Swat2 Faq

Q:   Why don't the SWAT riot shields show up in the game, even though they're depicted on the box?

A: Due to space constraints, it would have been impossible to show the officers doing each action (kneeling, running, shooting, etc.) with the ballistic shield. If the shield disappeared every time an officer did something other than stand or walk it would look rather silly. So given the choice between showing the shields or slowing down the game, the design team chose to make the shield invisible. Unfortunately, by the time this decision was made, the box cover had already gone to print.
Note: Shield use reduces frontal damage by 50%.

Q:   Is there a SWAT 2 patch in the works?

A: We're working on a patch that is designed to fix minor bugs and improve the multiplayer version (such as a button that will equip an assigned unit with his default gear with just one click). We're also looking into making more multiplayer improvements in the future.
Patches for Internet play will be available through WON.NET. SWAT 2 will automatically download updated files from this site.

Q:   Is a SWAT 2 Mission Pack in the works?

A: The future of the mission pack depends on the retail success of SWAT 2. An add-on will most likely contain ten to twelve new missions playable as terrorists or SWAT officers. There might be different terrorist groups to choose from, some even more dangerous than SWAT 2's Five Eyes. An improved map editor would accompany the mission pack as well.

Q:   Multiplayer games over WON are disappointingly slow.

A: Please see the multiplayer area of this site for tips on how to speed up multiplayer games.

Q:   How do I use the Initiate button?

A: To use the Initiate button, click on Lock so that it pops up. Units will now be able to receive orders. The element leader will issue the command but the selected officer won't carry out the order. The exception to this is the move command (and a few others) which will take place automatically even if the Initiate button is in the up position. Click on the Initiate button (not the Lock) and each stacked order will occur simultaneously.
You may want to abort your plan if the suspects do something that renders your plan suddenly obsolete. To erase stacked orders, click on the Lock button (locking it down). All stacked orders will be erased and new commands can be issued.

Q:   Why won't SWAT Mission #2 come to an end?

A: In SWAT Mission #2, all five hostages (including the wounded hostage) and the two suspects need to be accounted for before the mission will end. First, set up a crisis perimeter around the warehouse to prevent anybody from escaping. If someone is hiding inside the warehouse, systematically clear the area to locate the missing person.

Q:   The terrorists kick my butt in SWAT Mission #12. How can I beat it?

A: The careful placement of snipers is key to the success of SWAT mission #12. Position one on the ridge to watch the back of the house and another behind a rock to watch the front (the rock to use is a higher than the house and to the right, but not at the edge of the map). Send in the tank to punch holes in the walls which might bring the terrorists out. Be careful, the suspects are fairly violent in this mission (after all, you're busting in on them without a warrant). Be patient and wait to take the best shot.

Q:   How do I heal the child in Terrorist Mission #5?

A: In Terrorist #5, there is a male and a female doctor. The man has a beard and both are wearing white lab coats. Take one doctor hostage and then go into the room with the child. Corral both the kid and the doctor. You will hear the child say "Ahhh" and the text "Child healed" will appear in the communications window if the treatment was successful.

Q:   Why is the SWAT campaign ending so anticlimactic?

A: You probably haven't collected all the necessary evidence for the grand denouement (a French word meaning "the outcome of a plot in a drama"). Check out the designer's page for a complete evidence list.

Q:   Are there any cheats in this game? I heard something about being able to turn off line-of-sight?

A: We're going to remove the LOS cheat from the next version of the game because it's unreliable. If you want to try it, type the letters LOS in rapid enough succession to bypass the L, O, and S hot keys. This will turn off the line of sight function, making all characters appear on the map. You'll have to toggle the LOS back on to use the commands.
Designer's Tip: To earn extra money, hold a "garage sale" with the handguns of unassigned units.

Q:   SWAT 2 is too easy. I finished all the SWAT missions and half of the terrorist missions in about three days.

A: Wow, you're really blasting through the game! Did you earn a Commendable or Exceptional rating in each mission? The missions weren't meant to be difficult to do, but they were designed to make it hard to do well. Like real human opponents, the computer will try different strategies each time. Repeat attempts at the same mission will play through very differently from one another.
Unlike many first person shooters or war strategy games, the object of SWAT 2 isn't to simply eliminate the other player. Above all, it is a game to take your time with. I suggest you replay the missions and experiment to get the most for your money.

Q:   Why are you always bragging about SWAT 2's Artificial Intelligence? What's so great about it?

A:
SWAT 2's AI system as explained by producer Oliver Brelsford:

"The term 'AI' is often oversimplified in mainstream gaming. Many computer game companies use the term to simply describe the overall toughness of the computer opponent. The AI in SWAT 2 is much more sophisticated. It's relatively simple to program the computer controlled characters to be aggressive and shoot at everything that moves. Such an an opponent would be tough, but not very likely or realistic.

The AI in SWAT 2 follows a more complex approach than is found in most gaming engines, simultaneously employing two different forms of AI against a human opponent. The strategic AI determines overall methods the computer opponent will employ to fulfill its mission objectives. This AI is constantly planning, reacting, and reevaluating the its strategy based on perceived threats or advantages.

A different, unit specific tactical AI gives each unit in the game certain specific behaviors and tendencies. This tactical AI is designed to simulate the behavior of an actual human being in any given situation. As you can imagine, all kinds of factors come in to play during a high-risk confrontation; and not all of them result in shooting at the enemy.

Bear in mind that each non-player character in SWAT 2, whether it be a terrorist, SWAT officer, or innocent bystander, are acting under a 'human behavior' kind of AI. Understanding this helps to explain the unpredictable nature of non player characters and improve your success and appreciation of the game."

Q:   Why do my units stand around while they're under gunfire?

A: The entire development team agreed that when player-controlled units are selected they should be completely player controlled. If each units' AI-determined actions took priority over player executed commands, playing SWAT 2 would be more of a spectator event than a game. If a situation arises when a selected unit cannot be directly controlled, right click to deselect that unit. As unselected player characters have more AI (are smarter) than selected ones, their self-preservation will activate and they'll be more likely to shoot back or seek cover.

Q:   Why can't I make building interiors with the map editor?

A: In order to create building interiors, our artists had to insert movement and visual obstructions, door and window objects, deployment polygons, and many other features into the maps. Doing so is a very difficult and complicated task. In order to include a map building utility that was fun to use and easy to learn, we decided to include buildings but not include interiors. A user-friendly map constructor that includes interiors is being planned for an add-on. However, one player (who happens to actually be a real-life policeman) has figured out a clever way to make pseudo-interiors for SWAT 2.

Q:   I am a generally disgruntled fan who does not like SWAT 2, dogs, or ice cream.

A: It's impossible for us to address non-specific criticisms. Our development team set out to make a different kind of game with SWAT 2…and it's a game that probably won't suit everybody's tastes. We made a product of which we're proud. Based on the generally positive reactions from fans and reviewers, many of you already share our opinion. We welcome criticism, and we take all suggestions seriously. If you have any comments about the game, please direct them the SWAT 2 team (team@swat2.com)

Q:   I downloaded the demo and installed it on my hard drive. When I attempt to run the game I get a missing DPLAYX.DLL message. What did I do wrong?

A: This message indicates that the SWAT 2 demo is unable to locate a current version of DirectX (a multimedia management utility for Windows) on your machine. DirectX 6.0 is available free of charge from download.com.
The retail version of SWAT 2 will automatically install DirectX from the CD-ROM.

Q:	Why don't the SWAT riot shields show up in the game, even though they're depicted on the box?
A:	Due to space constraints, it would have been impossible to show the officers doing each action (kneeling, running, shooting, etc.) with the ballistic shield. If the shield disappeared every time an officer did something other than stand or walk it would look rather silly. So given the choice between showing the shields or slowing down the game, the design team chose to make the shield invisible. Unfortunately, by the time this decision was made, the box cover had already gone to print. Note: Shield use reduces frontal damage by 50%.

Q:	Is there a SWAT 2 patch in the works?
A:	We're working on a patch that is designed to fix minor bugs and improve the multiplayer version (such as a button that will equip an assigned unit with his default gear with just one click). We're also looking into making more multiplayer improvements in the future. Patches for Internet play will be available through WON.NET. SWAT 2 will automatically download updated files from this site.

Q:	*Is a SWAT 2* Mission Pack in the works?**
A:	The future of the mission pack depends on the retail success of SWAT 2. An add-on will most likely contain ten to twelve new missions playable as terrorists or SWAT officers. There might be different terrorist groups to choose from, some even more dangerous than SWAT 2's Five Eyes. An improved map editor would accompany the mission pack as well.

Q:	Multiplayer games over WON are disappointingly slow.
A:	Please see the multiplayer area of this site for tips on how to speed up multiplayer games.

Q:	*How do I use the Initiate* button?**
A:	To use the Initiate button, click on Lock so that it pops up. Units will now be able to receive orders. The element leader will issue the command but the selected officer won't carry out the order. The exception to this is the move command (and a few others) which will take place automatically even if the Initiate button is in the up position. Click on the Initiate button (not the Lock) and each stacked order will occur simultaneously. You may want to abort your plan if the suspects do something that renders your plan suddenly obsolete. To erase stacked orders, click on the Lock button (locking it down). All stacked orders will be erased and new commands can be issued.

Q:	Why won't SWAT Mission #2 come to an end?
A:	In SWAT Mission #2, all five hostages (including the wounded hostage) and the two suspects need to be accounted for before the mission will end. First, set up a crisis perimeter around the warehouse to prevent anybody from escaping. If someone is hiding inside the warehouse, systematically clear the area to locate the missing person.

Q:	The terrorists kick my butt in SWAT Mission #12. How can I beat it?
A:	The careful placement of snipers is key to the success of SWAT mission #12. Position one on the ridge to watch the back of the house and another behind a rock to watch the front (the rock to use is a higher than the house and to the right, but not at the edge of the map). Send in the tank to punch holes in the walls which might bring the terrorists out. Be careful, the suspects are fairly violent in this mission (after all, you're busting in on them without a warrant). Be patient and wait to take the best shot.

Q:	How do I heal the child in Terrorist Mission #5?
A:	In Terrorist #5, there is a male and a female doctor. The man has a beard and both are wearing white lab coats. Take one doctor hostage and then go into the room with the child. Corral both the kid and the doctor. You will hear the child say "Ahhh" and the text "Child healed" will appear in the communications window if the treatment was successful.

Q:	Why is the SWAT campaign ending so anticlimactic?
A:	You probably haven't collected all the necessary evidence for the grand denouement (a French word meaning "the outcome of a plot in a drama"). Check out the designer's page for a complete evidence list.

Q:	Are there any cheats in this game? I heard something about being able to turn off line-of-sight?
A:	We're going to remove the LOS cheat from the next version of the game because it's unreliable. If you want to try it, type the letters LOS in rapid enough succession to bypass the L, O, and S hot keys. This will turn off the line of sight function, making all characters appear on the map. You'll have to toggle the LOS back on to use the commands. Designer's Tip: To earn extra money, hold a "garage sale" with the handguns of unassigned units.

Q:	SWAT 2 is too easy. I finished all the SWAT missions and half of the terrorist missions in about three days.
A:	Wow, you're really blasting through the game! Did you earn a Commendable or Exceptional rating in each mission? The missions weren't meant to be difficult to do, but they were designed to make it hard to do well. Like real human opponents, the computer will try different strategies each time. Repeat attempts at the same mission will play through very differently from one another. Unlike many first person shooters or war strategy games, the object of SWAT 2 isn't to simply eliminate the other player. Above all, it is a game to take your time with. I suggest you replay the missions and experiment to get the most for your money.

Q:	Why are you always bragging about SWAT 2's Artificial Intelligence? What's so great about it?
A:	SWAT 2's AI system as explained by producer Oliver Brelsford: "The term 'AI' is often oversimplified in mainstream gaming. Many computer game companies use the term to simply describe the overall toughness of the computer opponent. The AI in SWAT 2 is much more sophisticated. It's relatively simple to program the computer controlled characters to be aggressive and shoot at everything that moves. Such an an opponent would be tough, but not very likely or realistic. The AI in SWAT 2 follows a more complex approach than is found in most gaming engines, simultaneously employing two different forms of AI against a human opponent. The strategic AI determines overall methods the computer opponent will employ to fulfill its mission objectives. This AI is constantly planning, reacting, and reevaluating the its strategy based on perceived threats or advantages. A different, unit specific tactical AI gives each unit in the game certain specific behaviors and tendencies. This tactical AI is designed to simulate the behavior of an actual human being in any given situation. As you can imagine, all kinds of factors come in to play during a high-risk confrontation; and not all of them result in shooting at the enemy. Bear in mind that each non-player character in SWAT 2, whether it be a terrorist, SWAT officer, or innocent bystander, are acting under a 'human behavior' kind of AI. Understanding this helps to explain the unpredictable nature of non player characters and improve your success and appreciation of the game."

Q:	Why do my units stand around while they're under gunfire?
A:	The entire development team agreed that when player-controlled units are selected they should be completely player controlled. If each units' AI-determined actions took priority over player executed commands, playing SWAT 2 would be more of a spectator event than a game. If a situation arises when a selected unit cannot be directly controlled, right click to deselect that unit. As unselected player characters have more AI (are smarter) than selected ones, their self-preservation will activate and they'll be more likely to shoot back or seek cover.

Q:	Why can't I make building interiors with the map editor?
A:	In order to create building interiors, our artists had to insert movement and visual obstructions, door and window objects, deployment polygons, and many other features into the maps. Doing so is a very difficult and complicated task. In order to include a map building utility that was fun to use and easy to learn, we decided to include buildings but not include interiors. A user-friendly map constructor that includes interiors is being planned for an add-on. However, one player (who happens to actually be a real-life policeman) has figured out a clever way to make pseudo-interiors for SWAT 2.

Q:	I am a generally disgruntled fan who does not like SWAT 2, dogs, or ice cream.
A:	It's impossible for us to address non-specific criticisms. Our development team set out to make a different kind of game with SWAT 2…and it's a game that probably won't suit everybody's tastes. We made a product of which we're proud. Based on the generally positive reactions from fans and reviewers, many of you already share our opinion. We welcome criticism, and we take all suggestions seriously. If you have any comments about the game, please direct them the SWAT 2 team (team@swat2.com)

Q:	I downloaded the demo and installed it on my hard drive. When I attempt to run the game I get a missing DPLAYX.DLL message. What did I do wrong?
A:	This message indicates that the SWAT 2 demo is unable to locate a current version of DirectX (a multimedia management utility for Windows) on your machine. DirectX 6.0 is available free of charge from download.com. The retail version of SWAT 2 will automatically install DirectX from the CD-ROM.


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