E3 Coverage

[Parker 0]

I was lucky enough to attend E3 last week. Well maybe not so much lucky as the money came out of my own pocket and I had to drive 22 hours straight from Dallas to Los Angeles to get there, but I digress.

The guys from Bohemia were kind enough to meet with me on Thursday. There I had a chance to talk with Maruk Spanel, Bart Van Paassen, and Paul Statham (placebo) about BIS's projects. I even got a hands on with the Xbox version of the game. I was blown away. For anyone doubting OFP and BIS's ability to compete with EA and Battlefield, you should be ashamed. I was able to see that BIS is spending a lot of time to NOT make a mindless shooter. The OFP games will have depth of gameplay that has never been seen in a FPS before.

But Before I start rambling I'll stop there. I have already posted two articles, one for the PC and one for the Xbox, on the World War II Engineer Corps website. It can be found at http://www.3dactionplanet.com/flashpoint/ww2ec. Thank you and enjoy.

[WargamingNor 0]

Ze linkie doezent workie...  

Try this one instead

...or for the extremely lazy/blind/whatever out there...;

PC games article

Xbox

[Heatseeker 0]

How lucky of you, must have been great and its nice of you to share your review with the rest of us, thanks .

Unfortunetly...

Quote[/b] ]Great Frollicking Llamas!

The page you requested was not found!

.

[WargamingNor 0]

If you try my links, it works.

BTW, you didn't by any chance take a picture of Placebo?

He can't hide forever (refering to the fact that he hasn't got a picture on the "people" at the BIS site).

Give us a picture of Placebo... or at least describe to us what he looks like

[Heatseeker 0]

Wo0o .

Quote[/b] ]Weather affects the water in the sea. When it is storming the waves (yes waves) will be larger and behave a little more violently. When the weather dies down the sea will be more calm and light will even reflect off of it.

i like the sound of that.

Quote[/b] ]Bohemia also plans on implementing a full chain-of-command system. From Colonels all the way down to squad levels. For mission editors, this should add a new level to the game. Imagine a mission where you have to command several different squads to achieve an objective. This should allow for larger battles and more complex strategys.

Hmm, dunno about this, may turn out confusing and i prefer smaller squads for the balance of ordering troops and participating in the action too has oposed to play RTS only, we'll see..

Quote[/b] ] Bohemia is also hoping that this feature will be handy for the MOD community. By giving people the ability to add different features to the M4 (a scope, a laser, camo, etc.) then there wont be a need for addon creators to create 5 different versions of the same weapon just for minor detail changes.

Nuff said .

Great stuff man, i havent checked the xbox stuff yet but very informative and well written though you posted ARAS to be released Q4 2k6? Thanks alot for sharing this with us

.

[-ASO- Farandir 0]

I've found it (used the links by WargamingNor).

Great article! It's good to finally read something written by somebody from the community.

And damn, what would I have given for the insights you had...

[Heatseeker 0]

You got some pics too but they dont show so well, there is a guy standing next to a truck whose door is open, the small and expected details .

[4 IN 1 0]

Wo0o .

Quote[/b] ]Weather affects the water in the sea. When it is storming the waves (yes waves) will be larger and behave a little more violently. When the weather dies down the sea will be more calm and light will even reflect off of it.

i like the sound of that.

Quote[/b] ]Bohemia also plans on implementing a full chain-of-command system. From Colonels all the way down to squad levels. For mission editors, this should add a new level to the game. Imagine a mission where you have to command several different squads to achieve an objective. This should allow for larger battles and more complex strategys.

Hmm, dunno about this, may turn out confusing and i prefer smaller squads for the balance of ordering troops and participating in the action too has oposed to play RTS only, we'll see..

Quote[/b] ] Bohemia is also hoping that this feature will be handy for the MOD community. By giving people the ability to add different features to the M4 (a scope, a laser, camo, etc.) then there wont be a need for addon creators to create 5 different versions of the same weapon just for minor detail changes.

Nuff said .

Great stuff man, i havent checked the xbox stuff yet but very informative and well written though you posted ARAS to be released Q4 2k6? Thanks alot for sharing this with us

  .

From Colonel rank!?

it sounds like a hold Regiment

[jakerod 254]

I don't know about you guys but I think the Osprey is in the background of this picture. You can't really see the fuselage but you can see the two rotors.

[Mr ThunderMakeR 0]

Good article, deffinitely some stuff in there we havent heard yet.  However Im confused by this paragraph?

Quote[/b] ]Bohemia has spent a lot of time working on a new highly detailed graphics engine. The new models in their current projects are not only highly detailed, but sport gorgeous normal mapped textures. The attention to detail can be seen all the way down to the tiny wrinkles on the pocket of a soldier's ammo pouch. The graphics engine is based off Bohemia's work on the Virtual Battlefield System, or VBS1, currently used as a training tool by armed forces around the world. But it's not simply the same engine on a different game. A lot of work has gone into optimizing code and creating greater levels of detail that action gamers have come to expect.

At first I thought you were talking about AA in this paragraph, with the part about being based on VBS1 and also the normal texture mapping.  But then you start talking about OFP2.  Is OFP2 also based on the VBS1 engine?  It looks like a completely new engine to me.  If so I hope they change to using bump mapping for the textures.

Quote[/b] ] Along with that the character will be able to build up their skills, such as strength or accuracy, in between missions.

It sounds like you got a good look at the skill system.  Im curious, is there anything like vehicle specific skills?  It would be awesome if you could develop your character into specializing in different vehicle postions like helo pilot or tank gunner.  Or is it more generic than that?

A system like that would be sweet in MP, so that you wouldnt have guys flying their own helos to combat zones than ditching them and fighting on foot.  One of the worse parts of current MP is having to wait for a vehicle to respawn because some idiot took the last chopper on his own and ejected over the combat zone so he can go rambo style.

[-IT-Q- 0]

Thanks a lot for sharing

[Antichrist 0]

Wo0o .

Quote[/b] ]Weather affects the water in the sea. When it is storming the waves (yes waves) will be larger and behave a little more violently. When the weather dies down the sea will be more calm and light will even reflect off of it.

i like the sound of that.

Does it mean that we will be able to go underwater as well?

[Parker 0]

Good article, deffinitely some stuff in there we havent heard yet.  However Im confused by this paragraph?

Quote[/b] ]Bohemia has spent a lot of time working on a new highly detailed graphics engine. The new models in their current projects are not only highly detailed, but sport gorgeous normal mapped textures. The attention to detail can be seen all the way down to the tiny wrinkles on the pocket of a soldier's ammo pouch. The graphics engine is based off Bohemia's work on the Virtual Battlefield System, or VBS1, currently used as a training tool by armed forces around the world. But it's not simply the same engine on a different game. A lot of work has gone into optimizing code and creating greater levels of detail that action gamers have come to expect.

At first I thought you were talking about AA in this paragraph, with the part about being based on VBS1 and also the normal texture mapping.  But then you start talking about OFP2.  Is OFP2 also based on the VBS1 engine?  It looks like a completely new engine to me.  If so I hope they change to using bump mapping for the textures.

Quote[/b] ] Along with that the character will be able to build up their skills, such as strength or accuracy, in between missions.

It sounds like you got a good look at the skill system.  Im curious, is there anything like vehicle specific skills?  It would be awesome if you could develop your character into specializing in different vehicle postions like helo pilot or tank gunner.  Or is it more generic than that?

A system like that would be sweet in MP, so that you wouldnt have guys flying their own helos to combat zones than ditching them and fighting on foot.  One of the worse parts of current MP is having to wait for a vehicle to respawn because some idiot took the last chopper on his own and ejected over the combat zone so he can go rambo style.

AA and OFP2 will have similar engines. They are both based off technology that came with the VBS1 development. From what I understand Bohemia is planing on having AA work as a bridge, or as a taste of what is going to come with OFP2.

As for the skills system I really didn't get a chance to see it. But Bart Van Paassen seems to be very excited about the possibilities it will open up. I don't think there is a finalized set of skills that will be upgradable (at least not ready for the public) but I would assume increasing vehicle skills (girls like guys with skills, like bow skills) is a possibility.

[Parker 0]

Wo0o .

Quote[/b] ]Weather affects the water in the sea. When it is storming the waves (yes waves) will be larger and behave a little more violently. When the weather dies down the sea will be more calm and light will even reflect off of it.

i like the sound of that.

Does it mean that we will be able to go underwater as well?

Nope. water==death

[hardrock 1]

Very good article, Parker! The first one that really mentioned the interesting things, as it was written from a community member!

[Parker 0]

If you try my links, it works.

BTW, you didn't by any chance take a picture of Placebo?  

He can't hide forever (refering to the fact that he hasn't got a picture on the "people" at the BIS site).

Give us a picture of Placebo... or at least describe to us what he looks like  

Let's see, if I remember correctly placebo was about 8 feet tall. Must have been about 400 pounds. Had a Grizzly Adams beard. I mean this guy was a monster. I swear I saw him eat a baby for lunch.

What he says goes. I wouldn't screw with him. Don't want him eating anymore babies.

Oh and sorry my pics suck. I have to upload everything for the University computer lab since my apartment doesn't have internet right now. The computer lab comps are outdated and shitty.

[MATRA 0]

Very good article, Parker! The first one that really mentioned the interesting things, as it was written from a community member!

I couldnt agree more.

The fact that AA and Game 2 have similar engines, I thing its good news for the MOD makers, imagine, They could start a MOD in AA and it would be finnish (with luck) when Game 2 is out

[Heatseeker 0]

Judging from game 2 pics i think anything made for OFP/AA would need to be improved/changed alot, atleast texture wise , and the models look so perfect too, and there's a huge chance there will be alot new functions and features regarding functionality so im also guessing everything to be updated for game 2 will need to be heavily reworked to be worth having there .

[kerekesk 0]

Good article, deffinitely some stuff in there we havent heard yet.  However Im confused by this paragraph?

Quote[/b] ]Bohemia has spent a lot of time working on a new highly detailed graphics engine. The new models in their current projects are not only highly detailed, but sport gorgeous normal mapped textures. The attention to detail can be seen all the way down to the tiny wrinkles on the pocket of a soldier's ammo pouch. The graphics engine is based off Bohemia's work on the Virtual Battlefield System, or VBS1, currently used as a training tool by armed forces around the world. But it's not simply the same engine on a different game. A lot of work has gone into optimizing code and creating greater levels of detail that action gamers have come to expect.

At first I thought you were talking about AA in this paragraph, with the part about being based on VBS1 and also the normal texture mapping.  But then you start talking about OFP2.  Is OFP2 also based on the VBS1 engine?  It looks like a completely new engine to me.  If so I hope they change to using bump mapping for the textures.

Quote[/b] ] Along with that the character will be able to build up their skills, such as strength or accuracy, in between missions.

It sounds like you got a good look at the skill system.  Im curious, is there anything like vehicle specific skills?  It would be awesome if you could develop your character into specializing in different vehicle postions like helo pilot or tank gunner.  Or is it more generic than that?

A system like that would be sweet in MP, so that you wouldnt have guys flying their own helos to combat zones than ditching them and fighting on foot.  One of the worse parts of current MP is having to wait for a vehicle to respawn because some idiot took the last chopper on his own and ejected over the combat zone so he can go rambo style.

Just a note, normal mapping is more advanced than bump mapping.

[llauma 0]

.

http://www.armedassault.com/shots/armed1_hi.jpg

Just look closer at this pic.. First look at the shadow of the weapon casted on the soldier and then look at the shadows on the pants. They have the same direction which indicates that either the pants are really detailed with modelled wrinkles or that the engine is simply using bump maps.

It's a AA example in this post but if AA got it so will fp2