Nothing in Arma2 Seems much Different

[Inkompetent 0]

AFAIK ArmA2 going to be same graphical engine as ArmA, so no hardware update needed?

Since AI is getting more accurate and more advanced a slightly better CPU might be needed.

We'll also get volumetric fog (not only fog for max view distance) and better rain effects (if I remember correctly) as well as shadow-casting smoke, so that'd need a bit better graphics card if you want it to look good.

I can't see any need for any big upgrades though, since as you say, it is the same graphics engine.

[max power 21]

AFAIK ArmA2 going to be same graphical engine as ArmA, so no hardware update needed?

The way the engine runs is one source of gpu load, and another is the contents of the scene. It looks like the models for ArmA 2 are higher detail, and the environment is *much* more complex. I have a sneaking suspicion that ArmA 2 will be much harder to run, depending on scalability.

[martinovic 0]

Haha! Even the original was prettymuch unusable on anything but the highest end of hardware and you're telling me that this game will be even worse?

[TheJay 0]

But remember it is supposedly coming out for consoles also so a modest computer should be able to run it.

[max power 21]

Haha! Even the original was prettymuch unusable on anything but the highest end of hardware and you're telling me that this game will be even worse?

Well there's an untrue statement. You were unable to get the highest levels of detail on anything but a monster rig. The game is very scalable.

[martinovic 0]

No it wasn't, i set it to the lowest and it would still give me LOD problems after half an hour. It was still an improvement over getting LOD problems after 10 minutes mind you. >_>

[max power 21]

No it wasn't, i set it to the lowest and it would still give me LOD problems after half an hour. It was still an improvement over getting LOD problems after 10 minutes mind you. >_>

That had to do with a driver problems or engine bugs. Not with engine scalability.

[Crystal 0]

I like these new screens

*click*

[MehMan 0]

I don't. The hand is still poking through the M203...

Please please please I hope they include custom anims for each gun.

[CameronMcDonald 147]

Ya, it seems a crime nowadays to let that go. MG clipping too is irritating as hell.

[Guest Ti0n3r]

Nice, the sunlight looks more natural than in ArmA. Not as plastic and shiny. Same goes for the grass.

Weapon clipping looks retarded and 10-years-ago though

[pathetic_berserker 4]

..  But the overlying thing to remember is that BIS decided to do the ArmA project in order to keep the development on Game 2 going.  So without ArmA, ArmA 2 wouldn't exist, even though ArmA 2 was in development BEFORE ArmA.  It's not simple a matter of BIS throwing shit together on the cheap because the gamers will swallow it, it's them designing games for a very small group of people and trying to stay in the game developing business independently- as opposed to just the mocap business or whatever else they are into besides these game projects.

plantiff is absolutely correct here folks.So before you all get overly paranoid about how BIS are just after another buck. Try to imagine what you would do to stay in the game as long as they have. For me Arma hasn't been a dissapiontment and still gets me hooked. If Arma 2 is just a prettier version of Arma with fewer bugs. I'll probably buy it had still be happy with what I've got. Put simply, its my sort of game. And as long as it remains open ended in play and has support by BIS and the community I'll play as long as it lasts.

[Supernova 0]

Quote[/b] ]1. Ability to load vehicles into large cargo aircraft, helicopters, and ships (such as landing craft).

I agree here but also adding to it being able to paradrop them as well onto ground with crew inside (for bmd-3/4) or without crew inside (bmd-1p , bmd-2) etc...

[kavoven 4]

The new screens are looking really promising

[SaBrE_UK 0]

Looks great. I think it's worthy of a new thread, perhaps to be stickied.

[SpaceReverend 0]

Quote[/b] ]..it's not simple a matter of BIS throwing shit together on the cheap because the gamers will swallow it, it's them designing games for a very small group of people and trying to stay in the game developing business independently- as opposed to just the mocap business or whatever else they are into besides these game projects.

Yeah, totally. In the music bisness BI would be an indie record label, producing marginal music with small budget. I gotta give my best to BIS, youre doing great work.

QG was a bit disappointment, but i know that ArmAII won't be, no matter how similar the screens are with Arma1.

Remember that you have large number of loyal gamers waiting whatever kind of game you publish. We buy it anyway.

[adam264 0]

Can be will make from Arma 2 updating for Arma and will sell for money?  I think it will be better, and everyone be pleased.

[sluggCDN 0]

its great that now RPG stance is upright, that makes me think u can shoot it upright and kneeling. Great! New more flexible character animations. I think stepping away from the 12 unit squad command system is a wrong move if this will happen. I know it's an attempt to try adopting Arma to console, due to the latter limmited key set. That would also mean you won't be able to include armor in you squad like in OFP/Arma. I just wonder what kind of effect it will have on the overall gamestyle - it can be a bit shocking to the old-school OFP/Arma crowd. What's heard about RPG-gamestyle system in Arma? Are they still pursuing that idea. I just hope BIS doesn't get too creative like they did in OFP-Arma transition, biting off more they can chew. RPG requires alot of balancing & testing etc. They just don't have that much time and human resource. Arma as is now great in terms of gameplay. Taking away the larger formations aspect will reduce Arma to something like Ghost recon style. But GR has effects - I doubt ArmA 2 will. This whole small-ops teams initiative is just moving Arma in a very different direction, STALKER-like or Crysis-like gameplay. And that's a lot to contend with...

The bottom line is that if u take away the tactical large-formation command system from ArmA what will it have left? That's pretty much 50% of overall ArmA experience. Then you are left with very dry effects, crappy sounds and somewhat clumsy animation, almost no physics and so-so damage system w/ no wounding effects. Even if the above mentioned aspects will improved, it may not be enough for ArmA2 to stand above the crowd; you still have to provide a very good storyline SP. I'm not even talking about MP here. The lack of large formation battles will be a very serious minus for Arma2.

[sluggCDN 0]

Just to clarify my point:

if BIS decides to take away the large formation tactical aspect from ArmA2 they would have to compensate it with amazing/realistic special effects, very user-friendly, flexible character animation system, very believable immersive atmosphere and environment. Environement already looks great - what shouldn't be overlooked are the combat special effects i.e. explosions, smoke, hit and wounding effects, shell-shock, "shaking-view" blast shock effect, vision blur, vehicle damage system etc. In other words if they sacrifies some good old proven features they better make up for them in other aspects of the game. ArmA2 cannot impress anyone anymore by large open vistas and picturesque sunsets. It's all been done very well many times in other games. They should at least stay on the par with other titles. IMO they should really study the combat effects/atmosphere in Crysis. Of course no one is asking for Nano suit, but SFX are absoluetly believable and fairly true to life in that game. The level of details in it is amazing.

[NoRailgunner 0]

sluggCDN you are serious about realism = hollywood special effects?

So many SFX FunShooters around why another one? Have you contract with graphic card manufacturer?

Imho it would be better if they improve AI, pathfinding, mission design and some good tools. All this eyecandy shiny details are useless if you only have to run'n'gun. I know console players addicted to such sfx things....

Anyway let's cross fingers that BIS are making some new ArmA2 ingame videos!

[Inkompetent 0]

The eye candy is useless? I'd say I have a far higher degree of immersion in CoD4 than I have in ArmA, despite the arcade gaming style.

One of the big reasons are suppression. I can't recall when I last felt suppressed in ArmA, no matter the amount of rounds fired at me.

It's more of a "Oh, fuck. Here we go. Head down so I don't die..... *yawns*".

In CoD4 it's more of a "Holy crap and macaronies! *dives in behind a wall with dust and concrete fragments flying everywhere, loud cracks sounding as bullets penetrates the concrete*"

ArmA is very, very plain in my eyes. Still, it's the only game we have in this genre until OFP2 is out, so I appreciate it for it's tactical large scale aspect.

[sluggCDN 0]

@ NoRailgunner

Strangely enough ppl associate the shockwave & shaking camera effects with hollywood, - probably because they only saw it on-screen.

here is my train of thought:

if one bullet in the chest in Arma means death, why by the same token when a person stands next to a firing tank cannon nothing happens? Does anyone here know what happens to a person if he is within 20 feet of a firing tank cannon? Total knock-out, with raptured ear-drums, shell-shock and impared vision as a result, blood coming out of mouth, nose and ears. That pretty much goes for all explosions one is exposed to when within blast radius - grenades, bombs, shells. So why do they replicate only one aspect of combat and forget about all other; quite a few casualties in RL are the result of these very "hollywood effects". Is "realism" just a marketing buzz-word that's supposed to sell the game.

BIS already made a milsim without any sense of immersion beside the one every player creates in his head trying to justify 40 bucks he just spent on the game. They did it fairly well. Maybe it's time to take it to the next level.

I'm just saying that if they take away the scale of large formation command in ArmA2 what are they gonna be left with? SP campaign driven game title with scripted combat sequences - and deathmatch/capture the flag MP? Even Evolution wouldn't be possible if such system is adopted, forget about CTI or the likes. That will be exactly CoD4 or GR without special effects.

The only way out is to make it a realisticly simulated experience thru the special effects, because, gentlemen (I'm sorry for bursting someone's bubble) the onscreen experience is the only experience we have in PC gaming . What else, if not thru special graphic & ambient/sound effects, can create the sense of immersion in an on-screen interactive experience. What you see is what you get, guys!

[NoRailgunner 0]

CoD4 etc are more CQC games, OFP/ArmA work with greater ranges.

What if you have such things like DAC, Group Link, CEX etc. integrated? Would be one main difference to all those mainstream FunShooters.

As for standing unprotected very close to firing tank cannon: is possible to be such dumb and stupid?

Military reality isn't that full of special effects maybe someday you will have to go into military service...

Quote[/b] ]What you see is what you get, guys!

In love with Drill Sergeant and all kind of parade exercises!

[sluggCDN 0]

@NoRailgunner

Quote[/b] ]Military reality isn't that full of special effects maybe someday you will have to go into military service...

A very valid, articulate & mature comment indeed!

I just wonder is it possible for some ppl to handle a civil forum discussion without slipping into flaming exchange and personal comments. I visit this forum to share my opinion without any personal insults to anyone here - and I believe it's a universal rule. You disagree, that's fine. My posting and points in it are just an illustration of a point I make about a game. It's not an invitation for a flame-match.

Quote[/b] ]As for standing unprotected very close to firing tank cannon: is possible to be such dumb and stupid?

But we still do it in ArmA without consequences - you can't argue this point or my other point. It doesn't mean though u need to flame.

Since we are on the flame-war path already - my NoRailgunner friend: peel your ass of your computer chair, step outside & you will discover that the world around you isn't a scripted single-player mission; shits happens and there is NO save/load option. Surprised? I mean what if you are outta your basement and you are hit by a truck. Some may say: well, life is full of surprises, shit happens; others will say: is it possible to be such dumb and stupid to be hit by a truck in the broad daylight? No one needs to go to the Army to know that if your exposed to a wave of a very hot high-pressured compressed air ear drums will be the first ones to pop. This is what they call "R-E-A-L-I-T-Y". Do you see my point? You read me, - but do you hear me?

[NoRailgunner 0]

Sorry if you feel so. I don't want ArmA2 as another FPS shooter with console style gameplay and only great special effects.

But you have another opinion and one way solution:

Quote[/b] ]IMO they should really study the combat effects/atmosphere in Crysis. Of course no one is asking for Nano suit, but SFX are absoluetly believable and fairly true to life in that game. The level of details in it is amazing.

Quote[/b] ]The only way out is to make it a realisticly simulated experience thru the special effects

I'm fine with that lets see what we get! Maybe a very good combination of both SFX and close to realism combat at open areas?