Nick Posted January 20, 2009 For people who own DoW: Soulstorm - you can join in the DoW2 Beta which supposedly starts at 00:01 GMT, so essentially midnight tonight. Even if you don't have Soulstorm, the Beta becomes open to everyone in a week. Info on how to join in can be found here. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrChaz Posted January 21, 2009 If you can't wait that long Eurogamer are giving a bunch away on Saturday http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/dawn-of-war-ii-beta-keys-this-weekend-blog-entry Just don't take mine Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chris Posted January 21, 2009 This game is fun and seemingly simplistic enough that I may be able to delay the point at which I become horribly raped by people on the internet Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scrobbs Posted January 21, 2009 I'm considering buying soulstorm on steam to get the beta. It's playing straight into thier hands, but it is only a fiver. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrChaz Posted January 21, 2009 This game is fun and seemingly simplistic enough that I may be able to delay the point at which I become horribly raped by people on the internet That's why I never play RTS's online. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chris Posted January 21, 2009 I'm considering buying soulstorm on steam to get the beta. It's playing straight into thier hands, but it is only a fiver. I want Relic and THQ to make a lot of money off this game so I don't really mind. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrChaz Posted January 21, 2009 They should make money simply because they included Tyranids. Although there should be a heavy 'I'm not playing Homeworld 3' tax applied. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scrobbs Posted January 21, 2009 I kind of agree regarding them making money... I think CoH got pirated to fuck. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scrobbs Posted January 22, 2009 So....played a couple of games online...and got bummed. What a surprise. Not a bad game...a bit slow though. Seems harder to come back than CoH does - although that may be because I haven't learned the counters yet. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nick Posted January 22, 2009 I'm really liking it, as I expected I would. I played the first game a crapload and CoH some, so I've been able to figure out what I'm doing and how to use units. Big yellow retreat button is the key! I've been doing some of the rated online games and currently I'm 3 wins - 1 loss playing 1v1 and I'm 3 wins - 0 losses playing 3v3. Hooray! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scrobbs Posted January 22, 2009 They are missing keyboard shortcuts for some things... the 'R' button works to re-inforce, but for some reason 'T' to retreat doesn't - they were my two most used shortcuts in CoH. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scrobbs Posted January 22, 2009 I'm also really impressed by Windows Live. I thought it would be a complete bag of arse, but it installed with no problems, linked straight into my Xbox Live account, could see online friends playing on the 360. Win. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nick Posted January 22, 2009 I believe it's X to retreat. I'm pretty sure all the buttons have the shortcut key displayed on them. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scrobbs Posted January 22, 2009 Could have sworn I looked for tooltips or anything like that. I am a blind bastard though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chris Posted January 22, 2009 Those interested in playing with other Thumb folks can put their info in the multiplayer networking thread: http://idlethumbs.net/forums/showthread.php?t=6241 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sergey Posted January 25, 2009 Was planning on getting the expansion + beta off Steam, but got distracted by the weekend deal on Mount & Blade. I think I made the right choice. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrChaz Posted January 25, 2009 Well I have to say that my first impressions are mixed. Maybe it was the people I was playing with but in the 3v3 match I just wandered around with a mess of units, there didn't really seem to be any real strategy at work. Maybe the others were doing the clever stuff, who knows. Also Tyranid army is an over statement. I want hordes genestealers dammit Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scrobbs Posted January 25, 2009 I didn't like it at first, but it has grown on me. Bit unhappy with the quality of the maps, they seem a bit boring to play. Just heard as well that there will only be an additional two maps on release of the game. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nick Posted January 25, 2009 I was unsure at first, but the more I play the more I like it and strategy, tactics and micro really are quite important. Whilst at first I was disappointed with the number of units choices, each one has plenty of uses or upgrade choices to make sure you've got enough to think about. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chris Posted January 26, 2009 I'm liking this more and more. And this sounds stupid and obvious, but it's amazing how crucial teamwork is in the 3 vs. 3. Again, I know that's obvious, but it's really exacerbated by the fairly restrictive attitude to resources and unit counts, plus the fact that you're dealing with upgrading units on an individual basis rather than being able to pump out new units that are already upgraded from more advanced structures. A single player really can't do much since so much of the game is about land control. It means that public team games can be completely terrible, but when you do get to play with people who are interested in working together, it's awesome. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scrobbs Posted January 27, 2009 Yeh, you really have to look after your boys - especially if you have a squad of 3 marines who can carry any set of weapons. They're so expensive! Maybe we should try and set up a 2v2 or 3v3 thumbs game. That's really difficult though with all the time zones. The first two games I played, I played against people, and got completely bitched obviously. Since then I've been playing the PC, and can now beat expert really easily. I'm sure I will get nutmegged as soon as I play humans again though... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nachimir Posted January 27, 2009 It means that public team games can be completely terrible, but when you do get to play with people who are interested in working together, it's awesome. I loved this about first few games, that with a good team you could all communicate, specialise, and absolutely kick ass with coordinated attacks. Backing a team mates attack up by dumping grav tanks full of anti-vehicle troops behind the enemy, then watching them lose most of them in a retreat rather than all of them in a rout was great fun. I saw DoW2 briefly at the Eurogamer expo, but what I saw seemed a little disappointing compared to DoW. The art and animation in that one was brimming with detail and character; is 2 comparable in that respect? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrChaz Posted January 27, 2009 I think they've pulled the camera back so you lose some of that nice detail. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nick Posted January 27, 2009 They have said that they are going to unlock the camera. There's a lot of detail on the models, especially as you rank up in multiplayer and unlock new armour for your squads. The later unlocks will supposedly pimp your army to the max. It's a different game to DoW, but I think I now enjoy it more. It just takes a moment to adjust. Space Marines I found are the most different as they are so expensive and losing a dude really hurts. But later on they are just insanely tough if you've managed to keep them alive. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
