World War II Online update

Strategy First and Playnet.com have announced the release of a major update for their massively multiplayer online wargame. The update adds a number of improvements to the game, including new player-controlled strategic options and new character advancement systems. It is available for free to those who have purchased the retail copy of the game.

The new character advancement system lets both Allied and Axis characters gain ranks by successfully completing both offensive and defensive missions. All characters begin with the rank of private, and higher-ranking characters can post priority missions that use higher-value equipment and weapons. The update also upgrades the game's 3D environment by adding more objects, including improved ground cover, more landmarks, and more enterable buildings.

World War II Online was first released in June and drew criticism for a number of significant technical problems. According to the publisher, the developer of the game has been working since the game's launch to improve the game's performance in a number of areas. The most recent release, along with several previous patches, is designed to increase frame rates, reduce load times, and eliminate other technical issues.

Strategy First and Playnet.com also announced an in-game competition in which the top players in the game will win copies of different games or the grand prize of an AMD 1.3GHz computer. More information about the contest and the latest patch is available on the official World War II Online Web site. For more information about World War II Online, take a look at our previous coverage of the game.