Experiences in Operation Flashpoint Complete

"Experiences in" is a series of short impressionistic reviews designed to deliver quick notes and comments about different games with the budget or frugal gamer in mind.  By design, these articles are kept short so that you can quickly decide to buy it or skip it.


Operation Flashpoint Complete:  Two games are bundled together in Operation Flashpoint Complete, Operation Flashpoint Red River and Dragon Rising (OFRR and OFDR). 

In 2008-2009, the Operation Flashpoint series was seen in its prime.  Between several updates and rejuvenations, Operation Flashpoint Red River and Dragon Rising found their way into my STEAM Library. Although older games, through some mods and TLC, these are viable even today.


Two games are bundled together in Operation Flashpoint Complete, Operation Flashpoint Red River and Dragon Rising (OFRR and OFDR).  Both games are military shooters obviously, both are mission oriented, both run on Microsoft Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7.  The game requirements say nothing about Win8 and clearly states Win10 is not supported, but using compatibility mode should allow them to run fine.

Price: As of this writing, Operation Flashpoint Complete is $5 on STEAM... dirt cheap for two military shooters of this nature.

Storyline: There really isn't one in OFRR or OFDR beyond a shallow premise... most military shooters lack an in-depth story?

Game Mechanics: Both OFRR and OFDR are throwbacks to a simpler time in military shooter history. Don't misunderstand, these games are more complex than point-and-shoot or the nature of games like Delta Force or Joint Operations, but not as complex as ARMA II, III or similar military shooters.

Weapons and Equipment: OFRR and OFDR offer different military style guns and other weapons to upgrade and use. Weapons and ammo are found in several armories and stashes throughout both games.

Graphics: The 2008-2009 graphics look pretty good... not sure why some players say they are washed out and outdated, even horrible.  But with a few mods you can have OFRR and OFDR looking nice in no time.... not cutting edge, but good-looking.

Game Modes: OFRR and OFDR have a single player (SP) mode and a four player cooperative mode (COOP).  Note that he game developers, Codemasters, shut down their official game servers in 2012.  You can still achieve coop mode in both games:

COOP in OF Dragon Rising only; Local Area Network (LAN-COOP-Online) play is possible if a program like TUNNGLE is used... I set up a TUNNGLE Network for OFDR sometimes (anyone can though and Tunngle is free, click the hypertext link above). Direct IP and Online does not work.

COOP in OF Red River only; 1. Single Player Only (Games for Windows Live (GFWL) no longer works) and I got to say, the language (profanity) is rough, but that is how some drill sergeants and soldiers talk.

Requirements: Even the recommended requirements are low.

OS: Microsoft Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7 
Processor: Quad Core 3.0Ghz 
Memory: 2GB 
Hard Disk Space: 8GB 
Video Card: ATI Radeon 3800 512mb, NVIDIA 8800 512mb 
DirectX®: DirectX 9c 
Sound: DirectX compatible soundcard

Additional Singleplayer and Cooperative Mission Maps:

The map files are small because the OFDR game contains all the assets, objects, etc. etc.  The custom map files are just XML and Text instructions that assemble the maps once installed.  

There are many, many maps and mods out there... it will just take some time to pick out and test what works and what doesn't. 

As I find out, I'll add posts below this initial posting.

Operation Flashpoint Dragon Rising:

A TUNNGLE LAN setup is required since Codemasters (the game developer/publisher) shut down their Internet and Online services in 2010.

I hit the motherload when initially searching for custom maps... 500+ maps.  There are some other maps out the, but I have to take some time to find them.

Things Needed:

1. In order to play on a Tunngle server, do this... click the hypertext link below...

==> TUNNGLE ARTICLE

Note, if you already have Tunngle (which =SOG= Squad should) then just move forward to number two.

2. Download the following Single Player (SP) and COOP map packs.  Hint - they're two codes, cut and paste each of the below addresses separately -- into your browser's address bar.

Code:


* 154 SP/COOP SAR Maps:   http://ul.to/l85dhod6
* Major Nicked Maps 2015:  http://ul.to/xjswl9ob


Open each archive and you'll see "missions" folder.  Place the missions folder inside the game's data_win folder. If asked, overwrite and merge files and folders. Example: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\ Operation Flashpoint Dragon Rising\data_win\...

In the end, the structure will look like the below paths.

Stucture path for the 154 SP/COOP SAR Maps:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\ Operation Flashpoint Dragon Rising\data_win\missions\SaintAxe_Ror\...

Structure path for the Major Nicked Maps 2015:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\Operation Flashpoint Dragon Rising\data_win\missions\...

3. Start up Tunngle, if you haven't already done so, and navigate to the correct game room and leave Tunngle running!

4. Start OFDR game.  At the main menu click "multiplayer." For the next screen, click "LAN."  For the next screen, click "BROWSE SERVERS" and look for the name of the LAN server that you want to join.

Overview:

Considering that you've followed the previous posts, it might not be apparent how Operation Flashpoint Dragon Rising (OFDR) works with Tunngle.  

Being an older-oddball and rare game, OFDR does not have dedicated server files.  This means the one player has to host and the other three join.  When the host shuts down their game, the server is gone until someone else creates a server and hosts.  

It is important to note that all players must use the same version of the game!  This should not be a problem because the STEAM version is 1.02 when you initially get the game.

Directions:

Tunngle is started and you've navigated to the OFDR network room.  All you do now is leave Tunngle running... you could minimize it if desired, but leave it running in the background!

Start up the OFDR game.  Go to MULTIPLAYER, then LAN, then you have a choice to make:

1. If you are going to join a server that someone has set up, click BROWSE SERVERS.  Note that if nobody is hosting any maps, nothing will be found... which is probably the case since OFDR is an older game.

2. If you are the one who will host a map or maps, then click CREATE SERVER