ArmA: Armed Assault
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| ArmA: Armed Assault | |
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| Developer(s) | Bohemia Interactive Studio |
| Publisher(s) | 505 Games Atari |
| Distributor(s) | Bohemia Interactive Studio and several local publishers. |
| Engine | Real Virtuality 5089 - 5256 |
| Version | 1.14 (May 21, 2008)[1] |
| Platform(s) | Windows |
| Release date | CZ November 10, 2006 UK February 16, 2007 EU February 23, 2007 AU March 8, 2007 NA May 4, 2007 |
| Genre(s) | Tactical Shooter |
| Mode(s) | Single player, multiplayer |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: M PEGI: 16+ |
| Media | PC DVD-ROM |
| System requirements | Minimum Specification:
Recommended Specification:
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| Input methods | Keyboard, Mouse, TrackIR if desired |
ArmA: Armed Assault (known as ArmA: Combat Operations in North America) is a tactical military first- and third-person shooter which was developed by a 40 member team at Bohemia Interactive (BI), an independent game developer based in the Czech Republic.
ArmA is the successor to Operation Flashpoint: Cold War Crisis, featuring a completely overhauled game engine, with enhanced graphics, physics, Multiplayer functionality, scripting capabilities, as well as a wide variety of new units and vehicles.
Because of legal issues between BI and Codemasters (the original publishers of Operation Flashpoint), Codemasters owns the intellectual property to the name Operation Flashpoint. Since BI severed its connection with Codemasters and no longer has the legal right to use the Operation Flashpoint name, Armed Assault is considered to be the direct descendent of Operation Flashpoint. There is another game currently under development called ArmA 2 (previously referred to as "Game 2") due for release in 2008. Codemasters plans to release a rival title to BI using the name Operation Flashpoint 2: Dragon Rising with which BI has no participation.[2][3]
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[edit] Storyline
Armed Assault aims to replicate the realism of combat in a highly intense, brand new campaign, all of which takes place on islands that may measure up to 400 square kilometers (about 250 sq miles): four times larger than the islands of Everon and Malden featured in Operation Flashpoint.
The campaign in Armed Assault takes place on the fictional Atlantic island of Sahrani, a nation which is divided into a northern communist regime (called Democratic Republic of Sahrani - DRS) and an oil rich southern democracy called Kingdom of South Sahrani. The narrative begins with US forces, after a few months of training in the south, leaving. The northern leader uses this moment of weakness to attack the rest of the island. The player takes on the role of one soldier in one of the platoons not rotated off the island before the conflict began. The platoons aids the Royal Army Corps of Sahrani (RACS) in fending off the larger and more powerful neighbour’s offensive being spearheaded by the Sahrani Liberation Army (SLA, referred to as "slags" as slang by soldiers in the game).
The campaign follows a linear storyline. However, each level in the campaign will have a multitude of options for the player on how to progress through the mission. The player’s in-game performance and choices determine how the storyline progresses and ultimately will have a bearing on the war itself. For example, a mission to seize a crucial town can have a substantial effect on the story depending on the player's level of success or failure. Failure to successfully complete an objective does not result in the game ending but merely becomes another thread in the tapestry. Hostile squads act independently of the player's actions so that they may be engaging in an activity dictated by the game AI that does not necessarily involve the player. This implies that the game has high replay value as no two games will be identical.
Online Game Queen's Gambit was introduced in September 2007 as a followup to the original storyline and added a second event afterward.
The content of the original OFP game is currently being converted to ArmA format and standards, and will be released, at a yet unspecified date, as a free addon, titled "Cold War Rearmed". This addon will contain the original islands, models as well as the campaign and missions.
[edit] A military simulation
The game developers are known for their dedication to realistically simulating the combat environment as closely as possible. So, apart from realistic weapons, vehicle models and terrain, weapons’ ballistics, recoil, reloading, sighting and damage as well as character and vehicle movement and speed are represented in game. Birds and insects, for example, are AI controlled and react to the player's character, while terrain and static objects such as trees and buildings are destructible in the game environment. Fallen trees, for example, can be used as cover by infantry while armoured vehicles are able to plow a path through forests. Helicopters have realistic handling and avionic responses requiring time to master while the actual campaign itself features real-time action, but not necessarily constant action. Military tactics reflect real world scenarios where patience, flanking and hard cover need to be used. However, for gameplay reasons, jumping is not available to the player. The ability to swim has been introduced.
The high level of difficulty places restrictions on the number of times the player may save their progress. A completed mission saves the player's progress and the player may save once during a mission. In lower difficulty settings there is the option of saving more frequently. Also, in-game options such as displaying a HUD or weapon crosshairs can be changed. The game also features support for peripherals such as TrackIR.
Armed Assault also includes an integrated editor that allows the user to create custom missions.
[edit] Multiplayer
The multiplayer aspect of the game features a new "Join in Progress" option, so that players can jump straight into the action. The number of people allowed in a multiplayer game is limited only by the server's capability. NPCs are also available in multiplayer missions, both as allies and foes, while the dynamic mission editor allows users to script complex battle scenarios. A cooperative mode of gameplay is also included, allowing players online to complete the single player missions as a human player squad. The Armed Assault community also promises to provide the game with custom content such as new missions, campaigns, factions and weapons.
Multiplayer in ArmA has been boosted by the creation of the Evolution mission and its variations; which requires the players to clear 11 different cities. Evolution's game mode emphasizes teamwork through coordination of all players, and features a ranking system, allowing advancement and access to better weapons, vehicles and support, coupled with the ability to recruit AI soldiers for oneself.
Another game mode in Armed Assault, comonly known as Sahrani Life, has also made a big hit. Sahrani Life is an RPG-Mission, meaning that there are no objectives and you can play it as long as you want to. Each player should act his own way, as long as it corresponds to the rules. Those rules are defined by the cops.
Civilist: As a Civilist (Civ) you have to obey the rules, which have been made by the cops. You can break these, but then you have to expect to get punished. This can lead from fines to terms of imprisonment and in the extreme case to death So you should obey those rules and behave cooperatively.
Police: As a policeman (Cop) you must ensure that all players adhere to the rules set up by you and are punished accordingly with offence. But consider one: Force of arms should be considered only as last solution and be warned in each case. An exception consists to defending, then you may shoot back without warning. Just use the stungun in emergency situations, its a "non deadly" gun, but it can also cause death or bad injuries
New multiplayer mode that blends FPS and RTS elements was released as ArmA Warfare in the official update 1.14. In ArmA Warfare, it blends tactical, team-based multiplayer missions with deep realtime strategy. Two sides fight for control of the entire 400 sq km map in titanic battles over air land and sea. Players must capture whole cities to gain resources that can be channelled into manufacturing even more weapons and units.
