From the Clan of Brothers

About the Game
Three years after the conflict in Chernarus, portrayed in the original Arma 2, a new flashpoint explodes in the Green Sea Region. Coalition forces led by the US Army are deployed to Takistan to quickly restore peace and prevent further civilian casualties.

You will enlist into various roles within the US Army, from basic infantrymen, through special operatives, to pilots and tank crew in this new installment in the award winning line up of military simulators for PC from Bohemia Interactive.

Building on 10 years of experience and constant engine development, Arma 2: Operation Arrowhead boasts the most realistic combat environment in the world. It models real world ballistics & round deflection, thermal imaging, materials penetration, features a realtime day/night cycle and dynamic wind, weather and environmental effects.

NOTE:Arma 2: Operation Arrowhead is a standalone product and does not require the original Arma 2.



Key features:
■New Playable Content: New story campaign for both SP and MP gameplay. Wide range of new tutorials, single scenarios and multiplayer modes.

■Massive Game World: Three brand new Central Asia-style large maps including expansive urban, desert and mountainous terrain featuring a fully destructible and interactive environment. Extra Units and Vehicles: Multiple factions for all sides including US Army, United Nations, Takistani Army and Guerrillas making a collection of 300+ new units, weapons and vehicles.

■Ultimate war experience: Fully integrates with the original Arma 2 for unmatched warfare simulation.

■Unique gameplay elements: Detachable backpacks with equipment, advanced weapon optics, material penetration modelling, remote real-time simulation of Unmanned Arial Vehicles (UAV), freedom of decision and repercussive actions.

■MISSION EDITOR: Design your own missions by the intuitive, easy-to-use mission editor and become part of one of the biggest and most creative PC gaming community ever.

■EXTENSIVE MULTIPLAYER: Play the campaign missions in cooperative mode or join duty in the massive multiplayer battles with up to 50 players.

■CHEAT PROTECTION: Optional anti-cheat BattlEye (http://www.battleye.com/) available to help secure dedicated servers. In addition BE adds 'RCON' (remote control) for game's dedicated server software.

■DEDICATED SERVER: To support smooth multi-player experience there is 'dedicated server software' available for Windows (included with game) and Linux (download-able from game's website).

System Requirements
OS: Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7
Processor: Intel Core i5 or AMD Athlon Phenom X4 or faster
Memory: 2GB
Graphics: Nvidia Geforce GTX 260 or ATI Radeon HD 5770 or faster with Shader Model 3 and 896 MB VRAM
DirectX®: DirectX 9.0c
Hard Drive: 10 GB free space
Sound: Standard

Both ArmA2 servers have been updated to the latest patch Version 1.07. Please be sure to update your game to the same version.

From Clan of Brothers High Command,

Soldiers,

As of 400 hours zulu tomorrow (4/23/10) The following services will be unavailable.

ArmA ACE Server
All ArmA2 servers
TS3 server
Game Server Admin Panel

Services should be restored by 4/26/10

-Hellion-

Back when Modern Warfare 2 was released for the PC, all hell broke loose because Infinity Ward had abandoned a long-standing tradition of dedicated server support for PC-based games. In short, PC games of old allowed anyone to setup and host a multiplayer server, a great convenience that allowed for custom maps and mods.

Infinity Ward suffered a PR nightmare from which they refused to budge. In turn, sales of Modern Warfare 2 were not in line with expectations. Seeing an opening, DICE, developers of Battlefield and the forthcoming Bad Company 2, issued forth press-releases in the hopes of taking advantage of the ill-will.

An example:

A lot of buzz has been floating around the internet lately about dedicated servers and we wanted to make sure our all our players have the best understanding of how Battlefield will be played on the PC. Since Battlefield 1942 DICE has used dedicated servers for all platforms. This formula has worked well, and still works well, for us and for the gaming community. We have stayed true to this practice and will continue this tradition into the upcoming title Battlefield Bad Company 2.

Other games use player-hosted or ‘peer to peer’ solutions, often resulting in a “host with the most” situation; where the player hosting the match has an advantage over other players connected to their game. Everyone else is dependent on the host’s internet connection and if they don't have a great connection neither will you regardless how great of an internet you have. Also, unless server migration is implemented the game ends when that hosting player quits the game forcing you to find another player-host or start your own. With dedicated servers everyone gets non-stop action with no connection penalties based on some other player and their internet. This makes dedicated servers the best solution for online PC gaming hands down! So rest assured PC players, Battlefield will stay true to its roots offering dedicated servers to all its players and continue the tradition of the ultimate FPS gaming experience!

Now many believed this meant that anyone could host a dedicated server, but the reality isn't so cut-and-dry. Yes, Bad Comapny 2 will support dedicated servers, but you will pay a small fee to rent this server from DICE-approved partners. Not quite the open-environment I was hoping for.

According to Eurogamer:

DICE has told Eurogamer there is “no profit" made from forcing Battlefield: Bad Company 2 players to rent dedicated servers instead of building their own.
Producer Gordon Van Dyke said files the community needs to build dedicated servers are being withheld in order to “protect the game’s integrity on PC.
“This does not earn DICE a profit,” BFBC2 Van Dyke told us. “But we will see where the game goes and support it post launch.R21;
Right now the only way to host a private dedicated server is by renting from one of DICE’s authorised hosts. These, Van Dyke added, have already been picked in “all major regions of the world.

This is a first for the Battlefield series, as Battlefield 2 and Battlefield 2142 both supported community members building and hosting their own dedicated servers.

The Clan of Brothers wishes you all a very happy and successful 2010. Our thanks go out to all of you that have supported us over the years!

First off I must say that this might be politically incorrect, but I don't really care if this offends anyone.
I beleive in Christmas, not the hubbub, but the reason for the season.
I say Merry Christmas, not Happy Holidays, that's freaking wrong on so many levels!
The reason for the season has always been to celebrate the birth of the Christ child, and because we don't really know when he will return, we shower our children with gifts. The Wise men gave gifts, and so do we...that's why!
Translated from many sources the term Christmas is actually "CHRIST MASS" where we celebrated the birth of the son, by attending a Christian Church, to thank him for his sacrifice, and to ask for his forgiveness. 


MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL...and to all a good night!

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