Project: Flashpoint '07

Project: Flashpoint '07 has been initiated. Please see seperate blog for further details:

http://project-flashpoint-07.blogspot.com

Debriefing: Stealth

If you have not read the post "The Last Session", I suggest you do. This is a debriefing, I will allow everyone that participated in the project a lot to write something what they thought of it. Some may write a lot, others just a few notes, but I think it's important that (especially the cadets) get their views of the project out there.

This project was really fun, i learn mutch and i did get many friends.

Debriefing: h3adache

If you have not read the post "The Last Session", I suggest you do. This is a debriefing, I will allow everyone that participated in the project a lot to write something what they thought of it. Some may write a lot, others just a few notes, but I think it's important that (especially the cadets) get their views of the project out there. These debriefs will pop up in the next few days so even if the project is over, keep and eye open for updates.

(Please note that I'm absolutely dire at writing so bear with me)

Now that the project has come to an end I thought...
Well actually Dma thought that I should write something about the project and what I thought about it so blame him if you find this piece of text uninteresting and boring.

First off the people I got in contact with were great, both the "cs-kiddies" and the ofp veterans, especially Redkid & JW.


A quick rundown on the 4 most active players (and Dma).

Quicky - Also known as RallyQuicky. The best Uaz driver out there, you really don't want to be anywhere near him when he's "in the zone".
U_U - He rapes faces & always does what's best in every situation, probably the best soldier of us all.
Ices - The best co-leader out of the bunch. Funny guy.
Stealth - This guy is like a teddybear who got dropped on his head. He's a very kind person who always tries his best but
he is a bit slow and does some minor mistakes here and there (koger anyone? ;D).
Dma - Very skilled in Operation: Flashpoint and the art of teaching. Couldn't ask for more from him.

Now over to the project itself.
It's been a really interesting and most of all fun project that Dma's been running.
Can't really say anything bad about the project except for the lack of interest from most of the recruits (apart from those mentioned above).
All the tactics and formations we used were really fun to learn, although some of the decisions made out in the field were kinda strange to me coming from a cs background and all.
I'm used to 1.45 minute rounds after all. ;)
I can't say that I've ever been bored whilst playing this game which surprises me alot. I could sit and whatch the same spot for 15 minutes without anything
happening at all and I was still enjoying it for some reason.
I will deffinately keep playing the game every now and then, maybe not as much as during the project but whenever Dma and the lads are up for a game and I've got nothing better to do. ;)

Oh I, U_U & Quicky played a couple of games of CS with Redkid who kept saying something like "Your reflexes are not human!" throughout the games. Was well fun. ^^

Big shoutouts to JW, Redkid, Quicky, HeatoN, Ices, U_U, Stealth, HeatoN & most of all Dma.


One more thing! "Spraying is an artform."


h3adache

Debriefing: Ices

If you have not read the post "The Last Session", I suggest you do. This is a debriefing, I will allow everyone that participated in the project a lot to write something what they thought of it. Some may write a lot, others just a few notes, but I think it's important that (especially the cadets) get their views of the project out there. These debriefs will pop up in the next few days so even if the project is over, keep and eye open for updates.

Here I am. Just watching the uninstallation of Operation Flashpoint and thinking of the time we've been playing OPF. The only things I can remember is the fun things, and even if I try I just can't remember anything boring. That's strange since it should be boring sitting in a bush with some other lads for about 20 minutes and not even being allowed to use voicecomms. GRR! This Project has been quite exciting and has given me alot of experience. But the greatest thing with this project was that it ended my whole counter-strike "career". Now-a-days I just don't find it fun to play such games a whole night, maybe 2-3 pcw's per week approximately. So this is probably my ending of my OPF-career but it was damn fun as long as it lasted. Creeds to quicky, dma, headache, u_u, jw (with his sis' that we heard sometimes on voicecom) and Redkid. And wops, there was Operation Flashpoint uninstalled. So this is it, peace out. RiP Project Flashpoint.

Debriefing: Redkid (OFP-vet)

If you have not read the post "The Last Session", I suggest you do. This is a debriefing, I will allow everyone that participated in the project a lot to write something what they thought of it. Some may write a lot, others just a few notes, but I think it's important that (especially the cadets) get their views of the project out there. These debriefs will pop up in the next few days so even if the project is over, keep and eye open for updates.

I'm not the best of writers, so I'll keep this short.
It has been great playing with these guys, fun, and although sometimes not knowing what's going on, good at the game.
I have commanded U_U sometimes, and he's really good a taking orders, so if I'd have to pick a favorite, it would be him.
h3adache has also made an impression on me, and he deserves a special notice. He's good at commanding, always listening, he knows what's up.

Debriefing: U_U

If you have not read the post "The Last Session", I suggest you do. This is a debriefing, I will allow everyone that participated in the project a lot to write something what they thought of it. Some may write a lot, others just a few notes, but I think it's important that (especially the cadets) get their views of the project out there. These debriefs will pop up in the next few days so even if the project is over, keep and eye open for updates.

Ill make this short. I just wanted to say that this project has been so mutch fun and playing with the guys has been awesome :D It's kinda sad that the project is over and i hope that we can do this again sometime. Oh and special thanks to Dmakatra who has been an awesome leader and teacher >:D Although i think he said that it was his first time ever traind a bunch of ppl, He seemd like he had done it a thousands of times before. kthxbye =)

Debriefing: JW (OFP-vet)

If you have not read the post "The Last Session", I suggest you do. This is a debriefing, I will allow everyone that participated in the project a lot to write something what they thought of it. Some may write a lot, others just a few notes, but I think it's important that (especially the cadets) get their views of the project out there. These debriefs will pop up in the next few days so even if the project is over, keep and eye open for updates.

Well, I've always seen CS as a crappy game, with unorganized players, far from any rescue. But, how wrong was I?
Very wrong, indeed. The players obeyed orders very well, even better then some people, playing OFP a long time before. Some of them took the orders better then other, but no names.
It was very nice to see how well the players progressed, from not knowing the difference between "enemy at 200 degrees" and "360 defense", to well-organized Flashpoint players.
I can surely say, there is no such thing as CS-kiddies, it's just we, the Flashpoint players, that see them as it, but if we actually get to know them, and maybe show Flashpoint, you'll see, that they're not. It's just the barrier between us that need to be taken down, and then we're all kiddies (or veterans for that matter)

//JW

Debriefing: quicky

If you have not read the post "The Last Session", I suggest you do. This is a debriefing, I will allow everyone that participated in the project a lot to write something what they thought of it. Some may write a lot, others just a few notes, but I think it's important that (especially the cadets) get their views of the project out there. These debriefs will pop up in the next few days so even if the project is over, keep and eye open for updates.

Well, guess this is the end of my career as OFP-1337. In this project i have learned alot. More than i even could think about
when i firstly wrote to Dmakatra. I think this is one of the coolest and funniest game i have ever played.
In Counter-Strike i was used to be the tacticer, and always came up with new ideas and stuff, and that's one of the reasons i love this game.
It's definitive harder to learn than Counter-Strike. It's not about aim and reflexes, it's about something much more important.
Teamplay and discipline. I just want to thank Dmakatra and all the other OFP-vets for all the time they put to this project (and ofc for all the chit-chatting in the side channel.).
And just a fast summary of all the other CS-kiddies (now called OFP-1337s).

Ices: Very nice to meet this guy, very funny, but also a very good teamplayer and co-leader.
Stealth: Very nice guy, nice to talk to and stuff.
Headach3: Nice teamplayer, and also a nice guy to talk with.
U_u: One of the best of us i guess... really nice tactics and teamplay.
Quicky: The best player of us all, the greatest aim i've ever seen and he's just sooooo funny. (Damn, it's me...but i am good at OFP... really!)

I guess this is the most active people we had, maybe i forgot someone.

I'm quitting all the FPS-games now after 6 years of CS and 2 months of OFP. So see you out there in WoW! (60rogue frostmane(EU) ally)

JAG VILL TACKA MIN MAMMA, MINA SPONSORER OCH MIN HUND FÖR ALLT DET STÖD JAG FICK GENOM DETTA PROJEKT! ÄVEN DMAKATRA FÖR ALLT DU GJORDE UNDER BORDET!

"Fuck school, go pro!"
-quicky

Debriefing: dmakatra

If you have not read the post "The Last Session", I suggest you do. This is a debriefing, I will allow everyone that participated in the project a lot to write something what they thought of it. Some may write a lot, others just a few notes, but I think it's important that (especially the cadets) get their views of the project out there. These debriefs will pop up in the next few days so even if the project is over, keep and eye open for updates.

This debriefing is a little special, as I, dmakatra, am writing it. If you somehow missed it, I'm the creator of this project. I trained these lads, fought with them and had so much fun with them. I will do this the simple and boring way, by going through everyone of them in order.

U_U
Whoever said that the guy in the front did the greatest achievements. Of all those that participated in the project, I have to say I am most proud of U_U's work. I can't think of any other in the group that has progressed so much. I am so overly impressed, chocked and stunned by his achievements. U_U isn't the guy that is doing all the wise-cracks on voice-comms when we're in the lobby. He isn't the guy that is first to volunteer for driving that car. But he's there, always. He's there, watching his angles when even I slack. He's there, taking his orders without hesitation. He's there, firing his rifle and supressing his own individuality to make the machinery of an effective combat unit work. He's not a leader. He's the middle-man, the worker, the grunt and he's fucking good at it. He's silent, a little shy perhaps, but he never lets his guard down. He's just there, doing his job. There's a war to fight, and U_U has parked on the front line. U_U, I hereby give you the title of OFP-veteran.

h3adache
If I were to explain h3adache's effort with one word that word would be responsibility. He's never there for fame or glory, nor to put himself in focus. He's one in the lot, but he understands that to be one in the lot he needs to take his responsibility. He knows his weaknesses and his strengths and utilize them into a fierce combination. He's not over-ambitious about things he shouldn't touch for the sake of the outfit, just because it's 'fun' to do those things. He's also good at analyzing the information I give him. Others, especially notable when leading, just tries to copy me straight off and think in the lines of "what would dmakatra do in this situation?". h3adache can see the problem, analyze it with the knowledge I've given him, and attack it through his own line of thought. You can say that h3adache understands the logic of the battle as he understands all that is happening fundamentally. This makes h3adache the most valuable leader of the cadets, a gift I hope he will polish because he will turn out better than we can imagine. h3adache, I hereby give you the title of OFP-veteran.

quicky
Ambition and with a true love for the game. That's quicky for you. Driving he likes. Piloting he likes. Shooting he likes. Commanding he likes. And his name suits him, because he's one quick-thinking lad. Idea here, idea there. Always on his toes. And always in a vehicle if possible. It's hard to define quicky actually, as he's just... well, hard to define. He's spontanious, and probably the greatest rifleman and individual player of the lot. And he's funny as hell. It's just hard to put quicky in a specific classification, quite possibly because he's all over the place - all the time. He's quick, he's fast, he's here, he's there and ever since that hilariosly chaotic game of OilWar - he's now also known as Rally-quicky. A name that sum him up better than any words I can put here. quicky, I hereby give you the title of OFP-veteran.

Ices
Back in the days when the gaming market was still small, creative and unpoluted by populist crap put out by EA there existed a strategy-series known as Close Combat. In these games a squad consisted of a leader, an assisting-leader and a couple of grunts. I never really understood what the hell an assisting-leader did. Now, finally, I know. Ices is the backbone of our combat unit. He's always giving advice, helping the leader when in need of help, pointing out key-points and always taking iniative - smart iniative. In the abscence of a good leader, Ices is more likely to be the actual leader even if not formally giving the commands. If he throws a smoke grenade and get into cover, others will follow while the un-experienced leader is stuttering. And when there is a good leader, it's like his iniative is linked with the line of thoughts that the leader has. I've never, ever had to say to Ices to undo something in the field that he did on his own iniative. He sees what needs to be done, and does it with great results. Ices, I hereby give you the title of OFP-veteran.

Stealth
Stealth. He's getting better all the time (I'm fixing a hole where the... oh, nevermind, get the reference and win a cookie!) but it is slow work. He's slower than the others, in his way of adapting, thinking and utulizing the training I give him. But he's there in the formation, and he's got a willpower like no-one else. Sometime he has surprised me, being more resourceful than I thought. Sometimes he has made my face go grey because of frustration. The last few weeks he didn't manage to show up, I don't know why, and he excused himself a lot. It's a shame really, because I think if he had just been active the last week before summer break ended as well, he would've been quite good when the project closed. But the stuff I've seen from him now isn't well enough for me to give him the title of OFP-veteran. I'm afraid not. Hang in there Stealth, even if the project is closed we will still continue to play - and we want you there on the server with us.

dmakatra
Yes, I'm going to evaluate myself as well. Self-critic is good, and I haven't been perfect. To start off, I've had very limited experience in OFP MP. I've been in the 23rd a few weeks but quite soon hopped off due to various reasons. I've played quite a bit with the lot at #swepack and #dfofp, but that isn't exactly organized played. So most of the tactics we've used and I've taught have been made up by my extremely limited experience with MP and my own common sense as a 5-year vet. And I think I did good. I'm not the greatest tactician, nor do I know every field manual in the world, but I think we did good. My main problem has not been the tutoring or the leading, but instead keeping the interest up. Playing on the same bloody mission day out and day in can get quite boring, which it also did, and several periods there were times when OFP felt like a routine. OFP, routine. I don't even know how I put those in the same sentence.

That was all, this was my debrief. I hope you've enjoyed reading about this project and learnt something from the results and conclusions that I drew. I'd like to thank the OFP-vets that has helped my out (especially Redkid and JW), those of you that follow the project and especially my five cadets. I fucking enjoyed this. Bilda kolonn på mig, 200!

The Last Session

The last session, the last session
The last session with you
Don't mean the last game is over
The last session, the last session
The last session was through

If you've followed the project you've probably noticed that the last days have been extremely slow. No updates, and no sessions. This is because a number of reasons, primarily the number of participants. The old crew is there, but it's hard to gain newcomers and with the summer break over, even the old crew is having a hard time showing up. 2-3 player sessions is even worse than those 4 player sessions I complained about before.

Therefore I've decided to put this project to a halt. Yes, before they had the final exam. It just isn't worth it, because the final exam will end up with 3 players participating, and that's no good. It's better to end now and save a lot of energy being pushed down into something that will give no outcome. I think I've made my point with the project anyway. This point I will get to later in this blog post.

I had so much planned, but I can only go that far on a small team. Even if I would've focused on small-teams tactics, they need more training in the large-scale battle-theatre to be able to figure out small-team tactics as well. I just can't supply with neither the training or the experience, due to the low amount of people active in this project.

My thoughts on this project is as follows:

There are CS-kiddies. And they are idiots. Chocked? I've written the last few weeks how much I was amazed of my cadets. And I am. But there are CS-kiddies out there. A lot of them.

I put down an enourmous amount of time on bumping my thread over threads like "Pee or Drink?". In this very interesting thread they discuss whether to pee or drink if they really had to empty the bladder and were very thirsty at the same time. Priorities are interesting subjects.

I also put down an enormous amount of time chasing down people that sent in an application, and refused to answer me before they even got to their first training session. They seem to regret they had applied, which is fair enough I think, but they didn't have the guts to tell me. One guy I fetched of a forum I regularly visit (Swedish PC Gamer, if you must know) and he not only ignores me on MSN and mail, but also on that forum. How neat.

There are idiots out there in the game communities, and there seems to be a more of them in the CS-community. I can't argue against it. The project was supposed to fight this, but it ended up proving it instead. At least to a certain degree.

I changed 5 CS-Kiddies into OFP-players. I did that. I actually did that. But on the path there, through recruitment of these 5, I ran into at least ten times more CS-Kiddies that I did NOT turn into OFP-players. What I did was end up with five of the most decent CS-Kiddies there were. But they were CS-Kiddies, nonetheless, the forum posts, the enormous amount of 1337-phrases and illogical smileys, the way of thinking. It was all there. But this project would've been a lot more interesting if I had gotten away with 20 random CS-Kiddies, instead of the five "top" ones. These guys could adapt and enjoy OFP, I don't think every CS-Kiddie out there could do that.

But we can never know for sure, and in that way this project was a failure. I don't own ten million dollars I can give away as price-money, nor do I have the power to force people. I had to look for volunteers and then this was the result.

But in a few ways the project was a success. I managed to change this people that were stuck in the CS 'culture' of immaturety, cheating and impatience into responsible and mature players. I just had to show them a layer of their gaming that they didn't know they possessed. They didn't know they had that maturety inside them, or that patience. But they found out, in some ways I even think that developed them as persons. A way of growing up and realizing that gaming can be more than 5-minute rounds.

I don't think 0MgK|lzz4uz00r will show up in ArmA when released, but I do suspect some of the CS-people will check out the game. Those that do check it out are probably like these persons. We will face them on the public servers and on the forums when it's released. They will be a pain in the arse, because they are stuck in the CS 'culture'. But we just have to show those people that layer that they didn't know they had, just like I showed these 5 guys. And I hope we will show them, because while there may be idiots in CS - there are bloody good people there too. I know. I've played with them. And I've enjoyed every bloody minute of it. From the first time when we went up to that castle and had a skirmish, to the last session that was played tonight when we had lost all our weapons and had to prevent an assault on the airfield with a vehicle-mounted grenade launcher and laser designated artillery.

I still remember that skirmish in the castle. lol, d3y w3r3 n00bz00rs.