Codename Eagle

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Codename Eagle is the name of a computer game developed by Stockholm-based studio Refraction Games and was released in November 1999. Since then Refraction Games has been bought by Digital Illusions, who with the Refraction Games team developed the famous Battlefield series of games.

The game is set in an alternate universe following 1917, Russia's war machine threatens to conquer the world and an allied western force opposes them. Codename Eagle features vehicle and first-person shooter gameplay.

Codename Eagle includes a series of single player missions where you play as an allied spy named Red and work your way deep into enemy territory to sabotage the Russian empire. However, the game'a true appeal lies in its multiplayer mode, supporting up to 14 players online and LAN with several vehicles on large open maps.

1 Game Engine
2 Multiplayer
3 Bugs
4 Recreations
5 External links

[edit] Game Engine

Codename Eagle uses the Refractor graphics engine, which influenced the development of the Refractor 2 graphics engine used in the hit game Battlefield 1942 (2002). The Refractor 1 engine has a more arcade-like feel, while the Refractor 2 engine has a more realistic feel. Vehicle physics, player physics and the interface are also clearly different between the two Refractor engines

[edit] Multiplayer

Codename Eagle is most popular for its multiplayer mode, where players can battle it out in one of three modes: Deathmatch, Capture the Flag and Teamplay. Capture the Flag is by far the most commonly played of the three modes.

In multiplayer, there are two bases, one for each team. Each base contains a variety of vehicles, including planes, tanks, motorbikes and helicopters (added in patch 1.41). The vehicles form a crucial part of the game - they are vital for swift transport around the map. On-foot combat is reasonably uncommon in comparison to vehicular combat because of the large size of the maps. Most of the on-foot combat is typically centered around the two bases where players spawn and go to capture the flag.

In terms of gameplay Codename Eagle and the Battlefield series are surprisingly very different multiplayer experiences. While the Battlefield series tries to force teamplay in a conventional warfare setting Codename Eagle allows the player to decide on their exact input of teamplay. This gives the player the freedom to play as a one man (or one vehicle) army. Examples include the ability to pick up a large assortment of weapons and supply items around the map whereas in the Battlefield series a restricted weapon kit must be chosen before spawning (although players' kits stay behind for a short time after they die, so if another player walks past they can pick up that kit).

The power of infantry held weapons against vehicles is also greater in Codename Eagle such as the Bazooka which proves a deadly foe for both pilots and tankers because of its rate of fire, munitions capacity and range. Players on-foot can also force enemy players out of vehicles using the flamethrower which sets fire to the player inside and burns until they lose half their health points, if this is done twice and the driver does not pickup more health points they are killed and their vehicle remains intact.

Other differences include the balance of arcade and realistic gameplay, as well as the role of the player.

There are 7 official multiplayer maps,

No Mans Land
Breakpoint
The Palace
Carrier War
The Airbase
Fever Valley
Fortress

Indubitably, the most popular of these is No Mans Land. Fortress is another favourite among many CE players, while others such as Carrier War are generally avoided due to sheer impracticality.

[edit] Bugs

Codename Eagle is known for containing a plethora of bugs - many of these bugs are amusing and form an integral part of the Codename Eagle experience, while others can be quite annoying. A few of the obvious gameplay bugs include:

The Spontaneous Explosion Bug (aka the 'SEB'): As the name suggests, this bug causes vehicles to spontaneously explode. The occurrence of this bug was greatly reduced in the 1.42 patch.
The 'Swimming' Bug: When in freefall, players have a distinct animation which involves a general flailing of arms and legs. Occasionally, a player will fall to the ground but will remain in freefall mode. Other players will see them moving their arms and legs about whilst lying flat on the ground, in such a way that it appears they are swimming. Players affected by this bug are unable to use weapons. However, the bug is easily rectified by either entering and exiting a vehicle, or dying. The former is generally the preferred method. This is also seen in Battlefield 1942, though weapons are usable, and jumping or climbing, along with the other methods, can solve the issue.
The 'Stuck in the wall' bug: There are supply rooms in the game which contain shelves. It is possible to walk behind these shelves. Normally, doing so results in being thrown out the other side, however if one manages to achieve 0 velocity whilst behind a shelf, they will find themselves stuck there. As with the 'swimming' bug, the only remedies are to enter and exit a vehicle or to die. Again, the former is preferred, but it can be difficult to access a vehicle when you're trapped inside a wall.
The boost bug: This bug occurs when a player jumps while another playing is standing on their head. When done correctly, this results in both players being thrown into the air - the height depending on how well the move is executed.
The 'Zook Bug': If a player shoots and presses the key '8' at a certain time after the rocket flys out and shoot again you will have a better rate of zook shells flying out.
The 'Walking On Water' Bug: When you are swimming in the water and you have a parachute you can perform the water walk. When in the water if you open your parachute without moving and then holding the '5' key you may move while holding the '5' key and you can walk on the water.
Teleport Bug In No Mans Land: Behind red base there is a section you can fly to that brings you to the middle of the map (position 0,0,0).
Teleport Bug In Breakpoint: Just past the building closest to the north Zepplin is a point that will teleport you to the eastern slope of the hill that the south Zepplin sits on (watch out for trees). Both ends of this teleporter are at ground level, but only aircraft seem to be able to successfully pass through.
The 'Sniper Bug': Grab a sniper, shoot a sniper shot, switch to the shot gun (3 key) and swtich back to the sniper (4) and shoot again. This will allow you to shoot faster.
The 'Golden Bullet' Bug: This will allow you to shoot a zook shell through the sniper scope. Waste all of your flame and waste almost all of your mg/sniper ammo so you have 1 left. Make sure you grab the bazooka as well. With all of this done if you zoom to where you want to shoot, if you shoot the last shot the sniper, it will switch to the bazooka and shoot a shell with the sniper shot (and as fast).

[edit] Recreations

A Codname Eagle mod for Battlefield 1942 was released in 2003 that featured the same multiplayer content but with up to 64 players. A few years later a similar effort was made for Battlefield 2, which took advantage of engine improvements. In both cases, the it helped keep the original CE community alive.