[Ragnar]

a result of the MHO games, my interest of W.W.II have reached a new dimension. It was a breath-taking experience to watch the “game video” of Allied Assault. The best I’ve ever seen of any games. I’m into the 3D industry myself (not Games), and still I wonder how you are able to
display so many polygons in real time. However I’ve seen this movie a few times now, and I have some comments, questions, ideas, and wishes.

I won’t focus too much on the impressive stuff, but rather concentrate on the sections of the game that can be improved. First of all, the sprays in front of the landing crafts are gorgeous. The explosions look dangerous real, and the visibility in the game is enormous. Over all the graphics are top of the art.

The soldier’s independent movements in the rest position are great.
The walking and running animations could be improved.
To me it looks like you don’t have a turning or running sideways animation?
A soldier, who runs from one cover to another, seems to run “forward” all the time. He faces the direction he is running, and his running direction is change by rotation around the y-axis.

If a person have to run 6 meter forward and two meters to the left, he would face the target and move forward and sideways at the same time. Your guys on the beach, seem to run two meters 90 degrees to the left, rotate 90 degrees to the right, one their toes in the middle of a step, and then finished the last six meters. It looks a bit robotic.

Sometimes the soldiers don’t seem to have any mass. It looks like they are only 25 kilos. Maybe you should consider a few extra moments in the squash pose?

The bending soldier in sniper town looks phony. The angel between the leg and thigh are only 50 to 110 degrees during a walk cycle. Should be 50 – 130 degrees. The angle between the thigh and the body is 5 to 15 degrees. Should be about 120 – 140 degrees. I also believe that the steps are to long.

Do you use any motion capture system?
Are the soldiers in the game, built up by many parts, or are they made of a single wire mesh?
Are there any possibilities to create or modify levels without programming?
(Other games let you add or modify objects, or scan your own pictures to put on buildings or soldiers).
Will objects and personnel cast shadows?
Are there any civilians in the game?
I am from Norway and I am delighted to read that at least one operation takes place in my country. I know a lot about the Norwegian W.W.II history, and wonder if you have you done a serious investigation, before the level (levels) was designed?

My wishes are:
- Breath sound, were the player can hear the hero’s breath increases proportionally to his exertions in the game.
- I would like to se highlights on metal parts. Especially the German helmets.
- If you add more contrast to the graphics, it will look like the film stock from the W.W.II period.
- Footprints.
- Don’t let enemy soldiers emerge behind you after the area has been cleared.

In further games I would like to se levels like:
- Sink battleship Bismarck.
- Sink battleship Tirpitz. Maybe included in your Trondheim level.
- Recreation of the Heavy Water / Gunnerside operation. (With skiing, climbing, railroads and a big ferry, not a small rowboat).
- The Battle of Stalingrad.
- Operation Archery. British landing in Måløy in 1941.
- The Battle of Narvik.

Look forward to your game.


Ragnar Egeland.