Dawn of War II: Beta

Mantel

Stick all your DoW II beta info here! Beta info should be released tomorrow/Thursday (relic(probaly american)time)

DoW II news site wrote:

Keep your eyes on this page this Thursday for more information on how you can get involved in the upcoming Dawn of War II Beta!

Pyr0

Nice, If ya hear anything throw it up in this thread.

Spear

Info here

http://forums.relicnews.com/showthread.php?t=211030

Basically, those who bought Soulstorm get access to the beta through Steam on the 21st, with everyone else the 28th.

Mantel

Most excellent. Thanks Spear.

Knew I should have gotten a copy of soulstorm

grizzly

I got it in the cheap steam pack. I can has beta?

Pyr0

Aye I bought it through steam also, the pack that is. Does that apply ?

Spear

For those with separate Soulstorm keys, you can apparently reg them with Steam now. I've yet to try this myself though.

http://forums.relicnews.com/showthread.php?t=211220

Update: I've now done this for myself, and it adds Soulstorm to Steam as if it were the Steam bought edition, not just register for the beta.

Mantel

The beta is being done trough steam so chances are anyone that bought soulstorm from steam will be in for the soulstorm beta.

Pyr0

Yeah thats what i'm gathering too, if you have Soulstorm tied to your account in any way you're able to recieve a beta key from what I can see. So if you've bought it in the pack form with all the other DoW games, and have installed it you can play in the Beta.

Although, i'm not 100% on this as there hasn't been anything clearly been stated with that case.

gearoidof

if you have any form of copy of soulstorm, and you know how to use steam, you can play in the beta from the 21st.

otherwise it's only a 7 day wait. My main concern about the game is that my name might be taken online >.<

Pyr0

Dawn of War 2 has now gone gold, any changed from the beta will be featured in the first patch. A day 1 patch has been confirmed by a relic employee too.

ProjectColossus

So, is it just going to appear magically in my game list tomorrow, or do I have to do anything? Looking forward to this big time!

EDID: Found it here: http://community.dawnofwar2.com/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=3649

On 21 January, the Warhammer 40,000: Dawn Of War II Multiplayer Beta launches exclusively for Soulstorm owners. The Beta features all four races, five multiplayer maps and Games For Windows LIVE TrueSkill Matchmaking.

If you’re a Soulstorm owner here’s what you need to do to get started…

Step 1- Open Steam
If you don’t already own a Steam account, go to http://www.steampowered.com to download the Steam client and create an account for free. Once you’re set, open up Steam and click on the “My Games” tab at the top.

Step 2 - Add Soulstorm To Steam
If you haven’t purchased Soulstorm through Steam, or don’t have it on your games list, you’ll need to register Soulstorm first. From the “My Games” area on Steam, click the “Activate A Product” button at the bottom of the window. You will be asked to agree to the Steam Subscriber Agreement, after which you’ll need to enter your Soulstorm Registration Key.

CD Key Example: ABC2D-EF3GH-IJ4KL-MNOP5-67QRS

Adding Soulstorm as a “Non-Steam” game will not work. However, you don’t need to install Soulstorm if you don’t want to, it just needs to be registered on your games list in Steam for the Beta to work.

Step 3 - Install The Dawn Of War II Beta
With Soulstorm registered on Steam, all that’s left to do is wait for the Beta to launch on 21 January. When it does it will be added to the “My Games” area as “Warhammer 40,000: Dawn Of War II – Beta”. Select the game to begin installation. You’ll need 2.3GB of free space to install. You can find out more on Steam, and you can check the system specs here.

Step 4 - Register With Games For Windows LIVE
Whilst you’re waiting for the Dawn Of War II Beta to install, go to http://www.gamesforwindows.com to create a free Games For Windows LIVE account. If you already have a Games For Window LIVE or an Xbox Live account, you don’t need to worry about this step as you can just log in when you start playing.

Step 5 - Enter The Battle!
When the Beta has downloaded all that’s left to do is click the “Launch” button in Steam and log into LIVE. Once you’re in you can choose a ranked 3v3 team battle or select to host a custom public match online. If you want to familiarise yourself with the game before you jump into multiplayer you can use the custom public match to set up a battle against a computer-controlled opponent.

If you’re not a Soulstorm owner, you’ll be able to get in on the action next week, on 28 January when the Beta is released for all.

Mantel

ProjectColossus wrote: »

So, is it just going to appear magically in my game list tomorrow, or do I have to do anything? Looking forward to this big time!

Damn, I was just going to post the details

It should just appear, as long as you have it registered to steam, steam will probably need a restart though. Strangely steam hasn't been updated with priceing or any extra info like screenshots (the old ones are still there).

Pyr0

Haha you know what's brilliant ? I've been assuming the 21st was Friday, so I just checked the clock on my PC out of curiosity, its tomorrow !! Haha Wooooh !

grizzly

ProjectColossus wrote: »

Step 4 - Register With Games For Windows LIVE
Whilst you’re waiting for the Dawn Of War II Beta to install, go to http://www.gamesforwindows.com to create a free Games For Windows LIVE account. If you already have a Games For Window LIVE or an Xbox Live account, you don’t need to worry about this step as you can just log in when you start playing.

I've got a live but have never understood games for windows on PC. Do I just sign-in when prompted? Is there a program that goes with it? (Other wise how does it know which achievements you've unlocked on a PC?

Spear

It's installable now on Steam.

DeadlyByDesign

So whats the feedback people, is it any good?

grizzly

I got to play about 3 mins this morning before running off to work. I looks lovely, the only thing I noticed is there don't seem to be any base building options – you just have one base that builds everything. So the game must be more about small skirmishes and not epic battles.

SeantheMan

Mantel wrote: »

Most excellent. Thanks Spear.

Knew I should have gotten a copy of soulstorm

Its selling for Eur 3.75 on steam at the moment, marked down from 14,99 . To promote DOW2 and get ppl playin the beta id assume

http://store.steampowered.com/app/9450/

Mantel

grizzly wrote: »

I got to play about 3 mins this morning before running off to work. I looks lovely, the only thing I noticed is there don't seem to be any base building options – you just have one base that builds everything. So the game must be more about small skirmishes and not epic battles.

Yeap, it's all about the small battle. It's like combat patrol games for tabletop 40k. They're just short games with small amounts of units. It can be fast paced sometimes,

The squads in it aren't full ones like DoW, they're 3 man affairs with a sergeant upgrade once you upgrade your base. The force commander gets some nice upgrades you have to pick from, I managed to destroy a pred with a thunder hammer.

All the units seem to have a leveling system but it's not obvious what it does! More health? More damage? No idea.

No army painter in the beta.

Pyr0

I can't get my key to register, I get the menu screen and then windows live asks me for my Key which I got, I enter it and then..nothing, not even an error or a notification saying the key is not correct, i've checked the length and its 25 characters and I've checked the key by right clicking on the icon . I was trying to fix it for 3 hours last night, removing LIVE profiles from the game (which couldn't be detected again but can still log into them on the LIVE site) re-downloading the game and still nothing, won't even detect the two LIVE accounts I have already. I've posted on two beta forums looking for help and not one reply -

ProjectColossus

Pyr0 wrote: »

I can't get my key to register, I get the menu screen and then windows live asks me for my Key which I got, I enter it and then..nothing, not even an error or a notification saying the key is not correct, i've checked the length and its 25 characters and I've checked the key by right clicking on the icon . I was trying to fix it for 3 hours last night, removing LIVE profiles from the game (which couldn't be detected again but can still log into them on the LIVE site) re-downloading the game and still nothing, won't even detect the two LIVE accounts I have already. I've posted on two beta forums looking for help and not one reply -

Out of interest, are you working from a copy of Soulstorm you bought on Steam, or a retail key you registered with Steam? Probably doesn't matter either way. What is strange is that Steam keeps telling me what my beta key is (and to write it down because I'll need it), but I was never asked to enter it anywhere. It just runs.

Pyr0

I bought SoulStorm in the bundle pack with all the other expansions and DoW. Yeah I get that pop up too, I wish it just ran for me

ButcherOfNog

Very different multi-player from DoW I, looks great, loved the intro movie, seems fun

SeantheMan

Downloadin the soulstorm expansion atm, just for the sake of the beta though.

Hope its good

uberpixie

Pre ordered Dow II last night (i know i am goign to buy this anyway no matter what the reviews say plus it's relic and they will have co-op campaign mode for the single palyer campaign which should be fun)

Only got around to playing the beta this morning. Feels very much more towards COH than the original DOW.

Much less units and a lot more rock/paper/scissors.

uberpixie

So I have managed to play a few comp stomps: so 1vs 1 and a 2 vs 2 with my mate last night against normal AIs.


1 Vs 1 I was not having much fun at all with point control on.

2 Vs 2, even with our ****ty non exestant team work, I found this to be much much better.

The game is a huge difference to DOW 1. I didn't like it at first, but the 2 Vs 2 games changed my mind.

I would say 3 Vs 3 would be good: it seems to be what they have in mind for the game when they developed mulitplayer.

SeantheMan

The matchmaking system online is crap,

Always pairs ye up with someone who is lagging....then it announces to every player...SO and SO is lagging the game...wait 15 secs

Drove me insane
Apart from that its very good...your sort of just lumped in though..i know its a beta...but my first 2 games consisted of me lookin at my man trying to figure out all his abilities etc..(maybe i shouldnt have played them online) :P

Also....5 as max squad is good...means you just Crtl+1 - 5 and ye dont have to start strainin your finger to quick select squad 9 :P

Sephiroth_dude

any ideas when they might release a demo?

tman

They're giving away beta keys on Eurogamer.net right now if that's good enough for you...
2500 left now

http://gamers.eurogamer.net//giveaways.php?id=86934

Sephiroth_dude

thanks friend appreciate that

RoosterIllusion

Massive improvement on the original, not as cartoony or bland. The sound in particular is definitely up there with company of heroes.

I have to say though it's only a beta there is a distinct lack of variety in the units, I mean space marines have infantry, a dreadnought or a tank, that's it. Wheres the hacky hacky slashy stuff! And dont mention those overpriced assault terminators!

Mantel

RoosterIllusion wrote: »

Massive improvement on the original, not as cartoony or bland. The sound in particular is definitely up there with company of heroes.

I have to say though it's only a beta there is a distinct lack of variety in the units, I mean space marines have infantry, a dreadnought or a tank, that's it. Wheres the hacky hacky slashy stuff! And dont mention those overpriced assault terminators!

Tactial marines are overpriced.... assualt marines are where it's at! Especially with the metal bomb and sergeant upgrades. mmmmm, chainswords.

uberpixie

Mantel wrote: »

Tactial marines are overpriced.... assualt marines are where it's at! Especially with the metal bomb and sergeant upgrades. mmmmm, chainswords.

Tacs are only any good to you if you level them up.
Otherwise they couldn't hit a donkey in the arse with a banjo.

Tacs are much tougher than scouts especially standing in the open and they do lay down a lot of fire.

They do have their uses but you need to get them early in game so they level up enough so they can actually hit with a missile launcher when they get one....:rolleyes:

RoosterIllusion

The single biggest factor for me in deciding whether or not to buy this game is the fact that they got the sound of the assault cannons perfectly right, it sounds like a proper gun!

Sephiroth_dude

I'll definitely be getting this,It feels like in a way im playing the board game,and its really tactical which is great,no rushing with big armies and no need to babysit your base which allows you to concentrate on the battle,hopefully they'll improve the AI though its easy to beat.Multiplayer is fun though even if I do keep getting my ass handed to me

Tenger

Won't work me. Downloaded it from Steam and installed Games for Windows Live. It launches and shows me the intro then I get a Windows box telling DOW II has stopped working,its searching for a solution. Damn Vista

Now that is annoying.

Am going to buy it anyway. Loved the origianl (Soulstorm was a pocket gouger though) set up a network in the house so me and the kids could play. Due to Boards.ie I tried CoH and LOVED it. So DOW II is a must have for me. Play.com has it doe release on Feb 2nd.

vengeancepuppy

Bramble wrote: »

... Damn Vista

Beta x64 of Windows 7 together with beta of Dawn of War2 that works, I would suggest that it's something unique to your system.

Jumpy

I wish to say one word about this game.


AVATAAAAAAAAAARRRRRR!

Stomping, tank destroying, kill posing, opponent panic inducing good fun.

Teg Veece

Beta ends on the 18th so enjoy what's left of it!

http://community.dawnofwar2.com/blogs/?cat=19

Some interesting stats there too... if a bit old.

Pyr0

I'd say most of the results are from Pre-bata patch, if the beta was on longer I'm pretty sure we'd see Tyranids at the top with the Hive Tyrant is most used Commander !