Arma 2 Worth the Online Play?

[hoolege06 10]

Hey guys,

I have not yet purchases Arma 2 Combined Operations or whatever its called. But I have played the demo a bit and have some questions before I do buy it.

First: With online play, it seems very buggy. For example, players will jump 10-20 feet in a split second.

Second: I didn't see that many players online, but I am guessing its because its the demo version of the online play, right?

I have a great computer and good internet. Let me know how you guys feel about the online play and the game overall.

Thanks!

Hoolege06

[Beagle 684]

It depends very much on what gametype you like. Remember, all servers are user set upt ones, there are not official game servers. The situation for Demo must be worse, thats the matter for bad performance and warping.

There are lots of Public servers run by clans etc, out there for ArmA II and Operation Arrowhead...these are dedicated servers and gameply is much better there, less warping.

The demo does show nothing of what is made by user side with this game.

[ryguy 10]

You are only seeing a few games because you can only play with other demo people. I love playing multiplayer, it all depends what you do though. I find domination painful to play, but any PvP is good. You may want to join a clan or just play public. Either way, I would say it is a great aspect of the game due to the huge amount of things you can set-up.

[Beagle 684]

You can have hughe multiplayer battlefields online spannig the whole map. In that case the server is taking load from your system because your system does'nt has to compute all the A.I and other players you see.

usual Player count per server is ranging fom 24-40.

The mission played today are almost solely custom made missions.

Popular is Coop players v. A.I. "Domination"

and PvP with A.I. squad support "Warfare" real time strategic warfare simulation.

Edited March 5, 2011 by Beagle

[ArmAriffic 10]

yes, imo best online experience available

[DieselJC 196]

I was pretty unsure before I bought the full version myself..but now I am hooked..depending on how much action you like it may take a few servers to find one you like...but once you do its great..personally I like the small servers with less people..tends to be more of a team aspect than the larger ones where everyone is rushing in..its the tactical realism I enjoy...I dont think you'll be dissappointed.

[johncage 30]

Nope, the scenarios and campaign missions are the main draw of this game. The multiplayer is below average.

[CameronMcDonald 146]

Below average, my left nut.

Public servers tend to run some kind of silly long-term co-op like Evolution or Insurgency, which usually dissolves to utter chaos when noone decides to play as a team.

I suggest joining a group and having a game with them. The group I play with, ShackTactical, usually has a regular turnout of 50+ each Saturday, and we play both coops and human-on-human missions. You will find nothing quite so awesome anywhere else in MP.

First: With online play, it seems very buggy. For example, players will jump 10-20 feet in a split second.

Only if you are playing with a big ping.

[johncage 30]

A game where there isn't even compatibility between mods and you need to have a special configuration for each server you visit is not a multiplayer centric game. I won't be surprised if they decide to eliminate that aspect all together and focus their energy on making better AI.

[Beagle 684]

A game where there isn't even compatibility between mods and you need to have a special configuration for each server you visit is not a multiplayer centric game. I won't be surprised if they decide to eliminate that aspect all together and focus their energy on making better AI.

75% of the public nonpassworded severs with moren than 20 Players are "vanilla" without any addons, also the popular mission like BE ZGM or Gossamer's are always made without addons and mission files are downloadad automatically at login. its not all about ACE mod. I would guess that at least 75% of the gamers play the game unmodded. I haven't touches the SP part of the game the last 2 years.

And the best is, the game is still getting better with every patch full of new engine features and A.I. improvement.

[Rail82 10]

From what I have seen of the online play it has been pretty nice. I haven't experienced any lag whatsoever, EVER, at any point. No players teleporting across the map or anything like that. But I also won't join any room with a bad ping.

I've played some lagtastic online games such as Socom II for the ps2 and GR for the PC. So I know laggy games when I see them, and I can honestly tell you I haven't been able to tell the difference between SP and MP as far as framerates and lag issues are concerned.

I'm sure the online on this game CAN lag, but find a good server and it shouldn't even be an issue.

Oh and I play this game on a laptop... a beast of a laptop but a laptop nonetheless, so if my rig can handle the online without lagging, any decently upgraded desktop with a good connection will be just fine.

[Beagle 684]

Warping A.I. units are usually a sign of a bad server setup like too much A.I. units at the same time or too much player slots (more than 32 without the appropriate server hardware). Warping players are simply high ping and desync issues that can't happen on servers with autokick above 150ms ping for a prolonged period.

[JojoTheSlayer 35]

Yes, the game is a little buggy, but thats mainly because its so flexible.

Like say the Morrowind games. The best thing about this is, believe it or not, the huge amount of "types" of online experiences you can get.

Wanna build and command stuff.

Play CTI, Warfare or similar.

Wanna do PvP.

Join a PVP server ala Valhall or similar.

Wanna do coop.

Join a coop mission, or join a few friends and start a mission downloaded from Armaholic or similar.

Wanna do the "GTA like thing".

Join a "insert map name" Life server

Wanna gun down a city with a minigun, try all types of armor ever made or fly a biplane vs a Euro fighter.

Download mods.

Sick of modern stuff?

Download a World war 2 mod, Vietnam mod or similar and play them online. (The amount of servers for mods depends how new or popular it is obviously, but you get the idea.)

On top of that.

If you have a special play style you like and you get tired of random server issues, which all games have, there are a ton of specialized clans out there that play from light core to hard core, team oriented to drunk... "orientated..." and so on:)

[smookie 11]

A game where there isn't even compatibility between mods and you need to have a special configuration for each server you visit is not a multiplayer centric game. I won't be surprised if they decide to eliminate that aspect all together and focus their energy on making better AI.

Yes, thats just how Flashpoint has lasted so long :D

And for PvP maps: I would also recommend joining a proper PvP clan as you may get stuck playing extremely boring and dull missions with countrstrike like weapon buying system such as Valhalla or Warfare. There is nearly no PvP on the public servers nowadays.

Edited March 6, 2011 by Smookie

[wipman 1]

Hi, the ArmA2 MP is fun and can be much better if you find good players that form a squad with, however... most of the COOP missions are not as good as they used to be before the JIP but with the good squad can be really fun; it's a matter of luck... somedays you feel like Einstein talking about the universe to a class full of 7yo kids and some half retarded... and other times you feel in good company and capable of achive a common goal.

Buy/use the ArmA2 + OA = CO only allows you to have access to more servers where play, if you like the game's gameplay style then i think that may deserve the purchase; about the "warping..." that's a "game's trademark" and can't be solved. even if you've a 45ms ping you'll still see "warping" units, players and AI; but i preffer this game to what my sweirdish fellas of DICE have on the BC2.

If you want to increase the number of servers where play, then buy the OA and make the CO, if you're fine then stay with what you've; that's all what i can tell ya. let's C ya

[lightspeed_aust 681]

Nope, the scenarios and campaign missions are the main draw of this game. The multiplayer is below average.

i only play MP COOP and it is brilliant for tactical coop and the most realistic experience you can have.

sure many other FPS have more players running around in MP servers but there playing run'n'gun not tacsim...huge difference.

[EDcase 87]

ArmA2 MP is the most awesome experience I've had from any game.

You will not find much teamwork on public servers but join a clan and its a whole new experience!!!

Search for ArmA2 mp/coop/co-op on youtube and you'll see lots of clan vids to get an idea how they play. Then join the one you like ;)

[Windexglow 10]

Arma2 MP has led me to some of the best, and worst online experiences I've had. In the end I just don't have the time to find a good dedicated community which works well.

[Beagle 684]

On public servers thereare good matxhes and bad matches, Best time for the good ones is usually the evening time. After a while you know the nicks that may provide a good match and it comes down to one or two servers you play on. There are a lot of "regulars" on public servers, and teaming up is more frequent the more often you're seen on a server.

[ryguy 10]

On the DAO server it's generally 50-80 people depending. I find it really fun because there are almost always people on teamspeak, allowing for teamwork.

[Baff1 0]

Nope, the scenarios and campaign missions are the main draw of this game. The multiplayer is below average.

This.

I like to play LAN co-ops but online play is a big no no for me.

Netcode is not well suited to big open maps, gameplay is too uninstinctive to co-ordinate and the adversarial game types are not fun.

There are just too many really good mulitplayer games out there.

People do play it and their are endless mods out there to keep it fresh... but the online community is tiny. It's really hard work to find a decent game.

You won't just login and go go go and have a rocking high adrenalin game.

The mulltiplayer doesn't play smoothly like Unreal or Battlefield.

Warping is guarenteed. No matter how good your server. A good and well set up server will have substantially less warp than a bad server... but if you enjoy sniping you are going to be frustrated by it no matter what kind of server you join.

Jumping 10-20 feet is quite commonplace online.

On my LAN servers I can get it down to about 5 feet. Playing at close quarters, I don't notice it at all for most of the time.

Edited March 7, 2011 by Baff1

[ryguy 10]

I never see warping on a lot of servers. Only happens on bad ones.

[Beagle 684]

I never see warping on a lot of servers. Only happens on bad ones.

Simply only happens whenever a server Admin obverestimates the amount of A.I. the hardware can handle. On some Domination servers it is so ridiculous that the server is so overstressed that A.I. does not even react to Players anymore or with up to 30 seconds delay, but still the crowd plays on albeit they never receive any resistance from A.I They might think they're just that good players. Have seen and reported this many times without any reaction.

[Tonci87 163]

Arma MP can be the greatest and most realistic experience ever. It only depends on the People you play with.

Example:

My Squad decided to play a self made Mission where a US Squad has to escort a VIP to the Airport. Some members of the Squad played as OPFOR. They were disguised as Taki civilians.

We (Blufor) had a stryker and two HMMWVs and had to drive north through the valley were Feruz Abad is located. There were Civis everywere and each one of them was suspicious to you. Each one of them could pull out a gun or an RPG the next moment. Each car approaching the convoy was carefully observed, it could be a car bomb. Some times we were really only a split second away from opening Fire on innocent civilians.

[76 0]

And for PvP maps: I would also recommend joining a proper PvP clan as you may get stuck playing extremely boring and dull missions with countrstrike like weapon buying system such as Valhalla or Warfare. There is nearly no PvP on the public servers nowadays.

Cerberus 5 aka -C5-

Best public PvP server out there... well the only mixed bag PvP server.

Great clan, great regulars and great selection of pure PvP maps...

Be warned :) you will get yer ass kicked, the server is full of absolute killers... no coop players here.