But how does ArmA 'play'?

[ScopE]

Probably a question for Doc ... ?

What I (think I) am after, in asking, is ...

How does such a vast 'sand-box' type world of the island support an on-line play mode?

• How did Operation Flashpoint do things? Is ArmA the same or similar?
• Will we 'drop in' and 'out' of a campaign mode of play in a persistent world? (btw I've never played PlanetSide or WoW, so I've nothing really to compare things to.)
• How long do we 'sit out' after our player character is killed?
  Is it like CounterStrike? (a round's time can vary with number of players)
  Or is it like Battlefield? (re-spawns occur at regular intervals)
  [I'm sorry my experience of styles is actually so limited, I realize now!]
• Is the ArmA world populated with AI's, to create the scales of battle warranted by the huge areas of the island?

[ScopE]

Oops ... just found your post here, Doc.
Will go and read.

[Spectre8]

Good questions Scope. I've not yet had an opportunity to read that guide, so unfortunately, I cannot help you yet...

Also, I only tried the demo of OFP, and although I liked it a lot, my crappy system of the day just wasn't up to it. Never tried the MP demo.

[Dr_Eyeball]

Well, that's a tough question and a little tricky prior to playing it. I think we'll have to start a discussion thread on the game modes available, since not everyone will simply be playing the one single common MP game mode.

Originally Posted by ScopE

How did Operation Flashpoint do things? Is ArmA the same or similar?

I would say ArmA's fundamental game-play will be almost identicle to OFP. The main fix they've made is adding JIP (join in progress - of a running game) and improved the AI (for Co-op). Plus ArmA adds new MP game modes.

Originally Posted by ScopE

Will we 'drop in' and 'out' of a campaign mode of play in a persistent world? (btw I've never played PlanetSide or WoW, so I've nothing really to compare things to.)

I don't think you could call any part of it a 'persistent world' comparable to PlanetSide.
The ArmA Guide suggests you can play the SP 'campaign' in 2 player co-op mode.
The developers & the Guide claim you could be playing CTI for days. That's the closest you'll get. Still waiting on details of CTI's implementation.

Originally Posted by ScopE

How long do we 'sit out' after our player character is killed?
Is it like CounterStrike? (a round's time can vary with number of players)
Or is it like Battlefield? (re-spawns occur at regular intervals)
[I'm sorry my experience of styles is actually so limited, I realize now!]

In OFP, this all depends on the game mode being played, but there was never any special respawning modes or times you haven't seen before.
- In some MP modes you would never respawn - usually Co-op.
- In others you would respawn into the body of one of the still alive AI players - again Co-op.
- In others you simply respawn (in about 15 seconds) in your home base - most of the other modes.
- I don't clearly remember, but I beleive that CTI mode allowed you to choose the flag/region you wanted to spawn at, similar to BF2.

Originally Posted by ScopE

Is the ArmA world populated with AI's, to create the scales of battle warranted by the huge areas of the island?

In MP? Not sure yet. In Coop it is. Not sure about CTI yet. It's probably an option. Most other simple modes, no.

With most game modes, you would generally still only play in a particular region of the map. You still had flexibility to "go out of bounds" but these areas where often hostile or patrolled areas. So don't be thinking you will always be playing on the whole map for all game modes, usually just large regions.

[ScopE]

Thanks Doc.

When you personally played OFP, did you play SP primarily?
If MP, did you play on Oz servers (were there more than several?), or did the netcode allow you back then to join international ones?

[Voics]

Is the ArmA world populated with AI's, to create the scales of battle warranted by the huge areas of the island?

OFP islands are deserted unless people and vehicles are inserted by the mission maker; each of which will need waypoints/scripts if you want them to do more than just stand there. So these are placed on a limited scale in SP missions for immersion, but outside the mission area the island will be deserted. Populating the entire island would take days of work and would probably fry your processor.

I don't think you could call any part of it a 'persistent world' comparable to PlanetSide.

Doc is right, Capture the Island (CTI) was a famous OFP mod that allowed the opposing human commanders to accrue money and use it to purchase reinforcements, equipment, even fortifications. These games could last hours. ArmA has adopted this mod and with the new join-in-progress feature, a game could last indefinetly, thus the term 'persistent'.

Co-op is a neat feature not many games have (because unlike OFP they have no true AI implemented). It allows a small bunch of players to team up against a larger AI force instead of fighting each other in pairs. You can supplement player numbers with additional AIs for larger engagements. Co-op is also good for squad training.

I hope that helped, it's tough describing OFP... it's a bit more DIY than most but has heaps of potential.

[Dr_Eyeball]

Yeah, SP was my main time spent with the game. It was a major bother to wait for players to join or to wait for the round to end before joining in the past.

I've played MP Coop with friends (works perfectly), MP on Aus servers and tried international servers. Any server with a bad ping was unplayable really. But when it was good, it worked well.

I hope the net code is all fixed up now. Sounds like they've done a fair bit of work with it in order to allow many players (60+) to join. Some of the improvements were due to getting OFP running on Xbox-live. I sometimes wonder whether it may be optimised for LAN based gaming, since VBS1 & VBS2 are likely to be run on a LAN only in the army.

Regardless of the simulation quality of the game, I doubt it will appeal to all FPS players, so only some players will move across to it.

[Stompya]

Highly recommend finding yourself a copy of Flashpoint and having a go, either download it or Ebay it for about 20 bucks. Ive just reinstalled with a heap of updated mods (FFUR 2.6, FFUR hi res islands,FFur sky pack and the dxdll1.0) Still plays a treat and doesnt look half bad.

And there are 3 Aussie servers still running!!

[ScopE]

I appreciate you guys dumping your thoughts here. Whets my appetite and curiousity for this game.

The co-op mode really appeals (I agree, Voics, on the implications for AI requirements).
[I sometimes wonder why more developers don't spend more time on co-op modes with shooters, to blend traditional 'SP' style campaigns with 'net-enabled multiplayer functionality. I reckon they'd make their money back easily, even after sorting out the practicalities of getting 'deceased' players to re-join.]
I guess that's why a game like ArmA lends itself to co-op ... big sandbox world, and apparently good AI.

I can't remember reading if the co-op mode was limited to 2 human players only, or whether it could handle >2 ?

Doc by your last comment re the game's projected appeal, I suppose that many may find it a bit 'epic' and measured in pace, in terms of recon the enemy, think about the method of engagement, etc, rather than the more high-speed engage-and-kill-or-be-killed of our traditional Battlefield franchise?

[Voics]

Absolutely Scope, co-op rocks and there's not enough of it.

SWAT3 was legendary and SWAT4 is great too, they got the most intense co-op action bar none... but good luck finding a decent co-op server... seems the punters just aren't interested. Was hoping to see a SWAT sub-forum here but heh... can't say I'm surprised =(

No respawn isn't a huge deal, you proceed with more care and suspense... and it allows you the odd kitchen/toilet break, LOL.