Ezdaar
1781
“One…I say… go to… chap … at 12…o’clock … cheerio”
A nice video, a trailer for a user made multiplayer mode
There a new and pretty interesting sound mod. JSRS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ojlRIwPyzA
Download here
There is also a decent uk campaign here, but it needs a few mods for the uk vehicles and weapons.
For my part, this weekend i played a lot, like 10 hours, in my favorite server (Kelly’s Heroes). We played almost all the time the same mission, Takistan Force N/S 1.00, which is a bit of a cross between a normal coop mission and a Domination or Evo mission, with the possibiliy of recruit ai soldiers like in Warfare missions. Convoy missions, rescue missions, search & destroy missions, everything inside a single mission, and includes possibily of order artillery attacks, an A-10 attack run, and gives they players from the beginning a Chinook that can lift cars, a M1A2 Abrahms and an Apache attack helicopter. It uses a “class” system, so only the crew class can drive heavy vehicles, only the pilots can fly and only the snipers can call in the A10. The mission also creates enemy patrols, puts AA in hills and ieds on the road, so you never feel safe. Most of my time was playing the Apache, i have learnt to appreciate how fun can be making strafing runs in a hot zone, or support people from the air with the cannon, or flying super low to evade the AA while dropping flares like crazy.
KevinC
1784
Haha, sorry, but that really did crack me up.
Anyway, regarding Operation Arrowhead. I’ve mentioned in this thread that, on paper, Arma should be the FPS for me. On paper, it’s exactly the type of FPS I would design, as an armchair developer.
For the life of me, though, I could never get into it. The game just wouldn’t click for me, although admittedly I never got very far. My question is if Operation Arrowhead added anything that could possibly suck in someone in my position, or is it strictly more of the same type of content?
Mmm if you don’t specify why it didn’t click in you, exactly, i can’t help you. If you are a good armchair developer, you should be capable of specify what was wrong with the game ;).
Operation Arrowhead added a much more comprenhesible tutorial (15, better done than before, short missions) and a desertic terrain which better for gameplay (Chernarus is sooo nice but so difficult to see the enemy between all the vegetation).
BTW, the beta patch 72716 (not the last one!) improved again the performance of the game. I can now use medium AA without having to drop the quality in other options :).
Oh Blimey, i forgot the new trailer for the DLC
KevinC
1787
Oh, I never said I was a good armchair developer!
I don’t know what exactly didn’t click with me. I just felt like I didn’t “get” the game. It didn’t help that I was plagued with performance problems (nVidia and > 4GB of RAM), campaign bugs, and everything else every time I tried to play. Typically I’d fire it up, try to play, and quit out after trying to get performance to a playable level or running into a show-stopping bug.
I also tried a few stand-alone missions, but I never really figured out what was going on. I’d pretty much wander around aimlessly and then get sniped from a building halfway across the map (or so it felt like).
I think my problem with the game is I don’t know how to get into it. I’m usually pretty good at being dropped into a game and left to my own devices to figure things out. As a matter of fact, I usually love doing just that. But for some reason I couldn’t with Arma.
EDIT: Okay, well let me try the approach of what the features I should like. I love the open world, I love that it’s more tactical than the run-and-gun COD style. I’m a huge fan of the Battlefield 2 games as well, so honestly, if I could get a coop mission with my friends to take over (or defend) a town or whatever from AI, that’d be awesome.
Also, if there’s some recommended settings so the AI doesn’t feel like laser-beam shooting cyborgs, that’d be great too. I don’t want easy, but I’d love for them to occasionally, you know… miss.
Well, obviously the game improved with patches and whatnot, bugs and performance. Try it again with the last update, if you last try was many months ago.
I also tried a few stand-alone missions, but I never really figured out what was going on. I’d pretty much wander around aimlessly and then get sniped from a building halfway across the map (or so it felt like).
I think the best way to get into this game is to treat it not as a game (so no running and gunning and other gamey stuff) but as a real life experience. IMO the game is realistic and immersive enough to allow that. As a real life experience, it’s ok to be confused, it’s ok not to understand what’s going on at all times, it’s ok to be scared, it’s ok to crawl, take cover and be very careful about where you are going. It’s ok to miss when you shoot, it’s ok to find a good position and draw the enemy out, as opposed to running accross a field and getting shot.
At least, that’s how it worked for me. At some point, when I first got Arma 2, I’ve completed some scenario, without actually killing any enemies (there were a whole bunch of friendlies with me). I was under fire, I returned fire, everything was pretty hectic and eventually we somehow won and it gave me an incredible sense of accomplishment. Just because I treated it as a real thing and because I managed to survive it. Some people would say it’s a dull game if you complete a mission without killing anyone but to me it was anything but dull. It felt like surviving and was very intense.
After some time with it, I got better and can shoot and kill now but I will always remember that first mission where all I wanted is to crawl into some corner. :)
Also, if there’s some recommended settings so the AI doesn’t feel like laser-beam shooting cyborgs, that’d be great too. I don’t want easy, but I’d love for them to occasionally, you know… miss.
Yes, you can edit the skill level and accuracy of the enemy (and friendly) soldiers. I actually did adjust it at some point back then to make it a bit more enjoyable. Unfortunately, it was so long ago that I don’t remember the exact instructions but I am sure Naeblis will be able to help here.
vyshka
1790
Had a nice surprise arrive in the mail today. A map of Chernarus and Takistan arrived from the Czech Republic.
http://www.arma2.com/supply/game-updates/file/352-a2oa_patch_154.html?lang=en
New patch for OA!
So, that’s how they decided to manage the problem of DLC splitting the servers. Everyone can play with the DLC, as the DLC is “free”, it just that it will be fucking ugly for the people who didn’t pay up XD.
========================================================
VERSION 1.54 HIGHLIGHTS
* Arma 2: British Armed Forces Lite - all units, vehicles and weapons from Arma 2: British Armed Forces are included in this patch with lower quality textures and audio files. The full version of Arma 2: British Armed Forces with high resolution textures and packed with a new campaign and large selection of new single player missions is available for purchase, see http://www.arma2.com/baf for more information about the content of Arma 2: British Armed Forces.
* Numerous stability and functionality fixes and improvements.
* Reworked MP Session Browser and Mission Selector.
* Engineer - Engineers have undergone some serious training and are now capable of repairing damaged vehicles and defusing mines. An engineer can patch up a badly damaged vehicle, making it operable. A damaged component can be repaired to 60% status; however, note that the total damage inflicted upon the vehicle persists, and further damage will be calculated cumulatively. An engineer can defuse mines, satchels, and IEDs. It's possible to order an engineer to repair/defuse something by standing close to it, selecting 'engineer' in your command bar, and then pressing '6-1' ('action' > 'defuse'/'repair'). If you are engineer yourself, simply select 'action' > 'defuse'/'repair' from the Action Menu (default binding is the middle mouse button).
* Artillery Computer - All indirect fire weapons can exploit the brand new artillery computer by selecting it in the Action Menu (default binding is the mouse wheel). The artillery computer initiates an interface where you can see your weapon, and the associated minimal and maximal ranges on the map. You may adjust your fire mode in the menu to the right and select the target area that your ordinance will strike. The display will indicate an estimated time to target; once you fire the ordinance - by clicking the 'Fire' button - the interface will track each shot. Your aim will change according to your actions once you leave the artillery computer.
Version 1.52-1.54 Changelog
Engine
* New: GameSpy modhash key contains list of mods hashes and is used to check there are additional mods on server missing on client (yellow icon in UI).
* New: Mods contents hashes are compared instead of mods lists when equal mods are required on server.
* Fixed: Commandline -mod behavior, active Mods list in UI, ModLauncher UI dialog with better mods detection and handling.
* Fixed: Terrain shadows were too short (http://dev-heaven.net/issues/12328)
* New: getWeaponCargo, getMagazineCargo, getBackpackCargo script commands
* Experimental: TCMalloc used as a memory allocator.
* New: Aircraft now auto-trims at high speed to prevent climbing.
* Improved: More 3D/2D resolution ratios (8:7 and 6:5) added.
* Fixed: Transport waited for dead unit to get out.
* Fixed: NV tracers visible in TI (http://dev-heaven.net/issues/11608)
* Fixed: Decreased tank sliding.
* Fixed: Sonic Cracks and Tracers not working in multiplayer
* Optimized: Frame rate stutter near complex walkable objects (like low rock walls) caused by grass computations.
* Fixed: crew getting killed in vehicles driving from hill/slope
* Fixed: Audio unsupported sample frequency error
* Fixed: IRStrobe (http://dev-heaven.net/issues/11852)
* Fixed: 3D editor - creating of logic center failed (http://dev-heaven.net/issues/11876)
* Fixed: Unit in vehicle could not open gear in map.
* Fixed: client freezes when accessing ammobox (http://dev-heaven.net/issues/11577)
* Fixed: No volume drop on distance with weapon click, car horn and etc. (http://dev-heaven.net/issues/11689)
* Fixed: Dead player bodies disappeared after respawn.
* New: Repair vehicle and deactivate satchel charge action for engineer.
* Fixed: EEIncomingMissile event parameter
* New: Added scripting function disableTIEquipment.
* New: Artillery computer; Fire at position AI command; enableEngineArtillery script command
* Fixed: Surface sound in infinite terrain (http://dev-heaven.net/issues/11430)
* Fixed: AI vision was not affected by light sources.
* Fixed: Birds were heard inside of a closed vehicle.
* Fixed: Scripting command isFlatEmpty did not work with non-zero third coordinate. (http://dev-heaven.net/issues/11704)
* Fixed: TI was red instead of B/W with some settings and graphics cards.
* Fixed: Night vision simulation was not simulating color sensitivity and blue shift in dark scenes.
* Fixed: Disabled debugging message "Added texture headers from file"
* Fixed: Av8 unable to takeoff from Chernarus NE airstrip (http://dev-heaven.net/issues/3240)
* Fixed: Fog and sky colors did not match when dark.
* Fixed: Moon rotates when moving camera (http://dev-heaven.net/issues/8051)
* Fixed: Stars no longer visible through terrain with low view distance (http://dev-heaven.net/issues/8374)
* Fixed: Improved game stability with a small page file.
* Fixed: Gun recoil in ironsights view was missing kick-back (http://dev-heaven.net/issues/4401)
* Fixed: possible crash after mouse click to Prev/Next button in DisplayConfigureAction
Missions
* Fixed: In E06 player should survive fall on ground without opening parachute.
* Fixed: Module Alice2 MP issues.
Data
* Fixed: Improved AI path planning and path tracking with tanks.
* Fixed: Assembling/disassembling issue with M2 minitripod and M2 machinegun.
* Fixed: Sound of silenced Mk17 CCO.
* Fixed: Mi8 and Mi17 model animations bug in ARMA2:Combined operations only.
* Fixed: Fire-geometry in all Mi8 and Mi17, crew wasn't vulnerable in some cases.
* Fixed: Get-in points for MH-6J.
* Improved: Special units in US, CZ and Germany factions can hide bodies.
* Changed: Slot size of MAAWS magazines.
* Improved: AI wasn't able to destroy static weapons in some cases.
* Fixed: Animations of US Static TOW launcher.
* Fixed: Words Sabot and M-gun in radio protocols.
* Fixed: Damage zone indicator ATRQ and MROT were exchanged in helicopter.
* Fixed: Rockets count in Mi-171Sh.
* Changed: Destruct type for market tents.
* Fixed: HEAT ammunition for T-55 and Stryker MGS.
* Fixed: Glass penetrability of Mi-171Sh.
I bought the DLC. The british campaign is 4 missions, and there is also 9 more single player missions, and some versions of said mission for mp coop.
While nothing spectacular, the campaign is well done, and the extra missions gives you more variety. As before, the extra missions are very short, campaign + mission were 3,5 hours, i think. As an “bonus” i didn’t have any bugs in the 13 missions, it was all smooth as a baby’s bottom.
About the rest, well, it’s all very well done, the soldiers have a good amount of detail and the faces are british-like (and the voices also), it’s not only a different uniform slapped to the standard model. The light tank is a little beast i already love, the and attack chopper is a interesting hybrid (part transport, part attack chopper, and it doesn’t need gunner to fire the weapons). The Jackal also have some serious firepower, and the automatic grenade launche is crazy. And mortars, mortars and all the artillery are now OP thanks to the new artillery system XD XD.
The only weak part i can point my finger is the sound of the new anti material rifle, seriously lacking in oomph factor. And well, the british rifle and variants needs too many bullets to kill, 5.56mm is so weak in this game :/.
For a game that prides itself on realism, that’s an odd complaint. I don’t think I’ve ever observed that particular shortcoming in the field. A 5.56 center-mass usually makes a non-combatant.
I suppose it’s because they are trying to simulate the bulletproof vest, but sometimes i need 4 or 5 bullets to kill an enemy, in comparison with the 7.62mm, much more easier to make one-hit kills with that.
Mind you, this usually happens in long range, where the bullet have less kinetic force.
TurinTur
1795
BIS buys almost every other czech developer
“Independent development studio Bohemia Interactive, known for its military simulator games Operation Flashpoint: Cold War Crisis and Arma 2, announce completion of full acquisition of Eastern European development teams Altar Games, Black Element Software and Centauri Production.”
Not the highest dev profile ever:
Altar Games known for its strategy titles Original War and the UFO Trilogy (UFO: Aftermath, UFO: Aftershock and UFO: Afterlight); Black Element have a great sense for action as shown in games Shade: Wrath of Angels and Alpha Prime; Centauri Production are talented authors that focus on adventure titles such as Memento Mori as well as games for children or family games
This thread won’t die!
2nd DLC reveal in RPS. About a PMC, the main dish is a “more personal” 13 mission campaign.
I wouldn’t mind getting ArmA 2: OA, but I have yet to see it for sale at a reasonable price for me. I was so disappointed by the base game. It’s a great sandbox for me to slap together my own scenarios in the editor, but the campaign and the multiplayer have been a complete waste to me. I just can’t pay full price for OA, and I’m damn sure not paying for any DLC.
Being honest, it wasn’t until OA that i reached a good gaming bliss with the Arma 2 series. The base Arma 2 is a no go now for me. Takistan is just a more fun place to play than Chernarus, without so fucking much vegetation that makes the firefights confusing, better perfomance always help, there are more variety in missions, better done vehicles, better done & enterable buildings amped up the tactical possibilities, new little things like more useful backpacks, flir vision, set based zoom, ir lasers, etc that rounded up the experience for me. The less bugs thing also helped xD.
It was also with OA when i played the mulitplayer in a regular way, for two months, with some nice people from UK, which perhaps also affects my judgement of OA.
JMR
1800
Awesome. Will I be able to indiscriminately kill unarmed civilians errr I mean insurgents?
