloody wanker!"

[Turnsky]

i ran it at 1280 x 960, 4xAA, all the specs up to full..
smooth as silk i tell ya.

[aldo_14]

Originally posted by Slasher

- other than the two types of grenades you get (smoke and frag), you can only carry two guns, period.  In the demo you begin with the Lee Enfield and the Thompson (which is limited to 20 rounds a clip, anyone know why?)  

I think the Thompson was limited to a 20 round magazine (or a larger drum that was prone to jamming) until a 30 round mag came about in around 1943; the British would've used that older version.

[Ryx]

Basically CoD with better graphics. Not that that is necessarily a bad thing.

Not getting this soon, though. F.E.A.R. and Black & White 2 (if the demos good) are next ones on the list.

[Rictor]

Good demo, but I have trouble telling from which direction I'm being shot. I thought damage indicators were something the game industry mastered like five years ago.

That, and there doesn't appear to be a health indicator. It just tells you you're injured and need to hide for a while; then you're magically back up to full health (or so it seems).

[Charismatic]

"swastika"- someone post a pic of it plz. I know germanyz nazi symbol but never heard of this one.

[Janos]

Originally posted by Charismatic
"swastika"- someone post a pic of it plz. I know germanyz nazi symbol but never heard of this one.

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

Look familiar?

[Nix]

The nazi party's symbol Is the swastika.
Is it true in other cultures that the symbol, represents something good?

[Janos]

Originally posted by Nix
The nazi party's symbol Is the swastika.
Is it true in other cultures that the symbol, represents something good?

Lucky religious holy symbol.

[aldo_14]

Originally posted by Nix
The nazi party's symbol Is the swastika.
Is it true in other cultures that the symbol, represents something good?

Of course.  Why do you think they chose it?

[Ghost]

Agh. Can someone help me out here or is this for everybody? Not sure of my specs, but the game plays fine on highest everything; at least, after it loads, but... I'm running on anisotropic(SP?), model detail as high as it'll go(why is the highest "normal?"), the fancy smoke on, dynamic lighting on everything, Force DirectX7 OFF, and yet, the textures ingame are HORRIBLE. Jesus Christ. With Force Direct X 7 ON, everything looks fine, but then I don't get dynamic lighting. What's with this bull****?