ArmA III

freaken awesome graphics!

Het jy dit perd? Die game is defnitief vir jou. Baie strategie betrokke...

nog nie, maar oorweeg dit sterk.

Hello Peoples of Grrr,

You may have been wondering where I have been for the past couple months, well this should explain everything. I have flirted with editing in Arma before and this time went full retard. I've been working on a new mission type based on the Cooperative (against AI) mission called Invade and Annex. Some of you have played this before I know, but for others it's basically a popular dynamic mission generator with rewards for completing missions etc.

I've been working on modding that to run as an asymmetrical PVP mission, with a small component of AI to serve as resistance so both teams have a chance to contest an objective and earn it's reward. Now I must warn you, it's still an early build but it has a lot of potential. I am as of now officially working with the creators of Invade and Annex for development support and the AfriGamer (Afrihost) guys to host it in SA. If there's nothing gamebreaking, I'll release it publicly in a month or so as V1.

The mission involves two factions: NATO (blufor) and CSAT (opfor). Both are playable and compete for objectives and their rewards. The objectives are guarded by a small component of AI (in the "story" they are AAF - Altis Armed Forces). It involves the full war machine - jets, tanks, helicopters you name it. It's based on a conquest style completion criteria (hold capture points) and provides lesser rewards for side missions (easier to complete).

I know a lot of you have given up on ARMA, but I would like to start the hype machine around this. A lot of the issues normally associated are fixed: class restrictions, the AI are not laser deathmachines, it runs at a solid 60fps, thermal sights have been removed, mobile respawn options, vehicle lifting, reviving etc even fast roping. The mission makes provision for ~40 players, but I would like to do a small closed testing run with you guys - if I could get 10 people (5v5) I would be stoked.

Anyway, that's my update. I will have a beta mission ready in about 2 weeks, so prepare yourselfs! Let me know if you're keen to participate and I'll try to arrange a decent date/time for everyone. I expect around a 1hr play session would be plenty - with about 15min feedback at the end. I'll hand hold throughout the mission, so don't worry about not being used to it. If you absolutely must see it before agreeing to test, that can be arranged.

Think BF conquest in Arma! Or if you're an Arma vet, Domination. I will host it on my PC as dedicated, but please understand I don't have the upstream to give you perfect performance - if someone with a beast line would like to do that, be my guest. You may be asking "you're not a developer" or how the hell did I manage to do this, well a lot of time and effort with support from real deal developers for the trickier aspects. It has a long road still to go, but its exciting times (at least for me).

There will be bugs, but that's what testing is for. Here are some quick and dirty screen dumps from the alpha build for the illiterate. Don't mind the extra markers on the map (notes that will be removed). It doesn't require mods to download, but it does support a few if you want the tactical edge. There is no ranking up system, so all the weapons are available. There is also no ticket win condition system or anything like that - it's just a perpetual for the hell of it shoot em up.

https://flic.kr/p/nbmAM6 - Map
https://flic.kr/p/nbmzGv - NATO base
https://flic.kr/p/nbmCya - CSAT base
https://flic.kr/p/nsU22A - NATO base from the air
https://flic.kr/p/nbn9Ee - CSAT base from the air
https://flic.kr/p/nszK3W - a selfie with the cheap and cheerful AAF at the main objective

Join in and help, don't, whatever. Any testing/fixing I can't get done in this session I'll have to do on the live version. Oh I forgot to mention. The AI have jets, attack helicopters, tanks, divers all the rest - they patrol and they occupy buildings (that took a lot of work). There is a main objective, a side objective, an urban objective and a scuba objective. Once completed, they give a tiered vehicle reward based on the objective and then randomly regenerate somewhere else on the map.

How much is Arma now? And what did you just write? Would like to get involved but am lost... lol.

Arma is $60USD on Steam. It was cheaper during Alpha. Don't worry dude I don't expect the grrr's will play it anyway. Only a few guys have it and even less play regularly.

Although I'm not that fast on the draw when it comes to Arma III I haz it and I'm willing to assist in some test run games for sure would be epic to have more than 4 grrr members killing each other.

Get involved folks! haha

60$! eina. lol I'll keep an eye out 4 specials, but sounds very interesting.

Great stuff Steph. Checked you smashing the time into this and from the looks its paid off proper.

My Arma3 friendslist in steam is chokka. Will maybe be able to get more guys to assist. Also, maybe I can help with hosting on my 20mbsp VDSL line.

@Irish, bro, yeah wait for a special. Its a game that was dirt cheap @ Alpha release ($15) and has just gotten better and better. Don't stress tho, I can like to always look for specials and we'll post a reminder. Hopefully people get it though ;)

Good day fellow people of the Grrr,

Long time no speak. Anyways, Arma 3 is on special for about $36 on Steam and it is free to play for the weekend if you wanna try before you buy. Think I'm gonna buy it and give it a go. Especially the modded side of it :D

Just to add to this, that the entire Bohemia Collection (ArmA games etc) are on special this weekend on Steam. Highlights below.

ArmA 1: Cold War Assault - FREE FOR LIMITED TIME - SIMPLY ADD TO YOUR ACCOUNT THIS WEEKEND AND YOU KEEP IT FOREVER.
ArmA 2 - $2.59
ArmA 2: Operation Arrowhead - $3.99
ArmA 3 - $35.99
DayZ: Alpha - $25.49

Hey guys, I am confused, on steam it said that i could download ARMA 3 for free? Is this the weekend special Echo was talking about or did someone gift me this? Anyways downloading as we speak... :)

Its free for the weekend Irish, but its on special all weekend!