Darkest Hour: Normandy 1944 Mod for Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45 DH May Update Part 2: Release Date Specifics. news

The Dark Light Games team who have spent the last 18 months creating Darkest Hour and we would like to thank everyone for their support and patience. As promised last week this update includes release date specifics including the actual day of release. I am pleased to confirm that we have a release date for the server files and a further one for the client files. The server release date is set at May 31st 2008. Starting this weekend those organizations wishing to set up a DH server should contact myself (Aeneas2020 via pm on the RO, DH or Moddb forums). These people will be given the DH build on May 31^st and also get help in setting up DH servers so that they are ready to run once the client side files are released. The Client files which will be our main release will be out to the public on June 6^th 2008. The reason for the weeks difference between releases is so that we can ensure we have the maximum number of servers live by June 6^th and also to celebrate the 64^th anniversary of the Allied invasion of Europe in style. I know many of you will have comments or questions about the chosen dates however please hold these until you finished reading the press release.

The initial DH release will be our first public Beta and therefore like CC and MN before us we ask that bugs you may find be reported so we can fix them. We are dedicated to patching and adding content to DH for the forseeable future, in short after June 6^th DH is what you guys help us make it. On top of this the release will feature 2 new factions and a plethora of weapons and vehicles. It is safe to say however that this released focuses heavily on the Allied side and therefore the new German content in release 1 will limited to new textures, Fennich_FJR6's Fjs, a couple of weapons and some new vehicles. Our update scheme as it is set right now is due to bring you new Panzers (yes the KT) and new German player models shortly after the release along with any major bug fixes and other support. We look forward to seeing you on release day and we hope that you are as excited as we are about DH Beta 1.

The new content we are displaying this week includes two new anti-tank devices, a legendary tank destroyer and a new tank map. So it is safe to say this is another tank heavy update. First off as some of the more eagle eyed members of the RO forums have noticed (thanks Shurek) DH now features both a Panzershreck and the M1 Bazooka. These models were made by Colo and Maharzan respectively, textured by Aeneas2020 and as usual Exocet and Fennich_FJR6 did an excellent job on the Rig, Animation and Coding. Both these weapons are giving their nations some punch when it comes to dealing with armor. Before you go running off to blow up tanks however you need to keep in mind these are crew served weapons. To operate a Panzershreck or Bazooka you must be reloaded by a comrade or obtain ammo from a resupply point. Once you have done this you must be crouched and have the weapon shouldered before you can load the round and fire it at the target. This not only means that team work is essential but it has helped to cut down on what is known to many as “faustspam”.

Our vehicle for this update is the M10 Achilles, the 17pdr British variant of our previously released M10 Wolverine. This beast of the battlefield will be deploying in our Cagny and Mesnil Patry maps to help the British and Canadian forces battle some of the larger gunned Panzers. The model was made by Tman, Textured by Aeneas2020, Rigged by TT33 and Coded by Fennich_FJR6.

Finally after the sad news that Schutzesepp's computer died on him and caused him to possibly lose his Ardennes Village map it is with great pleasure to see that “Sepp” is back to work on another map focusing on the same region. Wacht am Rhein is another large scale tank engagement pitting the US against the German Panzer divisions for control of a sizeable swathe of countryside. Unlike many of our Normandy tank maps Wach am Rhein features large open spaces so using the scattered forests is key to survival. We hope this map will become a long gunners paradise.

We hope you have enjoyed this DH update and we look forward to bring you more soon.

Aeneas2020