As you know, we wanted to release the final version 1.8 of Battlegroup42 prior to Christmas, as a gift to our fans and those who might become fans. But since our mappers were unstoppable in their productivity, and with our modellers still having some unfinished highlights up their sleeve which definitely have to be in the mod, we decided on a compromise: 1.8 public beta. With that we're hoping to gather enough testers to test the maps regarding balancing and gameplay in online multiplayer mode. After evaluation of all bug reports a final version of Battlegroup42 is planned. By that time, with a little luck, we should be able to present you first impressions of our Unreal engine based development.
Talking about presentations: For BG42 1.8 beta, there's some new candy too - besides some new maps which we're not previewing here, there are two new models: The gigantic Panzerkampfwagen VIII "Maus" and the, in comparison, tiny Flakpanzer I. "What, a Maus ? Didn't they always resist in creating that thing for Battlegroup42 ?" some of you might say right now - and that's right. But our modeller GeronimoGer started a model of this tank some time ago which at first was to be used as a static
model only, but never finished. Our modeller RuppDee took care of the model, finished it and created the textures.
At the same time SargeSurfat created a map called "Mouse Roars", a special, half-fictive map only for this super tank. It was modelled after the "Heeresversuchsanstalt Kummersdorf" (army testing and proving ground) and is about its conquering of the Soviet Army. During its defence the Germans used not only a lot of captured vehicles but also their heaviest tanks - King Tiger, Jagdtiger and two "Maus".
The second model we're showing you today also comes from our pool of unfinished models: The Flakpanzer I was originally created by Koricus, and now made usable for Battlegroup42. Kraetzer finalized the texture and changed our 2 cm Flak 38 to fit the tiny hull. The Flakpanzer I was an improvised vehicle - it was built when the need for mobile anti air defence arose during the Battle of France. In 1941 the Fla.-Btl.(mot) 614 was equipped with this tank and in the following used on the southern part of the Eastern Front - mostly in costly battles against ground targets. The Battalion was completely annihilated during the Battle of Stalingrad. You can find the Flakpanzer I on some of the Eastern Front maps between August 1941 and January 1943.
This concludes today's news, the download links for the version 1.8 files are posted below - again five
parts which have to be installed in order. For bug reports we've set up a topic on our website's forum at www.battlegroup42.de. Please post your bug reports ONLY there so that we won't miss anything.
Have fun playing !
Please follow the install instructions in the Battlegroup42 forums.
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Battlegroup42 1.8 Client open BETA - Changelog
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Map fixes/changes:
- fixed wrong path syntax in 4405-operation_diadem
- fixed wrong team settings for artillery on 4104-thermopylae
- re-worked version of 4011-kalamas_line (and added Greek bot names)
- re-worked version of 3712-fall_of_nanking
- re-worked version of 4105-operation_mercury (changes made by Yamamoto, new Coop by Sarge31FR, changed Australians to Greeks)
- re-worked version of 4307-gela_beach (changes made by Sarge Surfat)
- increased respawn time of ships on 4208-phosphate_fever to 240 seconds (carrier) and 180 seconds (other ships)
- new skin for Char B1 bis on 4005-hannut_steel (skin by Kraetzer)
- new objective mode for 4701-antarctica
- new pathmaps and reworked Coop for 4310-volturno_crossing (made by Lotte)
- changed POW on 4205-operation_ironclad to Dido
- changed Tribal on 4306-operation_corkscrew to Dido
- changed Hanomag/Opel Blitz to AS37 variants on maps with Italian forces
- fixed missing vegetation for Singleplayer mode on effected maps
- re-worked pathmaps & strategic areas for 4411-huertgen-forest (made by Lotte)
- changed Fletcher destroyer to APD on 4208-gavutu_islands
- changed Fletcher destroyer to APD on 4211-safi_port
- changed Fletcher destroyer to APD on 4307-tokyo_express
- completely re-worked Coop and pathmaps for 4408-angaur (made by Sarge31FR)
- changed Fletcher destroyer to APD on 4408-angaur (bots also use amphib vehicles now)
- changed Fletcher destroyer to APD on 4409-operation_stalemate
- re-worked pathmaps and Coop settings on several maps
Mesh/Code fixes/changes:
- fixed a lot of wrong damage/exhaust effects
- fixed missing tracks of M19 Duster
- added shadow to M24 Chaffee hull mesh
- moved gunsight view of Panzer 38(t)
- fixed "widescreen" gunsight view of BA-6
- increased negative gun elevation of the Minensuchboot to 3 degrees
- new LCM Mk3 hull mesh
- fixed Breda kit mesh
- fixed "invulnerable" gunner on stationary Solothurn and Type 97
- changed Hetzer top MG42 to 50 round drum mags (with 24 drums = 1200 rounds)
- AI: reduced the maximum range for rifles to 100 (from 200)
- AI: reduced the maximum range for sniper rifles to 150 (from 300)
- AI: changed weapon strengths to allow better use against different target types
- new track animations for many tanks
- added deck gun to Gato-class submarine
New content:
ARMIES
- Greek army
MAPS
- 3710-shanghai_nights, made by Yamamoto (Coop/Conquest)
- 3806-after_the_flood, made by Yamamoto (Coop/Conquest)
- 4005-the_weygand_plan, based on "Brusilov Offensive" by BF1918, conversion by Sarge Surfat and Sarge31FR (Coop/Conquest)
- 4006-ligne_alpine (Coop/Conquest)
- 4010-attack_on_greece (Coop/Conquest)
- 4011-battle_of_pindus (former Capture of Ortona by zara5ustra) (Coop/Conquest)
- 4011-wannan_incident, made by Yamamoto (Coop/Conquest)
- 4103-primavera (Coop/Conquest)
- 4103-raid_on_agheila, made by Yamamoto (Coop/Conquest)
- 4104-operation_latzides, made by Yamamoto (Coop/Conquest)
- 4203-battle_of_java, made by Yamamoto (Coop/Conquest)
- 4204-valley_of_death, made by Sarge Surfat, Coop by Sarge31FR (Coop/Conquest)
- 4207-serafimovic, made by Afri Cola, Coop by Sarge31FR (Coop/Conquest)
- 4208-jiangxi, made by Yamamoto (Coop/Conquest)
- 4208-operation_herkules, made by Yamamoto (Coop/Conquest)
- 4209-wolves_at_night, made by Yamamoto (Conquest)
- 4210-wolfpack, made by Sarge Surfat (TDM/Objective)
- 4212-donets_defense, made by Sarge Surfat (Coop/Conquest)
- 4305-battle_of_attu, made by Yamamoto (Conquest)
- 4312-commandos, made by amoghektor (Conquest/Coop/Objective)
- 4402-when_the_tigers_broke_free, made by Yamamoto (Coop/Conquest)
- 4405-myitkyina, made by Sarge Surfat, Coop by Sarge31FR (Coop/Conquest)
- 4406-easy_red, made by Sarge Surfat (Conquest)
- 4406-defense_of_hengyang, made by Yamamoto (Coop/Conquest)
- 4410-monte_battaglia, original map created by zara5ustra, BG42 conversion by Sarge Surfat (Coop/Conquest)
- 4501-operation_matador, made by Yamamoto (Conquest)
- 4501-snowy_park, made by Sarge Surfat, Coop by Lotte (Coop/Conquest)
- 4503-hellendoorn (Coop/Conquest/Objective)
- 4503-the_coup, made by Yamamoto (Coop/Conquest)
- 4504-mouse_roars (Coop/Conquest)
- 4508-august_storm, made by Yamamoto (Coop/Conquest)
VEHICLES/STATIC GUNS
- ZIS-30 57mm SPG (based on Kraetzer's T-20)
- Dido-class cruiser (model by Cabrio)
- Wickes-class destroyer (model by Cabrio)
- several APD transport versions (based on Wickes-class)
- new Universal Carrier (model and basic skin made by Waxbutter)
- AS37 Autocarro Protetto (model and skins made by Kraetzer)
- Valentine III and IX (model and skins made by RuppDee)
- Type 91 Japanese torpedo (model and skin by Kraetzer)
- Mark 13 American torpedo (model and skin by Kraetzer)
- M-class blimb (model by Terrorduck and Bommel, skin by SargeSurfat)
- M4A2 Sherman (model and skin made by Waxbutter)
- Panzerkampfwagen VIII Maus (model by Geronimo, texture by RuppDee)
- Flakpanzer I (model and skin by Koricus, skin modifications by Kraetzer)
HANDWEAPONS/KITS
- new Boys AT rifle mesh and skin (made by RuppDee)
- new M1 carbine (model and skin by Kraetzer)
- Winchester Model 12 shotgun (model and skin by Kraetzer)
- MP. 38 SMG (made by RuppDee)
- Beretta M1934 pistol (made by RuppDee)
- Gewehr 98 rifle (model by Kraetzer, skin by RuppDee)
- Mannlicher-Schoenauer MS 1903 rifle (by BF1918)
OTHER:
- many new / modified skins
- some new sounds and effects
