Activision has kept its promise and released a public multiplayer beta test of Return To Castle Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory. The original game is not needed to run this, but the test is limited to a single multiplayer map.

Previously this was going to be released as an expansion pack, but Activision cancelled it when the single player game didn't progress as they had wanted it too, they then decided to make it a multiplayer expansion available for free download off the internet.

Also, it's your chance to help point out bugs within the game to it's makers:

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You can help us out by reporting any problems you experience with the Multiplayer TEST to us. So, if you have any questions, comments, or find bugs, please e-mail etbugs@idsoftware.com or visit us at http://www.castlewolfenstein.com.

Although I'm not sure you can class Spawn campers and annoying people who go on about being l33t hax0rs as bugs...


The 102MB download can be obtained from: Gamers Hell, Gaming Horizon, RTCW files, and Worthplaying

Activision have made a statement in regards to the lag being encountered by some players in this release:

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Problems with choppy gameplay may be the result of not setting your connection speed when you create your profile. The connection defaults to ISDN, which is a rate of 5000. If your rate is set to something not appropriate for your connection, you'll get lag. If you're playing over a LAN or a DSL or cable modem, your rate should be set to 25000. To set your rate, pull down the console (~) and type "/rate (number)" without the quotes. You can also do this by choosing the "Options" button in the main menu, then choosing "System" and checking the connection speed (near the bottom of the screen). Be sure to press Apply. Thanks to feedback sent in by players, your comments have already helped us track down issues with the network code that may have otherwise not been located. So please keep sending those bug reports in (etbugs@idsoftware.com). - TIPS & TRICKS To help new players get the hang of Enemy Territory, here's a few tips: - ET is objective based, meaning you have to complete objectives to win. In the Limbo screen (where you set up your character), you'll see the objectives outlined at the bottom. - Completely new to a Wolfenstein online game? Play the soldier class with a Thompson or MP40 -- it's a great way to get the hang of the game and the map. - Engineers are critical -- always have one on your team. If you're an Engineer and you see a wrench icon over something, that means you have to build it. Choose 5 for your tool and press fire to build. - The tank has a useable MG. Hit the "Activate" button when near the tank to get in. - If you're not sure who to shoot, here's a tip: members of your team will show their name and health when your crosshair is over them. Enemies do not. - You must have PunkBuster cheat protection enabled to join a server running PunkBuster. The selection to enable PunkBuster is at the bottom right of the Play Online server browser. - If players with good ping times to your server are complaining about choppy performance you should reduce your max player limit for your server.

Have you given it a whirl yet IP

It's good, if it was easier to get on lag-free servers it'd be even better - eveywhere seems pretty full most of the time though. From the play-time I've had with this I'd think about giving the original RTCW a shot, just so I can play the full version of this (plus RTCW is cheap now - hurrah!)

Unlike the Medal of Honor games and the stats showing your kills/deaths - on Enemy Territory you get Experience points, and promotions which in turn increase your skill level (or so it seems, it's all much more packed with features than your standard multiplayer deathmatch) There's also many more stats available for you to look at, so you can see just how bad you're doing.

The level you are given is an objective mission, where as the Allies you are trying to destroy a fuel dump (wth the help of a tank) and as the Axis you're trying to impede the Allies every step of the way.

There's five classes you can choose from:

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• Solider - with the choice to spawn with either a mobile MG42, a Thompson, Panzershrek, Mortor or a flamethrower
  
• Engineer - has the ability to build bridges and Machine gun positions in set places on the map, can also repair the tank, use dynamite and plant landmines.
  
• Medic - Can revive the wounded and save them a trek from the spawn position, can also drop first aid packs for others to pick up.
  
• Field Ops - Can drop ammo packs and call in air strikes by throwing a smoke grenade into the target area.
  
• Covert Ops - Has the ability to steal a dead enemys uniform and sneak around unnoticed, until you're shot that is, also has a remote explosive, the option of a sniper rifle, and smoke grenades

Definitely worth a download - only downside that I can see is that if you're on a team full of untalented indivduals, who persist in playing Rambo, you will lose in record time... Even if you spend ages building up base defenses because you know what's going to happen... all your well placed land mines (that your team can see) will be carefully removed by your team members excellent co-ordination, leaving the enemy free to waltz in and blow up the fuel dump....

Sounds brilliant IP. I am just downloading it now and will finish in a couple of hours I guess (sorry Dan!).

Great descriptive piece there, IP. Love the narrative - you'll make a progamer journo one day for sure. That was very good what you wrote - I always said that RTCW was the better game (hee hee). I still haven't completed the original yet either - I am such a lazy git.

I never played RTCW, I think Maby scared me away from it with all his talk of Trams and how he was going to avenge me killing him repeatedly at MOH:AA (But now who's in a MOH:AA clan? It's not me... Although it may be due to the fact that I don't play it).

I'm sure because you played the original RTCW you'll be more familiar with the way the game works, I was at a loss and met my bemused death quite I few times before I whipped out my Panzershrek to deal with the Nazi hordes...

Yes - you heard it here first, Commander Pig resorted to being a rocket n00b, but with devastating effect... and it was probably the best way to take out the mounted machine gunner.

The Allied colt is quite a nice little pistol too, and has a fast enough rate of fire to make it handy in up-close combat - always handy given your limited ammo, the lack of Field Ops in your vicinity and that Axis soldier running at you with an evil gleam in his eyes and a MP40 in his hands.

I've never played this title either... I waited at the time of its release as MOHAA was due out shortly after. Sure sounds tempting and it's only £14.99 at play.com for the special edition hmm. Err I can't just yet, you see I promised myself not to buy another game until I've finished SOF2 and I've still got Max Payne to look forward too.

Darn, life is so busy... especially in the summer... roll on winter. :o

So Maby joined a clan, which one did he join Ghost? does he know about this forum?

You could still download the demo Mundy, have a venture online alongside me and my marvellous skills? I actually quite enjoy being a Medic too... I fear I'm going soft in my old age...

As for Maby he joined the [4-uk] clan, who run a round-based server:

www.4-UK.net Spearhead (no rockets, shotguns or custom skins) - 195.149.21.225:12204

And it's also probably the hardest server to get on... packed it is... He knows of the forum, but has been tied up with other things... Or maybe he doesn't like us... you know these clan-types... :D

Get it Mundy, excellent game, bargain price to.

You've got to get your priority's right mate, its play first then work, ;) :lol:

Multiplayer RTCW was a new experience for me - very arcadey it is what with that game announcer shouting out everything that was happening in Street Fighter II fashion, "upper, err nice shot".

It's fast and frenetic too. It downloaded really quick when I said the other night and I was at a complete loss to what was going on when I tried it, caught unawares like a bear having a sh^t in the woods, I was caught with my trousers down. The speed to the original 'single player' game was what I remember liking, you just press the shift key too for an amazing Linford burst in speed. So much speed and so many deaths - I killed very few in relation to the number that killed me.

I've got the Special Edition sat here on a shelf (I had a copy originally from when I took the old version back to GAME for a refund) - naughty me. Here's what is special about the Special Edition over the standard golden oldie one:

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Seven additional Multiplayer Maps Full version of the original Wofenstein 3D Behind the Scenes look at how Return to Castle Wolfenstein was made WolfRadiant level building tools - Includes everything needed to creeate game levels Wallpapers, cartoons and concept art

Guess that means the bonus stuff really are giveaways - the singleplayer game is good though, good enough on its own at £15 for sure. Great graphics and some really nice touches to the game - you'll waltz through it all, and the macabre ghoulies and undead boneheads will pleasantly scare the living daylights out of the unwarey... what more can you ask for??? Tee hee.