New email from codemasters
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Bringing you the latest Action, Stealth and Strategy
News
INTRODUCTION
Another month and another newsletter!!! This is the
second instalment of the CCC newsletter which debuted
last month, which some of you may have missed. Shame
on you http://www.flashpoint1985.com/ikonboard301/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif This is aimed to give a bit more insight
into up and coming Action games that we are
developing/publishing and share some news from the
development side of things. I may even get out some
screenshots!!
It has been quite a hectic month as most of you may
have gathered. Not only did we release the new IGI 2
Map but there has been much speculation regarding the
newly announced Operation Flashpoint 2 title.
Alongside this there has been many a question thrown
my way about Battlefield Command, which is dealt with
later in the letter.
So lets get to it...
IGI 2 - COVERT STRIKE - LATEST NEWS
Well believe it or not, the guys at Innerloop have
been working very hard on producing not one, but two
maps this month. This is why it has taken a little
longer then expected to release them. Some of you may
have already seen the Libyan Village screenshots
floating around the net, but we also have a map based
at the Docksides. The plan is to release these 2 maps
as Beta maps so that we can get feedback on them, and
iron out any bugs found.
Alongside this we are planning on releasing the Linux
Server and testing this simultaneously. This has been
worked on some more over the last few weeks after
getting initial feedback on the first candidate, which
as we expected was a bit buggy.
Due to this and the predicted influx of potential bug
reports etc, the beta forum was re-opened a few weeks
ago, so that any problems concerning the maps and
server could be posted here. That way I can collate
the info and report it.
http://www.codemasters.com/igi2
IGI 2 HOT TOPICS -
I know a few of you are eagerly waiting to get your
grips on the new Map Editor. I have word that the guys
are concentrating fully on this after the release of
the two maps. They apparently need to design a
tutorial on how to operate it. Sounds a bit difficult
to me but then again Im no Modder. An exact date on
the release of this tool is unknown at present but
rest assured I will tell you when it is available.
OPERATION FLASHPOINT 2 - LATEST NEWS
Well what can I say....its on its way and has
finally been put into development at Bohemia
Interactive Studios. The sequel to the award winning
Operation Flashpoint has been clouded in secrecy
regarding its location and time setting. But today
is the day that I can finally reveal to you where
the next game will be set. Unless you are at E3,
consider this an exclusive http://www.flashpoint1985.com/ikonboard301/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif
Now there has been much speculation from the community
on both the BIS Forums and on the Codemasters Forums
with many a poll running on potential locations. The
result showed that Vietnam was the most likely
scenario but not necessarily the most wanted. This
wasnt to be expected, but its not a perfect World.
So you may be shocked or not to hear that one of the
Theatres of War will have a Southeast Asia setting. So
in some ways most of you guessed right, but as you may
have just picked up that is just one of three Theatres
of War. Instead of one setting we thought we would
spoil you and give you a mix of landscapes, weapons
and missions.
The game will still strongly focus on the Nam setting
but also include the other original Theatres to vary
the combat environments. So what are the other
Theatres I hear you asking? Well there will be a
Central Europe Theatre setting as well as an African
Theatre. All will be based around the 1970s so not
quite as modern as some wanted but it will still have
that original Flashpoint feel.
You can chat to other fans live at the Quakenet IRC
Channel #flashpoint2
Also check out the forums at Codemasters Flashpoint2
Forum:
http://community.codemasters.com/forum....mid=167 (http://community.codemasters.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=167)
or at BIS Flashpoint2 Forums here:
http://www.flashpoint1985.com/cgi-bin/ikonboard301/ikonboard.cgi
If you havent already you can sign up and register
your interest at http://www.codemasters.com/flashpoint2
FLASHPOINT 2 HOT TOPICS -
The forums have been so busy since the original news
release that Flashpoint 2 was in development. As
mentioned above the hot topics have revolved around
the setting for the game, plus ideas of how to further
improve the Flashpoint Series.
BATTLEFIELD COMMAND - EUROPE AT WAR 1939-45 - LATEST
NEWS
Well as I promised last month heres the Q&A session
that I took with Andrew Wafer, Senior Games Designer
on Battlefield Command. I have to thank all the guys
on the forums for their questions, of which there were
many ranging in topic. I will answer a few now and
some more next month. Keep them coming and Ill try to
keep on top of them.
http://www.codemasters.com/battlefieldcommand
Q&A SESSION -
The layout is as follows. The questions are quoted
from each person and then followed by the answer from
Andrew Wafer.
"Rummy - Ok I'll go. How much individual control of
units will we have?"
Andrew Wafer: Your units are fully under your control,
sure they can think for themselves and some are
naturally smarter than others, but at the end of the
day youre the Battlefield Commander. You can issue
them with many different orders like telling them to
attack strong targets over weak targets, or take
longer to aim, but aim more precisely.
"Tellu - How will be the spotting of enemy units
handled? If one unit sees the enemy does that mean all
the others in the same side instantly and magically
know where that one enemy is? If one soldier from the
squad is seen is the whole squad visible?"
Andrew Wafer: Line of sight and fog of war are all
handled by accurate and realistic models. Each unit
has his own vision radius and distance, which can
actually be increased as the unit becomes more
experienced and adapt at spotting the enemy. The
player only sees the enemy units that his men can
see.
"Hata -
1) Do all the AFVs have realistic fire range as their
counterparts in reality? Let's say if LOS is clear,
heavy tank like King Tiger or JS-2 are able to
engage in long range (2km+) but light tank can only
engage maybe within 1.5km.
2) Does this game have authentic (realistic)
penetration calculation? So light tank would not be
able to destroy heavy tank from the front in
distance. Something similar to Combat Mission is
really welcome.
3) What is the max drawing distance in this game?
Would it be adjustable like the slider provided in
OFP-Resistance with default in 900m? Since this
game is based on IL2 engine.
4) Does this game has save-replay feature like the one
in IL2 so after every mission we can save the
replay as a track and replay it later with the
ability of switching to different camera? If not,
please consider this feature coz it's really
entertaining and good for tactical analysis also.
Thanks."
Andrew Wafer:
1) Some AFVs may have to have their fire ranges
limited slightly as the game map is 1km, but in
general they will be very accurate.
2) Yes of course armour penetration models are
accurate!
3) In the game you are responsible for 1km square of
the battlefield, you will be able to see all the
relevant action required to make the best tactical
choices. Of course the battle will be raging on all
around that area, as always with PC game draw
distance is limited to the video settings you
specify the game to run at, and the spec of your
machine.
4) Finally the save replay feature you mention could
potentially be incorporated into Battlefield
Command, weve still got quite some time to run
with development and there are hundreds of
additional features we want to add to the game,
time permitting.
Look out next week for more questions answered.
FINAL NOTE -
Well that seems to be it from me. All I can say is
Ill be back next month with more news and quite
possibly a cheeky little Flashpoint 2 Video that I
couldnt fit into this month's letter.
Happy gaming everyone
Mike
Michael Rowland
Community Liaison Officer
IGI2/Battlefield Command/Op Flashpoint
Codemasters
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