ArmA Progress Updates

[Heatseeker 0]

I think Bravo 6 is very enthusiastic and thats a great thing but he expects too much, maybe BIS could cover all the tiny details if they spent 10+ years working on the game. I think its time we finally get our new sim.

Arma is already on a scale nothing can and will keep up with. We have seen a 100 tank battle movie (with high detailed tanks, smoke and explosions) . They could add all the tiny details and reduce it to much less but they wont sacrifice what makes their games stand out from the rest in favor of useless features, i think BIS have a good perception of balance.

[bravo 6 0]

They could add all the tiny details and reduce it to much less but they wont sacrifice what makes their games stand out from the rest in favor of useless features, i think BIS have a good perception of balance.

yes, i think your right.

They will not sacrifice the game for "small features".. (and they shouldn't if those features are able or going to slower down and destroy it).

Though i have a strong/nice feeling about this ARMA's engine

They still have some surprises that were not mentioned yet (thats what we have been told)

oh well, if your right.. maybe some day in future then (hope your wrong)

[Garcia 0]

Realism is a relative term.  I don't think that adding more realism to the weapon handling our vehicle damage model could possibly hurt this game (and subsequently its sales).  At the same time too much realism in mission design (where 90% of the time you would not see any action, like in the real life) would be unacceptable for most players.

That's exactly the thing. BIS' job is to find the balance between realism and fun that most people like. Some people like very much realism (and I'm one of them...once me and [HC]Para played a vietnam mission where we wandered around the jungle for over 30 minute without seeing 1 enemy...and I liked it, because you knew they were there somewhere ), while others don't like that much realism. Of course suggestions are good, but when people start whining about not being able to tie your shoelaces...well...

Quote[/b] ]I believe that most of the people on this board are smart enough to realize this when they make their suggestions for improvements. Even if not, BIS is sure as hell smart enough to realize this.  That's why I think that it is silly when people (I don't mean you specifically, I know that you have made good suggestions in other threads) point out the obvious by saying that "You can have too much realism".  Sure you can, but as of now there are still plenty of outstanding realistic additions to make that will only improve the game play.

Yes there are many things BIS could fix, but still, many things that are suggested don't add that much to the gameplay, and if BIS were to implement all of the small features that people want and that would add a bit to the gameplay, they would have to postpone the game for another 5-6 months or so I mean, sure, I would really like doors that open/close, animation where the units move inside the vehicle, and don't just "warp" in/out of the vehicle. This would add quite much to the game as it would look really good, but I would rather see other impovments, like AI, more scripting-commands etc, as these are the things that keep the game alive over time.

Quote[/b] ]As for realism not selling... I personally don't believe that. I think that realistic games sell just fine, provided that the game offers the players more than just realism (i.e. the graphics, sound, UI are all top notch).  All else being equal, mature gamers want more realism not less.  That is why most military games that come out these days tout themselves as being "authentic", "realistic", "designed by military experts", etc; even though in most cases they fall short of their promise.  Obviously realism is a big selling point; otherwise they would not base their advertisements around those claims.

Well, people probably have different experience on this. To my experience OFP was a game that was to realistic for most people. Most people didn't like OFP because it was too complexed. Too many controls to handle, too many situations too handle, to many choices to make etc. People are used to the simple arcade gameplay where you got like 8 buttons to use (W,A,S & D for moving, number buttons to change weapon, the left mousebutton to fire and space to jump), where you basically know what's going to happen (you run into new enemies as you move...usually no big suprises...) and where your being lead by the game (the path is forced on you). Other games advertise themself as realistic, but they're realistic in another way than OFP. They've got realistic looking equipment, animations, ballistics, AI reaction (this is basically because it's shit easy for them, since the path the player has to take is already determined) etc. Though games are moving towards being more realistic than before, but I still think ArmA can easily be too realistic for most people.

[Callsign 128]

so basically, everyone should stop getting their proverbials in a twist and enjoy the wait until Arma comes out,

we're going to love it whether or not that sandbag bunker is a 500000000 poly model and is correctly using south Sahrani sand and proper hessian sacks!

whining about every detail is not going to help BIS, seeing as they've probably spotted the problem before we did

bootneckofficer

[benreeper 0]

I still do not think that OFP was too realistic for people.. That is if you're saying it didn't sell well because people were put off by it. I think the game just was not advertised enough, especially in the US. Still yet, it sold over a million copies.

--Ben

[Zenga 1]

do you know in which stores i can pick up the game when its released in czech republik or Slowakia?

thx..

and will be the game in English language with czech translation in words ?

[dreday 1]

I still do not think that OFP was too realistic for people.. That is if you're saying it didn't sell well because people were put off by it. I think the game just was not advertised enough, especially in the US. Still yet, it sold over a million copies.

--Ben

Exactly. From what I understand, OFP and OFP:R enjoyed great sales despite the limited advertisement campaign. OFP:E might have been less successful, but the market demographics for game consoles are quite different than those for PCs. In fact OFP:E might in fact have been too realistic for the console players.

That's my understanding, but I would love for Placebo to correct me if this is not accurate.

BTW, other than this I agree with Garcia's points. I think we are pretty much on the same page, just looking at it as half empty vs. half full.

Peace,

DreDay

[Sertorius 0]

Edit - Woops

[dmitri 0]

Shooting range vid was MP.

[450R 1]

I think the game just was not advertised enough, especially in the US.

They seem to be making the same mistake again. Have you seen any US press previews? Have you seen any mention of AA's release in the US?

Not that it's really hurting BIS ... they did fine with OFP and I'm sure they'll do fine with AA ... but it's still shoddy marketing.

[GimpyBassturd 0]

Im from the US and ive asked many game shop owners if theyve even heard of ARMA, and none of them have, they sound amazed when i tell them about OFP and i tell them to come to this website, i really think there should be some kind of commercial in the US , i know people would be waiting in line for it if they saw some of the features this game has, in fact theres 50,000 BF2 players dying for something new but as it looks now most of them will assume Armed Assault is just like BF2 or Soldner and that cheap imitation Joint Operations and wont give it a second look

[scousejedi 0]

Surely its the job of the US publisher to advertise. Once a US Publisher is announced I think You'll find a much better level of US advertising.

It makes me laugh that poeple say that publishers should be snapping BIS up. I think that BIS kows how strong their product is and that they are dictating to the publishers this time. They are waiting until a publisher bows to their demands rather than handing over the keys to the kingdom to the first people to show an interest.

[deanosbeano 0]

Surely its the job of the US publisher to advertise. Once a US Publisher is announced I think You'll find a much better level of US advertising.

It makes me laugh that poeple say that publishers should be snapping BIS up. I think that BIS kows how strong their product is and that they are dictating to the publishers this time. They are waiting until a publisher bows to their demands rather than handing over the keys to the kingdom to the first people to show an interest.

i think your right but there is a small problem if:

Bis want it all out around the same dates and are considering online distro, if thats the case then it aint the publishers who need to get the name Arma out there its either idea games or Bis themselves.

[Snots 0]

Coool, if its going to release online also thatd be ok. Paypal or direct bank deposit ready.

I get all of my game reviews from online pc game sites including demos. Im a retired OFP player and was brought back after seeing AA news at Ausgamers.com

[Scrub 0]

For publishing, I think BIS is doing everything they can and want to.  The statement of only 100,000 copies being made for the mentioned market (whatever that entails) in Europe leads me to believe they are taking a reasonable 'test the waters' approach to the issue.  100K is not quite a drop in the bucket, but all the same, it will let them gauge demand and market penetration by watching where they are being snapped up - before committing a truly significant amount of money and time.

Just noticed it's pretty silent in the update arena, I guess the renegades spewing the GC release info did the honorable thing and ceased and desisted. Probably helped that Placebo tossed the flashbang in BEFORE he kicked in their door and put the laser dot on their forehead.

[sniper pilot 36]

...They still have some surprises that were not mentioned yet (thats what we have been told)....

Cant wait for that!

[Journeyman 0]

...They still have some surprises that were not mentioned yet (thats what we have been told)....

Cant wait for that!

And if BIS is to release ArmA later this year then it seems that this alone will be a surprise to all PC gamers who do not follow these forums! .... No mention of ArmA anywhere in the incoming section of Novembers edition of PCZone......

[bravo 6 0]

Sorry, i need to clarify something i saw in the latest video called "ArmAMrBanane".

Weren't all bugs from OFP fixed?

They said they were, but..

.. why can i see in that video dead bodys inside a street wall, they are literally with their dead bodys inside that wall.

Is it normal to happen with this new engine?

Will we going to have those bugs in Gold version?

you can check this at 9min 24 sec on the video "ArmAMrBanane"

[martinovic 0]

That's not a bug.

[bravo 6 0]

...They still have some surprises that were not mentioned yet (thats what we have been told)....

Cant wait for that!

And if BIS is to release ArmA later this year then it seems that this alone will be a surprise to all PC gamers who do not follow these forums! .... No mention of ArmA anywhere in the incoming section of Novembers edition of PCZone......

http://www.fotocraft.org.uk/images/arma/pczonenoarma.jpg

well i dont mind, that means ARMA will be ever better and improved.

That's not a bug.

how come thats not a bug? They are inside the walls...

[wamingo 1]

Quote[/b] ]how come thats not a bug? They are inside the walls...

It's a limitation I think.

Imagine you're lying down inside a house in a narrow hallway in ofp. you'll want to be able to turn around because you can do that in the real world although it might mean twisting your body a bit. That's not easy to simulate in a game so when you turn maybe your feet and head+gun is kind of burried in the walls.

[NeMeSiS 11]

how come thats not a bug? They are inside the walls...

Collision detection on dead bodies seems to be turned off like in OFP, otherwise they would slide away when they hit a wall which is much more noticable. (And you would be able to push bodies around?   )

[Guest Ti0n3r]

Quote[/b] ]how come thats not a bug? They are inside the walls...

It's a limitation I think.

Imagine you're lying down inside a house in a narrow hallway in ofp. you'll want to be able to turn around because you can do that in the real world although it might mean twisting your body a bit. That's not easy to simulate in a game so when you turn maybe your feet and head+gun is kind of burried in the walls.

What you're describing wasn't possible in Elite so I don't think the 'dead bodies through walls' issue has anything to do with it.

[imported_bör 0]

I just read that the german mags "PC Games" and "PC Powerplay" have both got an ArmA preview plus video in their latest editions. These two mags are coming Wednesday.

I hope I'm not too late.

[Abs_01 0]

The Mr. Banana video also had two other bugs. An anim bug when it first showed him (he switched from the holding a rifle anim to a standing pose) and also, when the tank was destroyed, it's turret went straight back to zero degrees. I don't care if they're don't, but it would be nice if they fixed them.

Abs