Operation Flashpoint

Operation Flashpoint is the title of two separate series of first person tactical military video games. The first series comprises Operation Flashpoint, ArmA, and ARMA 2, developed by Bohemia Interactive Studio. The second is an unofficial spinoff series^[1] comprising Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising and Operation Flashpoint: Red River, developed by Codemasters.

Bohemia Interactive series

Arma: Cold War Assault (Originally Operation Flashpoint: Cold War Crisis)

Main article: Operation Flashpoint: Cold War Crisis

Cold War Crisis's gameplay varies significantly depending on the player's role, but the game is best described as a tactical shooter with significant vehicle elements and minor real-time tactics elements. Set in 1985, the game takes place on three fictional islands: the island-states of Everon and Malden, and later in the game, on the barren Russian island of Kolgujev which is the staging point for the renegade Russian forces invading Everon and Malden.

ArmA: Armed Assault

Main article: ArmA: Armed Assault

ArmA: Armed Assault (known as ArmA: Combat Operations in North America) is a tactical military first- and third-person shooter which was developed by a 40 member team at Bohemia Interactive (BI), an independent game developer based in the Czech Republic.

ArmA is the spiritual successor to Operation Flashpoint: Cold War Crisis and features an overhauled game engine, with improved graphics, physics, multiplayer functionality, scripting capabilities, and new units and vehicles. An expansion pack titled ArmA: Queen's Gambit was released in 2007.

Because of legal issues between BI and Codemasters (the original publishers of Operation Flashpoint), Codemasters owns the intellectual property to the name Operation Flashpoint. Since BI severed its connection with Codemasters and no longer has the legal right to use the Operation Flashpoint name, Armed Assault is considered to be the direct descendant of Operation Flashpoint. ARMA 2 (previously referred to as "Game 2") was released in June 2009. Codemasters has released a rival title to BI using the name Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising in which BI has no participation.^[2][3]

ARMA 2

Main article: ARMA 2

ARMA 2 (often incorrectly referred to as Armed Assault 2^[4]) is a tactical shooter video game for the PC developed by Bohemia Interactive Studio. It is considered the spiritual successor in the Operation Flashpoint-series following its predecessor, ArmA: Armed Assault (ArmA: Combat Operations in North America). ARMA 2 was released in June and July 2009. An expansion pack titled ARMA 2: Operation Arrowhead was released in 2010.^[5] In June 2011 a free to play version of the game was announced, featuring multiplayer and limited singleplayer modes.^[6]

Codemasters series

Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising

Main article: Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising

Dragon Rising takes place on a fictional island named Skira, in May 2011. After the Global Economic Crisis causes mass unemployment and political destabilization in China, the PLA seize control of Skira and the vast, newly-discovered reservoir of oil there, from the Russian Federation. Peace talks prove useless as both combatants lay claim to Skira due to previous ownership of it. The situation deteriorates quickly and China begins to fortify its northern provinces in anticipation of armed conflict with Russia. Russia, already countering the PLA on the Chinese mainland, calls to the United States of America to retake Skira from the Chinese. Bound by treaty arrangements made after the end of the Cold War, America agrees and the two biggest armies in the world begin to clash on the island.

Operation Flashpoint: Red River

Main article: Operation Flashpoint: Red River

The game's plot concerns a fictional conflict in Tajikistan. The game follows a platoon of Marines, with the player controlling Kirby, Bravo team fireteam leader. The game is set in Tajikistan, northeast of Afghanistan and west of China.

References

1. ^ "The Name Game". Bohemia Interactive. http://www.bistudio.com/index.php/english/home/news/projects/117-the-name-game-codemasters-marketing-of-new-ofp-creates-confusion-provokes-protest. Retrieved 2011-02-22. 
2. ^ Bohemia Wiki: Is ArmA the sequel to OFP? What is Game 2?
3. ^ BI Studio - Open Letter
4. ^ Španěl, Marek (2009-04-29). "ARMA 2 - The Name Tale". Bohemia Interactive Studio. http://www.bistudio.com/index.php/english/company/developers-blog/129-arma-2-the-name-tale. Retrieved 2009-06-10. 
5. ^ http://store.steampowered.com/app/33930
6. ^ http://www.arma2.com/free