Battlefront et 1C annonce la liste des nouveautés pour le prochain patch de Theatre of War version anglaise. Ceux qui avaient un doute sur la présence de la campagne de Normandie, inclue pour la France, vont être rassuré, elle est bien présente dans ce patch. Ils en profitent aussi pour nous donner une vidéo afin d’illustrer en images ces changements. La vidéo présente en faite, seulement les modifications de l’éditeur de carte. Ces images sont de très bonne augure et je pense que tous les modeurs vont applaudir des deux mains à ces nouveautés. Il est enfin possible d’avoir un outil d’édition 3D complet permettant une manipulation avancée de tous les objets. Avec un tel outil et un tel jeu, on devrait voir de nombreus scénarios de grande qualité sortir. Surtout ce patch devrait sensiblement améliorer le multi-joueurs et gommer en partie les graves lacunes de la première version. On attend donc ce patch avec impatience pour pouvoir se lancer une paire de parties en ligne qui en valent la peinte.

Nouveaux composants:

* Map Editor (Builder) with expanded functionality including landscape editing, roads and terrain type mapping capabilities;
* Mission Editor (updated with multiplayer missions editing capability and new triggers).

Nouvelles campagnes

* Battle for Moscow (first released with 1.3.0.56 patch, newly updated);
* Battle for Normandy (battles fought by German Panzer Division “Panzer Lehr”).

Améliorations multi-joueurs:

* 11 new MP missions;
* 11 new MP maps;
* New mission type – Assault/Defend;
* Timed missions;
* Multiplayer game may include AIs;
* Multiplayer game may be played by one player with up to 7 AIs;
* In some missions player’s alliance determines their starting positions;
* Player now must choose an army instead of country in multiplayer; each mission may have up
to 20 different armies;
* AIs choose offensive or defensive behavior themselves;
* Player spawn indicator added to map in mission setup;
* MP stability improved;
* Load times for MP missions reduced;
* Smooth unit movement on client side;
Known multiplayer bugs fixed.

Changements divers:

1. Visibility system redone: bushes, tree foliage and tree trunks now fully block line of sight. These obstacles do not count in very close proximity to units (“Forest ignore distance”), making hiding behind them possible;
2. LOS indicator added – color coding of the line which is drawn when player issues one of the attack orders. Solid green part of the line represent “Forest ignore distance” where foliage is ignored, red part represent zone with good visibility (it’s brightness may vary indicating quality of LOS) and black part shows area which selected unit can not see;
3. Difficulty levels changed: enemies suffer from reduced accuracy and penetration values on easy level, are equal to player units on medium difficulty level and have slightly higher accuracy on hard level;
4. Many missions were rebalanced to account for the new visibility system;
5. Reloading bug fixed, now infantry doesn’t kneel for reloading;
6. Coaxial MG fire error fixed (after main gun breakage);
7. Bug causing indestructible coaxial MGs fixed;
8. Aiming at moving target changed;
9. Detonation time calculations for shells with base fuses changed;
10. Secondary damage calculations (internal armor fragmentation, HEAT pressure wave, etc.) are now more accurate;
11. Errors in unit properties fixed;
12. Daimler Mk I size reduced, crew animations redone;
13. IS-2 crew consists of 4 men instead of 5;
14. Damage calculations changed for tank commander cupolas;
15. Ordinary steel instead of armored steel now used for unarmored vehicles like automobiles and for some auxiliary tank parts;
16. Artillery guns damage model corrected;
17. Damage model for additional armor sheets and auxiliary parts changed;
18. Errors in infantry backpacks fixed;
19. DShK machinegun model corrected;
20. Ignited vehicles now burn longer;
21. Aiming accuracy dependence on skills corrected;
22. Bug which could cause disappearing of units during campaign fixed;
23. Infantry behavior in trenches corrected;
24. Air units behavior has been improved;
25. AI units now better at aiming at different spots on vehicles;
26. Error when tanks could possibly crush friendly troops fixed;
27. Wrong behavior of Wz.34 armored car fixed (it no longer can crush trees);
28. More sounds added;
29. Unit behavior in Guard state improved;
30. Weather conditions and trenches affect visibility

Articles liés

• L’Über patch pour Theatre of War version anglaise est enfin là! (janvier 28, 2008)
• Theatre of War, des nouvelles du patch et de l’add on (juin 19, 2007)
• Theatre of War des news en vrac (octobre 18, 2007)
• Uber patch Theatre of War dispo pour la version française (mars 26, 2008)