The game I came to LA to play is everything I hoped it would be. For the basics check out the preview here.

At first I had to watch a 4 minute training video that ran me through the GDF's basic goals of the map and their classes. Each objective needed a special class to complete a goal. This was like playing Goldrush on ET times 1,000. The first objective required us to take over a tunnel and before we even got to the entrance we were swarmed by strogg. Strogg ships, tanks and guys with jetpacks came at us from every side. Unlike the Battlefield games I did not feel worthless vs a vehicle. I was able to get behind objects to duck from rocket fire and returned enough small arms fire to take out their gunship. The game had the ET feel I am happy to report. The slight bunny hopping and weapon fire will feel very familiar for vets of the series.

I played as a field ops and was instructed by one of the developers to put out an artillery cannon at our base. It was a simple process like the other RtCW games where I just picked my build tool and picked what I wanted to build. After it was set up I moved forward and used my binoculars that included a laser pointer to pick my target. As complex as the game can be it is refreshing to have the controls so simple. The respawning system has been tweaked for the better. Anyone who has played RtCW or ET knows the feeling of disappointment when you execept being put in the respawn cue just as a medic runs up to you. Now you can go back to waiting for a medic.

I asked the developer how they managed such balance between two complete races. He said the balance comes from the objective each group is trying to complete. It is not based on a red vs blue balance system it is about how things need to be completed.

The game ran great. It was hard to believe this was the Doom 3 engine. While cruising as fast as I could on a little ATV I did not notice any frame loss at all. The graphics are as detailed as you would expect a Doom 3 game to be but the draw distance and the performance surpasses Q4 and Doom.

ET QW looks as promising as the game play movies had led me to believe. Game close to entering beta and should be out this fall.