Project Reality

Project Reality (abbreviated to PR) is a series of tactical first-person shooter video games which aim to create a realistic combat environment and place great emphasis on teamwork and cooperation, taking place in both fictional and historic contemporary military conflicts. Project Reality includes two modifications for the computer game Battlefield 2 on the PC, a modification for the computer game ARMA 2, and an unreleased standalone sequel Project Reality 2 built on the CryEngine 3, still in production.

Project Reality: ARMA 2

Project Reality: ARMA 2
Developer(s)	The Project Reality Team
Publisher(s)	The Project Reality Team
Series	ARMA
Engine	Real Virtuality 3
Platform(s)	Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8
Release date(s)	Windows WW September 2, 2011 (2011-09-02)
Genre(s)	Tactical first-person shooter
Mode(s)	Multiplayer
Distribution	Digital distribution

Project Reality: ARMA 2 exists as a standalone modification requiring both ARMA 2 and ARMA 2: Operation Arrowhead.^[1] It remains self-contained, self developing and does not rely on or use externally held add-ons from other sources where at all possible. What that means to the player is that it is a 'one stop shop' as an installation package, with no requirement for additional multiple add on packs.

Project Reality: ARMA 2 v0.1 BETA was released on September 2 which was shortly followed by the release of Project Reality: ARMA 2 v0.15 beta on March 16, 2012. A year later on March 1, 2013 0.16 version was released including two new terrains (maps). With the release came the news of a cease in development with the ARMA2 mod and a movements of efforts towards ARMA 3.^[2]

Project Reality: BF2

Project Reality: BF2
Developer(s)	The Project Reality Team and Black Sand Studios
Publisher(s)	The Project Reality Team and Black Sand Studios
Series	Battlefield
Engine	Refractor 2
Platform(s)	Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8
Release date(s)	PR Mini-Mod WW August 7, 2005 (2005-08-07)[3]
Genre(s)	Tactical first-person shooter
Mode(s)	Single-player, multiplayer
Distribution	Digital distribution

Gameplay

Project Reality features five game modes. Two of the game modes involve capturing and holding control points, similar to the Conquest mode of Battlefield 2, although control points must be captured in a certain order, for a battle. Vehicle Warfare mode differs by putting full emphasis on heavy vehicles, and restricting access to infantry kits. The Command and Control mode removes all control points, instead focusing combat around player built fortifications. The Insurgency mode, intended to simulate asymmetrical warfare, involves a conventional forces team searching for and destroying illegal weapon caches while the other team, the insurgents, try to defend them. The mod also features a co-op mode, where human players may play alongside or against computer controlled players. Co-op can also serve as a single-player mode (with bots standing in for teammates).

In contrast the original system of Battlefield 2, players may not spawn at their squad leader when they die, but must instead spawn at permanent spawn points such as main bases, or at temporary rally points created by the squad leader. Players may also spawn at Forward Operating Bases which can be constructed if supply crates are delivered to the desired location. When constructed, other fixed defences such as stationary machine guns and various defensive constructs such as barbed wire or foxholes can be placed afterwards.

The Insurgency game mode diverts slightly from these rules, limiting the insurgent side to spawn on their weapons caches which they must defend, lest they lose the ability to spawn. The opposing team can find out the location of these caches by catching informants for the insurgents, after which an enemy cache will be marked on the conventional forces' map, indicating its position. However, insurgents can still deploy and construct destructible "hideouts" to spawn at, which act in a similar way to the Forward Operating Bases in conventional game modes.

Kits

Before spawning, the player must choose their equipment by selecting a "class". The player may select various types including Medic, Automatic Rifleman, and Squad Leader. More specialized kits are available at Forward Operating Bases or supply crates, allowing access to sniper rifles, anti-tank equipment, but also kits allowing the player to access vehicles that would otherwise be inaccessible to them such as aircraft or tanks.

Project Reality: BF2 Vietnam

Project Reality: BF2 Vietnam is a joint co-operative effort between the mod teams of Project Reality: BF2 and Eve of Destruction. On April 1, 2012, it was announced that the first Project Reality: BF2 Vietnam Beta would be released April 6, 2012. It contains four maps (including one based on the Battle of Ia Drang) and features the North Vietnamese Army, US Army and US Marine Corps as playable factions.^[4]

Successors

In early 2009 it was revealed through the official Project Reality forums that a standalone successor Project Reality 2 is in pre-production. A license for the C4 Engine has been purchased as of 2010.

An entry for a game called "Project Reality 2 - The Beaten Zone" has been posted to the official Crytek developers community crytek.net, stating that the game would be using the CryEngine 3.^[5] Project Reality staff have dismissed the supposed engine change as rumor, and did not acknowledge any connection to the crydev.net posting.^[6]

However, new announcements from the Dev Team, made sure that PR2 will be in fact using the CryEngine 3, since most of the people involved in the development of the game on the C4 Engine thought it wasn't so good to work with, and they have chosen the CryEngine 3 as their new engine to work on. There is no set release date for the game.^[7]

October 10. 2015 a team consisting of current and former Project Reality:BF2 developers announced a new commercial game based on the Project Reality gameplay formula.^[8] The new game is named Squad and is built on Unreal Engine 4. The game, as of April 2015, is still in a closed development stage.

Reception

Critical Response

Major game review websites, IGN and GameSpy have both reviewed Project Reality. IGN review states "why all BF2 players should download this mod."^[9] while GameSpy says that "the mother of all realism mods [has] arrive[d] for BF2".^[10] PC Zone Magazine also reviewed Project Reality, saying that "not only does it make the virtual warfare harsher, Project Reality also adds fantastic new maps, vehicles and weapons to the fray".

Awards

Project Reality: BF2 has been recognized on multiple occasions, including:

• Addition to Mod DB's Mod Hall of Fame in December 2010, alongside other well known modifications such as Garry's Mod, Counter-Strike and Team Fortress.^[11]
• Mod DB's Mod of the Year and Editor's Choice of Best Multiplayer Mod in 2008.^[12][13]
• Second place in Mod DB's Mod of the Year awards in 2006 and 2007.^[14][15]
• "Best FPS Mod" in GameFlood's $25,000 Mod & Map Contest.^[16]
• Total Gaming Network's award for "Best Modification" in 2007.^[17]

Project Reality: Arma 2 won Mod DB's Players Choice of Best Upcoming Mod of the Year Award.^[18]

See also

• ARMA 2
• Battlefield 2

References

External links

• Official website
• Project Reality: ARMA 2 at Mod DB
• Project Reality: Battlefield 2 at Mod DB