Day of Defeat: Source
| Day of Defeat:Source | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Valve Software |
| Publisher(s) | Valve Software |
| Engine | Source engine |
| Platform(s) | PC (Windows) |
| Release |  26 September, 2005 (Steam) 28 September 2005 (Windows) |
| Genre(s) | First-person shooter |
| Mode(s) | Multiplayer |
 | This article contains content that is written like an advertisement. |
Day of Defeat: Source is the newest version of Day of Defeat, the World War II online shooter that was originally developed as a free mod for Half-Life. Built by Source Engine amd distributed through Steam, Day of Defeat: Source offers teamplay based gameplay with scenarios inspired by historical World War II battles. It was the first Source game to incorporate high dynamic range rendering (HDR), predating the official HDR technical demo, Half-Life 2: Lost Coast.
Release
Day of Defeat: Source was released over developer Valve Software's Steam service at 22:00 GMT on September 26 2005, and was subsequently released in stores on September 28 as a part of the Counter-Strike: Source package. Day of Defeat: Source was released in retail as a Stand-Alone Product for $19.99 USD.
Unlike Half-Life 2, the game's release on Steam went smoothly, with large IRC parties and live radio shows organised by fans adding to the sense of anticipation.[citation needed] Indeed, the release went so well that players soon found every server full, and only poorly-configured and laggy listen servers with free slots.[citation needed]
Content
When the game was released there were only four maps available, dod_anzio, dod_flash, dod_avalanche and dod_donner, all of which had been recreated based on maps in the previous iteration of Day of Defeat. An entirely new map, dod_argentan, was added on 30 November, 2005 [1], and quickly proved popular amongst players. On January 26, 2006, a remake of dod_kalt was released [2], garnering praise from many players and bringing the total number of official maps to six.
Valve's PR Manager Doug Lombardi stated in Computer Gaming World: "Day of Defeat: Source is an ongoing project that will receive constant updates through steam depending on community feedback. We're bringing players into the process: this way they feel a tighter affinity for the product".[citation needed] Day of Defeat's development team is indeed more active in the community than Valve's other teams (although members do tend to move between products), mostly on the official Day of Defeat forums and outside forums.[citation needed]
Future development
With the Source engine's modularity and the Steam platform's distribution technology, Day of Defeat offers many technologies that was not yet seen in games upon its release. Day of Defeat: Source was the first game implemented with their new High Dynamic Range lighting (CounterStrike: Source, Half-Life 2: Lost Coast, and Half-Life 2: Episode One has since implemented it). Other technologies added post-release include effects Valve are to add to the game to make it look closer to a World War II era film (right). The effects include motion blur, depth of field, film grain and color correction. Some of this technology is meant to convey period cinema, while others were meant to simulate how the human eye works (High Definition Range is an example of this).
Go to the bit-tech website for more information.
Gameplay
Upon entering a server, the player chooses a team to play for - either the US Army or the Wehrmacht. After this, they choose a class; available classes being: Rifleman, Assault Infantry, Support Infantry, Sniper, Machine Gunner or Rocket Infantry. Once a class is chosen the player spawns at a predesignated point on the map, and must battle for control of the objectives. If the player dies, in order to respawn they must wait for "reinforcements" to arrive, which usually takes up to ten seconds. Any friendly players who are killed in this time join the original player and respawn together as the next wave of troops.
Compared to many first person shooters, Day of Defeat: Source allows players only a small amount of health, meaning that being hit by even one bullet can be catastrophic. As such, players must make use of cover and tactics to achieve victory over the enemy.
Players must work together and use a combination of stealth and force to advance through a map to attempt to achieve a winning outcome. For example, if three troops are pinned down by a machine gun, a rocket infantry should come up and attempt to knock the MG out of its hole.
Overview
Day of Defeat: Source features two sides, the US Army and the Wehrmacht.
The objective in each Day of Defeat: Source match is to hold every strategic point on the map, denoted by flags at each location. Strategic points are captured by having a certain number of teammates around them for a certain amount of time without enemy players entering the area. If an enemy enters the area, the capture process stops and resets. Once the capture is complete, the flag will change to the colours of the team. The location is then held, but the enemy team can take it back through the same process.
Capturing all of the points, or other designated objectives which are not specifically flags, constitutes a capture of the map, or "full capture", which consequently restarts the round and gives a substantially large amount of points to the winning team.
Classes and weapons
| Class | US Army | Wehrmacht |
|---|---|---|
| Rifleman | M1 Garand x2 rifle grenades M1918 trench knife |
Mauser Karabiner 98 Kurz x2 rifle grenades Entrenchment spade |
| Assault Infantry | M1A1 Thompson (with melee) Colt M1911A1 MkIIA1 fragmentation grenade M18 smoke grenade |
Maschinenpistole 40 (with melee) Walther P38 Stielhandgranate 24 Stielhandgranate 24 Smoke |
| Support Infantry | M1918A2 Browning Automatic Rifle x2 MkIIA1 fragmentation grenades M1918 trench knife |
Sturmgewehr 44 x2 Stielhandgranates 24 Entrenchment spade |
| Sniper | Springfield M1903A4 Colt M1911A1 M1918 trench knife |
Mauser Karabiner 98 Kurz (scoped) Walther P38 Entrenchment spade |
| Machine Gunner |
Browning M1919A6 Colt M1911A1 M1918 trench knife |
Maschinengewehr 42 Walther P38 Entrenchment spade |
| Rocket Infantry | M9A1 Bazooka M1 Carbine M1918 trench knife |
Panzerschreck RPzB 54 Mauser M1932 C-96 (fully automatic) Entrenchment spade |
Official maps
When the game was released there were only four maps available, dod_anzio, dod_flash, dod_avalanche and dod_donner, all of which had been recreated based on maps in the previous iteration of Day of Defeat. An entirely new map, dod_argentan, was added on 30 November, 2005 [3], followed by a remake of dod_kalt on January 26, 2006.
There are currently six official maps available with Day of Defeat: Source, with more currently in the process of being constructed. In addition many custom maps are being created by the Day of Defeat community and are being released at the official forums. New maps will be distributed via Valve's Steam online distribution system. It has been confirmed that the seventh map for Day of Defeat: Source will be the objective type map for the game and will be called Colmar. It also seems likely that this release will be accompanied by a release of the map Jagd, as mentioned in an interview at the Internode Games Network. Day of Defeat: Source maps are based on both fictional and non-fictional operations.
Anzio - dod_anzio
Date: 7th August, 1944
Location: Anzio, Italy.
Map Type: Territorial Control
The Americans have prepared a simple, fast beach assault to capture the city of Anzio, with plans to outflank the enemy at Rome. Little did they know the Germans were already there, waiting.
A conversion of an original Day of Defeat map, Anzio is based on Operation Shingle and the Battle of Anzio. The map runs through the bombed out city of Anzio, with brutal close quarters combat and ranged skirmishes. The U.S. forces start on the beach, where they must advance into the city to attempt to capture all five strategic locations. The German forces must also capture the same five points, and push the Americans out of the city. With multiple ways to each objective, including the sewers, Anzio is a map in which the tactically minded will dominate and strategy is essential.
Argentan - dod_argentan
Date: 18th August, 1944
Location: Argentan, Normandy, France
Map Type: Territorial Control
Allied soldiers under General Patton are attempting to capture the town of Argentan and close the Falaise pocket to cut off the remainder of the German forces trying to escape the Cotentin Peninsula after the failure of the Wehrmacht counterattack. German infantry have been sent to the rear to hold off the Allies so the remainder of the Wehrmacht can escape to the east.
A whole new map designed specifically for Day of Defeat: Source, Argentan attempts to simulate an American assault on the town of Argentan. The map has two main routes, with smaller paths through buildings. One route is more suited to close quarters combat while the other is perfect for ranged combat and snipers. This map can become a brutal battlefield, taking heavy losses on both sides. However, the five points differ in difficulty. For instance, The last American point can prove relatively simple to capture due to the easy terrain, while the last German point, which is on high ground, can prove to be exceedingly complex.
Colmar - dod_colmar
Date: To be announced.
Location: Colmar, Alsace, France
Map Type: Capture/Destroy the Objectives (no time limit)
Recently announced, Colmar is the first objective-based map for Day of Defeat: Source. Based on screenshots, players will most likely use satchel charges to destroy pieces of equipment as mission objectives. Colmar uses the same snow and ice effects that are present in Kalt, with the notable addition of falling snow. The release date is not yet known, but it can be assumed that Colmar is in late production.
Operation Avalanche - dod_avalanche
Date: 18th August, 1944
Location: Salerno, Italy
Map Type: Territorial Control
A couple of days after establishing a beachhead at Salerno, the American and British advance towards the hills was stopped by a vicious German counterattack on September 13th. Intense street fighting ensued, with some towns changing hands several times a day.
This map is based on Operation Avalanche. The map is often referred to as the "Dust of Day of Defeat" in reference to the popularity of the map de_dust in Counter-Strike.[citation needed] The Americans start at the bottom of a hill in an Italian town, with the Germans at the top. This immediately puts the Germans at an advantage, allowing them to rain fire down from the high ground to the advancing Americans. The objective is to capture the five strategic points, but each point is its own problem. On either side, the terrain is difficult to progress over, and enemy points can be extremely hard to defend. With rifles and machineguns ripping up the ground outside, close quarters battles rage inside the buildings. The threat of enemy snipers is almost always present.
Donner - dod_donner
Date: 3rd September, 1944
Location: Donner, Northern France
Map Type: Territorial Control
The Allied forces are advancing north towards the Belgian border. The town of Donner lies ahead, a key intersection for the roads leading north. American forces have launched an assault on the town to secure the area for advancing Allied armour.
Donner is an urban encounter, with five objectives are positioned through a wrecked town, with wide streets and narrow alleys. This map is lethal to the overconfident, as a wrong move can leave a player alone, face to face with numerous enemies and certain death. With at least two ways to each objective, the streets of Donner are very dangerous. It is easy to become outflanked by the enemy, and the central objective is often plagued by sniper fire. This map can also last for hours on end without a victor, as it takes a massive team effort and a lot of casulties to capture the final objectives.
Flashville - dod_flash
Date: 10th September, 1944
Location: Flashville, France
Map Type: Territorial Control
U.S. troops have advanced into what appears to be a small rural French village. A few platoons are ordered forward to check out the situation, and engage a large German force in the village in vicious street fighting.
Another conversion of an original map, Flash is relatively straight forward. Under a fictional setting, it has five strategic capture points running through a countryside village. It is linear in nature, and makes use of choke points and close quarters combat, allowing automatic weapons and machine guns to dominate. The map is simple, but extremely effective. A well played match can last for hours without a victor.
Kalt - dod_kalt
Date: 13th December, 1944
Location: Kalt, Northern France
Map Type: Territorial Control
Kalt is built around control of a bridge roughly in the center. It also has a number of new models, including an M4 Sherman and an Allied AA half-track, it also brings new textures and effects for the snow theme.
Jagd - dod_jagd
Date: Unknown
Location: Unknown
Map type: Timed Assault/Defence.
Recently announced, Jagd is not a remake of dod_jagd of Day of Defeat fame. Rather, it is an entirely new map carrying the jagd name, and this may change before release. The Axis are on the attack and have 3 points that they must destroy with two explosive charges within a certain time limit. For each point destroyed, an extra two minutes of game time is added to the map, thereby motivating the Allies to try and dominate early as well as motivate the Axis to hurry and get on the board.
New features and changes from Day of Defeat v1.3
Day of Defeat: Source makes minor detail changes to the gameplay dynamics of Day of Defeat. The majority of the changes are said to be aimed towards promoting teamplay.
Class specialisation
The clearest example of class specialisation is the rifle class. In the original Day of Defeat, riflemen were equipped with a pistol and could attack players with the butt of their weapon. This gave them several fallbacks should they find themselves in close range combat or other dangerous situations. In Day of Defeat: Source, riflemen do not have sidearms, and instead of a melee attack, they can now bring up the rifle's iron sights. This in turn specializes the class solely to medium to long range situations and players learn to avoid close quarters combat.
Similar changes have been made to other classes, and the result is that a player will usually have to consider carefully where he or she moves, in order that they are not countered by a more suitably-equipped player. Class specialization also reduces the potential for one player to dominate in the game, and encourages teamwork amongst players.
Real-time physics
Real-time physics are a by-product of Day of Defeat moving to the Valve Source engine. Like all other Source engine games, these are powered by a heavily modified version of the Havok Physics engine.
Advanced physics simulation makes the environment more interactive, giving the player the ability to utilize logic to create situations favorable to their situation. The movement of furniture indoors to block off a door, or pushing a table into a position and using it as makeshift prop for a machine gun are examples of players utilizing the physics to their advantage.
More cosmetic changes include fully simulated debris and ragdoll animations for dead players.
Dynamic audio simulation
Day of Defeat: Source introduces a dynamic audio system that was limited to NPC's in Half-Life 2. Day of Defeat: Source is the first Source game to fully utilise the dynamic audio system in online multiplayer games.
In Day of Defeat: Source, each sound is attributed with distance and occlusion variables, which are processed and then fed back to the player. Sounds far from the player lack higher frequencies and thus sound more like they naturally would, for example, abrupt pops for gunshots. Doppler effects, occlusions, and directional sound are also present features.
Trajectory randomization
In addition to recoil, which modifies the perceived projection of the bullet trajectory, a system for randomizing the bullet trajectory outside of a physically controllable system is present. This system relies on calculating a random angle within 2 discrete values creating an angled trajectory from the physically perceived angle.[citation needed] The maximum values that can be calculated, if graphically represented, create a cone, dubbed the "Cone of Fire".
It was initially believed that Day of Defeat: Source featured larger maximum angles than its predecessor. Following experiments by ex-Valve employee Tim 'Waldo' Holt, where weapons were fired in controlled in-game environments, it was found that this was only true of submachinegun and pistol weapons. The results of the experiments were posted on the official forums.
Day of Defeat: Source mods
There are various modifications to the game which have been released or are works in progress, which was an imposibility before since Day of Defeat was not a standalone title.
Shores of Glory
This is a modification which introduces the Pacific Theatre to the Day of Defeat environment. This modification was originally known as Day of Defeat: Pacific, but a name change was quickly enacted after discussion with Valve Software's legal department. The respective Japanese and American sides will be used with unique weapons in sync with the theatre for each side. Go to the website for more information.
Day of Destruction
Also known as Day of Defeat: Competition and ProDoD this mod was designed by a number of players who believed that Day of Defeat: Source was not suited to competitive play and so have attempted to develop their own version to make it more competition friendly. Day of Destruction changes some of the features of Day of Defeat: Source. Notable changes are as follows: giving pistols to all classes, increasing gun accuracies, increasing damage amounts for some weapons, removing rifle grenades and replacing them with regular grenades, and making small changes in the HUD appearance. Go to the website for more information.
Online Play
Day of Defeat: Source is an online multiplayer game, so server content often varies, including custom maps or administration modifications. As with most online games, Day of Defeat: Source has a large clan interest. Professional clans compete in leagues with other clans, and often own one or more servers. Many other servers are public, therefore accessible by all and normally run by the company that provides the server.
Leagues
In Day of Defeat: Source, there are special leagues for matches. The most well known is CAL, or Cyberathlete Amateur League. CAL holds matches and tournaments for clan vs. clan in most major games. There are different levels for CAL participants, starting at CAL-O, or CAL-Open, and are divided into divisions. CAL is the amateur division of CPL, or Cyberathlete Professional League. Other leagues include OGL, the Online Gaming League, ClanBase, ESL, and ViE (Victory in Europe).
External links
- Official Websites
- Official Day of Defeat website
- Official Day of Defeat: Source player statistics
- Valve Software website
- Official Steam website
- Community Sites
- Day of Defeat Community - UK / European Day of Defeat: Source community site.
- Day of Defeat Network - Currently the largest English Day of Defeat: Source fansite. Also with an accurate WW2 history section
- Day of Defeat Directory - Directory for custom maps, files and links to other Day of Defeat: Source sites
- Day of Defeat at FileFront - Large catalog of downloads for Day of Defeat
- Related Links
- Shores of Glory - Shores of Glory - A Day of Defeat: Source Pacific Theatre modification
- Day of Destruction - Day of Destruction - A modification of Day of Defeat: Source modification by and designed for the Day of Defeat: Source competitive community.
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