From: Subject: SimHQ.com - The Simulation Community's Headquarters Date: Sat, 10 Dec 2005 23:02:03 -0600 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/related; type="text/html"; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0000_01C5FDDD.BC2A0F80" X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.2180 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0000_01C5FDDD.BC2A0F80 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://www.simhq.com/ SimHQ.com - The Simulation Community's = Headquarters
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SimHQ=20 Community News for December 9, 2005=20     Recent=20 Articles    What's Hot in the Forums?
Google SimHQ = Search    Comments or Questions for SimHQ?=20 webmaster@simhq.com
Have News Items = to=20 Contribute? news@simhq.com    =  Looking for = Archived=20 News? Click here!


Casual Day

SimHQ Feature: = "I'm=20 Chuck, and I've never adjusted azimuth and bar = scans on=20 an air-to-air radar. For that matter, I can do = 9g loops=20 around a Su-27 with my Cessna. I'm a (gasp=85) = casual=20 gamer". Read Casual=20 Day by Chuck "PFunk" Bellows here.

A New SimHQ Contest: = S.C.S. -=20 Dangerous Waters

SimHQ Contest: = The retail=20 version is out and we're having a contest where = 10 SimHQ=20 Community Members can win the DVD "A Century = of=20 Silent Service". Read here.

Flying the "Liberty = Belle"=20 B-17G

SimHQ Feature: = Jim=20 "Hornit" Campisi and his son Brian get the = flying=20 opportunity of a lifetime. Read Jim's amazing = report here.

NaturalPoint's TrackIR = 4

SimHQ Review: = Tom "20mm"=20 Hayden put the latest version of this popular = accessory=20 to the test, and answers the question, = "Should you=20 buy one?" Read 20mm's Review here.<= /P>

Sim Cockpit Systems = SCS-F3

SimHQ Review: = Doug "Uther" Lawrence = shows us the=20 SCS-F3 = with the=20 Screen Magnifier FL-3 (fresnel lens) in his = review here. He also shows = different=20 configurations for the controllers and=20 keyboard.


The SimHQ = Monthly=20 Calendars for December are here.

Community News for=20 December 9, 2005

Air Combat News

News Contributor: Doug "Uther"=20 Lawrence.

EECH /=20 EEAH:

European Air=20 War:=20 Event Photography:=20
  • "Sgt_Rock" has posted = numerous military photos. =
F-22 Total Air War:=20
  • Click here for DiD=B4s F-22 Total Air = War web=20 page.
Falcon=20 4.0:=20
  • SuperPAK version 4 is available = at=20 Fileplanet.
Falcon 4.0: Allied = Force:=20
  • HUD=20 AMRAAM symbology explained here.
  • "tom2"=20 has announced HiTilesAF is now available on = CD.=20
Fighter=20 Squadron: Scream 'n Demons Over Europe:=20 FS2002 / FS2004:=20
  • The=20 VATSIM Finnish sceneries are available here.
  • "SirViper" has posted a link = to Norway scenery (freeware).=20
IL-2 = Series:=20 Forgotten Battles, AEP, Pacific Fighters:=20
  • "Greg_Boyington" has posted a = preview of Ki-61 skins.
  • "Goodwood" has posted a = preview of Adolf Galland's Emil.
  • The Netwings Novermber's Screenshot=20 Competition winner has been announced.=20
Janes = Longbow=20 Series:=20
  • Click here to get the Jane's Longbow 2 = Demo.=20
Jet = Thunder:=20 LOMAC / Flaming Cliffs / = Black=20 Shark:=20 Pit=20 Builders:=20 Screentshots Gallery: = Strike Fighters / Wings Over = Vietnam:=20 X-Plane:=20 General News:=20
  • "RAF_Dumoulin" has found a Luftwaffe Photograph site. =
  • "Sam=20 Padlock" has posted a link to Fw-190 art.
  • Logitech=20 Extreme 3D Pro profiles can be obtained here.
  • Joint STARS crew, aircraft help = rescue=20 downed pilot.
  • Aeroflot, Sukhoi Sign $820M = Civil Aircraft Deal.
  • Bombardier to invest in other = planes if C=20 Series scrapped.
  • X-45C: 'It's Unlike Any Aircraft = You've Ever=20 Seen'.
  • Sikorsky Signs Thales as S-76D = Cockpit=20 Provider.
  • MiG to bid for Indian Air Force = tender for=20 126 fighter planes.
  • Bell=20 Helicopter's Eagle Eye TR918 Unmanned Aircraft = System=20 Receives First Ever FAA Certification for Testing of = a=20 Vertical Lift Unmanned Aircraft.
  • Warplanes on Games patrol.

Land Combat News

News Contributor: Chuck = "Magnum"=20 Ankenbauer.

Ssnake, the Public Relations = Officer=20 for Steel Beasts Pro = Personal=20 Edition, has posted a message that SB Pro PE = will not=20 be out for the holidays. Read it here.

Parliament of P. Funk has = posted some=20 news and a link about the PC version of Lockdown here.

The=20 Platoon has news that Ghost=20 Recon: Advance Warfighter has been delayed a = month, it=20 is now "scheduled" for release in March 2006.

The=20 Wargamer has a news announcement on the release of = UberSoldier, read it = here.

Worthplaying has news that = Strategy First=20 has signed on with Steam=20 to deliver game content. Read more here.

Worthplaying also has 31 new = screens of=20 War on Terror = here.

Fileplanet=20 has a new Half Life = 2=20 mod, titled "DayHard", read about it and download here.

Naval Combat = News

News Contributor: = "Teddy=20 B=E4r".

Jamie, of = Sonalysts Combat=20 Sims i.e. S.C.S. - Dangerous = Waters=20 fame, and an=20 all round nice guy has posted in the forums that = "Dangerous=20 Waters is starting to trickle into retail if anyone is = interested." Well, duh! LOL. Currently the game is = available through Gamestop, Amazon, GoGamer, J&R, = and Best=20 Buy. The full list of retailers can be found here.

3D"S.C.S.

Motorsports News

News Contributor: = Jens=20 "McGonigle" Lindblad.

Race Driver 3 is previewed by IGN.

New = screenshots=20 from Race Driver = 3 which=20 is scheduled for release on February 24th, 2006 can be = seen here.

The circuits = featuring in Race Driver 3 have = been=20 revealed and a full list is available here.

A DTM Audi A4 for GTR has been released = and can=20 be downloaded from here.

A V8Mod VY Havoline = Racing car=20 for GTR has = been=20 released. The download is located here.

Technology=20 News

News Contributor: = Bob=20 "KnightRyder" Nielsen.

Gamebiz=20 Hardware checks out the=20 AirCruiserG game adapter (GN-MD01) here.

PCStats.com=20 checks out the DFI = LANParty UT=20 NF4 SLI-DR Expert here.

Viperlair=20 tests out the DFI = Ultra LANParty=20 UT nF4 Ultra-D motherboard here.

OCWORKBENCH tests the ECS KN2 SLI Extreme nForce4 = SLI AMD=20 X16 motherboard here.

Designtechnica looks at the HP F2105 LCD monitor = here.

MetkuMods=20 checks out Logitech's = G15=20 gaming keyboard here.

AnandTech=20 has an NVIDIA 7800 = GT=20 video card mini-roundup here.

Xtreme=20 Resources tests the Vantec=20 MP4-7015-CF Mach 1 cooler here.

Community News=20 for December 8, 2005

Air Combat News

News Contributor: Doug "Uther"=20 Lawrence.

Combat=20 Flight Simulator 3:

EECH = /=20 EEAH:=20 European Air War:=20 Event = Photography:=20 Falcon 4.0: Allied = Force:=20 FS2002 / FS2004:=20 Helicopter=20 Sims:=20 IL-2 Series:=20 Forgotten Battles, AEP, Pacific Fighters:=20
  • "PanzerMeyer" has released a = video of a=20 D3A1 bombing a U.S. carrier. =
  • "Col.=20 Douglas King" has posted a series of P-38 screenshots.
  • "nils"=20 has posted a preview of fishing boat.
  • "RONNCO"=20 has released a new F4U-1C (Lt. Joe D. Robbins, = VF-85, USS=20 Shangri-La) skin.
  • "WarWolfe_1" has released a = P-40F (White 111, 44th FS18th = FG, 1stLT=20 Jack A. Bade, Munda, September 1943) skin.
  • "Graf"=20 has released a new wallpaper - Greg's Hien.
  • "jocko-"=20 has released a new Hurricane Mk XII (RCAF, No.402 = Sqdn,=20 BE417, coded AE-K) skin.
  • "BlitzPig_Voidcracker" has = posted=20 several new wallpapers. =
Screentshots Gallery: =
  • Tim=20 Canada has posted a shot of a CH-124 Sea King landing on the = HMCS=20 Halifax.
Strike=20 Fighters / Wings Over Vietnam:=20
  • "Deuces80th" has posted a = list of upcoming releases.
  • "RussoUK2002" has released = several new=20 "What If" P-47N skins.=20
General=20 News:=20
  • "Hogpen13's" daughter Missy = has=20 released a new song - Warthog The Ugly Airplane. =
  • "fubar_512" has posted links = to tactical data on the MiG-17 and=20 MiG-21.

Land Combat News

News Contributor: Chuck = "Magnum"=20 Ankenbauer.

The big land news today = comes from Battlefront. They have released = the long=20 awaited patch for T-72: Balkans on Fire. Thanks to = KSB for the=20 news.

Worthplaying has news that a demo = is coming=20 soon for Shattered = Union.=20 More news when released.

Worthplaying has 10 new = screenshots of Rainbow Six: Lockdown = here.

10-david has 5 new screenshots of = SWAT4: Stetchkov = Syndicate here.

"Shoes" has posted a link to = an Operation Flashpoint = add-on=20 pack with a large number of nicely done Mi-8 = helicopters. Read=20 and download it here.

Naval Combat = News

News Contributor: = "Teddy=20 B=E4r".

Naval After Action Report:=20 "Herman" has = posted a Harpoon AAR - Resolve [Spoiler = Alert].=20 Thanks "Uther".

Motorsports News

News Contributor: = Jens=20 "McGonigle" Lindblad.

EvansRacing has released v1.1 = of the=20 Augusta 1969=20 track which goes = perfectly=20 with the GN 1970 mod for NASCAR Racing 2003 = Season. Get the track here at=20 The Pits.

Technology=20 News

News Contributor: = Bob=20 "KnightRyder" Nielsen.

Hardware-Review tests out the Antec NeoHE 550 550W PSU here.

InsaneTek checks out the = Asetek WaterChill=20 KT03AT-12VX water = cooling here.

Extreme Tech tests the = ATI Radeon X1600 = XT video card here.

3dGameMan reviews Cooler Master's CM Media=20 BTX-B260 case here.

PimpRig checks out the = Gigabyte G-Power = Lite CPU cooler here.

PCStats tests the MSI = NX7800GTX-VT2D512E 512-MB Version 7800 GTX video = card here.

Hardware-Review reviews the = Seasonic S12-330 330W PSU here.

bit-tech checks out the = XFX 6600 DDR2 & MSI X1300 Pro video cards here.

Techgage reports: = "Xbox 360 - First Two Weeks". = Read about it=20 here.

Community News=20 for December 7, 2005

Air Combat News

News Contributor: Doug "Uther"=20 Lawrence.

European=20 Air War:

Event Photography:=20
  • "xthor" has posted a link = to a=20 photo gallery of Wings Over Houston.=20
  • "CoffeeDrinker" has = posted a link=20 to a photo gallery of the MAKS Airshow.
FS2002 / FS2004:=20 Helicopter = Sims:=20
  • "VonBeerhofen" has posted = an update on EAW terrain for = Gunship.=20
IL-2 Series: = Forgotten=20 Battles, AEP, Pacific Fighters:=20
  • "Rudi Jaeger" has = released a new F4U-5N (VC3, LT Guy Bordelon, = Korea 1953)=20 skin.=20
  • "vpmedia" has released a = new three tone camo Pe-2 skin.=20
  • Ian Boys has posted a Norway and Burma project update. =
  • "RONNCO" has released a = F6F-5 (VF-12) skin pack.=20
  • "Hawkman" has released a = Bf-109E skin pack.=20
  • "Graf" has posted a new = wallpaper - Sting of the Wasp.=20
Screentshots = Gallery:=20
  • "Rockstar" has posted a = series of=20 F-14 shots - One Last Sunset.=20
Strike = Fighters /=20 Wings Over Vietnam:=20
  • "ext" has posted a CT-155 Hawk skin preview.=20
  • "HrntFixr" has posted a = F-5E skins preview. =
X-Plane:=20
  • "JimK" has posted links = to X-Plane new world scenery. =

General:

  • USA Today has an article on = sonic booms here.

Land Combat News

News Contributor: Chuck = "Magnum"=20 Ankenbauer.

Can you install 2 copies of = OFP on your computer = for=20 different mods? Read here.

Naval Combat = News

News Contributor: = "Teddy=20 B=E4r".

The = Federation of=20 Scientists have an interesting report on the = modernization=20 of the Chinese Navy and its implications for the U.S. = Naval=20 arm. The PDF document "China Naval Modernization:=20 Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities-Background and = Issues=20 for the U.S. Congress" is here. Thanks "enigma6584".

Motorsports News

News Contributor: = Jens=20 "McGonigle" Lindblad.

GameFaction reviews Live for Speed here.

Technology=20 News

News Contributor: = Bob=20 "KnightRyder" Nielsen.

ExtremeMhz=20 tests the A4Tech X-710 4=20 DPI Shift gaming = mouse here.

Viperlair=20 looks at the ABS=20 Stealth ATX case = here.

Red = &=20 Blackness puts the Arctic Cooling Freezer = 64 CPU cooler through its paces = here.

Bona Fide=20 Reviews tests out BFG=20 Technologies' GeForce 7800 GTX OC 256MB PCI=20 Express video card = here.

InsaneTek=20 checks out the E-Power=20 Silent Engine Tiger 650W PSU=20 here.

X-bit Labs=20 tests out Gigabyte's=20 GA-K8NXP SLI = motherboard here.

Hardware=20 Secrets tests the Leadtek GeForce 6200=20 TurboCache video = card here.

Beyond3D has=20 a review of the GeForce 6800=20 GS video card here.

Community News for = December 6,=20 2005

Air Combat News

News Contributor: Doug "Uther"=20 Lawrence.

After=20 Action Reports:

  • "Heinzi"=20 has posted a Hind AAR - The second Kunar = offensive Part=20 3.
  • "HrntFixr" has posted a WOV ARR - Rolling Thunder.=20
Combat Flight=20 Simulator 3:=20 IL-2 = Series:=20 Forgotten Battles, AEP, Pacific Fighters:=20
  • "BlitzPig_Voidcracker" has = posted a new=20 P-40 wallpaper.
  • "Simplex" has announced a new = competition at ScreenShot Prints - Wings Over Jungles.
  • "UF_Zargos" has released new = P-47 (Mexicana Expedicionaria = Aerea=20 Fuerza, "Mexican Expeditionary Air Force") skins. =
  • The 12th IL2 Series Competition = closes on=20 December 15th at Midnight GMT.
  • "uhohdavinci" has posted a = link to IL2 Movies. =
Screenshots Gallery:=20
  • "Shadow_12TFS" has posted a = shot of a=20 KC-135.
Strike Fighters / Wings Over = Vietnam:=20
  • "Marcfighter" has posted a = preview of=20 the Su-27 project.
  • Paul=20 Nortness has announced new skins at Fist of the fleet. =
  • "pcpilot" has released a new = US Marine PBJ/B-25.
  • "The=20 Wrench" has released a new B-25 skin. =
USAF:=20
  • "Major=20 Dragon" has posted a list of ports for online play.=20
General=20 News:=20
  • "dude163" has posted a link = to a Mark Hanna Spit IX video. =

Land Combat News

News Contributor: Chuck = "Magnum"=20 Ankenbauer.

The=20 Wargamer has a = interview with=20 the developers of World=20 War 2 RTS here.

Worthplaying has news that = KumaWar announces a new "Capture = Saddam"=20 mission. Read about it here.

Naval Combat = News

News Contributor: = "Teddy=20 B=E4r".

Naval After Action = Reports:=20

  • "Herman"=20 has posted a Harpoon 3 AAR - Indian Expansion = [Spoiler=20 Alert]. Thanks "Uther".=20
  • "Herman"=20 has posted a Harpoon Classic AAR - Crimean = River=20 [Spoiler Alert]. Thanks "Uther".

There will be a live chat with Justin Prince on = Thursday at=20 10:00 PM, Eastern US Time from the Matrix=20 Games web site. Justin Prince is the creator of = War Plan Orange: = Dreadnaughts in the=20 Pacific 1922-1930, a standalone expansion and = mod for=20 War in the Pacific. The live chat will take place from = the=20 Matrix Games chat room, available under =93Services=94 = at the top=20 of the screen.

Motorsports News

News Contributor: = Jens=20 "McGonigle" Lindblad.

The GPL 1969 mod site is = open,=20 although the download is not expected just yet. Pay = them a=20 visit here. Look for a SimHQ report on = the mod=20 soon.

Technology=20 News

News Contributor: = Bob=20 "KnightRyder" Nielsen.

A HotHardware commentary says, = "Xbox 360, I=20 think NOT". Read it here.

Pro-Clockers=20 tests Abit's = Fatal1ty=20 AN8 SLI motherboard here.

nV = News looks=20 at Creative's Sound = Blaster X-Fi=20 Elite Pro sound card here.

LostCircuits checks out the DFI LAN Party UT NF4 = UltraD=20 motherboard here.

HEXUS = tests out=20 Gigabyte's = GA-G1975X=20 motherboard here.

TechGage checks=20 out Turtle Beach's = Montego=20 DDL sound card here.

CaseModGod=20 checks out VIA's Epia=20 MIII motherboard here.

XYZ=20 Computing tests out the Samsung SyncMaster = 970P LCD=20 display here.

ParadiseOC=20 tests out Cooljag's=20 JAC68YC heatsink here.

Community News=20 for December 5, 2005

Air Combat News

News Contributor: Doug "Uther"=20 Lawrence.

Battle of=20 Britain 2: Wings of Victory:

  • The Troubleshooting Tips sticky has = been=20 updated.
  • "Jeff4999" has posted a = possible=20 solution for CH users not having controls = saved.=20
Combat Flight=20 Simulator 3:=20
  • "Polovski" has released a Over Flanders Fields preview = movie.=20
  • "Skycat"=20 has posted a preview of a new P-47 cockpit. =
EECH / EEAH:=20
  • "gotcha"=20 has released a cohhokum version 162W5T5 save game fix. =
European Air War:=20
  • Sandbagger has posted news = for the=20 following dates: Dec 1, DEC 2.
  • "Skylark" has released a new = P-51D-20-NA (SN 44-72251, = Lt.Col.Sidney=20 S.Woods, 4th FG, 8th.A.F. England 1945) skin. =
  • "Skylark" has posted December's calendar.
  • "Wudpecker" has released a = new movie - Spinning My Wheels. =
  • "MrJelly" has posted a = preview of FAWSAW and file managers.=20
Falcon=20 4.0:=20
  • The=20 876th Squadron Australia, 87th Stray Dogs VFW, is = now=20 accepting new recruits. =
Falcon 4.0: Allied = Force:=20 Flanker 2.0 / 2.5 :=20
  • "Thomas=20 DW" has posted a video by Hornet. =
FS2002 / FS2004:=20
  • The Alphasim Avro Arrow is now = freeware.=20 Thanks to Tim Canada for the heads up!
  • "StenneG" has posted links to = Norway add-ons.=20
  • Jordan=20 Moore has released a freeware=20 Bell 412. Thanks to "grover" for the = information.=20
Helicopter=20 Sims:=20
  • "WB" has=20 posted an update to Gunship! _TARGET: objective = & misc.=20 patch v3.10.
IL-2 Series: Forgotten = Battles, AEP,=20 Pacific Fighters:=20
  • Paul=20 Lowengrin has announced the release of IL-2 Dynamic Campaign Generator = 3.21.=20
  • "pingu666" has released two = tutorial videos on level = bombing.
  • "Buglord" has released a new = Bf-110G-3 (Stab/NAGr I, Russia = 1943) skin.=20
  • "Buglord" has released a new = Bf-110E (II./ZG 76, Norway 1941) = skin.=20
  • "vpmedia" has released two = new Bf-110 skin packs.
  • "vpmedia" has released a Hurricane Mk. I (2nd Squadron, = Belgian Air=20 Force, 1940) skin.
  • "SeaNorris" has released a Spitfire AVR skin.
  • "SeaNorris" has released a Spitfire VB XRK skin.
  • "Jarink"=20 has released a B-17 Group Markings Template. =
  • "csThor"=20 has released a new Bf-109G-10 (Black 1, 6./JG52, = Wien-Aspern=20 1942) skin.
  • "csThor"=20 has released German Pilot Photos.
  • "Box-weasel" has released a = new Ki-43 (CO Kinshiro Takeda) skin. =
  • "jocko-"=20 has released several new Hurricane skins. =
LOMAC / Flaming Cliffs / = Black=20 Shark:=20
  • "T-Bone"=20 has posted a preview of Black Sea Operations menu = screens and=20 briefings.
  • "Thomas=20 DW" has announced the release of a new tutorial by Ironhand. =
Screentshots Gallery: =
  • "boredvietboi4o8" has posted = shots of a=20 Corsair vs Zero's.
  • "Skycat"=20 has posted a CFS-3 bridge busting shot. =
  • "249th_Jeevz" has posted a = series of=20 FS2004 shots - Alaskan dawn.
  • "249th_Jeevz" has posted a = shot of a PMDG 737NG in Southwest's Shamu = livery.=20
  • T-bone"=20 has posted shots of a F-15C in the Black Sea = Operations.
  • "Ivan=20 Putski" has posted a shot of a Royal Navy Hurricane Mk IIC. =
  • "Magnum=20 MGG" has posted Armed Assault Screenshots.=20
Strike Fighters=20 / Wings Over Vietnam:=20 USAF:=20
  • "Major=20 Dragon" has posted information for an online meet. =
General News:=20
  • Ray Hanna has died at age 77. =
  • "Lagarto" has announced the = release of=20 his new book - Republic P-47 Thunderbolt = Vol.II.
  • "Dick=20 Dastardly" has posted a link to the free version of = Steel Panthers:Main Battle Tank. =
  • Several=20 members have posted demo links.
  • Zeno's=20 Warbird Video Drive-In December Newsletter has been posted. =
  • "Freycinet" has posted a link = to a movie of the Airbus A-380 and = Patrouille=20 de France in formation.
  • "Kuna15"=20 has posted a link to VVS pilot stories.
  • "Kamikuza" has posted a link = to a video=20 of the new Skyboard.
  • "*Joker*" has posted a link = to an=20 article on Ajax Baumler, the 100th Flying = Tiger.=20
  • new X-Plane v8.20 scenery here and here.=20
  • David O. has found a cutaway pdf of A380 at flightinternational.com. =

Land Combat News

News Contributor: Chuck = "Magnum"=20 Ankenbauer.

The big land combat news = over the=20 weekend was posted by Shadow in our Operation = Flashpoint=20 forum.

Bohemia=20 Interactive Studio (BIstudio), has released a = press=20 statement here, in reference to Armed=20 Assault. In this statement you can find out game=20 information, updates, screenshots and a link to a = press kit.=20 For your convenience I have uploaded those screenshots = here. A couple of them make great = wallpaper.=20

Battlefront has new screenshots = and a video=20 of HistWar: Les = Grognards=20 here.

10-david has news of a new trailer = for the=20 SWAT 4 add on, = read and=20 download here. 10-David also news of a SWAT4 map = and mod=20 contest here.

IGN = has 4 new=20 screenshots of Ghost = Recon:=20 Advance Warfighter here.

Worthplaying has news that Splinter Cell 4 is = named:=20 Splinter Cell Double Agent.

Fileplanet=20 has the newest Unreal = Tournament=20 2004 patch here.

theglobe.com has = announced the=20 upgraded features of the Website from Computer Games = Magazine located=20 at http://www.cgonline.com/ including = streaming=20 news & reviews on the latest games, community = forums,=20 downloads, trial versions of games and more.

Matrix=20 Games has issued a News Release about bringing = Battleground Europe = to North=20 America:

Matrix Games Signs = Battleground=20 Europe! World War II Online Expansion Available This = Month=20 Through Matrix Games.

Staten Island, NY, DEC = 1st, 2005=20 - Matrix Games (www.matrixgames.com) and Playnet=20 (www.playnet.com) are very proud to announce a = partnership=20 to bring the new World War II Online: Battleground = Europe to=20 North America for the first time via the Matrix = Games=20 digital download system. Take control of a soldier = fighting=20 in World War II in a persistent massive multiplayer = world of=20 first-person combat with infantry, tanks, planes and = ships.

This expansion to World = War II=20 Online boasts an improved graphical engine, new = units and=20 classes, new fields of battle, and much, much more! = In=20 Battleground Europe, you control an Axis or Allied = soldier=20 as you battle on land, sea, and air. Defeating enemy = soldiers gains you experience, unlocking new weapons = and=20 vehicles. Also, as you gain ranks and fame you may = be=20 assigned to fulfill a command role, determining the = grand=20 scheme of things. Play well enough and you could = soon find=20 yourself in charge of thousands of other virtual=20 soldiers.

The Battleground Europe = world=20 features over 600 cities and 29,000 buildings. The = zoneless=20 map covers 350,000 Km (Over 217,000 miles) of = terrain with a=20 whopping 4,000,000 trees. Battles can destroy any of = the 200=20 bridges in the game and the servers can support = thousands of=20 players online simultaneously.

Whether you want to be = a British=20 Sharpshooter or a German fighter-pilot, Battleground = Europe=20 has an assignment waiting for you. Every soldier can = make a=20 visible contribution to the final shape of the = battle for=20 Europe!

World War II Online: = Battleground=20 Europe is planned for release in North America via = the=20 Matrix Games Online Store digital download and game = on=20 demand system in mid-December, 2005.

For more information = visit the=20 Matrix Games web site here or=20 the Battleground Europe site here.

Strategyinformer has a review of = Battlefield 2: Special = Forces=20