Battleground Europe, new Mac MMO game with FREE download and trial

[PracticalMac]

aka: World War ][ Online

I am surprised this has not been posted before. :confused:

Historically based MMO game, both land, sea, and air combat that has the LARGEST game map in existence.
First on PC, now Mac and PC. Universal PPC and Intel.

Home page
http://www.battlegroundeurope.com/index.php

Download (You can install the and play in OFFLINE mode COMPLETELY FREE only when you got online will you need to sign up.)
http://www.battlegroundeurope.com/index.php/getting-started/download-the-game

Free Trial info (Tell them "Frantishek" sent you ;) ):
https://secure.wwiionline.com/scripts/wwiionline/user/promo.jsps?joomla=true

Game Wiki:
http://wiki.wwiionline.com/index.php/Main_Page

Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WWII_Online

Old comparison map image, it is now MUCH bigger then this: :D
http://battlegroundtools.com/maps/oldmaps/swgcomparebig.jpg

[whitlecj]

looks interesting. I may check it out. Thanks.

[PracticalMac]

To first page, keep it visible.

[Rank Xerox]

I think I have meantioned it, but that was long time ago. Don't have time to lurk here, playing WWII Online is much more fun. :P

[PracticalMac]

Anyone else try this out, and what do you think?

[pprior]

Wondering same.

Trying to find a game my son and I can play online at the same time and is not WOW type.

[austincolby]

WWII online aka battleground Europe is an absolutely fantastic game! Steep learning curve, but completely worth it- unmatched gameplay, community interaction and cooperation, teamwork, etc.

Most fulfilling experience I've had with a mmo... And have kept it up on and off for 6-plus years.

[pprior]

Is it a game you can sit down and play for 30-60 minutes or do you have to invest 3-4 hours at a time to play?

[PracticalMac]

Is it a game you can sit down and play for 30-60 minutes or do you have to invest 3-4 hours at a time to play?

Can be as short or as long as you want to play.

In heavily contested areas mission time will be <4 min.
Some mission types can exceed 2 hours.
Average about 7 to 15 min

But you son will learn a LOT about history. Just do not tell him that. ;)


OH, and I should add, team work is a MUST. A father/son team will shine.
And yes, there are a few father/son and even brothers playing.

Look for me in game, and I can help you out.
Cheers!

[pprior]

Thanks for that - I think we will give it a try. We're leaving for vacation today, but when we get back in a week I think we'll sign up for the trial.

If we both want to play, do we have to pay the monthly fee twice or is it per household?

[PracticalMac]

Thanks for that - I think we will give it a try. We're leaving for vacation today, but when we get back in a week I think we'll sign up for the trial.

If we both want to play, do we have to pay the monthly fee twice or is it per household?

It's per account, so it will be twice.

You can download and check out the game OFFLINE for free now, check out the terrain and vehicles.

All upgrades to new versions are free.

[Garand]

Good to see WW2OL (Battleground Europe) getting some attention here. I have been a subscriber to the game since it came out in November 2002 for the Macintosh. The game has a steep learning curve but and can be one of the most intense adrenaline rushes around. The important thing during the trial is to hook up with a player or squad that can answer your questions.

The community is very helpful. Look past the visuals, which have gotten much better over the years, and experience the game play. It is a tough non-forgiving game. You make a mistake you will die. However, how many games do you know where a new player can take out a veteran of several years because of a good shot or being in the right place at the right time.

Patience rules the day with this game. Several times when we have new players in our squad they comment about their experience with first person shooters and they say - wow this game is tough!!

Right now we are on campaign #51 - see the full map at this link and click on the map

http://www.battlegroundeurope.com/

If you decide to play Allied check out our squad page - 7thAST squad. We use TS and usually have 15 to 20 on most of the time.

http://www.7tharmy.us/

[pprior]

Sounds a lot like America's Army - when I started playing that game I had to totally adjust my play style. Charging in anywhere was almost guaranteed death and then having to wait 10 min while everyone else finished. I loved how when you died, that was it, no respawns. Made the game a totally difference experience and teamwork was key.

However if we both are playing, at $30/month I don't think I can justify the cost so I'll probably pass. Thanks for the info however.

[PracticalMac]

Sounds a lot like America's Army - when I started playing that game I had to totally adjust my play style. Charging in anywhere was almost guaranteed death and then having to wait 10 min while everyone else finished. I loved how when you died, that was it, no respawns. Made the game a totally difference experience and teamwork was key.

However if we both are playing, at $30/month I don't think I can justify the cost so I'll probably pass. Thanks for the info however.

You are missing out on a great experiance!
Get one account in, check it out, and when you are ready, can get a 2ed one.

Also, you can get 6mo and 12mo for much less. 12month is almost 1/2 of monthly.

[PracticalMac]

New version, 1.30 (NOT 1.3, its 1.30), coming soon.

[PracticalMac]

1.30 has gone to OPEN beta testing, all subscribers can see the cool new toys and terrain.

It may be about 2 weeks for it to be the new client.

[aznguyen316]

so this is just MMO? Are there any rewards for playing over time besides story and satisfaction lol, like leveling etc? That stuff keeps me going.

[PracticalMac]

so this is just MMO? Are there any rewards for playing over time besides story and satisfaction lol, like leveling etc? That stuff keeps me going.

As you score points and gain in rank, you will get more "toys", the biggest, baddest vehicles.

There are 3 sides, with 3 branches, so you have a lot to look forward to.

[PracticalMac]

The company is based in Bedford, next to Dallas, TX.

They are having a 10th anniversary party Friday, all are welcome.

[PracticalMac]

1.30 is nearing release.

Expect introduction specials!

[PracticalMac]

Version 1.30 is now live and working.

Some bugs being worked out.

[Plutonius]

1.30 is nearing release.

Expect introduction specials!

Now that 1.3 is out, what are the specials ?

[BigSplash]

I don't know why this game is so little known. It's a real gem. Players tend to be more mature (i.e, many active mil, vets, and history buffs) than you might expect to find on a game site. The game has many aspects that are a little difficult to describe succinctly and appeal to a variety of gaming tastes from the tactical twitch to leadership and campaign strategy.

Look for a free trial period and give it a chance but I should caution that the game can be more addictive than crack.

Been playing this game forever and I'm still a nub.:o

If you try the game, ask for help or you might find the learning curve frustrating. Give it a chance and you will find that the community is one of the best that you will find anywhere.

[kufford]

I'm sorry but that game sucks. No offense. The graphics are very Windows 95ish.

[PracticalMac]

Now that 1.3 is out, what are the specials ?

no, not 1.3
1.30, as in the 30th sub-version!

I'm sorry but that game sucks. No offense. The graphics are very Windows 95ish.

Comparing a game to the way Win95 looks. Now that tells us a lot more about you then the game.

Play Doom 3/ Quake/ MOH / etc, every few minuets you get a message "Loading".
Why? Because it has to load 250mb of map to continue playing.
And so you have to wait.....

This game is a boarder less, real time mop. It is NOT an "Arena" game like the vast majority of console types.

Sure the graphics are not as pretty, but when the game play has no limits to how far or fast, who cares if the flowers look pretty.

[Rank Xerox]

I'm sorry but that game sucks. No offense. The graphics are very Windows 95ish.

Well, if you prefer those Shoebox games with a visual distance of barely 100 meter, and not care much for hearing a tank roaming a kilometer away, or even an aircraft flying four kilometers away and the heavy Anti-Air Artillery pumping out their shells againt the said aircraft, then is the graphic maybe not as good as a shine kids shoebox game like Call of Duty 3 or 4.

But if you prefer gameplay over eyecandy and think it is awesome to join a battle with a several hundred other players that takes place not at a location of maximum four square kilometers, but is spread out over hundred square kilometers (I kid you not), then is this the game for you.

It's hard to describe how thrilling it could be when you rolling up to a part of the frontline where a heavy battle is in progess. You'll hear the heavy calibres guns firing and bombs exploding a couple of kilometers away. All seems quite in the area you are driving which give a false senses of beeing secure. :)

I don't know how often I have droven into a interdicting ambush and been blown sky high in a second. You can only admire those guys that sets up these well hidden ambushes, then waiting patiently far from the real fight for any enemy that might or might not trying to encircle the enemy forces.

Nothing you can do in a shoebox game since the game world is so tiny.

Add to this that if you win a map in a shoebox game has it no strategical importance for the next map. Each won or lossed town or city in WWII Online can have a major importance. Maybe within an hour or two. Or a few days later. It all dependes on how the High Command officers play their game moving around the Divisions and locating the Brigades (which we all spawns from, and that has limited resourses).

Which just as in real world can be as frustrating for the guys at the front that don't move around Divisions and Brigades on a map. But to a big contrast to the real world can any one of us join the two High commands, and after some training, be the guys that sits by the map and by your self see if you can be more cunning then the guy on the other side of the map. This strategical game can go on for weeks, seeking for weak points that isn't a trap and at the same time try to lure the opponents into a trap that - if they bite it - might result in a breakthrough that will result in a role-up which will encircule and eventuelly crush of one or two cut-off Divisions. :)

Shoebox games don't even plays in the same league as WWII Online. But they are sure nice to look at if that is important. :)

[PracticalMac]

Campaign #52 is coming to close, Allies are winners.

New campaign will start < week.

Some pesky bugs linger from 1.30 release, CRS working on fix ASAP.

Now would be a great to try try the game, sign up for a month.

[PracticalMac]

Latest bug fix came out
1.30.2

CRS is working hard to release its next version, mainly completion of core engine updates, 1.31.

[SamtheDrummer]

It looks good, but its rather expensive

[PracticalMac]

It looks good, but its rather expensive

$20 for the first month
$15 per month
Specials for pre-pay

http://www.battlegroundeurope.com/index.php/about-the-game/plans-a-pricing

What is expensive? :confused:

[SamtheDrummer]

$20 for the first month
$15 per month
Specials for pre-pay

http://www.battlegroundeurope.com/index.php/about-the-game/plans-a-pricing

What is expensive? :confused:
Oh I thought it was in £s

Is this available in the UK?

[PracticalMac]

Oh I thought it was in £s

Is this available in the UK?

World wide, and I think its $ for all.
For you it will be about £9.20 / month.

It has players from every country in the world, and a I know about a dozen of them from UK.

Cheers!

[PracticalMac]

Campaign #53 will be ending soon.

Likely #54 will start by next weekend.

[PracticalMac]

#54 is in full swing.

New patch for game coming soon.

[PracticalMac]

Previews of next version 1.31 being shown.

Major terrain up dates shown, and more...

[PracticalMac]

1.31 coming soon.

[PracticalMac]

1.31 is in OPEN BETA.

Many new effects, including "rag doll", rain/weather, major terrain changes, new buildings, remodeled buildings.

Likely release in mid Jan 2010

[PracticalMac]

Work still continues on Beta.

No ETA yet.

[Frito]

The game is **** dont play it. Graphics are horrible. The mods in the forums are babies they ban you for no reason. Horrible game bad experience dont give them your money. They dont fix any of the problems of them game. If you try to even talk back to the mods in the forums after they insult you you get a month long ban. They are little babies with no friends who need some kind of power by being mods on a forum and ban whoever they dont like. Again dont give them your money.

[PracticalMac]

The game is **** dont play it. Graphics are horrible. The mods in the forums are babies they ban you for no reason. Horrible game bad experience dont give them your money. They dont fix any of the problems of them game. If you try to even talk back to the mods in the forums after they insult you you get a month long ban. They are little babies with no friends who need some kind of power by being mods on a forum and ban whoever they dont like. Again dont give them your money.

Ranting like that only makes people dismiss your post.
Likely you are the one who is the baby.

BGE trades Eyecandy for massive game map, true combined arms (Land, Sea, and Air), and a persistent MMO.
The gameplay exceeds the sub-par visuals

Admittedly there are bugs in 1.30 as the company tries to finish up 1.31 ASAP (hopefully in March).
Need to see how it wraps up.

[PracticalMac]

New campaign started (#60)

1.31.0.30 beta is out. Live version may make it this month still.

Free play coming!

[lannister80]

Wow, this is one heck of an astroturf-y thread. :)

[PracticalMac]

Wow, this is one heck of an astroturf-y thread. :)

Are you saying its durable, fade resistance, easy to clean, and retro, then YES! ;)

[PracticalMac]

Release of 1.31 imminent.

previous account holders can test beta FREE.

Beta Download

http://installers.wwiionline.com/wwiiol0000131044.dmg

[Garand]

Bump - 1.31 has been out for some time. Game looks much better and if your preference in gaming is a pure challenge versus touting graphics then give it a try.

[PracticalMac]

Bump - 1.31 has been out for some time. Game looks much better and if your preference in gaming is a pure challenge versus touting graphics then give it a try.

Yes it is.
It was such a huge update some remaining terrain errors still exist, but they are being fixed.

1.32 was just released, AND the company is offering a special prize JUST for Mac users!

See here (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1030828)

[PracticalMac]

1.33.0.1 Alpha (very early update) has been released.

Major emphasis is new Inf models.

[PracticalMac]

Campaign 67 starts today!

[Michaelgtrusa]

Still free?

[PracticalMac]

Still free?

YES:
After the trial, you can sign up for unlimited FREEPLAY (reduced equipment list)

[PracticalMac]

Version 1.33.1 recently released.

Major change is new troop models (REALLY NICE!)

Still the best WW2 genre MMO for Mac platform.


PS, did anyone try the contest?
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1030828

[PracticalMac]

10 years of this Mac MMO, and STILL going!

[PracticalMac]

Newest update 1.34 has added the US!!

With them come Anti-Tank rockets and semi-auto rifles.

Great to time subscribe, or get back in!

This game is in its 11th year of operation!

[Benjy91]

Newest update 1.34 has added the US!!

Tsk Tsk, Bloody Americans, always turning up late for every war :rolleyes:

[PracticalMac]

11 years, STILL going!

I think CRS and Blizzard are only 2 MMO companies that support the Mac as well as PC.