Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising Goes Gold

Just a little bit longer... Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising has gone gold and is set to hit retail on October 6, 2009. Naturally, Codemasters is going all out with a bunch of cool stuff happening on the game's official web site. Peek below for a few screens, boogie on over to the game's site and go pre-order what's looking to be one of the best modern tactical military games to date.

- Explosive New Gameplay Video at www.flashpointgame.com Reveals “Eagle Offense” Mission’s Deadly Airfield Assault -

With the new video, gamers can preview the most explosive moments taken from Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising’s “Eagle Offense” mission, now available at www.flashpointgame.com. The trailer reveals how a strategically vital airfield is turned into a bloody, chaotic battleground as a USMC force, accompanied by aerial support, assaults dug- in PLA positions.

The violence, ferocity and carnage of war is brought to life as troops on both sides attack in authentic formations, use cover realistically and engage in ranged, close-quarters and vehicular combat. USMC forces fight through the airfield’s perimeter before infiltrating the Control Tower, eliminating enemy targets with rapid, ruthless aggression. The Marines then assume defensive positions in readiness for the PLA counter-attack. A Chinese WZ-10 attack helicopter is spectacularly blown out of the sky by a shoulder-launched surface to air missile. The conflict culminates with PLA armor advancing across a battlefield surrounded by mortar fire and strewn with burning wreckage. This flashpoint is still white hot…

Powered by the award-winning EGO™ Game Technology Engine, Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising will set the standard for accessible, authentic war gaming.

ABOUT OPERATION FLASHPOINT: DRAGON RISING

In Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising gamers play the decisive role in defusing a military flashpoint between two global superpowers that threatens the entire world. Players take the role of US Marines and Special Forces operatives dispatched to take back the oil-rich Russian island of Skira from an invading force of Chinese PLA.

The 220km² island becomes the ultimate open-world battlefield as players are empowered to make their own choices, deploy their own tactics and fight war on their own terms. Objectives are set – how they are accomplished is always up to the player who has the full resources of the US Marine Corps at their disposal and the ability to attack from any direction. Intelligent squad and enemy AI, based on authentic military tactics, react in real time to situations as they unfold to ensure that no two games will ever play out the same.

Players will become immersed in a stunningly realistic conflict with unprecedented levels of detail, freedom and authenticity. Every decision counts, every action has a consequence and every bullet can kill as Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising recreates the lethality, tension and adrenaline of real war like never before.

Update: Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising Challenge!

I hate these darn coded messages. Either I get a rock thrown through a window here, a message-toting pigeon pooping on my windowsill or a big headache after someone conks me on the head and i wake up afterward with top-secret game info taped to my forehead.

Anyway, this latest dispatch came in from Codemasters. Yes, it was in code, and as I'm no master, I had to have some kid down the hall translate this. Cost me five bucks and when he found out I write a game blog, I almost went deaf listening to his whining for cheats and tips and such on games i don't even play. Darn kids...

Anyway, read on, sign up an WIN:

Welcome RECRUITS to the Operation Flashpoint Dragon: Rising testing facility.

In anticipation to the launch of Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising on October 6, Codemasters is giving Operation Flashpoint fans a chance to win exclusive content including a map of the 220 km2 island of Skira and 2 unlockable missions.

Fans can practice their multi-tasking, analytical thinking and memory skills and see if they've got what it takes to survive the intensity of modern combat found in Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising.

Do you think you are ready to endure this hardcore training period, and complete your U.S. Marine Corps training? THINK AGAIN!

All recruits will receive a downloadable map of Skira for their participation, and the elite few scoring highly will receive bonus codes to unlock two fireteam engagement missions, titled Debris Field and Encampment, in Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising

Gallery: Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising Co-Op Screens

With its October 6, 2009 release date rapidly approaching, Codemasters has unveiled a new set of screenshots as well as a game trailer for Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising's Co-op mode. Lifelike visuals and animation? Check. Impressive audio effects? Check. Die-hard military simulation fans waiting with bated breath for the game's launch? Check. Unlike other first-person shooters that rely more on the 'one-man army' approach to combat, Dragon Rising is (like the original game), a highly detailed simulation where trying to play Rambo will leave you and/or your team members dead in no time flat. The unforgiving nature of the game should weed out lazier players more used to regenerating health (not happening here), bulletproof AI allies (nope) and dumb enemies (don't count on it). Scope out the press release below the box art for a bit more detail.

In Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising, the entire single player campaign is fully playable co-operatively for up to four players online. Teamwork and communication are key as gamers take on USMC infantry and spec ops roles battling the might of the Chinese PLA as the war plays out across Skira island.

“There’s no better FPS experience than playing together with friends in a fire team and four-player co-op is the sweet spot; I’d say it’s the ultimate Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising experience,” said Sion Lenton, Executive Producer for Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising. “The nature and freedom of the game lends itself perfectly to the spirit of co-op play – especially as human players explore avenues that the AI won’t always.”

During a co-op game, the host assumes the role of fire team leader and the remaining players choose their role, including medic, rifleman, engineer or anti-tank specialist, via the load out screen. The fire team leader is responsible for issuing specific commands, such as directing suppressing fire, setting way points and instigating flanking manoeuvres. Similarly, if players take control of a vehicle during a mission, roles specific to that vehicle become available, such as driver, commander, gunner or co-pilot in a helicopter.

“Good communication between fire team members is hugely important, especially when mission objectives can be handled in multiple ways. The successful co-op team will learn authentic USMC tactics via the command radial and gameplay encourages the discussion of those tactics; that’s the key to winning the battle and ultimately the war,” continued Lenton.

“It’s a thoroughly immersive co-op experience; the tense atmosphere becomes especially apparent in the spec ops missions, where players will find themselves whispering commands to each other as they become gripped by the fear of being discovered by the enemy.”

In addition to the campaign, the game’s individual single missions, once completed, can be set up as self contained co-op games. This enables players to jump straight to their favorite missions and have up to 3 players to join as part of their unit. Co-op play also offers re-spawn points at checkpoints that encourages the fire team to stick together.

Sounds as if this one's going to be quite intense as a co-op experience. While you're here, you may as well check out the screens below while you're checking off the days (and planning to check a few days off of work to dive into this awesome-looking tactical experience):