Massively^™

If you're making an MMO, you can go one of two routes. You can go mainstream -- try to please everyone at once -- or you can carve a niche to be occupied by a small but loyal player base. Playnet has always aimed for the second option with World War II Online: Battleground Europe (or, The Game Formerly More Prominently Known as Just World War II Online, if you prefer) -- a hardcore combat simulation that emulates a huge chunk of the European theater of World War II on land, sea, and air.

Playnet just released a new patch for the game that adds 26 new towns and 3 new brigade types. It also makes "a change to scoring against naval vessels." Players will get a chance to interrogate the game's senior producer about the changes in a live chat this Wednesday at 4:00 PM EDT.

Full patch notes are available on the official Battleground Europe forums. Beware, though: a certain Massively blogger has a soft spot for this game, and is looking forward to blowing you to smithereens in a bombing run. You have been warned. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall ... you get the idea.

On the war torn battlefields of Europe, the armies of the Axis and the Allies have been fighting a bitter struggle for years. Armies are surrounded and crushed, Tigers break through the Ardennes, and countless cities have been reduced to rubble in the struggle for ultimate domination. At the bottom of the totem pole of this conflict, is the gun totting, foot marching, cold food eating grunt. The war effort needs more of you and World War II Online: Battleground Europe is offering new players tantalizing rewards and updates to help send you directly into the path of blitzkreig.

WWIIOL has been actively recruiting since early April by offering some combat bonuses. Other than free stuff and pats on the back for your patriotism, the game has announced some planned implementations to get players right into the meat grinder. They are promoting an upgraded graphics engine known as Unity II. In a press release provided to Massively, the WWIIOL team promises troopers much improved graphics and an exciting new experience when entering into combat on urban ground. Before you get there, your survivability will hopefully be increased by a new tutorial system that not only touts a form of basic training, but also a combat training scenario that puts you in an instanced battle to practice what you've learned. If you wish to put your mark on the dotted line, the sign-up page is here. Be sure to bring a box of mom's apple pie, because it will be rations from here on out soldier!

Cornered Rat Software, makers of WWII Online: Battleground Europe, have just created a 14-day trial for those of you who've been on the fence on whether or not to try to fit this kind of action into your busy MMO schedule. To sweeten the deal, the 14-day trial includes (from the site):

• High Score Wins! Each week during the trial, the highest scoring infantry, tank commander and fighter pilot will be awarded a 1-year free account and a collector's t-shirt.
• Win a Blu-Ray Drive! You can win a Sony Blu-Ray BD-ROM just by starting your Free Trial today!
• Bonus! You can become eligible for a rank bonus and unlock new weapons and equipment. This is a limited time offer!
  

Even better, it's available in both PC and Mac flavors, so this blogger will be happy to get in on the action without having to go through Boot Camp, for a change. Play as the Germans, the French, or the British, but get out there and play -- that's an order, soldier!

[Thanks, Amy-Lynn!]