There is a scoreboard which is pre-filled with different players before play. Versions Two versions of Risk II were developed: the U.S. version (v1.01u) and the European version (v1.01e). This was necessary because the board game rules actually differ slightly based on where the game is played. In the U.S. version, the "trade-on-the-fly rule," which forces a player to trade cards in the middle of a turn if he or she has more than the 5-card maximum, is in effect. In the European version, there is no "trade-on-the-fly". There is also a difference in the options a player has when rolling dice to defend a territory with two battalions. In the European version of Risk II a player may only roll one die while in the US version a player may choose to roll two dice or one die (to defend with either one or two battalions). The two versions of Risk II are however, completely compatible with each other when used in multi-player games online or across a network. Whichever version is installed by the host of the game is the version that will be used for each player. In the classic board game Risk, the U.S. version uses ascending card trade-in values (4 additional reinforcements, then 6,8,10,12,15,20,25,...), while the European version uses set card trade-in values (Infantry-4, Cavalry-6, Cannon-8, One of each-10). In Risk II, both versions have the option of using ascending or set trade-in values, and also an additional option of ascending by one (4,5,6...), which is a compromise between ascending and set. Online play Originally the MSN Gaming Zone supported free online play for Risk II, though it ceased support of the game on January 31, 2006. Reception In Computer Gaming World, Ken Brown wrote that Risk II "delivers enough gameplay and play options to satisfy just about anyone". However, he criticized the balance of its Same Time mode, which he argued favored attackers. Jim Cobb of Computer Games Strategy Plus raved that Risk IIs designers had "infused the classic game with enough variations, options and graphics to make it seem like a new experience to even the most hardened die-thrower." Although he criticized its online multiplayer mode, he summarized the game as "a 'must buy' for all gamers, regardless of the niche in which they usually dwell." Writing for PC Zone, Richie Shoemaker praised Risk II as an improvement over its predecessor, and called