Arma 2

[Ten19]

So with the recent deal on Steam, looks like a lot of CoGs have picked up Arma II (myself included!). Seems to be a lot of potential here for fun multiplayer shenanigans, who wants to try and set up times to play? I'm still familiarizing myself with the controls, but will be game for anything, really.

[iHap]

I've been played one and off for a while now and got decent at flying da choppahs. Whenever you guys play let me know and I'm totally game.

[SilentScreams]

I'm in. I have no idea what the game is like or how to play, but for £3.99 I couldn't see a single reason not to find out.

[Karak]

I can play at any time and help people with Launcher info, mod loading and the dreaded optimization you will all need to run.
You will want to do these before you ever play. Even if you go modless, which is pretty rare, the launcher can help you get the game running far better and some optomizations in the .ini file can get your higher FPS(the bane of ARMA 2).

Also if you bought combined versus basic there will be issues getting them to run together, just an FYI.

Also do not...do NOT let steam update the game continually. Steam updates and ARMA 2 are like water and oil and basically even the company itself will warn you away from allowing steam to update your files. Update them yourself. I can walk people through that as well.

[Ten19]

I can play at any time and help people with Launcher info, mod loading and the dreaded optimization you will all need to run.
You will want to do these before you ever play. Even if you go modless, which is pretty rare, the launcher can help you get the game running far better and some optomizations in the .ini file can get your higher FPS(the bane of ARMA 2).
Can you expound on this a bit? What sort of optimizations are recommended, both from the launcher and ini?

Update them yourself. I can walk people through that as well.
Perhaps a quick explanation of this as well? Possible to update through the game itself, somehow?

[Karak]

Helpful links

Needed-
ARMA 2 Launcher Link (http://arma2.paro-technology.com/?page_id=18) And some general instructions.
(Helps you get the game up and running and allows for Mod ordering

Needed-
ACE, CBA. These mods are needed. Those are adjustments to the game that fix a boatload of issues and are pretty much required.
Link to the mods with a bit of a history and links to download Linky (http://forums.bistudio.com/showthread.php?t=91500)

Current link to update thread-
http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1838926
Looks like we are in luck. The normal Steam fiasco didn't happen with this patch. So It APPEARS to be ok to update your version.

Some history-
Steam sells a different package than ARMA 2 retail. This results in various issues with patches and installs as entire folder structures can be different. There are some almost essential mods, especially if you bought the Basic Package, that can be broken with updates. This latest one seems fine. But that's why you want "auto updating" OFF for this game. The amount of headaches this has caused is legendary in the community.

Suggested Mods for Basic-

ASC-Gun mod that allows for you to actually adjust the gun in the game such as adding silencers, stocks, sights and so forth. Unless you want to be stuck with the 4-5 gun typical default this one is needed.
http://www.armaholic.com/page.php?id=12077
ASEX(Comes from the CBA, ACE team) and is a sound upgrade and is usually something everyone goes with

Six Updater-This basically keeps your mods up to date at all times and can also be used to verify 2 people will be able to actually play the same game. It is confusing but almost vital.
Link (http://six.dev-heaven.net/wagn/Six_Updater)

[Karak]

Can you expound on this a bit? What sort of optimizations are recommended, both from the launcher and ini?


Perhaps a quick explanation of this as well? Possible to update through the game itself, somehow?

Launcher Options you want to make sure to choose and a pic of the launcher
http://community.bistudio.com/wiki/Image:Arma2Launcher.jpg
http://arma2.paro-technology.com/wp-content/gallery/arma-ii-launcher/300_4.jpg
http://arma2.paro-technology.com/wp-content/gallery/arma-ii-launcher/300_1.jpg

Load Empty World this results in the game loading far faster as it loads and empty world version an actual game level.

Turn off Starting movies Obvious :)

CPU Threads Changes how many threads it can use. I run my i7 with hyperthreading, I leave only 1 thread turned off so I have chosen the option 7. That's 7 threads for the game, 1 for the OS running in the background. I gained about 9-12 FPS.

Max Memory
This is the max you want the game to use. I usually go around 2.5 gigs of ram. If you are like me and running 70+ mods than that helps. This is one that will need to be adjusted by users as XP seems to work better on this game than Windows 7 yet can see less memory.

"Mod Load order"
Pretty obvious here. But you want ACE and CBA to be running at the very highest. These just basically NEED to be downloaded and used. They fix a boatload of "non bug but highly complained about issues" The rest we will all have to decide.

In the launcher you have the ability to find the Arma 2 .exe file which you will need to do. But whats nice is you can make a ton of profiles. For example I have
ARMA 2 plain: Thats the game, plus CBA and ACE
ARMA 2 Everything Thats all my mods with max memory adjusted higher
Arma 2 Expansions Settings for running the British Military force addon

You get my drift. Basically each profile can start a completely different game. So if you bought the basic you just have the ARMA2.exe. But if you have Operation Arrowhead you have the ARMAOA.exe and have to actually tell the profile to run that game.

PATCHES:
The latest patch is safe so let it patch but always...ALWAYS turn autopatching off. Its rare that Arma 2 updates without breaking a boatload of stuff. That's just the name of the game. So that way you don't have 4 people with an updated version, 4 without and so they can't play multi. ARMA doesn't offer much help when things don't match so you can spend a good deal of time...confused trying to find out if someone updated.

[Lint of Death]

I thought about getting this, but then I remembered that the guy who posts those awesome multiplayer videos plays Operation Arrowhead, which was still ~ a full price game counting the DLC. :(

[Panthera]

I'm in on this. Thursday evenings are good, so if we want to try a modless, expansionless round tonight I'm all for it.

[Karak]

One last bit.
Everyone here should state what version they have from steam.
Basic
Combined Ops
Mods they bought BAF and others.

[Karak]

I thought about getting this, but then I remembered that the guy who posts those awesome multiplayer videos plays Operation Arrowhead, which was still ~ a full price game counting the DLC. :(

That is true. But if you download Ace, CAB, and say 1-2 gun mods like ASC or something. You can get a good bit of fun. I mean Arrowhead does add a ton...like a ton but its still not bad with just Arma 2.

Basically ARMA 2 runs a bit better on lower systems as less is being calculated. ACE and CAB fix a good deal of that without adding FPS hits.

Arrowhead Adds calculations and more GFX options but is a bit back on its patching. However, in trade, you get far more dynamic mods for it than for Arma 2. But thats like complaining about amazing sex and awesome sex. I think you will have fun with either.

[Karak]

Last Help Post for a bit so people can ask questions about whats been posted

.INI adjustments are things like total sound channels, specific or custom resolutions.

But lets start easy:

Here is the link to the main thread for INI adjustement Link (http://forums.bistudio.com/showthread.php?t=73947)

Only do the scene complexity adjustments on the 1st page. To see how you want the game to balance looks/performance. This alone will allow you to gather a good deal of FPS boosts.
This basically does what it says. It raises or lowers the geometric complexity of the gameworld as you see fit. Since Arma 2 at times can look VERY real, adjusting this lower is a great way to get far higher fps with only a small drop of geometric loss and since it does not impact resolution you will still see it at whatever res you want.

Here is a gif to see the results of the changes
http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/2256/armavergleich.gif

Operation Arrowhead allows for something close to this right in its main options. That goes to show you how important of a hack it was when it was first found.

Start slow with the .ini hacking.

[violent]

I'm game. I have basic and really, any night but Thursday works for me. That's TF2 night.

[Karak]

Here is what I will do.

I can offer training and startup advice on Steam (anyone feel free to add me)

Training/Assistance days and times

Friday from 5pm-11pm Pacific Time

Saturday from 1030am-to whenever Pacific Time

I will help with computer setups optimization, run you through a multplayer game, using Steams voicechat show you some of the basics and some of the easy things to get hung up or have problems with such as:
Commander-Tank
Driver-Tank
Gunner-tank
Jet-Gunner
Jet-Captain

On Foot controlling of units under your command
Controlling Units by group
Controlling Units status
MEDIC!

Difficulty level difference(they are huge)

Also feel free to add me or ask questions even NOT on those days if you guys see me on steam. I just know the wife will be gone during those times so it will be easier to test setups without her being bothered.