Register here:
http://www.companyofheroes.com/register
and then sign in.

Then visit:
http://www.companyofheroes.com/openbeta

And finally download the client at:
http://download.companyofheroes.com/launcher/setup.exe

The client is 6gig and downloads in a similar manner to the Blizzard WoW/Starcraft 2 patcher, so disable p2p connections + encryptions and you'll get MUCH better speeds.

I've no idea if this game will stay free to play so we might as well give it a try whilst it's free.

Have done the downloady thing.

As far as I understand it, it's supposed to be a free game funded by micropayments to get access to some special kit. However, you can also get that randomly unlocked at the end of each game, so not really sure if it'll stay free or not.

The dev's have said that the micro-payments is for people who don't have the time to invest in the game.

The items, skills, points etc from the micro-payments will not give you an edge or unfair advantage over the non-paying playing players.

I've played the game for about 90 minutes now and so far am enjoying it. Very good considering the price. ;-)

Thats actually quite a cool game.
I like the setting and the tactics are good.
Bases are much better than in StarCraft as it takes a while to kill em, good find Pete I look forward to killing you all.

Todays silly question, i've still got this on my shelf, (can't remember last time i played it), i assume that this will suffice for online play too?

I honestly don't know Shak-a-roo. I'd go with the download, just to be sure.

If you install CoH from disc you'll probably have to download a load of patches/updates etc anyway.

Doh, could've used you for that CoH mini-league business way back when Shak

But no, this COHO is an all-new thing, and according to its 'pedia page comprised of two separate editions for different markets.

Enjoyed the original, nicely paced and scaled, much more tactical and less resource/rush oriented than a lot of strategy games. Best of all, you could play against decent players and still enjoy some small victories, despite being steamrolled in the end (playing good players on the likes of WC3/C&C Gens/SupCom etc. - there *were* no small victories).

signed up and waiting for wee small hours to download client, then see what mayhem/fun there is.

Feel free to add me as a friend: Talarin

Given that the friends system is a bit poor, I suggest we add our commanders' names into the thread.

Mine - Talarin (US), Niralat (German)

Chez (Wehrmacht) - not got around to bothering with an Allied general yet.

Commander names so far

Shak - kraut
Jock - spam muncher

Grimmeh - goose stepping wunderkind

Und jawohl, Agamagala ist eine Wehrmacht Komandant!

I'm opting out of this for the time being.

My feeble brain can't handle 2 complex RTS games at once.

I've just started to get better a Starcraft 2 and want to focus my time + efforts on that.
(Challengers/team-mates welcome.)

So if we're not playing L4D2, I'll either be on Starcraft 2 or on DoD with Gaz.