ArmA 2

[Disturbedguy]

What problems are you having Chuckskull?

[chuckskull]

What problems are you having Chuckskull?

Off the top of my head..
In multi; CTD's, camera going blurry as if I'd paused or been injured(fixable by just pausing and unpausing, but it gets old real fast when it's every few minutes) and all kinds of weirdness with the interface/middle button menu.

In single; NPC scripting going horribly wrong, radio ceasing to work(breaks almost every objective as you cant call in), losing all support abilities and shaftoe randomly dying for no reason(also breaks most objectives).

It lured me back for an hour this afternoon, turns out armoury and editor work great, but they're not really why I bought it.

[cptwhite_uk]

Okay so I'm just downloading the v1.2 patch and installing the main game now. Anyone up for giving a basic introduction into the game at some point?

[j.o.s.h.1408]

Okay so I'm just downloading the v1.2 patch and installing the main game now. Anyone up for giving a basic introduction into the game at some point?

first advice i can give you is learn how to read the game map. when i say this i mean learn how to find out where you are and where you need to go ie the hot zones in MP at least.

Also, invest in a mic and join a mature server such has the OCUK ir the iGi one i play every night who kick and ban any fools that mess about in the game.

This game requires teamwork to be fun.

[cptwhite_uk]

Sure I expect nothing less. I used to play battlefield 2, then progressed to Supreme Commander so I'm used to team play using voice chat. I will spend a few days getting comfortable with the controls and general feel of the game, then I'll post back here with doubtless questions about the game and what servers / clans to apply too etc

[Lowe]

Off the top of my head..
In multi; CTD's, camera going blurry as if I'd paused or been injured(fixable by just pausing and unpausing, but it gets old real fast when it's every few minutes) and all kinds of weirdness with the interface/middle button menu.

In single; NPC scripting going horribly wrong, radio ceasing to work(breaks almost every objective as you cant call in), losing all support abilities and shaftoe randomly dying for no reason(also breaks most objectives).

It lured me back for an hour this afternoon, turns out armoury and editor work great, but they're not really why I bought it.

How stable is your overclock chap? I ask since ArmA 2 is extremely CPU heavy and the slightest weakness is shown up with CTDs. Have you checked your temps recently with all the hot weather we've been having? I've only ever had the game CTD once, and that was due to a server crash which then in turn caused everyone else connected to CTD too.

Single player doesn't surprise me. I've said it about 50 times now but I'll say it again, ArmA is not about SP. Yes it's been worked on significantly for this release, but the prime part of the game is online. It's never going to have a perfect SP experience because the game is simply too complicated for its own good and I think the developers bit a little more off than they could chew with some of their missions...

cool. how does Devastation work? is there a link that explains all the game modes of arma 2?

Alas not, because the ArmA engine is so open ended and moddable, most of the game modes are created by the community and so there's little to explain everyone of them.

This is all I know about Devastation mode:

http://forums.bistudio.com/showthread.php?t=77709

Okay so I'm just downloading the v1.2 patch and installing the main game now. Anyone up for giving a basic introduction into the game at some point?

Read, digest, watch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srn2Sp6L708&hd=1

http://forums.hexus.net/hexus-wargam...ult-guide.html

[j.o.s.h.1408]

Devastation sounds brilliant. going to give that a go

[chuckskull]

How stable is your overclock chap? I ask since ArmA 2 is extremely CPU heavy and the slightest weakness is shown up with CTDs. Have you checked your temps recently with all the hot weather we've been having? I've only ever had the game CTD once, and that was due to a server crash which then in turn caused everyone else connected to CTD too.

Single player doesn't surprise me. I've said it about 50 times now but I'll say it again, ArmA is not about SP. Yes it's been worked on significantly for this release, but the prime part of the game is online. It's never going to have a perfect SP experience because the game is simply too complicated for its own good and I think the developers bit a little more off than they could chew with some of their missions...

48h prime orthos on small FPU's and same again on blend(BSOD's make me throw things), even with the heat temps are hovering on the good side of 55c, uguru's set up to panic and make lots of noise if it goes above this. I tried to force a CTD out of it last night on SP using the editor with lots and lots of units, to test that exact theory. Rock solid, CTD's seem to be limited to MP.

You're right about SP, they've definitely bitten off to much on quite a few, but they're actually good fun when they work. MP overshadows it completely because with a good team it's just gaming nirvana. Flying the cobra with a clued up gunner and a sniper acting as a FAC put a huge smile on my face. As did an A10 going right over my head with the cannon screaming, promptly killing the BMP I'd just missed with my SMAW

Given up on it for now, but once it's had another patch or two I'll be checking out again. Got that balance of realism and fun at just the right spot IMO. Just a shame it's fallen victim like many large games to the release and patch mentality. Game of the year material if they can get it all fixed up though.

[Andy3536]

I've had about 7 or so CTDs. all in MP. Which is where the server handles much of the AI cpu load if i recal correctly?
It's still got a fair few issues.

[Lowe]

Sounds like the server you've been playing on has had problems then. I hear what you're saying and agree, nothing comes close when it works...

[yamangman]

Fotunately I have seen very few bugs, no crashes at all. It's just some aspects of the game seem unworkable (single player especially) that are key parts of the game. I especially like the way you instruct the transport helo to land somewhere and it invariably flips over on a sandbag/highrise/house/divet/blade of grass . Also love the way exposition is delivered over the radio when you are in the middle of a firefight, preventing you from passing instructions to your squadmembers who require a degree of hand-holding only previously applicable to potty training a toddler or somesuch.

That said would like to have another crack with you chaps multiplayer again though when I get spare evening!

[darrensen]

Hi guys,

I'm gonna pick this from up Amazon today. Used to have Arma 1 and Flashpoint many moons ago!

I currently have a laptop which i know isn't good enough for ARMA 2. (Macbook Pro, 2.5, 4gb ram, 8600M 512mb)

I'm debating building a pc or buying a Mac Pro. Mac Pro specs are...

4 core 2.66 Xeon or maybe 8 core 2.26 Xeon
3gb Ram or 6gb Ram
EVGA 285 GTX 1gb

I understand that ARMA hits the CPU pretty hard, but would i benefit from a Xeon over building a i7 Quad rig?

Thanks all

[Lowe]

i7's don't like ArmA much because of HT. I guess the Xeons won't like it much either, and since you can't get into a Mac BIOS to turn it off, I can't imagine the Mac Pro having much joy.

[Lowe]

Fotunately I have seen very few bugs, no crashes at all. It's just some aspects of the game seem unworkable (single player especially) that are key parts of the game. I especially like the way you instruct the transport helo to land somewhere and it invariably flips over on a sandbag/highrise/house/divet/blade of grass . Also love the way exposition is delivered over the radio when you are in the middle of a firefight, preventing you from passing instructions to your squadmembers who require a degree of hand-holding only previously applicable to potty training a toddler or somesuch.

That said would like to have another crack with you chaps multiplayer again though when I get spare evening!

I'm going to organise another lockdown Hexus night shortly - we're aiming to get one going once every 2 weeks. We're just trying to sort out a good date for the iGi lot so we're guaranteed a decent turn out, then I'll post more details.

[darrensen]

i7's don't like ArmA much because of HT. I guess the Xeons won't like it much either, and since you can't get into a Mac BIOS to turn it off, I can't imagine the Mac Pro having much joy.

When you say HT what do you mean by that? (not Hyper Threading?)

EDIT - sorry ignore that, just looked up this issue. Didn't realise that HT was a problem
Thanks for the update