Hi on behalf of Hours of War, browser MMO war strategy game, set in World War II

Hello all,
my name is Mr. Miikka Lyytikäinen, and I am an Executive Producer at Sauma Technologies Ltd. (Finland).
( http://www.saumatechnologies.com )
We have been, and are, developing a browser MMO war strategy game franchise, Hours of War. For more detailed information, do visit Hours of War website:
( http://www.hoursofwar.com )
We will begin the game with World War II campaigns and scenarios, like Allied invasion in Normandy 1944 (Allied vs. Germany), and Tali-Ihantala 1944 (Finns vs. Soviet Union). The game can be played as high level strategy (if you are a high ranking commander, like Army Commander), or on a tactical level (e.g. you play a Battalion Commander). Or anything in between.
ALPHA TESTING
We are launching our closed Alpha quite soon, and have chosen first wave of Alpha testers. We will add more testers soon, so if you are interested in Alpha testing, send us an email, to:
alpharequest (add at here) hoursofwar.com
...with a subject line as:
Hours of War alpha testing request.
Feel free to include any other feedback as well.
FACEBOOK
We have also set up a Facebook group, that anyone is able to join:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=logo#/group.php?gid=41512639723&ref=ts
...in the group we have a FAQ about the game.
...and we offer some war quizzes in the Facebook, for you to test your knowledge:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=logo#/apps/application.php?id=52442616922&ref=ts

LINKEDIN
And we have a LinkedIn group as well, for those of you who are business oriented:
http://www.linkedin.com/groups?home=&gid=1785903&trk=anet_ug_hm
...feel free to add me as a contact, after you have joined this group :)
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me directly by email:
miikka (add at here) saumatechnologies.com
***
Best to you all, stay in the game :)
Miikka

Sound very interesting. I'll be waiting for open beta to try.

The new Hours of War website and forum has been launched!

We are releasing more information about our project including new screenshots, Alpha test-news and more! Check out the updated site: http://www.hoursofwar.com

ALPHA STATUS UPDATE

Our production team has worked extremely hard for the last few weeks to release the first playable version of Hours of War. Internal Alpha testing has been going on for a while, and next Monday 16th March we are launching the external Alpha for a selected group of testers.

WIN 3 MONTHS OF FREE PLAYING TIME - REGISTER NOW!

Register now to the Hours of War website and participate in a competition, where the winner will get 3 months free subscription to the game when it is launched (target launch is Q3 2009)! The prize is randomly determined among the registered users, and the competition will end April 1st, 2009, at 23:59 UTC + 1 hour. We will announce the winner on Hours of War website and forum and e-mail the winner.

Hello,
here is a brief status update concerning Hours of War. 
NEW VIDEO AND SCREENSHOTS/UNIT CARD PICTURES
we have released Hours of War video, and some new screenshots/Unit card pictures.
Both can be found from our game page, from the address:
http://www.hoursofwar.com/pages/game
ALPHA GAMES
We have arranged a couple of external alpha games, where we tested how our back end works (server technology, and the underlying code handling data between game client and server and database), and on the game client side some basic things like moving the troops and combat. We have feedback from the testers, and know quite clearly issues we need to address in order to move closer towards beta version.  
NOW DEVELOPING NORMANDY LANDING, AND TALI-IHANTALA, WHAT NEXT?
That is what we are asking from our registered users, at our forum -- what campaigns or scenarios should we create next? All opinions appreciated, and will be taken in account when we make the decision.
The thread is here:
http://www.hoursofwar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=21
Cheers,
Miikka

Welcome to the party

Hi all, we have a winner for the march competition, and a new competition.
WINNER OF MARCH COMPETITION!
Hello, we have a winner for the 1st Competition: user Gunnar has won 3 months of free playing time! Game launch is expected to take place during Q3/2009.
NEW COMPETITION UNTIL APRIL 30th!
A new competition has started: every registered member participates automatically, and every new registered user, who has registered before 30th April 2009, is included in the competition. And everyone that registers, will be included automatically in future competitions like this! You are free to register here:
http://www.hoursofwar.com/members/register
PRIZE: 100 EUR AND ORIGINAL ART!
The prize is: 100 Eur Amazon gift voucher (at the time of writing, 100 Eur equals 132.77 USD), and an original concept art drawing signed by the artist mailed to you! Register now to participate!
LET US KNOW WHAT CAMPAIGNS/BATTLES YOU'D PREFER US TO DEVELOP
If you have ideas about campaigns/battles, you'd like to play, write your feedback to this forum thread:
http://www.hoursofwar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=21
(you need to register and login in order to write)
Cheers,
Miikka

Hello all, we have a new May competition, and a winner for the previous April competition:
NEW COMPETITION UNTIL END OF MAY!
A new competition has started: every registered member participates automatically, and every new registered user, who has registered before end of May 2009, is included in the competition.
PRIZE: 100 EUR AND HOURS OF WAR T-SHIRT!
The prize is: 100 Eur Amazon gift voucher, and an Hours of War t-shirt mailed to you!
REGISTER NOW AND PARTICIPATE AUTOMATICALLY IN FUTURE COMPETITIONS
Registering now you ensure that you will automatically participate in all monthly competitions like this in the future!
http://www.hoursofwar.com/members/register
--
WINNER OF APRIL COMPETITION!
We have a winner for the April Competition: user with a nickname of War Dragon has won 100 Eur Amazon gift voucher and an original Hours of War drawing signed by the artist! We have sent an email to the winner.

Hi all, we have a new competition & a winner for the previous one.
JUNE COMPETITION STARTS
A new competition has started: every registered member participates automatically, and every new registered user, who has registered before end of June 2009, is included in the competition.

Register now:
http://www.hoursofwar.com/members/register
PRIZE: COMMANDO: D-DAY COMICS AND HOURS OF WAR T-SHIRT!
Prize is the legendary comic, Commando: D-Day Fight or Die! The Twelve Best D-day comics anthology, and Hours of War t-shirt, mailed to you!
More info on the D-Day comic, see the publishers page
Do remember that the Open Beta Game launch is expected to take place during summer 2009, hope to see you all in the game!
--
WINNER OF MAY COMPETITION
Hello, we have a winner for the May Competition: user legoman has won 100 Eur Amazon gift voucher, and Hours of War t-shirt! We have sent an email to the winner.

Hello all,
my name is Mr. Ari Pirilä, and I am Miikkas colleague at Sauma Technologies Ltd. (Finland). One of my tasks is to inform 3rd party forums about Hours of War, so I´ll step into Miikkas boots and I´ll keep you guys informed! (http://www.saumatechnologies.com)
In order to commemorate the Battle of Tali-Ihantala, that started on 25th of June 1944, we are arranging a giveaway for all Hours of War registered users. All you have to do is to write something Tali-Ihantala related to this forum thread (http://www.hoursofwar.c...topic.php?f=5&t=72). It could be a link to a related site, video, picture or book, or some story related to Tali-Ihantala, anything really.
PRIZE: HOURS OF WAR: WAR BONDS PACKAGE!
The competition prize is Hours of War: War Bonds package, which includes:
- Play as much as you want during the Beta
- 3 months of Live version playing time
- An exclusive Hours of War t-shirt
- Unique retro style printed war bond with your own name!
Do that before Tuesday 9th of July 2009 at 12:00 hours UTC. To see what is your local time, for example use Time Zone Converter like this:
(http://www.timeanddate....rldclock/converter.html)
When you have posted something to the forum thread, you will automatically participate in the giveaway of one War Bonds package! The winner will be randomly selected amongst the people that have written something to the forum thread, and notified by email.
Cheers
Ari Pirilä
Community Manager
Hours of War / Sauma Technologies Ltd., Finland

Hello!
Here is a short briefing about the Hours of War:
* We have a new video preview demonstrating where the client design is heading! ( link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQAGbhDS3Ek )
* Scheduled Alpha tests have provided valuable feedback and influenced the development. Throughout our tests, the servers and client have been stable. We have had some issues with authentication and chat but working with our team of   testers, we have solved most of the bugs. Currently our development efforts are focused on the client design and visual feedback. We are also working on improving the in-game chat functionality and the necessary strategy and planning  tools for higher ranked players managing the battles. We are working extremely hard  to complete the Open Beta version and launch it.
* We have just opened a new forum, where you are able to discuss the game in your own language: (link: http://www.hoursofwar.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=15 ). In the beginning we will support the following languages: Danish, Finnish, French, German, Icelandic, Norwegian, Spanish, Russian and Swedish.
Salute
Ari Pirilä
Lt. Col. War Game Umpire

Attention!
We have a brand new website. You´ll find out that we have also new screenshots and video (more to come for sure!). Hours of War blog has found its place at our renewed site also. We added more information about the game including info about new scenarios. You may have noticed that we have upgraded the game graphics, and due to that and many other game tech improvements we made, we´ll have quite intense internal/external tests going on at the moment, before the beta launch.
And as always you are more than welcome to browse our new site here:
http://www.hoursofwar.com
Cheers,
HOW Team
Ari Pirilä
Lt. Col. War Game Umpire

Hello fellow Hours of War fans!
We have started the Closed Beta phase, during it we will make the game and underlying technical infrastructure ready for the Open Beta. Two weeks of closed Beta so far and things are going well. Here is a short information package related to Closed Beta:
- All games we arrange are still Closed games, they are not open for public
- We will have two types of games, Invitation only games and Continuously running games
INVITE YOUR FRIENDS TO CLOSED BETA
We have accepted 100 new Beta testers in the last 2 days and well keep adding more:
 
- We would appreciate a lot if you would invite your friends to the Closed Beta: do tell them to send an email to the address:
[email protected]
with a subject: Applying to Closed Beta
Thank you for reading this, stay tuned for more information.
HOW Team
Piri

PS. You´d have to sign up first to our site (https://www.hoursofwar.com/members/register), and then you could apply for the tester status!!!

A new version of the game released now to closed beta!
Play now and check out the new version of the Hours of War game - it's completely free.
Some of the new things are:
- Completely new user interface
- Accurate casualties shown
- Radio Normandy joint chat for both Allied and Axis players
- Lot of bugs fixed e.g. regarding line of sight and observations
Play Hours of War Closed Beta anytime you want to 24/7. First you need to register to:
https://www.hoursofwar.com/members/register
...after registering, hit "Request Beta access" button - the request will be processed within one workday.
*
When you have been approved to the Beta group, joining into the game could not be more simple, go to:
http://www.hoursofwar.com/pages/play
...login, and choose a game from the list!
The games are running 24/7, and restart every three hours. Don't pay attention to the starting times mentioned in the lobby, just choose a game and start to play! See you in the game!
*
If you have friend who might be interested in playing in closed beta, let them know that all it takes is registering:
http://www.hoursofwar.com
...after registration, click "Request Beta access" button!
Best regards from Finland!
Piri

Hello gentlemen, I was on holiday for a bit - I am glad to announce that the Open Beta of Hours of War been launched! Game is running 24/7, and all registered users are able to play for free.
If you haven't registered yet, you can do it here:
https://www.hoursofwar.com/members/register
If you already have an account, login ( https://www.hoursofwar.com/members/login ), click "Join Game" on your profile page, and play.
*
PREMIUM ACCOUNT GIVEAWAY
To celebrate this milestone, we will give away 3 Premium Open Beta accounts for best/most interesting War stories from the game, all you need to do is to play some games, and tell about the events/outcome in this forum thread:
http://www.hoursofwar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=382
With Premium account, you get to:
- Choose side (Allied or Axis), and unit (eg. Armor)
- See your player history (wins etc.)
- And quite soon have access to new scenarios
(Premium account: http://www.hoursofwar.com/products )
*
What is Hours of War?
Hours of War is a turn/tick based World War II strategy game, playable on browser. Right now we have multiplayer scenarios with 38 and 62 player positions, and are working on both small and much larger scenarios. Open Beta will continue until we launch the final "Live" version early 2010.
*
Hope to see you in the game!
Piri