Arma 3 - APEX - NEWS and SPECULATIONS

[FoxFort 341]

Yeah don't buy it man I mean you can almost buy a new car with 25€ :D

No but I did bought tie rod for my car and it was around 25€ :D

[teabagginpeople 398]

Troll mode on:

25€ for 1 map?

That's a joke! With call of duty, it's 4 maps for 15 euros!

Troll mode off.

;)

I know right?? They are greedy. 

 

They need to be more like the ubi with the division.

 

Forgot visual upgrades whats that bloody nonsense.. downgrades is were it's at. And value for money?  Five, count  em 5 new division skins for 5 euro. Sorry ment four new skins....but still So much value.... Right?

[chortles 263]

I'm not buying it until I get more info what exactly will be included in Apex, like more concrete info and ingame shots about features of Apex.

One nice thing about Steamworks is that the dev branch/stable branch divide means that you will get an opportunity to get others' first impressions of the content before you buy (since preordering and Supporter Edition buyers get the content on dev branch before the DLC release)... so if their impressions aren't positive you can decide to pass on Apex, if they're favorable and your impression is that it's good enough you can still take advantage of the preorder discount by buying before the Apex Update.

[CaptainAzimuth 714]

On the notion we're getting just one map, i do feel a bit disappointed that we don't get a pre experience map like in all other series. Remember how we get like Micro terrains similar to the main maps? Utes to Chernarus, Stratis to Altis... Tanoa. 

[AveryTheKitty 2626]

Perhaps we'll see a military version of the Civilian rubber duck with a Mk30 HMG or Mk32 GMG on the front?

[CaptainAzimuth 714]

Perhaps we'll see a military version of the Civilian rubber duck with a Mk30 HMG or Mk32 GMG on the front?

I would hope to see something more thoughtful and influential to gameplay than that, but a small addition like that wouldn't hurt anyone.

[AveryTheKitty 2626]

I would hope to see something more thoughtful and influential to gameplay than that, but a small addition like that wouldn't hurt anyone.

 

This in Apex? :v

[chortles 263]

On the notion we're getting just one map, i do feel a bit disappointed that we don't get a pre experience map like in all other series. Remember how we get like Micro terrains similar to the main maps? Utes to Chernarus, Stratis to Altis... Tanoa. 

Ehhh... I think part of the difference is that it's supposed to be an expansion like OA, albeit less content because it's not standalone.

[graemeshute 218]

the only thing im concerned about APEX is the amount of content.

 

Yes i know it will contain engine upgrades, but i dont want to pay 23,99€ to have 5 weapons and 7 vehicles for 1 new faction & 1 new terrain and a new campaign.

I am also afraid it will be a lite expansion. With virtually nothing Boom having been shown and even till now nothing related to the ArmA 3 Military-esque ethos shown. Yes we can say VTOL and LSV but type? Are there armed Variants and not just configured for FFV? Will there be a GL version with a heavy MG version combined? All this secrecy doesn't sit well with me.

 

I honestly pre-ordered two months back in light by now I would have had access to Apex stuff on Dev-even the Island. But Nothing. As Hicks said checking the Motion tracker in Aliens. Nothing. Not a God damn thing. The Steam reviews on the Marksmen DLC also all say I paid X and only got 7 new weapons. The best I read about the Helo DLC is basically only two new Helicopters. But no Attack or Medium transport Helos. That actually put me off plans to buy any more DLC's and Expansions. Here is context NATO and CSAT both got heavy Machine guns. AAF only got a new old M14. They did not receive a Heavy or even Medium MG. I would have hoped an applied balanced set of assets for all factions because that gives a Gamer variety.

 

The often used argument is they-BIS...provide the Sandbox. Modders create the content. But that is an unfair indirect pressure on them and its not their job-if so they should be afforded to make money off what they do and I will pay for what I want. So we must wait for say RHS to give us a new modern set of US Marines with said trimmings?

 

I have gone on record numerous times and have tried to be as direct to the Dev's as they have allowed me. I have no issue paying for 1: More and 2 Transparency. If they do a DOOM and say you know we scrapped the project because it wasn't fitting our internal guidelines. I would be okay cool. But this argument is about content. I am now more worried when Jay Crowe said as of last week Content has reached internal Alpha quality. So Tanoa used all resources pre this point? I would like to hope he meant the art guys from last year have been cranking out models and now its just the configuring and functionality waiting to be applied.

 

I am also not ungrateful I love Arma 3 for what you can do and with the new Editor is awesome. But content?

[chortles 263]

Yes we can say VTOL and LSV but type? Are there armed Variants and not just configured for FFV?

At least on this point I can state that a previous SITREP that the latter come "with mounted weapon variants and lots of Firing From Vehicles possibilities."

[Guest]

Random thought:

Steam announce Apex for June. So the stable release would happen before Thursday, June 30.

I think that we all agree for at least 1 week of dev-branch, <= Thursday, June 23.

They will probably make a Live Stream to present it, and they usually announce it at least one week before. They can release the dev version immediately, like for 3Den, or a few time later so I can't reduce the window of opportunity more than 2 weeks between the announcement and the release.

This mean that the could announce a Live Stream to  present Apex on Thursday, June 16. (+one week before the stream,+one week on dev = June 30). It's in a long time, they still have two whole months to work on the content without announcement.

[FoxFort 341]

Ehhh... I think part of the difference is that it's supposed to be an expansion like OA, albeit less content because it's not standalone.

Operation Arrowhead was a standalone and it was a great expansion, I forgot about OA, now if they make Apex same as OA (weapons, vehicles, nations, campaign etc) then Apex is worth buying.

[mistyronin 1181]

According to the last SITREP all the playable content models (vehicles and weapons) are done. They won't add more new stuff. From that point on they are focusing on setting them in-game, sounds, configs, etc.

Of course they haven't announce what APEX is gonna bring, but they already have the final list of assets for the expansion (unless they can't finish few of them).

Vehicle wise we already know a good amount if not all of them. VTOL bird, Spec Op buggies, improved zodiac with wheel, prop plane, jeep and a water scooter.

When Arma 3 was released there were a lot of complains regarding lack of civilian stuff, while it deployed most military assets avaliable in the field, in a generic way tho. Remember at in nowadays wars, hybrid and unconventional, Civilians are a key factor, hence to have proper Civilian stuff is paramount for most milsim missions (insurgency and such). Seems that BI took note.

But BI repeatedly said that their main focus is Tanoa, the map.

An equivalent game in map size / quality would be DCS, and they charge €50 for every new map (and it's only the map, and it's not even as detailed as BI maps are). DCS also charges about 60-50 euros for each vehicle (of course there's more detail on the cockpit).

In any case in the past Arma 3 DLCs they released most of the playable content (vehicles and weapons) in the dev branch about a month before the actual release (missions a week or two before). And they usually start giving info on them about one month and a half.

We know that APEX is supposed to be released at somepoint in June. And that will bring substiancially more stuff than the past DLCs, so maybe they will stage stuff in parts in the dev, as they did with Arma 3 proper.

[en3x 209]

All this secrecy.I tend to agree that list is finalized and modeled so what is keeping them from mentioning how

many guns can we expect, how many vehicles?They don't have to tell us what vehicles just how many.

I don't know, this secrecy hurts, their PR department lacks at this point.

 

Mostly because apex preorder is out, and we don't know anything about it besides terrain, VTOLs, and light strike

vehicles.

[FoxFort 341]

All this secrecy.I tend to agree that list is finalized and modeled so what is keeping them from mentioning how

many guns can we expect, how many vehicles?They don't have to tell us what vehicles just how many.

I don't know, this secrecy hurts, their PR department lacks at this point.

 

Mostly because apex preorder is out, and we don't know anything about it besides terrain, VTOLs, and light strike

vehicles.

Yeah, I agree, why all this secrecy. "The Apex will include new vehicles, weapons and co-op campaign..." That's all we know. How many of weapons are planned, how many military vehicles, how many civil and so on. At least the people who pre-order the DLC should know what they can expect. BIS PR department was not very good at this stuff, not good at making hype. But when we compare PR of EA, oh boy. EA spends more time on PR than on developing game. I think that their main source of revenue comes from pre-order which can be thanked to PR department. Most EA games these days are s**t

[en3x 209]

Yeah, I agree, why all this secrecy. "The Apex will include new vehicles, weapons and co-op campaign..." That's all we know. How many of weapons are planned, how many military vehicles, how many civil and so on. At least the people who pre-order the DLC should know what they can expect. BIS PR department was not very good at this stuff, not good at making hype. But when we compare PR of EA, oh boy. EA spends more time on PR than on developing game. I think that their main source of revenue comes from pre-order which can be thanked to PR department. EA games these days are :P

 

I'm heavily speculating but this secrecy might be a byproduct of the overpromised accident before arma was released.Java scripting was promised, AFM, fast roping lots of

features and when it couldn't be delivered it ended up with lots of negative backslash and thread named "axed features".If all this is true, perhaps is time to move on,

learn from mistakes but not let them weight you down.

[AveryTheKitty 2626]

Do remember that we'll also be seeing retextured vanilla units (according to BI's twitter) and new gear, factions, and a co-op campaign. Not to mention possible new features or extra content.

[Rich_R 1087]

IMO, why haven't we heard any further details? Because we are collectively, a group that will never be happy.

 

BI tends to release stuff that not only works, but fits into the world or DLC they're creating. Not going into specifics allows for the opportunity to release only what works, both with storyline as well as performance and keeping back what doesn't.I guarantee if they promote they will release10 vehicles in the DLC and for whatever reason only nine make it into the DLC, aside from the potential of possible refunds the bulk of the forums will be about the missing vehicle and not the nine sitting on our PC's. Knowing the gamers, that tenth vehicle would become a battle cry or some sort of holy grail, solely saving the entire Arma series.

 

As we can see in the Mod Discussions thread, vehicles take a lot of time and effort to bring into the game. Some are never fully released because some unexpected bug or game system make it impossible to work fully in the game. Frankly, I think BI works on its products right up until the release and usually long after, hence the ongoing support for their title.

 

The player base tends to know what to expect from these DLC's and aside from a repeat of Arma 2: Army of the Czech Republic, I personally have never been disappointed.

 

'Foxfort', you say secretive, I say smart in the fact BI tell us what they can deliver when they know they can.

[en3x 209]

Mustang I think every game has group of people that is not satisfied - that is just part of the Game development.

 

They can't make everyone happy and they know it.

 

On the note of promising 10 vehicle and releasing only 9 I don't see it quite that way.I see it they set in their deadlines

for the 10 vehicles, and there is no question of whether they can make it or not - is question of time.

 

I think every modeler knows how much does he need to make a gun or a vehicle.Is only question of whether he can

make it on time or will there be some unexpected delay.But delay or not vehicle will be made.

[FoxFort 341]

"Mutsand" you got a good point there but like in every business there is a working plan, if they say 10 vehicles by end of xx date, and dev. department doesn't deliver, someone in dev team is going to have a bad time, which is also bad for reputation. Now if you want to play safe, you release minimal information and when you are 100% sure, that is good but also a very bad promotion. BIS doesn't just need to satisfy their loyal users, they also need to fill in the budget for other projects. That is where Marketing department comes with promising us blabla and makes that hype so that you have to buy it like yesterday and not just now. Hmm BIS could use improvement in marketing area, I wonder if they hire, after all, I am specialising myself in that area.

Anyway if Apex is going to be like Operation Arrowhead, then it's a must buy. Since I don't know, I'm not into any hurry to buy it now.

[graemeshute 218]

The general consensus listening to Jay Crowe's Development talk at GDC 2016 was under promises over deliver. (But is hard not to be hyped as we all have our biased subjective wishes pinned on Apex).

 

His discussion actually explained alot of how they think-BIS. Because it seemed to me they were very aloof at least to me. Which maybe they thought I was trolling them and they didn't really reply to my rather off colour questions. Case point Profile pic here.

 

But to reply to Misty's suggestion on Human dynamics in War. True but in a Game where the AI has been seen as flat-regards generating believable human like behavior and emotions. Shoot an AI team mate he doesn't say much and when they die. Auto report. We have a man down. No one says much. Squad goes on. Squad mate gets shot in real life Swearing. More or less aggression from Fire teams. CAS needed. Life means something. Sure its real life and rightly said ArmA can never really truly simulate real life, But there are no consequences enforced on us if we kill a Civvy.

 

No one really cares now blowing up some Civies because all they do is basically just all look the same and or they just run away. Their isn't even gibs. I have no emotional reservations blowing them up by accident or purpose. I did have that issue in Modern Warfare 2 with the Airport scene. You would have to tie in the human element really well and have functional cities and towns to care more for basically window dressed set pieces that have a bit of AI applied to them.

 

And a large part of us Misty really only care about stuff that goes Boom-Sorry. CUP has released recently alot of Civvy stuff-Yes its ported. But that I guess covers my need for Civvy bits. I want the new M240LWs and or the XM 25's with Airburst functionality. That floats my boat.

 

I also doubt its the PR's lack of trying. Again i was informed its all done on purpose and only the top brass has say. That is if they should give more info or less. So only maybe even Marek, Petr or Jay Crowe have that power to say give them more info.

I would like though more details about Tanoa...since I believe its done.

 

What you said FoxFort I cant agree more. I would settle for even a roughly hand written piece of paper of assets-even some. And I have basically tried to look for leaks online about Apex. Sorry Devs...the wait is killing me as I sneak through my parents house at the age of 10 tryna find my Christmas presents before Christmas morning. You right EA would be beating a dead horse with hype. But, I think BIS can allow a bit more "Leaks" now.

 

Love Jay Crowe's very prompt and immediate reply no ArmA 4. :ph34r: :D

[FoxFort 341]

I've just put civils as an example for features from Apex, no one cares about civil vehicles in A3 :D

[graemeshute 218]

I've just put civils as an example for features from Apex, no one cares about civil vehicles in A3 :D

More stuff that needs to be blown up with heavy Weapons or crushed with Tanks and APC's

[Guest]

i don4t know for you, but I would enjoy a sort of ARG (like before Tanoa announcement, with the sky map and stuff for those who were here), or something like the reveal of Marksmen weapons (with the amount of people who get an achievement on firing drills). I would be nice to avoid just announcing all the content at a time.

[Guest]

Does "POW MIA" remind you of something?

It's a flag located in A3\data_f\Flags\falg_pow_co.paa

It looks like this.