ARMA 2: CO (how to combine ARMA 2 into ARMA 2:OA and use together)

[MJK-Ranger]

it's because of the STEAM copy protection ...

also STEAM direct launch via
steam.exe -applaunch 33930
is needed to enabled STEAMoverlay injection

Hi Dwarden.

For Steam users.

If you start your ArmA2 directly from the install folder not use steam.

i.e g:\Steam\steamapps\common\arma 2\arma2.exe

The game start without Steam Overlay.
But if you start OA

i.e. g:\Steam\steamapps\common\arma 2 operation arrowhead\ArmA2OA.exe

The Steam Overlay start.

So can this be fix with a new ArmA2 patch/fixed exe so we can start arma2.exe with Steam Overlay. Because this cause some problems with some ArmA2 start up launchers.
99% of all ArmA2 launchers that has been made use full install folder i.e g:\Steam\steamapps\common\arma 2\arma2.exe BUT there is no Steam Overlay in arma2.exe, only if you use Steam Client or the shortcut made by Steam Client(the shortcut start ArmA2 with this: steam://rungameid/33910)

[Dwarden]

Hi Dwarden.

For Steam users.

If you start your ArmA2 directly from the install folder not use steam.

i.e g:\Steam\steamapps\common\arma 2\arma2.exe

The game start without Steam Overlay.
But if you start OA

i.e. g:\Steam\steamapps\common\arma 2 operation arrowhead\ArmA2OA.exe

The Steam Overlay start.

So can this be fix with a new ArmA2 patch/fixed exe so we can start arma2.exe with Steam Overlay. Because this cause some problems with some ArmA2 start up launchers.
99% of all ArmA2 launchers that has been made use full install folder i.e g:\Steam\steamapps\common\arma 2\arma2.exe BUT there is no Steam Overlay in arma2.exe, only if you use Steam Client or the shortcut made by Steam Client(the shortcut start ArmA2 with this: steam://rungameid/33910)

it's not possible when you start the game directly, the arma2.exe 1.07 is w/o STEAM copyprotection, thus it will not autostart steam like arma2oa.exe

to get working overlay you need to start it via

ARMA 2 North America
steam.exe -applaunch 33900 -nosplash

ARMA 2 Rest of The World (RoW)
steam.exe -applaunch 33910 -nosplash


For OA this is getting ever more complicated with A2:OA+A2 (Combined Operations mode)
Spoiler:

show spoiler

as you can see i already used full path and it's starting w/o steam overlay

this variant will not exit the cmd:

"%_ARMA2OAPATH%\ARMA2OA.exe" "-mod=%_ARMA2PATH%;%_ARMA2OAPATH%\EXPANSION;ca" %1 %2 %3 %4 %5 %6 %7 %8 %9

this variant will exit the cmd:

call "%_ARMA2OAPATH%\ARMA2OA.exe" "-mod=%_ARMA2PATH%;%_ARMA2OAPATH%\EXPANSION;ca" %1 %2 %3 %4 %5 %6 %7 %8 %9

so the only variant which exits itself and work with overlay is:

call ..\..\..\steam.exe -applaunch 33930 "-mod=%_ARMA2PATH%;%_ARMA2OAPATH%\EXPANSION;ca" %1 %2 %3 %4 %5 %6 %7 %8 %9

unfortunately this variant seems to hang for some users (you can run it via STEAM (Launch ARMA2:CO option) only once, then it stays stuck on "Starting ARMA 2: Operation Arrowhead window)
i was unable to figure out why it does that and thus not published it to STEAM

so what STEAM users have now by default is working solution yet w/o STEAMoverlay

as You can see it's not that easy as it looks

[Los18z]

WRT to compatibility I have four version of both games installed some all steam, some all dvd, some hybrid. Provided that everything is on the latest patch they all work together fine.

Los

[bhaz]

If you start your ArmA2 directly from the install folder not use steam.

To start ArmA2 with the steam overlay, from within Steam, go to Games > Add a non-Steam game. Navigate directly to the arma2.exe file then launch the shortcut you just created from within Steam.

This method also allows you to launch any non Steam game with the Steam overlay, provided the game is running in DirectX.

[silent_op.pxs]

I just want to know, when will Steam and or BIS give me one directory for my OA and ArmA2 (both were purchased from Steam)? Quick-fix batch files do not make my ArmA2 and OA work, look and operate like the directory from a box version of Combined Operations or a retail ArmA2 + Sprocket version of OA. Yes the batch file solution works, but why should I launch my game through Steam? I never had to do that before with ArmA2. Why should I want to use long dragged out mod lines in the parameter field of my OA executable? I use Yoma for my ArmA2 and mods.

Of all the members in my group, those who purchased the Steam version of OA, ended up with a separate OA directory. Those who purchased the Sprocket version have one directory, with ArmA2 and OA, plus an executable that launches as Combined Operations. This is what I personally expected from Steam, but instead I have a two directory mess.

The one directory approach works best and easiest with Yoma. It would allow me to run Combined Operations, launch from Yoma, and play either new OA COOP missions or ArmA2 ACE2 + mods COOP missions.

What went wrong here? Did Steam screw up or did BIS drop the ball on Steam, in favor of Sprocket? I have nothing against BIS. I just want my ArmA2 and OA to work with one directory correctly. I'm getting to the point where I'm thinking of buying the box version of ArmA2 OA Combined Operations, just to have a properly working ArmA2 + OA Expansion. All so I can once again enjoy playing COOP missions with the mods my group uses.


Please fix this Steam OA situation correctly.



silent_op

[Zipper5]

Because of the way that OA installs with Arma 2 to create Combined Operations, I think it messed with how Steam usually does releases. Since it's standalone it can install into it's own directory, but I doubt Steam has any way to install it into the directory of a game that already exists on your Steam, and for it to recognize it as a different game. Therefore I think it was more of a Steam screw-up or limitation, rather than a fault of BIS.

[Dwarden]

i already wrote several times that the integration and mod management system will be improved with updates because it's not perfect not even in the retail / sprocket merge mode...

[Malaspina]

I am one of the lucky ones that had boxed versions of Arma2 and OA which combined perfectly. The bad news is I spent last night unpacking my favourite missions which no longer work, and deleting ACE content etc. For my own Lan Game needs it looks like the easiest route is just to use a stand alone version of OA [ the inbuilt mod laucher is a great addition] and make all Arma2 content a simple mod folder.
I am not a happy bunny regarding the new comlexity of having to deal with multiple CBA updates.

One thing that does need to said is the expansion is worth every penny and finally manys gigswoth of OFP can be removed from my hard drives .

As a game playing experience OA is top of the pile.

[Dwarden]

new version of the _runA2CO for STEAM version

now it should work STEAMoverlay, from any place
and supports the parameters passed from "set launch options" in STEAM game properties

be warned that with this version you can't use

_runA2CO.cmd param
e.g.
_runA2CO.cmd -nosplash

that's limitation of starting something with steam.exe - applaunch

so please put all params you need into "set launch options"

for that You need use the nonSteam variant (it works with steam build too but no STEAMoverlay)

[Nitemare26]

i already wrote several times that the integration and mod management system will be improved with updates because it's not perfect not even in the retail / sprocket merge mode...

Hmmm well if people are asking again then write it again. Do you recieve a pay check for your product support? If you do then be a little more professional. If you are doing this as a service because you love the game then I sincerely apologize!!!! We spent a lot of money on All of the arma games we are frustrated as no one is wealthy to buy the spocket version if they already got the steam one nor does the average person have computer enough hacking skills to get the game running correctly. It is not the customers fault that they can't just install the game and play without hours of reading and re-reading to understand support posts with very little descriptions! Not an attack on you dwarden we are just ANGRY at BIS and you seem to be the one in speaking on their behalf.

P.S. There were a lot of issues before with releases through steam. We thought you guys would have anticitpated this again and maybe fixed things before the release but nope us steam customers feel like 2nd class again.