North America Release / Publisher

[MiloBloom 10]

I wanted to give feedback about steam. I happen to really like steam for Valve games, however for 3rd party games I am a bit hesitant. Here is why. I am a COD player and purchased World at War via steam. Everything works fine until a patch is released. Retail and D2D people had the patch day 1. Steam users had to wait 2 weeks to get a patch/new maps. You could download the retail patch and make some changes to the registry to get it to work but you shouldn't have to. This isn't a one time thing, its happened twice now with COD. I have no idea what deals BIS has with steam but people should be aware. Hopefully BIS has addressed this in some manner.

Now a question. Say I buy this via steam and they are delayed in releasing a patch. Will I be able to MP and play with people on the newer version or relegated to servers at the old patch level. I'm sure I know the answer but thought I'd ask anyway.

Thanks in advance

[TCEd 0]

I bought CoD5 through Steam also, but I got it late, so the version I downloaded was already patched, I think sometimes it depends on the game.

In the case of Arma1, I have never experienced an issue updating the game, installing beta patches, in fact, having more than one working version, such as the case with the beta patch, all done without using Steam.

Obviously we won't know how ARMA2 works until we get it, so we will all learn that as we go. My initial response is that it will not have any problems, but who knows. In ether case, I will still use Steam, they have been very reliable thus far.

[hoak 0]

I bought Red Orchestra, and Splinter Cell: Double-Agent on Steam, both have offered a seamless and effortless experience as far as updates. In fact Red Orchestra was frequetly patched, and people with the DVD version were having more trouble then people that bought it on Steam.

Steam offers a built in integrated CRC checker that lets you check the integrity of your entire game installation (Properties >>> Local Files >>> Verify the integrity of game cache) that also solves a lot of headaches before they happen (corrupt, missing or infected file) which can resolve a lot of issues, or at least take one more step out of any trouble-shooting scenario.

:butbut:

[MiloBloom 10]

Don't get me wrong I still like steam, I just hope what happened with COD does not happen elsewhere. I have a ton of other games through steam and have never had a problem patching any of them.

Hoak, very good point about the CRC. It is a very nice feature. It is very useful to be able to delete certain files that might be causing issues and have them re-downloaded automatically. I have used that feature more than once.

[max power 21]

Thanks, Hoak!

[hoak 0]

You Welcome Maxor!

:)

Just a little heads-up, there seem to be some here new to ArmA, and I'd like to warn you of 'post-purchase depression' -- something I think is unique to ArmA and may apply to ArmA II. What happens is New Players see all the amazing screen-shots, video, discussion, and testimonials of Fans, then they get ArmA/ArmA II/VBS2 and concurrently end up over and under whelmed...

The very first thing many see that starts them down this path is a bind screen that's a complete jaw-dropper to the uninitiated, it looks like there's more binds and key combinations then are mathematically possible, no less your keyboard and memory can sustain -- and people freak...

But the bind setup is like everything in ArmA; it's just incredibly flexible and open; many of the bind options are actually redundant so you can customize them all sorts of ways you can't in other games. While it is true ArmA games have more binds then many other games, you can do really cool things to make them even more intuitive and natural then any other game; like double-tap, press and hold, and press and release -- putting three binds on one key for example.

The next thing that always happens is people get lost (in multiplayer games), the islands are huge, the game is very realistic, and it's just like being dropped into a foreign country with no preparation, that you've never been to -- it's easy to get lost, leaving battles and your team miles/kilometers away...

This can actually be fun and funny, but is also an enormous source of frustration for those that don't learn some basic navigation skills. If you're on VOIP there's usually someone (hopefully not worn out from Noob questions) that will help you find a safe place to come in that lets you get into the game, but RTFM is the one certain solution...

Also mods, missions, and highly customized servers start to appear rather quickly, and you can end up on a server with unusual features and settings, that will throw you, if you don't read the intro and mission screens. Somtimes it's very subtle things like weapon metrics, that aren't obvious but will make you useless if you don't understand the changes...

Added to the learning curve are the inevitable bugs that frustrate the uninitiated, and while BI always comes through, fixes and sorts these out, it takes time -- and sadly lot of people are impatient, get frustrated and discouraged too quickly when they learn the world of Armed Assault is very realistic, unforgiving, and not perfect from get-go.

Regarding realism, you can't for example expect to move and maneuver in a way you would never attempt in the real world in a live fire combat situation, and have a snowballs chance in a hot place of staying alive. If you do something stupid in ArmA, it's completely possible to end up trapped and wounded in a suppressed position, unable to do anything but cry for support, and/or die/respawn -- and you'll be bound repeat your mistakes if you don't learn from them...

Once you get into the groove, and accept that you really can't do or get away with anything you couldn't if you were really in this situation, you adapt, maneuver and fire like you would in real combat and have a lot of fun -- but would-be Fans with expectations based on other games will often end up lost, face down, and frustrated fast...

If you're new check out Dslyecxi's ArmA Tactics Techniques and Procedures Guide, while it was written for ArmA, not ArmA II, and is lot more detailed, elaboate, and has more information then a New Player will need to enjoy playing ArmA II, it has a lot of general concept information that will put you in the right frame of mind, and make the game a lot more enjoyable for you.

:)

Edited June 2, 2009 by Hoak

[gunzz 10]

I really want to play this game after being a big fan of Arma 1. Anyone know where I can buy Arma 2 right now? I don't know german but I hear you can mod it to use english, which is fine. I just don't want to get ripped off or anything.

[Nicholas 5]

Yes, i am living in the USA, I bought it off of the German Peter Games website, I filled in all my credit card info and all that (Wit hthe help of a translator) And there is a unofficial patch that converts the ENTIRE game to english :)

Go here: http://petergames.nexway.de/Kaufen-Arma_II-671810.html (This is where I bought mine)

Click Senden>Konto Erstellen>Then fill in the form

*Art: Privat (Use this, it says Private)

*Titel: Herr(Mr) Frau (Mrs)

* Name: (I think this is first name, i put my firs name here)

* Vorname: (Last Name)

* E-Mail: (Email)

* Bestätigungs E-mail: (Confrim Email)

* Adresse: (Address, can be a PO box too)

* Postleitzahl: (ZIP COde)

* Ort: (Town/City)

* Land: Vereinigte Staaten von Amerika(United States of America)

Beruf: (Occupation)

* Passwort: (Passowrd)

Then after you fill that it, youll be logged in, pick your payment(Paypal or Debit/Credit Card). After you choose payment, and go pay, you wil lget a new page with all the info, also containing your game CD Key(This is also used for online activation) Then go to your email(You'll get a email from them), and click "Download", you can either download the game in one click, or you can download it separatly in 12 parts, in which there is a self-extracting .exe which will extract the game to your PC, then you can install. Then install the patch 1.01, and insert your CD-key when prompted and when asking to activate online. Then you can use a English patch to convert it to all english.

If there's any German words you don't understand, use Google Translator, it will do an acceptable job of translating(Its not the best but you can understand it)

http://translate.google.com/translate_t?hl=en&sl=de&tl=en#

**Screenshots on the way**

The Email That You'll Get:

[iG]http://i44.tinypic.com/2llobh4.jpg[/img]

The Folder(Files):

[iG]http://i44.tinypic.com/24endoh.jpg[/img]

[trunkz jr 0]

I really want to play this game after being a big fan of Arma 1. Anyone know where I can buy Arma 2 right now? I don't know german but I hear you can mod it to use english, which is fine. I just don't want to get ripped off or anything.

Can't wait 3 weeks or so? XD

[gunzz 10]

Nope, cant wait!!!! Can someone walk me through the process of buying it, and converting it to english? Thank you very much!

[=Spetsnaz= 0]

www.metaboli.com i think then click arma 2?

[gunzz 10]

Yes, i am living in the USA, I bought it off of the German Peter Games website, I filled in all my credit card info and all that (Wit hthe help of a translator) And there is a unofficial patch that converts the ENTIRE game to english :)

Go here: http://petergames.nexway.de/Kaufen-Arma_II-671810.html (This is where I bought mine)

Click Senden>Konto Erstellen>Then fill in the form

*Art: Privat (Use this, it says Private)

*Titel: Herr(Mr) Frau (Mrs)

* Name: (I think this is first name, i put my firs name here)

* Vorname: (Last Name)

* E-Mail: (Email)

* Bestätigungs E-mail: (Confrim Email)

* Adresse: (Address, can be a PO box too)

* Postleitzahl: (ZIP COde)

* Ort: (Town/City)

* Land: Vereinigte Staaten von Amerika(United States of America)

Beruf: (Occupation)

* Passwort: (Passowrd)

Then after you fill that it, youll be logged in, pick your payment(Paypal or Debit/Credit Card). After you choose payment, and go pay, you wil lget a new page with all the info, also containing your game CD Key(This is also used for online activation) Then go to your email(You'll get a email from them), and click "Download", you can either download the game in one click, or you can download it separatly in 12 parts, in which there is a self-extracting .exe which will extract the game to your PC, then you can install. Then install the patch 1.01, and insert your CD-key when prompted and when asking to activate online. Then you can use a English patch to convert it to all english.

If there's any German words you don't understand, use Google Translator, it will do an acceptable job of translating(Its not the best but you can understand it)

http://translate.google.com/translate_t?hl=en&sl=de&tl=en#

Thanks mate, but where is this english patch, how do i get it etc?

:tup:

[Alpha-Kilo 36]

"Name" stands for "family name" and "Vorname" stands for "first name". Apart from this little mistake (which shouldn't really matter) your translation is correct.

The unofficial English patch seems to have been made from a leaked preview version and the moderators decided this subject should not be discussed openly on the forum.

[Nicholas 5]

This is what the download page will look like:

[iG]http://i42.tinypic.com/29xc6ra.jpg[/img]

If you need anything PM me.

"Name" stands for "family name" and "Vorname" stands for "first name". Apart from this little mistake (which shouldn't really matter) your translation is correct.

Ah, ok I had them swapped Around then lol...oops, oh well at least i got the game :D

[gunzz 10]

Cool. Is the german version edited? Like less blood or something? Can german users play with users of other nations online or are the clients not compatiblez?

[Nicholas 5]

Blood is all the same, i can turn it up high, and I can play online, it will probably be like ArmA 1, you can play in any server, doesnt matter nationality.

[hoak 0]

As I keep seeing locked threads appearing asking: "Where in North America can I buy ArmA II?" -- I thought I'd give this one a 'bump'.

If you don't want to scroll through 27 pages of possibilities and discussion of the quality of service of the various sources, you can just go to the to of the thread -- all the soruces where you can currently order ArmA II in English are there...

:)

[Amuro 10]

I have a question. Kinda silly but, here it goes... I'm buying this game (already pre-ordered it). Since I'm definitely buying it, does it make it ok to torrent the German version so I can play while waiting for the game to be released in my region? I have not torrented any game before, and this is the only time I've ever felt like doing it... but like I said, I will buy the game once it's out no matter what, so what do you guys think?

[Patrol17 10]

I have a question. Kinda silly but, here it goes... I'm buying this game (already pre-ordered it). Since I'm definitely buying it, does it make it ok to torrent the German version so I can play while waiting for the game to be released in my region? I have not torrented any game before, and this is the only time I've ever felt like doing it... but like I said, I will buy the game once it's out no matter what, so what do you guys think?

Juridically it's not OK, at least not here in Sweden (don't know about Hong Kong). My advice for you is to hold out two more weeks and get the full experience with the copy you bought.

[Delta84 0]

I have a question. Kinda silly but, here it goes... I'm buying this game (already pre-ordered it). Since I'm definitely buying it, does it make it ok to torrent the German version so I can play while waiting for the game to be released in my region? I have not torrented any game before, and this is the only time I've ever felt like doing it... but like I said, I will buy the game once it's out no matter what, so what do you guys think?

You're for real aren't you? What are you expecting? You expect a dev take a plane so he can slap you on the wrist?

[hoak 0]

Sheesh, this is a thread for people in North America that want to BUY the game...

:(

[Amuro 10]

You're for real aren't you? What are you expecting? You expect a dev take a plane so he can slap you on the wrist?

Yes, I was. But seeing there's a FADE protection system in place, I'd be better off just wait for a few more weeks and enjoy the real experience.

Thanks for the replies guys anyway. For a minute there, I was really tempted to do it.

[TCEd 0]

News was confirmed by BIS that a demo of the game would be released before the UK deadline (19th) so hold on before you go & do something like that. Not only with the torrent have FADE, but it may mess up the one you've bought once it downloads and finds info in your registry.

Best thing is play some other games to get your mind off it & just wait for the demo to release.

[ilovebeer 0]

Sheesh, this is a thread for people in North America that want to BUY the game...

:(

I always buy my games, i will probably buy ArmA II a couple times for me and some friends to play just because i think BIS is the best devs out there and they deserve every cent. Support BIS.

[ilovebeer 0]

News was confirmed by BIS that a demo of the game would be released before the UK deadline (19th) so hold on before you go & do something like that. Not only with the torrent have FADE, but it may mess up the one you've bought once it downloads and finds info in your registry.

Best thing is play some other games to get your mind off it & just wait for the demo to release.

Where did you find the this information at?