Could it be . . .the next . . . BF2?
I would quickly say that it is?Ǭ†taboo and almost sacreligious to discuss a game with?Ǭ†regard to it being, “The Next Battlefield 2″, but after reading this interview and the Wikipedia article it looks like Operation Flashpoint 2 is shaping up to be the next kick butt squad based multiplayer tactical FPS game in 2009. From the Wikipedia page, “The PC version will feature a total of 36 players (18 vs 18) in addition to 252 NPC squad members”, basically 18 vs 18 and each side (in theory) gets 126 bots to control. That’s all the detail I could find on multiplayer, hopefully the later developments prove fruitful and the multiplayer is delivered as the bulk?Ǭ†of the game.?Ǭ†
Here are some of the highlights comments that stuck out to me in the Clive Lindop (Lead AI designer for the game) interview.
?Ǭ†”Very quickly, normally in the first 10-15 minutes of game play, players have grasped that the game is very different from standard shooters. The key to survival is not running around or ‘bunny hopping’, it is tactical thinking, working together and using the environment around you to gain an advantage.”
?Ǭ†In terms of military realism, what have been your key concessions to the unreality of videogames? The clich?ɬ© about active duty is that it’s 99% boredom and 1% panic and fear, but this wouldn’t make for a great game experience…
“Fundamentally the game occurs during combat operations; the periods inbetween, when your unit would be resting, is effectively when the player is within the interface between missions. That being said, even in the thick of battle, action ebbs and flows, there are periods of tense anticipation, of moving through hostile country preparing to come under fire any moment. Once combat does occur it can be quick sharp fire fights or prolonged engagements. Part of the dynamic nature of the game is that the pacing and events are constantly shifting.”
?Ǭ†I’m not holding my breath, but I will be keeping up on the development of this game.

Wait so we wont actually be in squads with each other, we will have bots in our squads with us kinda like Freedom Fighters?