Changes: Company of Heroes 2

Revision as of 18:27, 16 December 2019

Company of Heroes 2 is a real-time strategy game developed by Relic Entertainment and published by Sega for the Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux platforms. It is the sequel to the critically acclaimed 2006 game Company of Heroes.

As with the original Company of Heroes, the game is set in World War II with focus on the Eastern Front. Company of Heroes 2 runs on Relic Entertainment's proprietary Essence 3.0 game engine, which THQ claims allowed the developer to bring new technological advancements to the game. In January 2013, Sega acquired Relic Entertainment and along with it the Company of Heroes intellectual property from THQ. The game was released on June 25, 2013, in North America and Europe.

Gameplay

The campaign features the Soviet Red Army as a new faction and takes the player to various stages of the Eastern Front campaign, from Operation Barbarossa to the Battle of Berlin. The game is built on Relic's proprietary Essence 3.0 engine, which showcases new improvements compared to Relic's previous games. One such improvement is the new line-of-sight technology, TrueSight, which aims to better emulate troop visibility in real combat. In contrast to traditional unit visibility, TrueSight more accurately represents a unit's visibility range based on environmental conditions and type of unit. Essence 3.0 also incorporates an innovative weather-simulating technology known as ColdTech and destructible environments.

Weather conditions are a major factor in gameplay, with movement and action penalties applied to players' units. Since many battles in the Eastern Front occurred in winter weather, troops can die of frostbite if caught in the outside during blizzards. Bonfires protect soldiers from the cold at the expense of enemy detection. Players moving through deep snow will move at a reduced speed. Certain maps have frozen bodies of water, allowing for more movement options. However, players face the danger of being attacked from the other side; as a result, the ice can buckle under the weight of the units in movement.

Company of Heroes 2 takes advantage of DirectX 11 but also supports DirectX 9. The game also utilizes Valve's Steamworks technology with matchmaking and achievements. In regards to strategy mechanics, the game retains the traditional Company of Heroes formula.

The game introduces the Theater of War, a series of single-player and cooperative missions detailing various aspects of the Eastern Front campaign from both the German and Soviet sides. Eighteen missions set in 1941 will be part of the game upon release with the missions from 1942 onwards available as downloadable content. Game developer Quinn Duffy said the rich history of World War II on the Eastern Front is an opportunity to show other stories from the war. The game also offers the player a chance to complete side quests in a mission such as protecting civilians caught in the crossfire.

Multiplayer

Multiplayer, probably the most-played component of the original game, returns. The first Company of Heroes was acclaimed for being one of the greatest RTS games of its time. Company of Heroes 2 follows in the footsteps of its predecessor, with much being added and some things being changed. For better or worse, Relic has come out with another RTS game, and if you liked the multiplayer experience in the first one, you at least owe it to yourself give this one a go.

There are five playable factions in Company of Heroes 2:

Campaign Plot

The game's story focuses on the Eastern Front campaign as narrated through flashbacks by Lev Abramovich Isakovich, a Soviet Army lieutenant locked up at a gulag in Siberia in 1952. An Army officer interrogates him about his experiences during the war.

Development

THQ first announced the sequel to the acclaimed Company of Heroes in May 2012. THQ executive vice president of core games Danny Bilson noted that the publisher will continue working on Company of Heroes 2 following its launch next year. He said gamers can expect a "strong post-launch support digital content plan that enhances and expands the product's lifecycle." On December 19, 2012, publisher THQ filed for bankruptcy just after postponing the release date of the video game. The following month, on January 23, 2013, it was announced that THQ had sold Relic Entertainment to Sega for US$26.6 million as part of an auction of the company's properties as a result of the bankruptcy.

On March 6, 2013, Sega announced that Company of Heroes 2 would be released in North America and Europe on June 25, 2013. A few weeks later, the company announced that the first closed beta would begin on April 2, 2013. The open beta was released to the public on June 4, 2013, after the stress tests and the closed beta sessions were finished.

Reception

The game has received positive reviews.

PCWorld - 3.5/5

IGN - 8.4/10

GameSpot - 7.5/10

Standalone Expansions

Company of Heroes 2: The Western Front Armies

Wiki article here.

Upon the release of the standalone expansion, Company of Heroes 2: The Western Front Armies, the total number of playable factions has been brought up to 4. The two new factions added are the US Forces and the German Oberkommando West. These factions play out very differently from the two vanilla factions in many different ways.

It is purely a multiplayer expansion pack, meaning it includes new multiplayer maps and new multiplayer factions but does not add to the campaign. Players with the new pack can battle with players owning the original game and vice versa (obviously, purchasing Western Fronts pack will not allow the buyer access to the Soviet and the Ostheer armies).

Company of Heroes 2: Ardennes Assault

Wiki article here.

Released on November 18, 2014, Company of Heroes 2: Ardennes Assault is centered around the Battle of the Bulge, a brutal conflict on the western front. Its new non-linear campaign mode is focused on the United States repelling the German attacks.

Company of Heroes 2: British Forces

Released on September 3, 2015, Company of Heroes 2: British Forces is the latest instalment in the franchise. It allows use of the British Forces faction in online and multiplayer game modes. It includes 8 new multiplayer maps.

References

External links

Official Website

@@ Line 23: / Line 23: @@
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-|platforms = Microsoft Windows
+|platforms = Microsoft Windows, Linux, macOS
-<!-- Currently not known
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-'''''Company of Heroes 2''''' is a real-time strategy game developed by [[Relic Entertainment]] and published by [[Sega]] for the Microsoft Windows platform.<ref name="COH2CVG">{{cite web|url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/346616/company-of-heroes-2-briefing-on-may-7/|title=Company of Heroes 2 'briefing' on May 7|last=Jackson|first=Mike|publisher=[[Computer and Video Games]]|date=May 7, 2012|accessdate=August 20, 2012}}</ref> It is the sequel to the critically acclaimed 2006 game ''[[Company of Heroes]]''.
+'''Company of Heroes 2''' is a real-time strategy game developed by [[Relic Entertainment]] and published by Sega for the Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux platforms. It is the sequel to the critically acclaimed 2006 game ''[[Company of Heroes]]''.
-As with the original ''Company of Heroes'', the game is set in [[World War II]] with focus on the Eastern Front. ''Company of Heroes 2'' runs on Relic Entertainment's proprietary Essence 3.0 game engine, which THQ claims allowed the developer to bring "new technological advancements" to the game.<ref name="COH2GameSpot">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/company-of-heroes-2-confirmed-for-early-2013-6375383|title=Company of Heroes 2 confirmed for 'early 2013'|last=Makuch|first=Eddie|publisher=GameSpot|date=May 7, 2012|accessdate=August 20, 2012}}</ref> In January 2013, Sega acquired Relic Entertainment and along with it the ''Company of Heroes'' intellectual property from THQ.<ref name="SegaBuysRelic">{{cite web|url=http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/23/thq-bid-winners-prices-and-runners-up/|title=THQ bid winners, prices and runners-up|last=Sliwinski|first=Alexander|publisher=[[Joystiq]]|date=January 23, 2013|accessdate=January 23, 2013}}</ref><ref name="SegaBuysIPtoo">{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-01-25-sega-and-relic-and-the-whereabouts-of-the-warhammer-40-000-ip|title=Sega and Relic and the whereabouts of the Warhammer 40,000 IP|last=Purchese|first=Robert|publisher=[[Eurogamer]]|date=January 25, 2013|accessdate=January 27, 2013}}</ref> The game was released on June 25, 2013 in North America and Europe.<ref name="PolygonCOH2release">{{cite web|url=http://www.polygon.com/2013/3/6/4070876/company-of-heroes-2-coming-on-june-25|title=Company of Heroes 2 coming on June 25|last=Corriea|first=Alexa Ray|publisher=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]|date=March 6, 2013|accessdate=March 6, 2013}}</ref>
+As with the original ''Company of Heroes'', the game is set in [[World War II]] with focus on the Eastern Front. ''Company of Heroes 2'' runs on Relic Entertainment's proprietary Essence 3.0 game engine, which THQ claims allowed the developer to bring new technological advancements to the game. In January 2013, Sega acquired Relic Entertainment and along with it the ''Company of Heroes'' intellectual property from THQ. The game was released on June 25, 2013, in North America and Europe.
-==Gameplay (Campaign)==
+==Gameplay==
-The campaign features the [[Soviet Union (CoH 2)|Soviet]] Red Army as a new faction and takes the player to various stages of the Eastern Front campaign, from Operation Barbarossa to the Battle of Berlin. The game is built on Relic's proprietary Essence 3.0 engine, which showcases new improvements compared to Relic's previous games. One such improvement is the new line-of-sight technology, [[TrueSight]],<ref name="COH2Features">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/company-of-heroes-2/previews/surviving-the-frozen-heart-of-mother-russia-6378021/|title=Surviving the Frozen Heart of Mother Russia|last=McGee|first=Maxwell|publisher=GameSpot|date=May 22, 2012|accessdate=August 20, 2012}}</ref> which aims to better emulate troop visibility in real combat. In contrast to traditional unit visibility, TrueSight more accurately represents a unit's visibility range based on environmental conditions and type of unit. Essence 3.0 also incorporates an innovative weather-simulating technology known as ColdTech and destructible environments.<ref name="COH2Weather">{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-07-24-company-of-heroes-2s-dynamic-weather-system-will-freeze-your-ass-off|title=Company of Heroes 2's dynamic weather system will freeze your ass off|last=Matulef|first=Jeffrey|publisher=Eurogamer|date=July 24, 2012|accessdate=August 20, 2012}}</ref><ref name="COH2Destruction">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamebreaker.tv/pc-games/company-of-heroes-2-hail-mother-russia/|title=Company Of Heroes 2 Will Have New Obstacles, Destructible Environment|last=Regimbal|first=Austin|publisher=[http://www.gamebreaker.tv/ GameBreaker]|date=May 22, 2012|accessdate=August 20, 2012}}</ref>
+The campaign features the [[Soviet Union (CoH 2)|Soviet Red Army]] as a new faction and takes the player to various stages of the Eastern Front campaign, from Operation Barbarossa to the Battle of Berlin. The game is built on Relic's proprietary Essence 3.0 engine, which showcases new improvements compared to Relic's previous games. One such improvement is the new line-of-sight technology, TrueSight, which aims to better emulate troop visibility in real combat. In contrast to traditional unit visibility, TrueSight more accurately represents a unit's visibility range based on environmental conditions and type of unit. Essence 3.0 also incorporates an innovative weather-simulating technology known as ColdTech and destructible environments.
-Weather conditions are a major factor in gameplay, with movement and action penalties applied on players' units. Since many battles in the Eastern Front occurred in winter weather, troops can die of frostbite if caught in the outside during blizzards. Bonfires protect soldiers from the cold at the expense of enemy detection. Players moving through deep snow will move at a reduced speed. Certain maps have frozen bodies of water, allowing for more movement options. However, players face the danger of being attacked from the other side; as a result, the ice can buckle under the weight of the units in movement.
+Weather conditions are a major factor in gameplay, with movement and action penalties applied to players' units. Since many battles in the Eastern Front occurred in winter weather, troops can die of frostbite if caught in the outside during blizzards. Bonfires protect soldiers from the cold at the expense of enemy detection. Players moving through deep snow will move at a reduced speed. Certain maps have frozen bodies of water, allowing for more movement options. However, players face the danger of being attacked from the other side; as a result, the ice can buckle under the weight of the units in movement.
-''Company of Heroes 2'' takes advantage of DirectX 11 but also supports DirectX 9. The game also utilizes Valve's Steamworks technology with matchmaking and achievements.<ref name="COH2Features" /> In regards to strategy mechanics, the game retains the traditional ''Company of Heroes'' formula.<ref name="COH2PreviewIGN">{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/05/22/company-of-heroes-2-small-changes-big-differences|title=Company of Heroes 2: Small Changes, Big Differences|last=Gallegos|first=Anthony|publisher=IGN|date=May 22, 2012|accessdate=August 20, 2012}}</ref>
+'''Company of Heroes 2''' takes advantage of DirectX 11 but also supports DirectX 9. The game also utilizes Valve's Steamworks technology with matchmaking and achievements. In regards to strategy mechanics, the game retains the traditional ''Company of Heroes'' formula.
-The game introduces the "Theater of War," a series of single-player and cooperative missions detailing various aspects of the Eastern Front campaign from both German and Soviet sides. Eighteen missions set in 1941 will be part of the game upon release with the missions from 1942 onwards available as downloadable content. Game developer Quinn Duffy said the rich history of World War II on the Eastern Front is an opportunity to show other stories from the war.<ref>http://www.companyofheroes.com/news/frontline-stories-theatre-war</ref> The game also offers the player a chance to complete side quests in a mission such as protecting civilians caught in the crossfire.
+The game introduces the ''Theater of War'', a series of single-player and cooperative missions detailing various aspects of the Eastern Front campaign from both the [[Wehrmacht|German]] and [[Soviet Union (CoH 2)|Soviet]] sides. Eighteen missions set in 1941 will be part of the game upon release with the missions from 1942 onwards available as downloadable content. Game developer Quinn Duffy said the rich history of World War II on the Eastern Front is an opportunity to show other stories from the war. The game also offers the player a chance to complete side quests in a mission such as protecting civilians caught in the crossfire.
 == '''Multiplayer''' ==
-Arguably, the most played part of the game, the multiplayer, is back. Company of Heroes 1 was acclaimed for being one of the greatest RTS games of it's time. Company of Heroes 2 follows in the footsteps of it's predecessor, with much being added and some things being changed. For better or worse, Relic have come out with another RTS game, and if you liked the multiplayer experience in the first one, you at least owe it to yourself to give this one a go.
+Multiplayer, probably the most-played component of the original game, returns. The first Company of Heroes was acclaimed for being one of the greatest RTS games of its time. Company of Heroes 2 follows in the footsteps of its predecessor, with much being added and some things being changed. For better or worse, Relic has come out with another RTS game, and if you liked the multiplayer experience in the first one, you at least owe it to yourself give this one a go.
-The four playable factions in Company of Heroes 2 are:
+There are five playable factions in Company of Heroes 2:
-*[[Soviet Union (CoH 2)|The Soviet Union (Allies)]]
+*[[Soviet Union (CoH 2)|Soviet Union (Allies)]]
-*[[Wehrmacht Ostheer|The Wehrmacht Ostheer (Axis)]]
+*[[Wehrmacht Ostheer|Wehrmacht Ostheer (Axis)]]
-*[[US Army (Company of Heroes 2)|The US Forces (Allies)]]
+*[[US Forces|US Forces (Allies)]]
-*[[Oberkommando West|The German Oberkommando West (Axis)]]
+*[[Oberkommando West|Oberkommando West (Axis)]]
+*[[British Forces|British Forces (Allies)]]
-The second two are from the standalone expansion pack, ''[[The Western Front Armies]]''.
 ==Campaign Plot==
-The game's story focuses on the Eastern Front campaign as narrated through flashbacks by Lev Abramovich Isakovich, a Soviet Army lieutenant locked up at a gulag in Siberia in 1952. An Army officer interrogates him about his experiences during the war.<ref>http://www.coh2.org/news/3099/first-contact-company-of-heroes-2-single-player-campaign</ref>
+The game's story focuses on the Eastern Front campaign as narrated through flashbacks by Lev Abramovich Isakovich, a Soviet Army lieutenant locked up at a gulag in Siberia in 1952. An Army officer interrogates him about his experiences during the war.
 ==Development==
-[[THQ]] first announced the sequel to the acclaimed ''[[Company of Heroes]]'' in May 2012.<ref name="COH2Happening">{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/05/03/company-of-heroes-2-is-happening|title=Company of Heroes 2 is Happening|last=Gallegos|first=Anthony|publisher=IGN|date=May 3, 2012|accessdate=August 20, 2012}}</ref> THQ executive vice president of core games [[Danny Bilson]] noted that the publisher will continue working on ''Company of Heroes 2'' following its launch next year. He said gamers can expect a "strong post-launch support digital content plan that enhances and expands the product's lifecycle." On December 19, 2012, publisher THQ filed for bankruptcy just after postponing the release date of the video game.<ref name="THQGamesDelayed">{{cite web|url=http://kotaku.com/5957904/south-park-metro-last-light-company-of-heroes-2-all-delayed|title=South Park, Metro: Last Light, Company of Heroes 2 All Delayed|last=Schreier|first=Jason|publisher=[[Kotaku]]|date=November 5, 2012|accessdate=January 23, 2013}}</ref><ref name="THQBankrupt">{{cite web|url=http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/19/thq-bankruptcy-sale/|title=THQ selling assets, files bankruptcy|last=Sliwinski|first=Alexander|publisher=Joystiq|date=December 19, 2012|accessdate=January 23, 2013}}</ref> The following month, on January 23, 2013, it was announced that THQ had sold Relic Entertainment to [[Sega]] for US$26.6 million as part of an auction of the company's properties in result of the bankruptcy.<ref name="SegaBuysRelic" />
+[[THQ]] first announced the sequel to the acclaimed ''[[Company of Heroes]]'' in May 2012. THQ executive vice president of core games Danny Bilson noted that the publisher will continue working on ''Company of Heroes 2'' following its launch next year. He said gamers can expect a "strong post-launch support digital content plan that enhances and expands the product's lifecycle." On December 19, 2012, publisher THQ filed for bankruptcy just after postponing the release date of the video game. The following month, on January 23, 2013, it was announced that THQ had sold Relic Entertainment to Sega for US$26.6 million as part of an auction of the company's properties as a result of the bankruptcy.
-On March 6, 2013, [[Sega]] announced that ''Company of Heroes 2'' would be released in North America and Europe on June 25, 2013.<ref name="PolygonCOH2release" /> A few weeks later, the company announced that the first closed beta will begin April 2, 2013.<ref name="PCgamerCoH2closedBeta">{{cite web|url=http://www.pcgamer.com/2013/03/28/company-of-heroes-2-closed-beta-starts-next-week/|title=Company of Heroes 2 closed beta starts next week|last=Savage|first=Phil|publisher=[[PC Gamer]]|date=March 28, 2013|accessdate=March 28, 2013}}</ref> The open beta was released to the public on June 4, 2013 after the stress tests and the closed beta sessions were finished.<ref name="CompanyOfHeroes.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.companyofheroes.com/news/company-heroes-2-open-beta-live|title=Company of Heroes 2 open beta|date=June 4, 2013}}</ref>
+On March 6, 2013, Sega announced that '''Company of Heroes 2''' would be released in North America and Europe on June 25, 2013. A few weeks later, the company announced that the first closed beta would begin on April 2, 2013. The open beta was released to the public on June 4, 2013, after the stress tests and the closed beta sessions were finished.
-== Media ==
-===Videos===
-<gallery widths="200" spacing="small" position="center" hideaddbutton="true">
-File:Company of Heroes 2 - Accolades Trailer|Accolades Trailer
-File:Company of Heroes 2 - Battlefield Trailer|Battlefield Trailer
-File:Company of Heroes 2 Teaser Trailer|Teaser Trailer
-File:Company of Heroes 2 Forgotten Sacrifice Trailer (Official)|Forgotten Sacrifice Trailer
-File:Company of Heroes 2 - Langres Map Trailer|Langres Map Trailer
-</gallery>
-===Screenshots===
-<gallery type="slideshow" position="center" widths="576" hideaddbutton="true">
-T-34 crossing frozen river.jpg
-Self-propelled artillery.jpg
-Skirmish at frozen river.jpg
-Burning church.jpg
-Burning village.jpg
-Soldier with flamethrower.jpg
-Armored column.jpg
-T-34 moving out of village.jpg
-Command point.jpg
-Russian tanks.jpg
-German advance through town.jpg
-City combat.jpg
-Siberian snipers.jpg
-Mortar crew in deep snow.jpg
-Convoy.jpg
-Air support.jpg
-Katyusha barrage.jpg
-Tanks on frozen river.jpg
-[[File:Battlefield.jpg|left]]
-</gallery>
 ==Reception==
-The game has received positive reviews.
+'''The game has received positive reviews.'''
+''PCWorld - '''3.5/5'''''
-PCWorld gave the game 3.5 out of five stars.<ref>http://www.pcworld.com/article/2042939/review-company-of-heroes-2-delivers-classic-rts-gameplay-on-the-eastern-front.html</ref>
+''IGN -'' '''8.4/10'''
-IGN has given 8.4 saying More sequel-sized expansion than true successor, Company of Heroes 2 repeats many of the original CoH’s feats.<ref>http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/06/26/company-of-heroes-2-review.html</ref>
+''GameSpot -'' '''7.5/10'''
-GameSpot gave the game 7.5 out of 10.<ref>http://www.gamespot.com/company-of-heroes-2/reviews/company-of-heroes-2-review-6410716/.html</ref>
+== Standalone Expansions ==
-The game currently holds an average rating of 81% out of 33 reviews on Metacritic but 1.6 out of 10 user score thanks to the reasons described below.
-===Controversy===
-The game's depiction of the Soviet war effort has caused an uproar of criticism and even caused the Russian publisher, "1C-Softclub", to cease distribution. Accusations include a heavily politicised storyline, vilification of the Soviet regime, depicting it using senselessly brutal tactics, exaggerating its oppressive nature and sometimes even attributing Nazi actions to it, depicting the Red Army as fighting only out of fear of repression, as well as using almost every cliché and national stereotype established by (biased) Cold War-era Western historiography; in stark contrast, the original ''Company of Heroes'' series remained generally non-political.<ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2m4SCUaBHS8&sns=em</ref>
-<ref>http://www.polygon.com/2013/7/25/4553536/is-company-of-heroes-2-anti-russian</ref><ref>http://galyonkin.com/2013/07/01/post-o-b-suzhdeniya-company-of-heroes-2/</ref>
-== Standalone Expansion ==
 [[File:Western front cover.jpg|thumb|170x170px]]
 === Company of Heroes 2: The Western Front Armies ===
-:''Wiki article [[The Western Front Armies|here]].
+:''Wiki article [[The Western Front Armies|here]].''
-Upon the release of the standalone expansion, Company of Heroes 2: The Western Front Armies, the total number of playable factions has been brought up to 4. The two new factions added are the US Forces and the German Obercommando West. These factions play out very differently from the two vanilla factions in many different ways.
+Upon the release of the standalone expansion, Company of Heroes 2: The Western Front Armies, the total number of playable factions has been brought up to 4. The two new factions added are the [[US Forces]] and the German [[Oberkommando West]]. These factions play out very differently from the two vanilla factions in many different ways.
-It is purely a multiplayer expansion pack, meaning it includes new multiplayer maps but does not add to the campaign.  Players with the new pack can battle with players owning the original game and vice versa (obviously, purchasing the western fronts pack will not gain the buyer access to the Soviet and the German armies).
+It is purely a multiplayer expansion pack, meaning it includes new multiplayer maps and new multiplayer factions but does not add to the campaign.  Players with the new pack can battle with players owning the original game and vice versa (obviously, purchasing Western Fronts pack will not allow the buyer access to the Soviet and the Ostheer armies).
 [[File:Ardennes assault cover.jpg|left|thumb|164x164px]]
 === Company of Heroes 2: Ardennes Assault ===
-:''Wiki article [[Ardennes Assault|here]].
+:''Wiki article [[Ardennes Assault|here]].''
-Released on November 18, 2014, Company of Heroes 2: Ardennes Assault is the latest installment in the Company of Heroes franchise. It is centered around the Battle of the Bulge, a brutal conflict on the western front. Its new non-linear campaign mode is focused on the United States repelling the German attacks.
+Released on November 18, 2014, Company of Heroes 2: Ardennes Assault is centered around the Battle of the Bulge, a brutal conflict on the western front. Its new non-linear campaign mode is focused on the United States repelling the German attacks.
+=== Company of Heroes 2: British Forces ===
+Released on September 3, 2015, Company of Heroes 2: British Forces is the latest instalment in the franchise. It allows use of the [[British Forces]] faction in online and multiplayer game modes. It includes 8 new multiplayer maps.
 ==References==
@@ Line 132: / Line 90: @@
 *[http://www.companyofheroes.com Official Website]
 [[Category:Company of Heroes 2]]
+[[Category:Games]]