zoog

I didn't find a dedicated thread for user videos, so here it is! :) Yesterday I recorded the whale sighting mission from the career. Not a "fancy" promotion video, I simply recorded the mission and put some video material together to give an idea about the mission and share how other players fly. I don't think there are any spoilers in the video, story wise. Only spoiler I can think of is a new (small) objective you get during the mission, but really, it's no issue. Flying in Expert mode (gauges manually enabled), no auto-trim or auto-hover etc. Video is in full HD (read: use watch on youtube option) and has some lounge music ;) BuUOncCbQMA

Added to the confusion is that a combination of different installations have a second combined name as well :s Worst move ever :D Arma 2, Arma 2: Operation Arrowhead, Arma 2: Combined Operations, British Armed Force, Private Military Company, Arma 2: Reinforcements, Army of Czech Republic....

Same here. I'm actually rather excited. If they can pull it off we might just have a nice blend between tactics, strategy and close combat fighting with realistic wounding/movement etc. I really do hope so.

Two videos from Operation Missing Metal (if you still want to play the mission this might be considered spoilers!). Overall mission video l0KKs82-WbE Two most intense firefights during the mission from a different perspective (16 minutes, lots of action!) IfRLoeImzR8

Strange, a few hours ago the Arma Tactics page said something along the lines of "Potential future platforms: PC, MAC and LINUX (Q3 2013)". Something along those lines, I believe there were even more platforms mentioned. Too bad I didn't make a screenshot :( Maybe a typo, error or whatever? EDIT: nevermind, they moved that info somewhere else:

Played Operation MISSING METAL yesterday, totally awesome! Will post the video once I'm finished editing. Every single mission you've released is just spot on! :) Hope the there are more missions in store for the future. Thanks for your hard work :)

PvP has nothing to do with COD or any other arcade game. Why do people keep putting COD in the equation. Do you realize there is also a crowd of gamers who played games like Ghost Recon, Rainbow Six, SWAT, SOCOM in adversarial modes. Arma is a perfect platform to use for non-coop gaming as well. Adversarial gaming does not equals arcade style COD gaming. It's all about the platform that is used, the underlying mechanics and gameplay. Arma is a realistic military/combined arms shooter and is perfectly suitable for tactical and realistic adversarial gaming, without degrading to kill streaks, frag fests or whatever people are scared of.

Yes, stuff like this can be a nice addition to what Arma already has to offer. In fact a few months back we did a PvP test on Podagorsk with an area roughly 250 x 250 meters with barbed wire around it and with buildings, trains and other stuff inside. Was already lots of fun to do this in Arma. Imagine if you add specific objectives, make the area slightly bigger (because focus is around objective but gives you room to maneuver) and you can create very fun and tactical rounds with a small group of people.

Planning to play one or two next week. Loved some of your other missions. I'll expect these to be a bit more simple compared to Peren's Waltz and Cartwheel etc., because they are sort of a training/introduction? Do you have any plans to release the campaign you're talking about to the public? If not, I'm still interested if there is any way to get my hands on the campaign you've made. Like I said, I like your type of missions, and my buddies at Tangodown as well, we all still have good memories of the previous sessions we did playing some of your missions :)

Hi all, we're looking at the possibility to start renting a dedicated server for our Arma needs. Currently we have a relatively simple VPS server which is used for TS server and one Arma 2 server (1core, 2gb memory). We have another VPS server which is also running an Arma 2 server. We're currently looking at this machine, but I have no clue how much such a machine could handle (running Windows OS)? Intel® Core™ i7-2600 Quad-Core 16 GB DDR3 RAM 2 x 3 TB SATA 6 Gb/s HDD 7200 rpm (Software-RAID 1) NIC 1 Gbit OnBoard connected at 100 Mbit Ideally it would either support 2 Arma2 servers (like one with mods, one with less mods but not always used simultaneously) or 1 big Arma 2 server (for example to be used for joint co-ops with 40 ~ 50 people). On top of that we would like to run our TS server (~50+ slots) and maybe a Raven Shield server or something similar now and again (running only one specific night a week for example). Of course once Arma 3 gets released we will use it for that. Are the server specs reasonable for what we want, or do we need to look at bigger machines? Any help appreciated :)

oh yes looking good so far :) Maybe it just needs to get some getting used to, but I'm not sure if I like how the programs interface is dynamic depending on what you click on the left hand side (select game, select mods, select server). This makes it a bit disorganized if you know what I mean. Suddenly expanding the interface depending on where you click. Maybe it's more intuitive if you have the tabs like "games" "servers" all together in the top right? Instead of only the tab once you've selected that particular part with the big buttons to the left? I don't know. Interfaces are very hard to design, especially intuitive ones. Need to toy with it some more. All in all GREAT STEPS FORWARD! We need this stuff.

I think you're mistaken the video you've seen, because Ground Branch hasn't shown any MP footage.. They have some MP replication issue which means that a lot of stuff is not replicated (certain gear, I believe some things with animations etc). So they currently are unable to show anything with multiple actors in it. There are however screenshots which have multiple characters, which you do by positioning them in the editor etc.

They found a programmer to get the bare basics done (basics of the true first person system, basic of the reloading/inventory system, etc. This all had to be build from the ground up with lots of stuff under the hood). Finding an experienced programmer who basically must work for free for a few years? I don't think that's very easy to find actually :) If Kickstarter succeeds, as you can read on the Kickstarter page, they will hire this programmers team: Still the logic of the argument that they should have more to show, I simply cannot understand. I've never seen any other kickstarter project who already had so much working footage. Most Kickstarter projects are just concept art or walls of text without any tanglible stuff. It seems you either just don't like Kickstarter or are expecting to place a pre-order for a game that is basically finished already (or you just have some kind of grudge against BlackFoot Studios). That's really not what Kickstarter is about. Kickstarter is about supporting ideas and supporting change. It's about what their ideas represent. If you believe in their ideas, their vision, what BFS wants to do in the gaming industry you could support them, regardless of how far along their game currently is. If you don't like their ideas, their vision or philosophy you don't support them, simple as that. But not supporting them because you think they haven't progressed enough or aren't showing enough..... I'm really at a loss for words if that's the case, and it seems that you're completely missing the point of Kickstarter in general. On top of that you really seem to be looking at the past and telling what they should have done instead of looking at the future and see the possibilities. I'm really not trying to attack you, I hope it does not come across like that! I you want me to I'll let it rest. I just think we have a very different view of what Kickstarter is about and what kind of perspectives you can take.

But you do see how there is a fundamental difference between what Takedown is doing and what Ground Branch is doing, right? One is about funding the development of an alpha demo while the other is about funding the development of retail (MP) game. The biggest difference lies in the "What will the money be used for?" section. Serellan can promise anything, but as long as he doesn't have any investors Takedown won't see the light of day, that's a simple fact. Ground Branch uses the money to build their alpha version into a full retail MP game. The expansion of the game (possible SP etc.) will come down to amount of retail sales, sure, that uncertain as well. But at least you're funding the actual development of the game to get it ready for retail release. But I don't want to make this about Takedown vs Ground Branch. But people really have to realize there is a fundamental difference between the two campaigns and what you are paying for.

Yes, that's a problem. Takedown really hit a spot at the right moment. Again: there is absolutely no guarantee that Takedown will become a reality. People funded the startup of a studio and the development of an INVESTOR DEMO to get investors interested in the future. Considering they promised to make a PC and console version we're talking about millions and millions of dollars. If Serellan doesn't find investors (just as BFS has tried a few years ago without succes) all those pledgers won't get anything. So it's still a very big question mark if Takedown will ever be made. But most people don't seem to care somehow or don't realize what they paid for when backing Takedown (for the record: I backed them as well). People seriously think Serellan will develop a new game from scratch with SP and coop AND PS3 and XBOX versions for the $200,000 which he asked on Kickstarter? That amount probably barely covers the costs to buy enough development consoles :rolleyes: From Kickstarter: With Alpha he means one demo level which showcases features and show SP/coop elements (explained in one of his Q&A videos). That's what people paid for by pledging for Takedown Kickstarter. Nothing more. And remarks around the internet like "Takedown did it for $225,000 less than Ground Branch". This is just inaccurate. You're funding completly different things, an alpha investor demo (Takedown) vs full MP & (basic) coop retail game (Ground Branch). Don't get me wrong, I really hope Takedown succeeds. It's just that people keep comparing these two Kickstarter campaigns, while they are fundamentally different in what you are actually funding.

Funding SP via Kickstarter would run into millions of dollars for development costs. They are forced to go the MP + basic COOP > full coop + SP route because MP is cheapest to make so the goal of Kickstarter will not be too high. They want to do SP, but financially it's not possible atm. I believe they want to do it from revenue generated by retail sales of the MP portion of Ground Branch. Maybe people think it's a long shot, but this is the closest you've been from a true sequel to GR and R6 with SP capabilities. Once the franchise is on it's feet you certainly can expect an SP portion for Ground Branch. So if you really want to have this type of game, even only SP, I think you should try and support Ground Branch if you can. You will have a very good chance to end up with great SP eventually.

Sure, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. But I just think it's sad that a developer like BFS, with such a passion for the genre and community, is just kicked down by so many people (seeing that the backer numbers are still around 1300). :( The last years they gave everything for this genre, poured their heart, soul, free time and personal money into this, only to be slapped in the face by the general tac shooter community. The logic of this is beyond me. Like we have so many developers to pick from :confused: On a side note, while Ground Branch was becoming as some people claim "vaporware", they simply worked on different projects as contracters on games like Red Orchestra 2 and US Government projects to generate some income. Maybe BFS should have been open at the times when there was no work done at all. Sometimes as long as a year passed by while they couldn't work on Ground Branch at all (IIRC from the previous longer version of the KS project page). That's just putting your project on the shelf because of financial realities. That has IMO nothing to do with incompetence or being a "vaporware" developer. So there has been this long time with almost no money (slow or no development) and now when there is the moment to actually get proper financial backing (fast serious development) people hold their history of not having enough money against them, expecting that when they actually have money to properly do something they will still be slow as before. While the reason that they were slow was lack of money in the first place! :confused:

Absolutely agree with you SiC. Arma never filled the gap that was left by R6 and Ghost Recon. Arma 3 won't fill that gap either. So true. We are all tactical gamers. Help each other out when there is a developer who wants to do things right for us. How many people buy DLC's for Arma 2, not because they want the DLC content, but because they want to support BIS. Sure, BFS still has to make their game, but they have the right mindset and attitude, and also interact with their community without any bullshit PR and also respect modding as the life blood of PC gaming. It doesn't happen very ofter to have this type of developer in the tactical shooter genre!! Even if it's not 100% your game, there are still reasons enough to pledge at least $15 to show your support IMHO. BTW: Jonathan Conley (producer) and John Sonedecker (founder of BFS) are going to be doing a AskMeAnything on reddit Sunday 06/24/2012 at 4pm EST.

Love it! Great attention to detail. I knew from some remarks of John that they were trying to get all details, but this surpassed my expectations actually.

Yes, no worries, thanks for explaining your view. Yes, the kickstarter is about fully funding the rest of development of the MP portion. Because they already put their life on hold for the past few years while trying to self fund though. Tens of thousands of dollars from savings accounts and income from contract work has been put into the development to get the fundamentals done and some basic stuff visually. What John always has said is that he would not low ball the goal just in the hope to reach stretch goal which would actually be needed to complete development. This is what they need to deliver what they say, anything less and they would not make it and everybody would be scammed. But I understand your point, 425,000 is a lot, not in game development in general, but for a Kickstarter, yes. Again thanks for sharing, it's good to get insights into why people feel it's not worth it or why they are not interested to pledge. Still I don't see why anyone doesn't want to pledge $15 just to show support, if they don't make the goal you won't get charged any way. If they make the goal, you'll get a new tac shooter to play with. At least they are trying stuff in the right direction instead of most other shooters out there. But that's just my opinion :)

As a last resort you might want to check out the Kickstarter project page. If you like their approach, vision or idea that would, to me, be reason enough to make a pledge, even if it's just a $15 pledge. No risk involved. But only if you believe in non-mainstream tactical gaming (and I assume you do when you play arma). Like Jonathan Conley said about Kickstarter: "One thing to keep in mind about Kickstarter is: you're paying for an idea [...] If you ever want this genre to exist again, even if GB doesn't meet every single one of your expectations (yet!), you are investing in the philosophy and the minds behind the product. Kickstarter is a platform for supporting change and innovation." And "this genre" is not tactical shooters in general, but specifically what GB tries to do. Small scale detailed infantry with open & CQB battles. But on the other hand, $15 for another tac shooter which focuses on the smaller scale and CQB kind of field is not so much considering what you will get for it. Going to the theaters is even more expensive than 15 bucks and it's the same as the Czech DLC price. I'll get Arma 3 as well, but when there is another developer who want to go against mainstream and doesn't want to dumb down their games, I fully support that. Even if it's just out of principal. We can all nitpick about some details, but the truth is this is one of a few developers who wants games like this to be made AND also interacts with their community AND also supports modding all the way. They have many similarities with BIS, but in a different area within the tac shooter genre.

Yeah, they really want to do Singleplayer, but it's so expensive it was not feasible for Kickstarter funding. They want to do it later down the line, from retail release revenue etc. There will however be an editor, like in, it's build on UE3 and there is full mod support and tools after release. People are already making maps using the UDK software from UE3 engine for Ground Branch actually. From what I understand, game modes etc. are actually tied to maps, that's how the UE3 system works, so you can have multiple game modes tied to one map and then release the map. I don't know how scripting works in UE3 and if you can build whole new game modes like in Arma with scripts. But they have full mod support, so mods should be at least able to do this.

Arma is in a completely different league. Ground Branch maps will be around 400 ~ 800 meters, for infantry only (I think they have some game modes with AI controlled vehicles for insertion etc), and it's aimed way more at CQB instead of large scale combined ops. On top of that the first release will be Multiplayer (and some basic coop), so initially it will be really focused on PvP with randomized objectives, spawns etc. for dynamic rounds. Maybe this gives a better idea about the scope of Ground Branch:

And don't forget: it will be available on Mac OS as well. Really like the new kickstarter update, much better info, some extra stuff as well. All in all better presentation and worth a look.

New promotional video for the KS campaign. Is this also considered advertising? If so, I'll pull it down (if a mod doesn't do it). Don't want this thread to get locked :(