ArmA 2 OA update 1.54 is out

[Tony Grunt]

THE STANDALONE UPDATE IS NOT FOR THE STEAM VERSION, DO NOT INSTALL IT.

We should expect an update to Steam soon as this update will allow non BAF-DLC owners to play with BAF-DLC owners, and probably is needed for BAF itself.

Version 1.54 Highlights:
* Arma 2: British Armed Forces Lite - all units, vehicles and weapons from Arma 2: British Armed Forces are included in this patch with lower quality textures and audio files. The full version of Arma 2: British Armed Forces with high resolution textures and packed with a new campaign and large selection of new single player missions is available for purchase, see www.arma2.com/baf for more information about the content of Arma 2: British Armed Forces.
* Engineer - Engineers have undergone some serious training and are now capable of repairing damaged vehicles and defusing mines.
* Artillery Computer - All indirect fire weapons can exploit the brand new artillery computer by selecting it in the Action Menu (default binding is the mouse wheel). The artillery computer initiates an interface where you can see your weapon, and the associated minimal and maximal ranges on the map.
* Numerous stability and functionality fixes and improvements.
* Reworked MP Session Browser and Mission Selector.
* See readme.txt file for more information about the fixes, improvements and new features coming with Arma 2: Operation Arrowhead version 1.54

[PanzerBoxb]

It would be nice if Steam pushed it today as well.

[Tony Grunt]

It's a guess but unless something hasn't changed with steam lately, the steam update is going to be big.
Did the update for my disc version and 1.52 vs 1.54 has around 1.7Gb of changed files, which steam will download.

It would be nice if Steam pushed it today as well.
I guess it will as it is required for the BAF DLC, which is expected in some hours.

[WV2MJR]

the free release of the british equipment is nice, because this will not split the community online.

I also see see from the readme many good things :)

Could you post the readme so everyone may see the full list of changes?

[Tony Grunt]

Could you post the readme so everyone may see the full list of changes?

================================================== ======
VERSION 1.54 HIGHLIGHTS
================================================== ======
* Arma 2: British Armed Forces Lite - all units, vehicles and weapons from Arma 2: British Armed Forces are included in this patch with lower quality textures and audio files. The full version of Arma 2: British Armed Forces with high resolution textures and packed with a new campaign and large selection of new single player missions is available for purchase, see http://www.arma2.com/baf for more information about the content of Arma 2: British Armed Forces.
* Numerous stability and functionality fixes and improvements.
* Reworked MP Session Browser and Mission Selector.
* Engineer - Engineers have undergone some serious training and are now capable of repairing damaged vehicles and defusing mines. An engineer can patch up a badly damaged vehicle, making it operable. A damaged component can be repaired to 60% status; however, note that the total damage inflicted upon the vehicle persists, and further damage will be calculated cumulatively. An engineer can defuse mines, satchels, and IEDs. It's possible to order an engineer to repair/defuse something by standing close to it, selecting 'engineer' in your command bar, and then pressing '6-1' ('action' > 'defuse'/'repair'). If you are engineer yourself, simply select 'action' > 'defuse'/'repair' from the Action Menu (default binding is the middle mouse button).
* Artillery Computer - All indirect fire weapons can exploit the brand new artillery computer by selecting it in the Action Menu (default binding is the mouse wheel). The artillery computer initiates an interface where you can see your weapon, and the associated minimal and maximal ranges on the map. You may adjust your fire mode in the menu to the right and select the target area that your ordinance will strike. The display will indicate an estimated time to target; once you fire the ordinance - by clicking the 'Fire' button - the interface will track each shot. Your aim will change according to your actions once you leave the artillery computer.

Version 1.52-1.54 Changelog
---------------------------

Engine
------
* New: GameSpy modhash key contains list of mods hashes and is used to check there are additional mods on server missing on client (yellow icon in UI).
* New: Mods contents hashes are compared instead of mods lists when equal mods are required on server.
* Fixed: Commandline -mod behavior, active Mods list in UI, ModLauncher UI dialog with better mods detection and handling.
* Fixed: Terrain shadows were too short (http://dev-heaven.net/issues/12328)
* New: getWeaponCargo, getMagazineCargo, getBackpackCargo script commands
* Experimental: TCMalloc used as a memory allocator.
* New: Aircraft now auto-trims at high speed to prevent climbing.
* Improved: More 3D/2D resolution ratios (8:7 and 6:5) added.
* Fixed: Transport waited for dead unit to get out.
* Fixed: NV tracers visible in TI (http://dev-heaven.net/issues/11608)
* Fixed: Decreased tank sliding.
* Fixed: Sonic Cracks and Tracers not working in multiplayer
* Optimized: Frame rate stutter near complex walkable objects (like low rock walls) caused by grass computations.
* Fixed: crew getting killed in vehicles driving from hill/slope
* Fixed: Audio unsupported sample frequency error
* Fixed: IRStrobe (http://dev-heaven.net/issues/11852)
* Fixed: 3D editor - creating of logic center failed (http://dev-heaven.net/issues/11876)
* Fixed: Unit in vehicle could not open gear in map.
* Fixed: client freezes when accessing ammobox (http://dev-heaven.net/issues/11577)
* Fixed: No volume drop on distance with weapon click, car horn and etc. (http://dev-heaven.net/issues/11689)
* Fixed: Dead player bodies disappeared after respawn.
* New: Repair vehicle and deactivate satchel charge action for engineer.
* Fixed: EEIncomingMissile event parameter
* New: Added scripting function disableTIEquipment.
* New: Artillery computer; Fire at position AI command; enableEngineArtillery script command
* Fixed: Surface sound in infinite terrain (http://dev-heaven.net/issues/11430)
* Fixed: AI vision was not affected by light sources.
* Fixed: Birds were heard inside of a closed vehicle.
* Fixed: Scripting command isFlatEmpty did not work with non-zero third coordinate. (http://dev-heaven.net/issues/11704)
* Fixed: TI was red instead of B/W with some settings and graphics cards.
* Fixed: Night vision simulation was not simulating color sensitivity and blue shift in dark scenes.
* Fixed: Disabled debugging message "Added texture headers from file"
* Fixed: Av8 unable to takeoff from Chernarus NE airstrip (http://dev-heaven.net/issues/3240)
* Fixed: Fog and sky colors did not match when dark.
* Fixed: Moon rotates when moving camera (http://dev-heaven.net/issues/8051)
* Fixed: Stars no longer visible through terrain with low view distance (http://dev-heaven.net/issues/8374)
* Fixed: Improved game stability with a small page file.
* Fixed: Gun recoil in ironsights view was missing kick-back (http://dev-heaven.net/issues/4401)
* Fixed: possible crash after mouse click to Prev/Next button in DisplayConfigureAction

Missions
--------
* Fixed: In E06 player should survive fall on ground without opening parachute.
* Fixed: Module Alice2 MP issues.

Data
----
* Fixed: Improved AI path planning and path tracking with tanks.
* Fixed: Assembling/disassembling issue with M2 minitripod and M2 machinegun.
* Fixed: Sound of silenced Mk17 CCO.
* Fixed: Mi8 and Mi17 model animations bug in ARMA2:Combined operations only.
* Fixed: Fire-geometry in all Mi8 and Mi17, crew wasn't vulnerable in some cases.
* Fixed: Get-in points for MH-6J.
* Improved: Special units in US, CZ and Germany factions can hide bodies.
* Changed: Slot size of MAAWS magazines.
* Improved: AI wasn't able to destroy static weapons in some cases.
* Fixed: Animations of US Static TOW launcher.
* Fixed: Words Sabot and M-gun in radio protocols.
* Fixed: Damage zone indicator ATRQ and MROT were exchanged in helicopter.
* Fixed: Rockets count in Mi-171Sh.
* Changed: Destruct type for market tents.
* Fixed: HEAT ammunition for T-55 and Stryker MGS.
* Fixed: Glass penetrability of Mi-171Sh.

[7th_Serf]

we should see this patch pretty quickly I'd bet, since Steam knew its been coming for quite a while and have been pretty fast with the Beta patches that have preceded this update...

That being said, I think it was pretty smart of the developers to make the content of the DLC available to everyone with just the paying customers getting the 'prettier' versions of things.

[Sm0kinJ0nes]

Ok Steam ... where is the patch?
I am giving them till 11:59 EST and then I am asking for a refund for OA.
So freaking tired of their BS. I'll go buy Retail for sure next time.
This is unacceptable!

[skandalf]

they wont give you a refund no matter what you say.

its in the terms and conditions.

[Arrowhead]

I hate to be a Debby Downer, but due to the file system in Arma and Steam's patching system, a new patch means we have to redownload the entire game all over again! That's why BIS is so shy about putting patches up on Steam. They'll be damned if they do, damned if they don't. Deep inside, I think they hate Steam and regret they ever used it(Just my observation/opinion). Support for Steam has been spotty since Arma 1.

Anyways, get ready for a lot of downloading whenever BIS gets around to actually releasing this thing for us on Steam. ;)

[Sm0kinJ0nes]

Yeah well if they look at my games list and see I have thousands of dollars in games and swear to god that I will never buy another game form them again .. that may have a little push.

It worked for that crappy Operation Flashpoint game and I excpect if they don't work out the issues with the way OA was loaded outside of my ArmA2 folder ... then a refund is their only option.

I am about to go buy CO from Target and say screw Steam. Will be the VERY last game I ever buy from them thats for sure. The ENTIRE BIS community feels the same way about it and Maruk (The CEO) will most likely make some thing happen that will end Steam and BIS products unless they fix this.

They have until 11:59PM EST to work this out ... after that No more steam for me.

[skandalf]

im going to do the exact same thing tomorrow morning .. go out and rebuy combined ops and get the DLC elsewhere,

hate having to pay twice for software.

[Lowe0]

Yeah well if they look at my games list and see I have thousands of dollars in games and swear to god that I will never buy another game form them again .. that may have a little push.

It worked for that crappy Operation Flashpoint game and I excpect if they don't work out the issues with the way OA was loaded outside of my ArmA2 folder ... then a refund is their only option.

I am about to go buy CO from Target and say screw Steam. Will be the VERY last game I ever buy from them thats for sure. The ENTIRE BIS community feels the same way about it and Maruk (The CEO) will most likely make some thing happen that will end Steam and BIS products unless they fix this.

They have until 11:59PM EST to work this out ... after that No more steam for me.

How is this Valve/Steam's fault? The rest of the time, Steam works near-flawlessly. Developers both larger (Gearbox) and smaller (Introversion) have absolutely no trouble supporting games on Steam.

[7th_Serf]

from what I have heard, there are problems with the patch and now folks are regretting patching their games. So jumping on the 'anti-steam' bandwagon seems to be a bit short sighted. My server operators have told me that they are waiting for a 'patch' for the patch before they install it, so I'll bide my time until my server is patched to get all ornery about delays and such.

I am curious though, it does seem to be an awful waste of bandwidth to totally re-install the game to patch it...I wonder why steam just doesn't have us download a patch and execute it rather than redoing our games.

I'll wait and see.

[skandalf]

from what I have heard, there are problems with the patch and now folks are regretting patching their games. So jumping on the 'anti-steam' bandwagon seems to be a bit short sighted. My server operators have told me that they are waiting for a 'patch' for the patch before they install it, so I'll bide my time until my server is patched to get all ornery about delays and such.

I am curious though, it does seem to be an awful waste of bandwidth to totally re-install the game to patch it...I wonder why steam just doesn't have us download a patch and execute it rather than redoing our games.

I'll wait and see.

nice post .. that explains some of the issues i did read on the bis site there was a technical problem where steam was concerned.

sounds like thats what they will be waiting for also.

[PanzerBoxb]

1.7GB patch downloading via Steam now.