Ive recently thought about playing this game again, I was able to get a free trial of it about a year ago and it had some problems that I didnt think made it worth purchasing.  First off the aerial combat was very dissapointing along there being no damage models(I was playing the original il-2 beforehand and became spoiled). The graphics for the terrian were pretty bad, but i must say being a footsoldier was the best part about the game.  It had the most variaty and really good immersion, i was actually getting scared when I heard the Chars would roll in to town.  

As I stated it wasnt really worth purchasing but they've made some new releases that fix and even add certian things like light machine guns and oh yes damage models to Tanks and aircraft that will show parts getting blown away.  They removed forests that you couldent enter and are now working on new terrian and shrubbery that will be much higher resolution. The aerial combat will never be as good as Il-2 thats a given.  The games strength however lies from the view on the ground as being a soldier, tanker or opel driver....

Anyways Im thinking of giving this game another try and would like to hear your opinions.

Sputnik,                 I used to play this game about 2 years ago...  I just signed back up about 2 weeks ago.  I ran into someone talking about the game in the UBI Forums and he told me to jump in on the rejoin trial...so I did...like 7 days or something.  The guys I've been playing with are Allied...and play french tankers and infantry. (Even though they also play british).  They have a huge TS server and I've counted like over 25 people playing just in this group...tanking or infantry... This doesn't include them calling in air strikes, etc.  It's really a blast to play in a group of over 50-100 players just riding in a transport to a town to attack.  Not to mention resupply missions etc.  BTW Sput: I signed back up....got a special deal because I used to subscribe... $19.95 for 3 months.  I dunno who all they offer this to but I was happy...  It's usually $12.95 per month.Game logistics:  Back when I played before, I didn't know anyone so just palled up with a couple people I was working with at the time....  I didn't get that far this way...and it's hard to get ahead unless you are a team player.  While I haven't joined this new group...they have invited me on comms and include me in all the attacks etc...  Very nice bunch of folks.  You really have to be in a large group to play this game...Eye candy:  You won't really find alot of it here although the immersion is incredible.  The size of the map is just gigantic!  When I say giant...you guys have to imagine...  On foot...it will take you over 15 minutes to run from town to town...and that's towns that are really close to one another.  Even in a tank...it will take a while to get from point a to point b.  I'll have to find the map comparison pics that shows comparable games and the difference in map sizes.  Back to eye candy (Or lack thereof..)  It looks better than it did 2 years ago and they are doing a complete rework of the 3dengine.  Suppsed to look much better by end of year.  Alot of the textures are 1 pixel thin...such as the building walls...don't expect C.O.D. with this...Flight Model: Again don't look for IL2 flight modeling in this game....it's not there.   Still fun however to shoot down planes, bomb cities/tanks/infantry.  Also tanking is a hoot in a large group!Your time: Beware....this game consumes more time than IL2...  A battle for a single town may take 3 hours of planning and execution.Sputnik:  Lemme know if you do the trial thing again...Will get ya the TS server info and we can jump in and kick some butt. Regards,TX-Rahman"WHITE 6"

Ok...for anyone who's interested.  Here's the map size comparison pics...First:  Some other MMOPG game's map sizes...Now WWII Online's map size with the above map superimposed on it.  HUGE....just HUGE!Regards,TX-Rahman"WHITE 6"

Interesting, no zones or portals. If there is interest in this I will consider trying it out for a month or 2. I am having trouble finding the link to sign up. Anyone have the real link?TX-KingsnakeBlack 6

King,          Here is the info...  For $19.95 you can d/l the software and have a 30 day trial...  The 14 day free trial thing ended..."BUY IT ONLINE!   Now you can purchase and download the game right away. Visit our account creation page and purchase an activation key for $19.99USD and get a 30 day free trial."http://www5.playnet.com/bv/adm/wwiiol/signup.jspRegards,TX-Rahman"WHITE 6"

I'm in and practicing flying. I am having a fit with my rudder pedals, they seem reversed. When I yaw right I have to push the left rudder. The graphics are not that bad from the air compared to IL2. While not CoD quality they are not so far off from IL2. There are no snap rolls and stalls are poorly modeled and the aircraft sounds are sub par. There were a wide selection of flyable aircraft including bombers. and even a few features that should be in IL2 such as the sound of the air flowing around the cockpit. I'm going to practice for a few days before I try the online part. For now I think I like it. Look for txking in the future because no underscores or hyphens are allowed.TX-KingsnakeBlack 6

King...I know this is probably a stupid question....but...  I presume you will be axis?  I've met some nice people who are into teamwork...but they're allied so I've been playing allied...Regards,TX-Rahman"WHITE 6"

Me? Axis?I'm only interested in the airforce, it gives me an outlet for my artistic abilities. I wouldn't mind being Allied if they have available bombers and planes. I don't care to be infantry because I have CoD. I might drive a truck or tank, but no infantry. I don't know how it works, but I hope to avoid the fps aspect of the game. TX-KingsnakeBlack 6

Rah what group are you in and how do I find you?

kingsnake,                  I'm not officially in a group...just pal around with one...  They're at this address:  www.lafayettefederation.com .  I don't have the teamspeak information with me here at work but will send it to you once I get home.                  I multicrewed a bomber last night with the guy who got me back into the game (Turo)....was a blast!  I was gunner/bomber!!  I still suck at flying their planes....not the same as IL2 in that respect.                  Something else I don't know if you've noticed but you do have to climb in rank to get better planes/armor/etc...  I didn't know that at first and was running around killing stuff without knowing what the heck I was doing....Will talk with you more about this also.                   On a seperate note:  I've been looking for folks online in TX to get in and fly in IL2 but have noticed a significant down in attendance.... My apologies there guys....Besides getting in WWII Online a bit lately, I really have been busy the past month....have pics to prove it...  I'll try to do better... Regards,TX-Rahman"WHITE 6"

No apologies required Rah, we all have lives and other hobbies.  I've been busy as well.  TeamUSA has a match against the French this Sunday.S~TX-MonguseWhite 1War Room General

....guess I can chime in here as well on the subject of non-flying time. As it has been the last few weeks we local phone repair types are leaving for the first job at 7AM and having to work at the least until 7-9PM just to keep our heads above water. I might be able to get on a little bit tonight and might even be able to get a whole weekend off....if it does not rain.TX-Cuda"If my plane is smoking it can mean two things... I have been hit and my engine is losing power...OR I am working on a new BBQ Pit and have it smoking just right!"

Moving this to the public forum... Regards,TX-Rahman"WHITE 6"

...OK gents, I have read these posts by  infidels talking of the ground pounding and the attack from the air. What is this blasphemy that my eyes show that talks of a "multi-crewed" bomber? Surely this is the talk of the evil that blinds me from the left eye! I have also read that you download this tool of the infidel online for $19.95 and get a month free? Is the true talk of my brother? I question this....for $19.95 I get the game,a month free, and then what? Are there patches to download as well or is it ready to go? It seems that from my past experience in the west that the "Patches" are meant to cause me heartache and heartburn as well as the burning from the rear if many are to be downloaded. What may I ask is the charge to my daughters dowery after the first month that is supposedly free? By all that is sacred if the deal is real as you Westerners say(I saw this on the "Let's Make a Deal" satellite the other day) I shall sell a goat and purchase this software.If is it shown that I can run inside a bomber from gunner position to tail gunner to waist gunner and then hit the pilot in the head and make the plane fly to Valhalla it will be a good and blessed purchase.  SOmeone let me know what the deal is on this as it sounds good and I'll get it Saturday as I am off for the weekend!TX-Cuda"If my plane is smoking it can mean two things... I have been hit and my engine is losing power...OR I am working on a new BBQ Pit and have it smoking just right!"

You got the deal right. You pay up and get the cd key and the game download without leaving the house. Remember to fill in EVERY field including phone number when you sign up. The bombers are great, maybe even better than the fighters. Of course flight models aren't all that great. There are more multi crew bombers than IL2. Most of the time in IL2 ground targets are ignored. In WWII Online ground targets are the main objective. You won't believe the team speak server the Lafayette have!!! Seriously atleast 100 players are on t.s. at any given time. There are numerous divisions on comms, entire flotillas on channels, platoons on the ground calling in air support. Essentially a virtual war complete with logistics, troop movement, factory bombing, and that is just the little bit I've learned about in the last 4 days. It is at times calculated and at times confusing. Of course you can't have everything. The ground graphics aren't nearly the quality of CoD and the flight models are about as good as CFS. What it lacks in aesthetics and handeling is made up for in the playablility, imersion, and real time effect of every minor victory on the front.  It is a bit pricey if you ask me, a ransom for a year of play. With the fat price tag you get a server that is up 24 hrs a day, built for the game, gauranteed a spot on the server, and has stable ping time. If you can shell out 20 clam$ a freakin month it is worth it. I can't say if I'll keep going after the 3 months. So far I'm impressed.TX-KingsnakeBlack 6

Just clarification....  $19.99 to get started with a "free" month....  Then $12.95 per month after...Just as King said...don't do this if you're expecting the Air war to be anything as beautiful or functional as IL2...the same goes for the ground war...  This again....is not COD...  However...immersion, teamwork, etc totally rocks!  We ended up taking that town last night King!  I was a Grenedier soldier....  Increased in Army to Leutinent from Seargent also!Lemme mention that as well...  The higher you get in rank...the better tanks, ships, artillary, guns, fighters and bombers you will be able to use.  You can't just jump in and grab a bomber and start flying.  They do have a training server...Official training on Saturdays and Sundays when they will teach you all aspects of the game.Regards,TX-Rahman"WHITE 6"

....just got in here to read these posts from King and Rahman and I have to say it does sound interesting. Haven't had the time to get it yet as i picked up a new BBQ pit this afternoon. Payed an old friend $180 to haul a pit out of his yard that he wasn't using anymore. My brother took me by a place after we dropped mine off that wanted $1200 for the same pit brand new, so I guess you can say that I got a good deal! Pressure washed it and am smoking it in tonight and have eight chickens and two briskets in the garage fridge soaking up the secret TX-Cuda dry rub so they'll be ready to hit the smoke in the AM. SMoke the red meat six hours then wrap 'em up for another four and dinner is on!TX-Cuda"If my plane is smoking it can mean two things... I have been hit and my engine is losing power...OR I am working on a new BBQ Pit and have it smoking just right!"

....chickens were melt in your mouth good.Can't fly now as I have greasy smoke smelling hands...Brisket out at 20:00 so I'll test that and then get on HL....TX-Cuda"If my plane is smoking it can mean two things... I have been hit and my engine is losing power...OR I am working on a new BBQ Pit and have it smoking just right!"

Cuda,           You will have to share the special "Cuda Dry Rub" recipe...Regards,TX-Rahman"WHITE 6"

Trying to get a job so far so I will will be busy this week but I will try and find time to fly with you guys. I will also try and get into wwII online soon as I can pay with my own credit card.

I'm considering a factory bombing mission. A few of us in a group bombing mission could do serious damage. If we can learn the bombsight we could high altitude bomb and make it home. Does anyone have the patience for a 1 hour factory bombing mission? I'm also considering area carpet bombing.TX-KingsnakeBlack 6

Kingsnake even though playing infantry might not be as good as COD or other games I suggest you give it a try anyways, I found it to be the pinnacle of the game itself as you are much less significant and finding a way to the battle is a task itself.

I agree Sputnik :)  I even enjoy going on resupply missions where a group of us will take tanks and drive them to the town that needs them and despawn....supplying the town...Regards,TX-Rahman"WHITE 6"

I'm not impressed with the infantry aspect of the game. If I am on the ground I resupply or drive a truck. If I want to be infantry I play CoD. Driving a truck is fun, I get more thanks for driving an anti tank gun deep behind enemy lines for supply interdiction. Resupply and supply interdiction helps the infantry more than me getting shot at on foot. I towed an anti tank gun behind enemy lines and the guy shot 5 armor units.TX-KingsnakeBlack 6