I had a chance to talk with Maruk Spanel, Bart Van Paassen, and Paul Statham of Bohemia Interactive Studios at last weeks Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles. They were kind enough to show me what they have in store for strategy war gamers in the near future.  
 
 
There are actually three different projects in the pipeline from Bohemia. The first of course is the Xbox version of the original Operation Flashpoint. This, as I was told, is basically completed. There are also two different projects being prepared for the PC. While they are two different games, they are actually closely related and will share a lot of technical features. Let me explain.  
 
 
Bohemia has spent a lot of time working on a new highly detailed graphics engine. The new models in their current projects are not only highly detailed, but sport gorgeous normal mapped textures. The attention to detail can be seen all the way down to the tiny wrinkles on the pocket of a soldier's ammo pouch. The graphics engine is based off Bohemia's work on the Virtual Battlefield System, or VBS1, currently used as a training tool by armed forces around the world. But it's not simply the same engine on a different game. A lot of work has gone into optimizing code and creating greater levels of detail that action gamers have come to expect.  
 
 
The improvements to the graphics engine also includes improvements to the terrain detail. No longer is the world of Operation Flashpoint poulated by barren ground and pixelated trees. A new in-house tooled named Linda, has helped Bohemia create a highly detailed vegetation system. Each plant is modelled after a plant found in the real world. Every single tree is accurately modelled, adding a lot of depth to the already realistic environment. Along with the enviroment, Bohemia has worked on creating real time weather effects. On clear days, the sun can momentarily affect visibility if you choose to look directly it. And storms now look and act like real storms. This included offshore effects. Weather affects the water in the sea. When it is storming the waves (yes waves) will be larger and behave a little more violently. When the weather dies down the sea will be more calm and light will even reflect off of it.  
 
 
As with the original Operation Flashpoint, graphics are only a small part of the equation. Bohemia's goal is to make a large-scale tactical war game. Therefore, a lot of work has gone into the gameplay aspects. The concept is to have Operation Flashpoint 2* take place in several different chapters much like the original. Each chapter will have the player in a different role from infantryman, to tank crew, to pilot, to special forces operator. There is supposed to be a full-scale war going on around the map. To achieve this Bohemia has implemented a way of having every action on the map recorded. If a helicopter flies overhead, then it is on it's way to perform an action. It is either dropping off or picking up troops or it is on it's way to attack an enemy position. Everything in the game will have it's own goals and priorities to handle. There will even be civilians living and going to work in the cities. If Bohemia can pull this off, it should give the player the feeling that his is not Rambo, rather he's just a lowly soldier in a conflict much bigger than him.
 
 
In order to make the player feel that he is really in the boots of real soldier, Bohemia is trying to implement some RPG aspects into the game. A.I. characters are going to be able to observe and learn things on their own. The player will then have to ability to chat with the A.I. to find out information. In the demo Maruk Spanel showed me, he walked up and a computer controlled bot and asked him if he has seen the enemy. The bot replied that he had seen the enemy and told us where. The information the bot knows is not scripted. He has to actually see something before he will know. This is a unique and depth-enhancing aspect to the game. The player now has the option to gather his own intel before going into a battle. Along with that the character will be able to build up their skills, such as strength or accuracy, in between missions. This was still an early version, but this should create an interesting approach to playing through the campaign.
 
 
Bohemia also plans on implementing a full chain-of-command system. From Colonels all the way down to squad levels. For mission editors, this should add a new level to the game. Imagine a mission where you have to command several different squads to achieve an objective. This should allow for larger battles and more complex strategys. Although this is a feature yet to be realized, it does appear very promising.  
 
 
Mission editors will also need to consider the equipment loadout that the troops will carry in the missions. Yes, the equipment in the game will be fully customizable. If the player will need a scope on their rifle, then the mission editor can add it. If he want a sniper to carry as little extra equipment as possible, then they can remove all of the gear that's not necessary. This is a feature that has been done in games like Rainbow Six, but to no where near the scale that Operation Flashpoint 2* will offer. Bohemia is also hoping that this feature will be handy for the MOD community. By giving people the ability to add different features to the M4 (a scope, a laser, camo, etc.) then there wont be a need for addon creators to create 5 different versions of the same weapon just for minor detail changes.
 
 
Speaking of modding, Bohemia is very excited about the mod community that has sprung up around Operation Flashpoint. They fully realize that the Operation Flashpoint engine can be used to create many different gameplay scenarios. They also realize that were were a few limitations to the original Flashpoint engine that are being corrected for Flashpoint 2*. One of these limitations is the use of multiple guns on a single vehicle. This is a limitation that Bohemia is working on correcting and we may be able to see tanks with working machine guns in OFP2*. Another focus is collision detection. The original Flashpoint had trouble with collision detection in that it was nearly impossible to land a helicopter on another unit (like a ship), or to walk around in the cargo area of a moving object. VBS1 already has collision detection that allows for movement in a moving cargo area. This will be updated and used in OFP2*.
 
 
A big question that I hear a lot from addon creators, is "Will OFP1 addons work in OFP2?". I took the question to Bart Van Paassen of BIS and he gave me a short answer of Yes. BUT, OFP2* will be using a new engine. Bohemia is trying to make it as compatible as possible and nearly every addon made for OFP1 should work in OFP2*. But to utilize the new features provided by the OFP2* engine there will be, for example, new config entries for physics.  
 
 
The other PC project Bohemia is working on is actually a game that will essentially be OFP 1.5. Tenetively titled Armed Assualt, this new project will serve as a bridge between Operation Flashpoint 1 and Operation Flashpoint 2*, which is expected to be completed by late 2006. Armed Assualt will include all of the original Operation Flashpoint content in a new graphics engine. From what I was told, Bohemia is hoping addon makers will used Armed Assualt as a way of learning the features of the new graphics engine. Armed Assualt will also have a lot of offer non-editors. There will be a new 100 sq km extremely detailed island, a new story line, and an upgraded comprehensive multiplayer mode that now will allow players to join games already in progress. Armed Assualt is expected to be ready by the end of this year.  
 
 
Armed Assualt is meant to be a taste of what OFP2* will be like. With OFP2*, Bohemia will introduce 500 sq km highly detailed maps (no longer called islands). The architecture of the islands is going to be a vast improvement over the original. Buildings will no longer crumple up like paper when destroyed. I was able to witness Maruk Spanel blowing holes into the walls of buildings with a tank. After so much damage the building will even collapse, killing anyone inside. This will create a much more war-torn environment than the original. Now streets may be littered with debres. But the tank that does the damage isn't safe from getting blown up itself. You can now blow the turret off of a tank. When vehicles explode, they truely explode. If you are unlucky enough to be in the way of a flying door or rotar blade or other piece of shrapnel, consider yourself out of commission. The realism in the explosions is something that must be seen to truely appreciate. In the demo I witnessed the original OFP1 particle effects were still being used, but will some improvements on that and you may find yourself ducking under your computer when your ride explodes.  
 
 
From what I have seen Bohemia is on the ball with both Armed Assualt and Operation Flashpoint 2*. Many things that te loyal community, and addon created have been asking for will find their way into the game. After the little over an hour I had to talk with Maruk Spanel and Bart Van Paassen, I believe that OFP2* will no doubt be as big a hit as the original Operation Flashpoint was nearly four years ago.

Operation Flashpoint for the Xbox has shaped into a better game than even I expected. At first I had my doubts that a game with a command system as complex as Operation Flashpoint would even be doable on a console. But after a little hands on time, I believe Operation Flashpoint can be a hit for the console as it was for the PC.  
 
 
The Xbox version will include the full campaigns of both Cold War Crisis and Resistance. And if that isn't enough play time, it also includes a mission editor and online play. The mission editor is slightly different from the PC version. Instead of giving the mission editor a blank map to begin with, the editor can now pick from a large number of template missions. These templates define objectives such as steal some documents or blow up something. Then the editor is given the from of deciding when, where, and how the objectives are handled. You will be able to add all the units that will be used. You can add the waypoints. You can define the time of day and where the objective will be located in a simple, yet comprenhensive editor.  
 
 
Online play will take full advantage of Xbox Live. There will be full stat tracking. And there will be over 50 multiplayer missions to choose from. Players will even be able to make their own MP missions. So if you get bored with deathmatch or capture the flag or any of the many other game types, you can simply create you own MP objective. Multiplayer options will also allow for System Link play. Several human players controlling squads of A.I. soldiers should allow for some large and intense battles.  
 
 
One of the most important things when putting a game on a console is getting the controls right. I had a chance to actually play it, and this is something Bohemia did very well. The control, while complex, are very easy to get the hang of. You have the traditional FPS two-thumb control to move you character. But then the command controls all come from the D-pad. To command you squad simply select the soldier (or group) by pressing up or down then issue them and order by pressing right and up or down to select a command. In practice this is very easy to do and you can easily control your 12-man squad in the heat of battle. Other controls include changing your stance, pulling up your iron sights, perform an action, and of course fire your weapon. All very standard FPS.  
 
 
The Xbox version will also have several different gameplay modes. On the easiest setting there will be slight auto-aim and visible in-game markers to help the player along. In the higher difficulty settings players will find a much deeper simulation environment. Then game wont prove any help to those who don't want it. This along with the quick loading times, should please any Xbox gamer. From what I got a chance to play, it appears Bohemia put a lot of work into designing the Xbox version to cater to the console crowd, while not venturing away from the Operation Flashpoint experience. To those of you with an Xbox, I would say this game will definetly be worth picking up.