News Archive - September 2003


  • Friday 26th September -

    BattleGroup42 releases 0.8 Beta - First BattleGroup42 Small-arms and Aircraft

    BattleGroup42 0.8 Beta is here and available for download! Once again the BG42 team has been hard at work on our latest monthly update. This is our most significant release so far with major changes to gameplay, and our first new aircraft and small-arms, plus the usual vehicles.

    The new historically accurate damage system we promised 2 months ago is complete. Each vehicle now has its historically correct armour and gun power. Be aware that the sides of tanks in real life are frequently much more vulnerable than the front!
    Also new is the addition of Psychoslaphead's RealPlane code. The most obvious change is that most fighter aircraft have cannons as secondary armament instead of bombs. Other changes improve bot AI when flying and dogfighting.

    Speaking of flying German troops can now fly "Axis Airlines" aboard the Ju-52 while the Brits finally get their hands on the Lancaster heavy bomber. Jet lovers can go bomber hunting in the Me262 and the Ju-88A proves its calibre throughout the war.

    On the ground it's SMG heaven. The British Sten, Russian PPsh41 and Japanese Type 100 give Medics across the battlefield the power to 'Deal What They Heal'. Beware the Japanese! Every Japanese warrior now carries a deadly Katana sword by his side.

    Want some vehicles? How about the long awaited IS-2 heavy tank for the Russians and the Jagdpanther tank destroyer for the Germans?! The Sturmgeschutz IIIG also makes its first appearance.
    In preparation for future maps the Hungarian Turan II medium tank, Zrinyi assault gun and Nimrod anti-aircraft tank are all included as well as the German Sturmpanzer III.

    On top of all the above we've made significant changes to may maps. Operation Market Garden becomes the British versus the Germans in a fight over Arnhem bridge. We've also included Capture the Flag support for all the original DICE CTF maps. Native 1.45 support is included and there are a number of new soldier and vehicle skins.

    NOTE: We are working on a two or three part version of this release to enable 56k'ers to join in the fun. We'll announce it as soon as it's ready! Naturally, every map and vehicle is fully bot supported.

    As ever the BattleGroup42 aim remains to improve on the original BF1942 by putting in missing vehicles, aircraft and hand weapons, and making the play more realistic, without sacrificing gameplay

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