Joint Operations: Typhoon Rising

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Joint Operations: Typhoon Rising
Developer(s) NovaLogic
Publisher(s) NovaLogic
Platform(s) PC
Release date June 15, 2004
Genre(s) FPS
Mode(s) MMO
Rating(s) ESRB: Teen (T)
Media CD
Novaworld (server listing system)
System requirements Pentium III 1.2 GHz equivalent, DirectX 9.0 AGP (2X) video card with 32MB & HW-T&L required, 1.5 GB hard drive space, 16x CD-ROM, 256 MB RAM
Input methods Keyboard, mouse, joystick

Joint Operations: Typhoon Rising is a first-person shooter computer game from Novalogic that focuses almost entirely on its expansive online multiplayer mode. Set in the near future during a war between "Joint Operations" forces, which consist of elite special operations soldiers from the US, UK, Germany, France, Russia, Australia and Indonesia who fight against the Free Aceh Movement-like separatist "Rebels" on the islands of Indonesia.

Contents

[edit] Features

One of the unique features of this game is the large multiplayer online servers, which can be classified as an example of an MMOFPS. Novaworld's servers can hold up to 150 players, which exceeds the typical 64-player servers common in games such as Battlefield 1942. Use of the Novaworld servers is free, and only requires purchase of the game itself, after which the player registers their CD-key on the official site to create an account which is used to log in to access the server list. Players are able to create their own games, hosting either a LAN or WAN server, with a player limit of up to 64 people. There is also an option to rent large-scale servers to overcome the 64-player limit.

Similar to Battlefield Vietnam in the game's look, setting, and feel, players choose a character and class (Rifleman, Gunner, Sniper, Engineer or Medic), log on, find a server and help their teammates fight against the opposing team in four game types:

  • Advance and Secure - both teams try to capture and hold all the bases on the maps before time runs out
  • Team Deathmatch - a kill limit is imposed, and both teams try to reach that goal before the clock runs out
  • Coop - all players are on the Joint Operations side and fight against the rebel AI team
  • Team King of the Hill - the teams try to occupy a small zone on the map for ten minutes to win

There is also a huge selection of vehicles to choose to operate, from 4x4 Jeeps and armored troop carriers (BTRs) to military patrol boats, transport helicopters, and attack helicopters. Players also experience the cycle of the day and night, resulting in a continuous flow of time with the rise and fall of the sun, limited only to the time limit set by the server. The shadows change accordingly as the day progresses and night vision becomes almost essential when fighting at night. Typically the real time equivalent to a 24 hour cycle in the game is about 3 hours. With over 30 maps, some are so huge that they cover over 64 km2 and have visibilities up to 1 km. [1].

[edit] Factions

[edit] Joint Ops Task Force

The Joint Ops Task Force is an international assistance force that is under the command of the fictional "Coalition of Nations", which was formed somewhere before 1999. The Task Force was previously employed in peacekeeping operations in East Timor. After requests from the Indonesian government, the Task Force was sent to the country as part of Operation "Typhoon Rising", to stop the rebellion and re-establish government control over rebel-controlled territories.

The Task Force includes:

[edit] Indonesian Separatist Movement

A rebel separatist movement that grew out of the 1998 Indonesian Revolution which saw the downfall of Indonesian President Suharto. The rebels fight for varied reasons in their desire to attain independence of certain provinces, as well as to protect their people against the government. The instruction manual for the game states that the Rebels feel that they been the victims of unfair and inhumane treatment at the hands of the Indonesian military and government. Joint Operations forces were sent to Indonesia to combat the rebel threat after three bombs were detonated by the Rebels, with one destroying part of a school, one destroying a government building in Jakarta, and one that nearly killed the Indonesian president. Recently, factions of the military started to join the movement resulting in the rebels taking control of several military bases and capturing large numbers of weapons and vehicles. Only a few choices of characters exist for this side in the game; you can choose to be Rebel Milita, Ex-military, Mercenaries, and newly added with the latest patch, a Rebel Pilot.

[edit] Game Expansions

Typhoon Rising has an officially released expansion pack called Joint Operations: Escalation. The game has several maps including urban and island hopping maps, and concentrates on an escalation of the conflict in Indonesia to the rest of Southeast Asia. Additional freeware expansions have been released by the community such as the International Conflict Modification or IC Mod. The latest freeware is JO: Advanced Warfare, that was released 29 October 2007. It features new weapons, AI, terrains and vehicles (including airplanes, which are not present in the original game).

[edit] Mapmaking

Screenshot from the game with players in full action.
Screenshot from the game with players in full action.

Typhoon Rising requires Novalogic's mapmaking tool for Joint Operations, called NILE editor. The Delta Force: Black Hawk Down or Delta Force Xtreme MED editor may also be used to make maps for Joint Operations: Typhoon rising. NILE editor is free for download at Novalogic's site.

[edit] Multiplayer Conduct

While the multiplayer environment of the game is generally receptive and respectful, it has also seen its fair share of misconduct.

Again, Novalogic's moderators can examine reports of poor behavior through the report function on the website and act accordingly, either by suspending accounts or banning characters. One such incident took place in the summer of 2006 when a squad called TkO took a player's name and demanded payment via PayPal for it. Novalogic was notified, and the name was deleted from TkO's account and returned to its owner.

Other incidents have happened, but the Novalogic team, when notified, is usually very quick and effective at taking care of problems concerning players' conduct other than cheating.

[edit] Links

[edit] Contact Information

  • Tech Support: (818)-878-0325 Though this number is listed, no one picks up (fact as of 05/14/2008)
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Joint Operations video games
Typhoon Rising · Escalation