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Saturday 23 August 2008
COD 5 preview - its back to WW2
Time to get rid of the M4s and its back to the trusty M1 as the next installment of Call of Duty takes us back to tried and trusted (perhaps worn) battlefield scenario that is World War 2. Slated for release in November, Eurogamer has a preview of the game right here. Titled World at War, the developers promises a more aggressive and unpredictable enemy,as well as a different selection of weapons and vehicles.
IGN has had a little chat with ArmA 2\'s Marek Spanel. Amongst other things, Marek mentions that the game will be rendered using DirectX 9 technology. He goes on to say that most of the ArmA community are on Windows XP and he wants the game to appeal to the widest possible user base. If you hit the site, check out the impressive screenshot gallery with 37 images. What is clear is that the graphics are somewhat better than in the first installment but is far from cutting edge.
The sequel to BIS Studio's Armed Assault will be released by 505 Games in the first quarter of 2009. As with BIS' previous games, ArmA II will be released in Europe first. Given the poor performance of the AI in the OFP/ArmA, it is a welcome relief that improved AI is cited as one of the key features in the new release. Here's the full announcement:
505 Games is today proud to announce it has signed a publishing agreement with esteemed developer Bohemia Interactive to bring the follow-up to 2007’s most realistic PC tactical shooter, ArmA: Armed Assault, to Europe in Q1 2009.
Featuring some of the most realistic warfare ever, ArmA II promises to build on the excellent features that have made Bohemia Interactive a respected name among gamers. So, you can expect in-depth team-based combat, a comprehensive playbook of military tactics and an enormous battlefield to push your strategies to the limit.
ArmA II benefits from a game engine that has been in constant development for 10 years and no other developer can offer such a great heritage in creating open-world military shooters. In fact, Bohemia Interactive is so skilled at producing realistic warfare simulations that the developer has used its Real Virtuality engine as the basis for training simulators used by armies across the globe, including the United States Marine Corps, UK Ministry of Defence and Australian Defence Force.
This experience is also helping Bohemia Interactive to craft an incredibly detailed storyline, full of political intrigue and plot twists, which blurs the boundaries between fact and fiction. Set in the near future in a fictional post-Soviet country called Chernarus, players take on the role of a United States Marine Corps Force Recon squad, who are called to the country as a peacekeeping force to prevent further civilian casualties and ensure ongoing stability.
“After the success of ArmA: Armed Assault in Europe, we’re thrilled to bring PC gamers more action-packed warfare with ArmA II,” said Alex Price, Senior Global Brand Manager. “This continues to demonstrate our strong support for the European PC market by publishing top quality titles.”
ArmA II, published by 505 Games and developed by Bohemia Interactive, is scheduled for release on PC in Q1 2009.
KEY FEATURES
• A whole new chapter in the ArmA franchise with new characters and an in-depth story • Unlike most war simulations, ArmA II focuses on team play – including co-operative play, the ability to switch between team members and dramatic moments when you must give first aid to team mates • Improved AI for team mates and enemies, now they use cover, hide and work better as a unit • Dynamic conversations and events that shape the storyline • Incredibly realistic game engine that’s been used by the military for combat simulations • Comprehensive online multiplayer modes • An extremely strong modding community among the ArmA II fans
Gaming good for you...if you're a laparoscopic surgeon
A study published in the Archives of Surgery confirms what we always knew to be true..that gaming has beneficial effects apart from the immediately obvious ones like exercising the index finger and buttock reshaping. It found that laparoscopic surgeons who played video games were 27 percent faster at advanced surgical procedures, and made 37 percent fewer errors, compared to their non-gaming colleagues. Well, this makes for yet another great excuse to pull when your mum is hollering down your auditory meatus to get off your arse and do some homework. Three cheers for good research.
The Spanel brothers over at BIS have posted their patching roadmap which indicates that there will be one more (and probably the last) ArmA patch.
we are already fully focused on our next game, ArmA 2, so we will definitely not be able to release any more patches in the near future, and unless some really critical problems (critical means issues preventing many users to run/play the game) appear in the future it is very unlikely any such patch could be released.
Alright @warriors, I think we might keep an eye out on this multiplayer FPS shooter just announced today by a studio new to this genre - Outspark which is based out at San Francisco. They are currently accepting entries for closed beta testing on the Blackshot Website, and while you are there, check out the very impressive trailer:
Outspark today announced the newest addition to its virtual playground: Blackshot. A militaristic first-person shooter loaded with powerful weapons, lifelike characters and gritty environments, Blackshot’s intense multiplayer action will appeal to gamers of all skill levels. Outspark continues to aggressively build out its rich portfolio of free-to-play games, and is bringing its community of nearly three million gamers yet another exciting and immersive title with Blackshot.
Gamers can view the game trailer now and register for the upcoming closed beta at
With the world in a state of chaos and powerful nations competing for money and resources, Blackshot players must take on the role of a mercenary and make a name for themselves in the game’s dangerous environments. Aspiring soldiers of fortune can enter the Blackshot war zone later this summer, when the game makes its worldwide debut.
“We’re thrilled to add an innovative, free-to-play FPS game to our lineup,” said Susan Choe, founder and CEO of Outspark. “Blackshot offers fast-paced action for casual gamers interested in a quick shootout, while hardcore players will love innovative features like the game’s player-versus-environment mode.”
Outspark will release additional details about Blackshot in the coming weeks.
The original Operation Flashpoint came out in 2001 and met with a huge fan following. Now seven years later, Codemasters is hard at work on Operation Flashpoint 2: Dragon Rising, and while original developer Bohemia Interactive the huge fan following is still in place...only now they're making the game. According to the gentlemen from Codemasters who were presenting OF2 on Thursday morning, the team is filled with fans of the original game, dedicated to doing the franchise justice with this ambitious sequel.
While the original Operation Flashpoint took place on a set of fictitious islands in 1985, the new game is firmly based in reality. The game takes place on Skira Island off the coast of Russia, which the Russians captured from the Chinese and never got around to returning. Now the Chinese want it back, and the Russians have turned to the Americans for help. The entire island is your stomping ground, but pack a lunch if you plan to walk. It'll take 4 and a half hours to cross the terrain on foot, or 20 minutes using the fastest aircraft in the game.
Realism is a key factor for operation Flashpoint 2, and the developers have gathered over 400GB of data on weapons, vehicles, and tactics to help them in bringing the conflict to life. Weapons will load authentically, vehicles with travel at realistic speeds, and both will deteriorate over time, so don't get too used to any of them.
Another point the devs touched on was the sheer amount of work going into making sure that each soldier has a distinctive look. They showed hundreds of different faces, all created with the goal of letting players get to know their teammates. They want you to be able to look at a character's face and know that he's your machine gunner and not your sniper.
There wasn't too much in the way of gameplay shown, but they did present us with a distance demo to get a feel for the sense of scale OF2 delivers. A squad based on top of some rolling hills stops, and the character uses binoculars to sight a tank 800 yards away, calling in an air strike to blow the armor to bits. The celebration lasted for only a few seconds before enemies popped up over a nearby ridge, signaling the end of the demo. Drat.
As for multiplayer, Codemasters is thinking pretty huge as well. While PC will support 32 players online and console versions a much more modest 8, AI soldiers will be ever-present on the field, with up to 100 appearing at any given time. You're part of a much larger conflict, and they aim to make sure you know it. For those of you with friends *sniffle* there'll also be online co-op available.
From the brief glimpse of gameplay I received, the game is looking rather solid, and it should, running on a modified version of the GRID engine. Yes, the squad-based FPS is using a racing game engine as its core, but have you seen said racing game? It translates very nicely into a gritty shooter.
So far the only bad thing about Operation Flashpoint 2: Dragon Rising is that we aren't going to get our hands on it until 2009. While I was only a modest fan of the original, the sequel could very well top it in every regard.
There's a feeling you get when playing Operation Flashpoint that no game since has managed to capture. Not even Oblivion. The feeling of being a real person, alone, in a dangerous place, and each step you take across the game's huge landscape could well be your last. You agree? Then be heartened by this. The latest issue of PC Gamer runs a preview of Operation Flashpoint 2: Dragon, which can be bust summed up by their calling it "the most mind-bogglingly vast and mercilessly realistic battlefield gaming has ever known". Vast, check, merciless, check, OK, that's enough to get me excited.
Heyas all, sorry for going awol - i only have internet access at work here in zurich and I cant exactly use it on the website. Will be back in Aus in August for a bit so expect to see me around the site just a bit more! Thanks for the post, Anoxi??
Sorry need to add this... anyone jumping for joy at innocent civilians dieing and having to jump out of buildings lose my respect... But it is individuals and/or small groups in Iraq that they filmed doing this. Im sure millions of others stayed home and didnt celebrate. Its like the few soldiers in Western countries that make a bad decission and unfortunately it reflects poorly on their whole country and every man in uniform.
I believe so. In Iraq lots of people were jumping with joy but I mean... Iraq has reasons to hate the USA for attacking them when they went into Kuwait. Not supporting the Iraqi's but I mean if your enemy gets worked by the enemy you jump for joy like when the soviets lost in Afghanistan im sure the United States was jumping for joy then too. But at the bottom of it no one from Iraq was involved in 911.
Hey Akira as much as I do love your post you did not make it clear. By teach them a lesson do you mean invade? Or attack without necessarily invading? For instance there was talk that Israel or the USA would preumptive strike their Russian built nuclear power plant for apparently "civilian purposes". It could be it might not be but I was just wondering. Who knows if Iran is supporting the insurgency in Iraq and giving them explosives maybe the USA will engage them on Iranian soil on major trade routes near the border but i dont think they would be wise to occupy the entire country. Just a thought.
Not sure, I havent really looked into it yet. I may just join with my degree as an NCO. So many choices. I know so many NCO's in the army these days with their degree who choose to make less money by being in the army out of pride and support for their country. It astonishes me but at the same time it doesnt.
Naw my trades course is at my regiment. Im in the reserves until i get my degree then i will more than likely go reg force. I think my Dp2 will be at one of the major Canadian forces bases though. Im in Armored Recce... So obviously we are all trained soldiers ie BMQ than SQ before we get to go on to do our trades courses. So thats what i meant when i said i am a soldier. Im actually armored but not yet.
Im back. I passed my soldier Qualification course and now I am an official Canadian Soldier. Now I just need to get a start on my armor trades courses. Look forward to telling you about it Akira. See you on msn. Take care.'
yo snake, welcome back! I've been busy travelling the world - still got another 9 months before settling down for good. Kinda the reason why the site has been a bit neglected...
HEY GUYS!!!!!!! How's it going? Wow... Akira, where were you like a yr and a 1/2 ago? U disapeared off the face of the earth or something? Nice to be back guys!
