WWII Online
Free Play Reinstated
Free Play Upgrades!
New Reserve Submachine Guns Include
- MP34
- MP40
- Beretta
- M1928 Thompson
- M1A1 Thompson
- Sten Mk II
- Mas38
- M3A1 (Grease Gun)
New Reserve Light Tanks Include
- Panzer II C
- Vickers
- R35
New Reserve Medium Tanks Include
- A-13 Cruiser
- H-39
- Panzer III-F
MULTI-CREWING IS NOW AVAILABLE!
Multi-crew a tank with a friend to have a driver and a gunner working together! Free Players may now host a tank together creating a crew.
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Hotfix 1.36.3.1 Readme
Bug Fixes
- The Steam Mac client wasn't being properly uploaded
- The CFML (keymapper) folder was only being created for new installs with the Organic PC client
- The Mini-Map on the Mac wasn't showing properly
- The issue that caused some infantry to not make sounds while rotating has been fixed
S! Cornered Rat Software
Return of Free Play Access
INSIGHTS AND REFLECTIONS
WWII Online, as we all know, is a Massively Multiplayer Online Game - the very first MMO FPS in fact. By definition, it requires a large number of players online for the game to be successful, and that is the root cause for reflecting on the decision back in August to phase Free Play access out, and then coming back to make a course correction.
I'd like to share a quote by Steve Jobs, which has been weighing heavily on me personally in the last 6 weeks:
"Sometimes when you innovate, you make mistakes. It is best to admit them quickly, and get on with improving your other innovations."
I'd add onto that it is best to also come to the table with a sense of humility and recognize that some times we make bad calls, and we need to fix them instead of trying to brute force an outcome that is not natural.
In other words, the decision to remove Free Play was seen as a gateway to encourage more personnel to actually convert users into some form of payment, and it did not directly consider the essential component of how these users directly contribute to the overall success and health of the game.
We have since evaluated, discussed and worked out a plan to correct this and we're hoping for your assistance to not only spread the news but also get reinvigorated about the potential for us to grow the WWII Online player base. Continue the read for essential details.
OUR POSITION ON FREE PLAY
Cornered Rat Software is looking at all Free Players who have signed up since 2012-Present, letting you know that we're committed to making sure your experience is worthwhile, fair and reasonable with the understanding of what our product is. It is not a micro-transaction game and it will not, for the foreseeable future live up to the expectations of some of our competitors because WWII Online is designed (in terms of monetization) at its core to be a subscription-based game. There are many advantages to having things this way (no magic powers, quick rank boosters, pay-to-win ammunition) it keeps things relatively fair. Please remember that going forward.
We have, with immediate effect, reactivated ALL Free Play subscriptions, and there is no time limit whether you signed up from www.wwiionline.com (organic channel) or if you play on Steam. We have given them locked, indefinite access, with a much larger equipment and feature list (as seen below) to not only show you that we are serious about our commitment to making your experience great, but that we genuinely want you to play, share the joy of our game and help us build it.
Forum access will be dedicated to supporting these users specifically and we will periodically collect feedback about their experience through standard means such as available support forums and routine surveys / all other channels.
FREE PLAY ACCESS - EQUIPMENT AND FEATURES
All Free Players will receive the following:
- Locked Free Play access (indefinite)
- Permissions / Game Access
- Capturing Facilities
- Using Infantry Binoculars
- Deploying Player Placed Objects
- Including mobile spawns from Trucks
- Including mobile spawns from Trucks
- Rank Attainment to 2nd Lieutenant (Rank 9) ~ All branches
- Capturing Facilities
- Rifleman
- Paratroopers
- Rifle
- SMG
- Rifle
- Reserve Submachine Guns
- All tiers
- All tiers
- DLC Vehicles (You do not need to buy these, that's just their names in the list presently)
- Panzer II C
- Panzer III F
- R35
- H39
- Vickers
- A-13
- Panzer II C
- Light AA
- Flak30
- Hotchkiss 25mm
- Flak30
- Light AT
- Pak36
- FR/US 25mm AT
- 2 Pounder
- Pak36
- Trucks
- Opel Blitz
- Bedford
- Laffly S-20
- Opel Blitz
- Fairmile Riverine
- Permissions / Game Access
- New sign-ups: 1 month FULL premium trial
- Includes NCO (during trial only)
- Includes Ammo Bearer (during trial only)
- Includes NCO (during trial only)
Steam users who have purchased DLC tanks, will be receiving the PREMIUM versions of these vehicles.
MOBILIZING THE COMMUNITY
Our hope now with this announcement is that you'll assist in spreading the news and that our Free Players will give us another opportunity here at CRS to make your experience great again. Our commitment will remain in-tact to create the most likely scenario for players to try and continue to play WWII Online all over the world so we can create some of the most compelling and memorable grand-scale warfare gaming experiences that only WWII Online is capable of generating.
LET US NOW COLLABORATE AND COME TOGETHER
On behalf of all of us at Cornered Rat Software, we'd like to thank our loyal following to WWII Online. We remain a very special place to be and our goal is to continue that by being more inviting and integrate our new users fairly into the experience, recognizing their continued value to helping the overall mission of making WWIIOL gameplay awesome.
We hope now to garner a balanced relationship with these new users recognizing once again that we are offering a perpetual Free Play subscription version of the game that we are able to while balancing the special access for paid subscribers and their privileges. We will both benefit from this and we need to come together, united in making this MMO + FPS + WWII era simulation vibrant and active. That is how we've made it 18 years, and we have to realize that's the core of our culture here at this community.
Thanks for reading everyone, we appreciate your support.
Salute!
For any assistance, please feel free to contact us at http://support.wwiionline.com.
Version 1.36.3 (Readme)
Continue reading here
Upgraded F2P and Halloween sale! -50% to -74% off!
-50% on Starter and Premium accounts:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/667291/
https://store.steampowered.com/app/667290/
-50% on DLCs (or -74% on bundle packs):
Free trial accounts receive full premium access and upgraded free-2-play!
Each new account is now granted with a 30-days premium pass.
Once the trial ends, players now get an upgraded FREE PLAY account with rifles, reserve SMGs, some paratroopers, trucks, reserve light guns, reserve light tanks and reserve medium tanks. They can continue to capture flags, use the binocculars and place player-placed objects, including mobile spawns.
In counter-part, DLC owners now take their supply directly from premium pools.
We hope this will please our steam players who love our game and want to remain part of our community.
Salute!
Zebbeee
Campaign 169 - US army enters the war!
We activated back DLCs and bundles at discounted prices (-47%!). Check our store!
Another BIG announcement coming soon for our former f2p players. Stay tuned!
Support the future of WWII Online!
www.WWIIONLINE.com/fund
For sometime now Cornered Rat Software has been working hard to improve and amplify the WWII Online experience. We've effectively restarted game development, added new content and features, and continue to provide bug fixes. We've also re-worked the servers a bit, but there's more to be done.
Not only will the move to Portland OR help provide great connectivity across the globe, it is the home-base of Cornered Rat Software, and the West Coast of USA is where most of our technical team is. Logistically, it makes a lot of sense.
The good news is, we'll be able to retain servers obtained through other efforts that meet the power / performance / remote management requirements that we have. By doing this, we can achieve more and improve up-times.
We're asking for your financial commitment to help us set up this all-new, better connected, better cooled and operated server housing site by contributing directly to the WWII Online funding campaign. By doing this, you're enabling CRS to achieve more, for you.
The more support that comes in, the better of a job we can do to not only create this new server setup (which will also reduce recurring monthly operating costs on our end - enabling more game development), but it will also allow us to purchase important tools and assets to enhance the games performance and visual appeal.
Please contribute to, and support this vital effort at www.wwiionline.com/fund.
WWII Online remains 100% community funded. Your support is greatly appreciated, and funding drives like these help us move mountains in terms of progress made.
Here is the short list of priorities that this funding campaign is designed to support:
- Create a whole new server base for WWII Online.
- Renew essential software for game development.
- Obtain a newer version of SpeedTree to improve graphics of environmental objects.
- Support the development of the current Roadmap.
- Enhance marketing reach to obtain new players.
Axis victory! Campaign 169 start
The new campaign 169 will start soon and we are preparing for the upcoming "Welcome Back Soldier" which starts on October 1st and will run through the 15th: all past subscribers will be reactivated during this time automatically - at no charge.
Please be sure to spread awareness of this immediately so we have maximum server numbers.
See you in the battlefield!
Welcome Back Soldier, Air Show, Op Burning Skies, 64 Bit, and MORE!
There is a lot going on! Welcome Back Soldier (WBS) is coming up, XOOM is showcasing WWII Online at the Oregon International Air Show, Operation Burning Skies is this Sunday, updates on 64 Bit (and other Dev updates), and so much more! Read the article below...
Frontline update - Day 24 of Campaign 168
Axis are pushing hard Westward. capturing the remaining lands in Belgium. Veurne and Ieper have fallen, and the Axis forces have landed in the United Kingdom: Canterbury is currently holding the enemy back with all its remaining troops.
JOIN THE BATTLE AND HELP YOUR SIDE ACHIEVE VICTORY
Oregon International Air Show
Xoom has set up a booth at the Oregon International Air Show. If you are so inclined (and in the area) stop on by!
Coastal, Tatonka, and Sw25th volunteered to help promote WWII Online to an estimated 65,000 aviation enthusiasts that frequent the show annually. Visit the Oregon International Air Show website for more information.
Operation Burning Skies
All pilots scramble! Strap yourself in for this months Community event - Operation Burning Skies!
This Sunday, September 22, 11 am – 5 pm server time. In honor of XOOM and friends showcasing WWII Online at the Oregon International Air Show – our forces too will battle for superiority in Operation Burning Skies. High Commands are on high alert to rally their forces to victory!
Funding Drive
We have some big objectives we're requesting your assistance to make some great progress for the game. Among those listed is moving the servers to a new colocation in Portland, Oregon. Moving to this facility will benefit player experiences across the board, including dedicated ISP's (Internet Service Provider) for Countries like Australia, Europe, and China! There are many other items covered in this funding drive, and we are only 14% funded. We can't stress the importance of this funding drive and how all these items will benefit everyone in game!
Click on this link NOW and help move WWII Online forward!
Behind the Scenes
As summer ends and everyone is back from Holiday, new developments were revealed during last week's CRS (internal) Team meeting:
These items will be implemented as they are ready.
Converting to 64 bit has been a daunting task. It literally changed most (if not all) of the code for the game. QA is tasked with stress-testing every facet of WWII Online for potential bugs and reporting back to the Development team with their findings.
Netcode3 deals with player packets and how they are sent/received in game. Recent developments improve the efficiency of these packets. We are anticipating less lag/un-killable experiences across the board.
This is a fraction of what is happening behind the scenes, and a testament of our commitment to the WWII Online community. We have some big objectives we're working on that require your assistance.
Welcome Back Soldier!
All inactive players will get FREE FULL ACESS from October 1st through the 15th! Y
Remember that all former free rifle accounts will be closed after this WBS offer. Only new accounts will get 30 days all-infantries access. Stay tuned for more free events in the future.
Share this message in all your squad groups and websites!
SALUTE!