A quantum leap - Arma 4

[onlyrazor 11]

I'd like to see Germany in the 80's. Make a full scale Cold War gone hot scenario. They could then stretch that game out for as long as 10 years. Imagine all of the legitimate DLCs they could release. Start out with US vs USSR, and then expand it via DLCs into NATO forces, French forces, the Soviet Unions member states, and everything else that would see action in such a conflict.. They could even have a fairly large empty ocean terrain with the carriers being fixed objects and having usable escort ships, subs, and naval aviation.

Hear, hear. "Cold War gone Hot" is a much preferable alternative to your run of the mill Modern Military Shooter.

[zeus122 10]

I Would Like to See a World War II theme add tanks From world of tanks And planes From War Thunder

[jakerod 254]

I'd like to see Germany in the 80's. Make a full scale Cold War gone hot scenario. They could then stretch that game out for as long as 10 years. Imagine all of the legitimate DLCs they could release. Start out with US vs USSR, and then expand it via DLCs into NATO forces, French forces, the Soviet Unions member states, and everything else that would see action in such a conflict.. They could even have a fairly large empty ocean terrain with the carriers being fixed objects and having usable escort ships, subs, and naval aviation.

I like that idea. From the OFP days...

“[…] today's high tech wars don't seem to have as much potential for a good game as the conventional infantry / armour / aircraft war has. No other period offers such a huge selection of military equipment […]â€

-Marek Spanel, on the topic of the Cold War in video games

[Vigil Vindex 64]

I think A4 should be about the engine rather than content. I'd like to see:

• A proper deformable environment so we can dig trenches and tunnels, explosions that leaves craters with depth rather than a flat decal.
  
• Soft body physics for better armor and ballistic simulations.
  
• A lighting system that lets the terrain itself cast shadows.
  
• A weather and temperature system that works together dynamically to create snow and blizzards.
  
• A water system that allows for currents and rivers.
  
• An interaction systems that is quick and intuitive, if it must be a menu then make it radial rather than a list.
  
• A proper simulation of essential physics like gravity, mass and inertia to prevent tanks exploding 50 feet up into the air.
  
• A vehicle and cargo system that allows for movement and actions within vehicles to allow players to shoot from vehicles.
  
• A weapon resting system like ACE from 5 years ago.
  
• V8 Javascript engine for a full feature scripting language.
  
• OpenGL support.
  
• EAX audio support.
  
• 64-bit quad-core cpu min spec req.
  
• Addon support for Steam Workshop with auto resolving dependencies for missions and servers.
  
• OpenCL support.
  
• Opus Codec support.
  

Edited September 14, 2013 by ssechaud

[maddogx 13]

I think A4 should be about the engine rather than content. I'd like to see:

• A proper deformable environment so we can dig trenches and tunnels, explosions that leaves craters with depth rather than a flat decal.
  
• Soft body physics for better armor and ballistic simulations.
  
• A lighting system that lets the terrain itself cast shadows.
  
• A weather and temperature system that works together dynamically to create snow and blizzards.
  
• A water system that allows for currents and rivers.
  
• An interaction systems that is quick and intuitive, if it must be a menu then make it radial rather than a list.
  
• A proper simulation of essential physics like gravity, mass and inertia to prevent tanks exploding 50 feet up into the air.
  
• A vehicle and cargo system that allows for movement and actions within vehicles to allow players to shoot from vehicles.
  
• A weapon resting system like ACE from 5 years ago.
  
• V8 Javascript engine for a full feature scripting language.
  
• OpenGL support.
  
• EAX audio support.
  
• 64-bit quad-core cpu min spec req.
  
• Addon support for Steam Workshop with auto resolving dependencies for missions and servers.
  
• OpenCL support.
  

^^ So much of this.

Not to forget: base it off of the DayZ SA engine branch, so we get items+weapons as objects, authoritative server in MP, network bubble etc. ;)

[onlyrazor 11]

^^ So much of this.

Not to forget: base it off of the DayZ SA engine branch, so we get items+weapons as objects, authoritative server in MP, network bubble etc. ;)

I second that. For all I care (and this most definitely does not reflect the opinions of everybody else) all the Arma series needs is a good, flexible engine, mission editor and mod support. Campaigns are superfluous to that.

Also, since drastic engine changes obviously won't happen to a project that's practically released this may be the perfect time to put the concerns of those naysayers to rest and restructure the thing. Is that far too naively optimistic of me?

[zeus122 10]

veitnam war but this time extend it out and keep it going

[chortles 263]

veitnam war but this time extend it out and keep it going

There is something hilariously ironic about this post, considering just what Maruk thought of the Vietnam War...

[jakerod 254]

I second that. For all I care (and this most definitely does not reflect the opinions of everybody else) all the Arma series needs is a good, flexible engine, mission editor and mod support. Campaigns are superfluous to that.

Also, since drastic engine changes obviously won't happen to a project that's practically released this may be the perfect time to put the concerns of those naysayers to rest and restructure the thing. Is that far too naively optimistic of me?

Why not a "good, flexible engine, mission editor, mod support" and a great campaign? No reason we should settle for less.

[onlyrazor 11]

Why not a "good, flexible engine, mission editor, mod support" and a great campaign? No reason we should settle for less.

Just my opinion. If you like campaigns, that's your thing. And I like my game releases feature-packed too.

[instagoat 133]

After some reflection, I'm still all for a south american setting. :I Not as charged as vietnam, but still plenty opportunity to get rough. Plus, you can use vehicles that have positively never been seen in any game. Such as this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SK-105_K%C3%BCrassier ...or this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M551_Sheridan (May have been modelled in one of the battlefield games, though...)

or: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AMX-30

Plus, many common and uncommon Infantry weapons, as well as a range of diverse Uniforms. I for one couldn't care less about Vietnam or a hot cold war in Europe, we've seen those before (in M1A2 tank platoon 2, among other games.). South America hasn't been done before in the Arma series, and I'd be very interested in seeing such a theater, rather than the obvious choices.

To illustrate the examples of diversity even today, here's a current south american military running M4 Sherman and M3 Stuart as its prime tanks: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paraguayan_Army#Armored_vehicles

And another running Leopard 2s and other top line combat gear:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chilean_Army#Armour

Set in the 1970s you could have a crazy setup for vehicles, and get away with it easily. Use the old OFP setup, one heavy tank, one light tank, one APC, one IFV, two trucks, two cars, one attack helo, one transport helo and an appropriate array of weapons + attachments and uniforms. Then add everything that A3 couldn't add over its lifetime, voilá...

Edited September 13, 2013 by InstaGoat

[dmarkwick 261]

I think, if BIS can stomach another ArmA development, that it could be best served by following a real-life historical context. Even if the story/campaign is not strictly historically accurate.

Why? Because no modern nation wishes to be seen as either potentially a victim or an aggressor. Look at the furor over the Greek island setting that ArmA3 used to have, to the extent that the game has been changed.

However, nations cannot argue over historically accurate settings :)

[nodunit 397]

I think, if BIS can stomach another ArmA development, that it could be best served by following a real-life historical context. Even if the story/campaign is not strictly historically accurate.

Why? Because no modern nation wishes to be seen as either potentially a victim or an aggressor. Look at the furor over the Greek island setting that ArmA3 used to have, to the extent that the game has been changed.

However, nations cannot argue over historically accurate settings :)

Well if ever they do decide to go realistic portrayal again then they should come to the US and build maps of our nations capital and whatnot, you can do whatever you want, we won't care. If I could count how many times I've seen New York destroyed, along with the Statue of Liberty, the White House, Capitols, and other national monuments well lets say we've probably been obliterated in games and movies more than anyone else in history.

[dmarkwick 261]

Well if ever they do decide to go realistic portrayal again then they should come to the US and build maps of our nations capital and whatnot, you can do whatever you want, we won't care. If I could count how many times I've seen New York destroyed, along with the Statue of Liberty, the White House, Capitols, and other national monuments well lets say we've probably been obliterated in games and movies more than anyone else in history.

Yes that's true :) on the other hand you do also receive more than your fair share of alien encounters too :D

[suprememodder 11]

"Why? Because no modern nation wishes to be seen as either potentially a victim or an aggressor. Look at the furor over the Greek island setting that ArmA3 used to have, to the extent that the game has been changed."

and we should care about their furor, why?

they'll quit arma because they're tired of it and quite frankly, not that good at it. i see zombies and mars exploration in their future. arma4? if it does come out, it better be on a new engine otherwise i don't see many people bothering with it.

[dmarkwick 261]

and we should care about their furor, why?

Whether you care about it or not is of supreme unimportance. Whether BIS cares about it is the issue.

[[evo] dan 79]

Actually I do like the idea of a South American conflict, would be very good going back to simpler (at least equip wise) times.

[Zek 1]

From a south american:

South America may offer a good opportunity for a new setting, the only problem that I see with that if that this new setting features real south american nations fighting against "good guy" NATO the game will probably get banned. It has happened before, and I'm sure it will happen again. If the main setting is about the internal conflicts / dictatorships from the 70's, it will get banned too, a lot of people are quite a bit sensitive for that (you know, it was like a holocaust). So the best idea if going with a south american setting IMO is to create (yet another) fictional nation.

A setting like jagged alliance 2 would be interesting. (Fictional south american country, evil ruler, and bunch of mercenaries sent by the true leader of the nation to save the country...).

Now, one of the good things about south america is the terrain, we have jungle, deserts, forests, mountains, snowy regions, beaches, you name it. Argentina, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil and Chile are the countries with the most geographic diversity.

Another good thing, as some other people pointed out, is that there is a lot of military hardware diversity, some nations prefer western hardware, some other prefer Russian, but you can see weapons from both sides, and sometimes even within the same armies.

I don't see BIS going back in time to the 60's or 70's, the engine has improved a lot and there are a lot of things like scopes, lassers, and whatever, that they might not want to drop.

For ARMA 4 (or 3 :P ) I would like to see inner rivers :P and snow, that would be awesome.

[krycek 349]

Well if A4 was about South America it could be smaller in conflict scale.Drug wars are pretty vicious in some places there so it would be a good setting especially since you mentioned the diversity in terrain.True you won't see a drug lord riding a tank but equipment wise they do pack some firepower.Not to mention the armored vehicles and choppers used by government forces.

[[evo] dan 79]

I also hope they add a better flight model this time around too. I see another benefit as well to the Drug war idea, Tab lock won't be such an issue. (if at all)

[Degman 73]

(Please: polytic bulllshits,nationalism and offtopic keep for yourself)

I was thinking about something like a war at the doors to Euroasia. After NATO has invaded Iran, chain reaction involded Russia and other eastern countries in war turning whole Europe and Euroasia into a battlefield. You are a US soldier in KFOR (Kosovo Forces) which will soon retreat to Albania, Croatia, Hungary or Montenegro after strong attack of serbian and russian troops, leaving Kosovo unprotected to create time for making defences in near NATO countries. So you are helping local armies to defend their lands until war ends. What to say anymore, imagine rest yourself. :P

[AlphaCentauri 10]

I want a game where BLUFOR are British and French and OPFOR are Americans! Would be fun.

[instagoat 133]

Well if A4 was about South America it could be smaller in conflict scale.Drug wars are pretty vicious in some places there so it would be a good setting especially since you mentioned the diversity in terrain.True you won't see a drug lord riding a tank but equipment wise they do pack some firepower.Not to mention the armored vehicles and choppers used by government forces.

Drug money can buy a lot of equipment. Otherwise, they are pretty boring, the drug wars. They are largely political, and such tiny tiny scale conflicts aren't fun at all. It would basically be Tom Clancy's Clear and Present Danger. 4 Special forces soldiers, two helicopters, one jet, and a ton of politicians and secret agents talking.

A Nicaragua or Guatemala style intervention would be much more interesting because you could open the full range of equipment. There are virtually no limits to the scale of combat, and you could have clearly matched opponents, with a lot of politically interesting storywork in the background. You could have Gastovski style agents, and a non black and white storyline with no clear good or bad people. Reflecting the real world.

You could even push the story right into the late 50s and early 60s, and field WW2 equipment along with modern stuff. Think rebel F4U's attacking government convoys being protected by F-86s or Mig-17s.

There would be tons of postwar materiel floating around. K-89K, Lee Enfields, MG-42s, hotchkiss MGs, as well as locally produced weapons. And, again, tons of vehicles previously never seen in a game. The dynamics of the campaign could also be tremendously interesting because you can have extensive character interactions with their own agendas, maybe even with multi-pronged campaigns.

I am totally opposed to any imbalanced setting such as a drug war. Druglords win wars by depriving local forces of leadership through bribes, assassination and coercion. They do not fight (and if they do, they are idiots.). It's not even a normal insurgency, it's basically gang wars where the sides just ambush each other randomly, assassinate important individuals and try to set weed fields on fire. I do not like the Idea of the next arma basically being GTA in the jungle. Thanks, but no thanks.

A rebel insurgency has direct interest in confronting enemy forces, and the opposition has too, especially when both are backed by important global players.

And in a game set in the early 60s, tab lock will also not be an issue. So, there.

[Smurf 12]

Do not do anything in jungles unless the whole engine\tech is up to it. Read: interaction with vegetation, weather, terrain (mud, rivers, flooding, etc) otherwise it will feel like a bland environnment with lots of 2D sprites.

[axclaw 1]

Make a map thats in a north american city, like new york or represents a fictional city that is western based with inhabitable buildings, homes, condos, etc

at least the size of atlis map in arma 3