Game Evaluation Assignment

Kasey ThompsonCIS487 F09

9/28/09

Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45

Preliminary Info

• Creator: Tripwire Interactive– Make Something Unreal contest• $50,000 in cash • Unreal Engine commercial license worth approximately

$350,000.

• Publisher: Bold Games, Valve Corporation• Genre: First Person Shooter, Period Piece• Price: – Original ($30), Current($15), Specials($5)

Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45

Preliminary Info Cont.

• Minimum Hardware Requirements:– CPU: 1.2GHz (single-core)– RAM: 512MB– GPU: 64MB w/ DirectX9 Compatibility– HDD: 2GB Space

• Actual Requirements Hold True• Recommendation– 3.0GHz, 1GB RAM, 128MB GPU

Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45

Game Summary• Play as either a Soviet or German soldier during

the Eastern-Front (OstFront) Campaign of World War Two in a realistic FPS.

• From Operation Barbarossa (Summer 1941) to the Fall of Berlin (Spring 1945).

• The storyline follows actual history of World War 2, but with limited continuity.– (i.e. battles are like Death Match in Quake)

Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45

Game Summary: Player’s Role

• The Player can choose many different roles in each game, which can vary during and between battles.

• Play as member of a small squad (16-32 other players)

• Infantry (FPS)– Many roles as infantry (Rifleman, Officer, Antitank)

• Tanks (FPS/Simulation)– Tank crew/Tank commander

Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45

Game Summary: Player’s Role

Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45

Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45

Game Summary: Installation

• Download and install via Steam– www.steampowered.com

• Purchase Hardcopy and install in typical software fashion

Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45

Game Summary: Interface

• Game Menus– Similar Layout to Unreal Multiplayer • Simple and Familiar

• In Game Interface– Similar to Most FPS Except:• No crosshairs• No ammo counter• No health bar• No “super map” with teammates pointed out

Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45

Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45

Game Summary: Game play

• The Object of each map is to take and hold key strategic “Control Points” placed around the map.

• Attack/Defense & Meeting Engagement Maps

• Take Control Points by having more team members in the radius for 10-30 seconds

Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45

Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45

Game Summary: Scoring

• Score Individual Points by:– Killing Opponents (1 pt)

– Helping Teammates (3-5 pts)• Giving ammo, etc

– Capturing/Assist Capturing Control Point (10 pts)

Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45

Art

• Vintage Propaganda Posters

• Ambient Colors and Contrast– Serious/Warlike undertones• E.g. gray/red/black

• Mood setting models, skies, and textures– Drab, dark, dirty

Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45

Sound and Music

• Realistic sounding weapons and vehicles

• Immersive ambient sounds– Distant artillery/machine guns

• Bland Musical Track– Takes away from the immersion– Recommend to play without music

Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45

Special Features

• ‘Dual Arc’ Control– Two independent arcs allow hands to move

separate of body• Realistic Weapon Behavior– Physics (bullet drop)– Sway (breathing)– Mechanics (manually work bolt, change barrel)

• Realistic Tank Geometry– Deflections at specific angles/ranges

Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45

Known Bugs

• Frame Rate & Recoil of Firearms– Users with poor performing computers will

sometimes experience zero recoil of firearms resulting in a cheat-like control of weapons

• Animation Bugs/Glitches– Rifle reloading, etc

• Historical Inaccuracies– Minor details on some weapons– Some propaganda art is not of Period

Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45

The Good

• Immersive Game Play– Feels like you’re a part of history

• Challenging Game Play– Victories are more enjoyable because of difficulty

• Social Game Play– Play as a part of team (VoIP)

Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45

The Bad

• Challenging Game Play– New users may be put off by learning curve– Old users may be frustrated on a “bad day”

• Graphics Outdated– Noticeably old graphics can be awkward at times– Can lead to removal from immersive game play

• Lack of Continuity– E.g. Germans can win the battle of Berlin, but to

no affect

Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45

…In the Same Genre

• Red Orchestra is very unique World War Two – First Person Shooter, there are not many games like it.

• Many World War Two games but…– Red Orchestra is only which looks solely at non American

involvement in the war.

• Other shooters: Arcade type, fast paced, non-realism oriented– Red Orchestra is only which looks solely at non American

involvement in the war.

Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45

…In the Same Genre Cont.

• Why is RO better than similar genre titles:– Looks at untapped areas in the Genre– Very niche game model

• Why is RO worse than similar genre titles:– Large learning curve for typical FPS– Very specific game which might not be enjoyed by

large audience

Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45

Appropriate Audience

• Fans of World War Two History

• Fans of War-gaming

• Fans of First Person Shooters– Not typical game, but it’s a nice change in pace

• Teen/Mature age– Graphic depiction of war

Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45

Design Mistakes

• Very few design mistakes– Years in public beta as a mod for UT2K3

• AI development could have more effort placed towards it

Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45

Summary: Strengths & Weaknesses

• Strengths– Immersive atmosphere– Realistic game mechanics– Price

• Weaknesses– Long learning curve– Repetitive game play– Outdated graphics

Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45

Summary: Ways to Improve

• Update game engine– Graphics, Physics

• Add more content– Campaign Mode, would help with continuity issue– More theaters of war – Yugoslavian/Romanian?

Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45

Summary: Worth Purchasing?

•YES!• Great value at $30, let alone $15 or $5

• If you enjoy FPS, history , or a great game

Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45

Any questions?

Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45

Trailers/Game Play Footage

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OawU8g0wd-w&feature=related

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiDbCQCZ48g

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XJM-i192Sc&feature=related

Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45