HIGHLIGHTS OF RESEARCH

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RANKED/UNRANKED SERVERS

interview here Dec 28, 2007

Originally Posted by interview

OPG: Following from the previous question, could you explain how you intend to address the issue of gaming servers, should we expect to see something along the lines of ranked and unranked? If so could you explain how this will work?

FFOW: We’ll be working leaderboards into post-release patches. In addition to running our own servers, we’ll also release a dedicated server executable so people can run their own stand-alone servers. Once our leaderboards come online, there will be ranked and unranked servers.

interview here Dec 27, 2007

Originally Posted by interview

There is a couple of ranking systems in the game. One is the role upgrade system that is only alive during a match. This means it only upgrades on a set of matches determined by the server admin or a single match. It’s not persistent. These are for upgrading drones, air support, EMP tech and ground support.

There is a ranked leaderboard system for ranked servers approved by Kaos. This is for global scores use and achievements. However, we don’t do a lot of achievements with obscure purposes. This caused many ruined matches in BF that we wanted to avoid.

For clan support, our dedicated server app leaves a lot for clans. They have the option of setting an amazing amount of detail per map. Such as which vehicles are allowed, which weapons, roles, upgrade speeds, etc... This allows clans to setup very specific matches.

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UNLOCKS FOR ONE MATCH & ARE NOT PERSISTENT OR LINKED TO RANK LIKE 2142

interview here Dec 28, 2007

Originally Posted by interview

OPG: Could you tell us about if you will have some type of award system for obtaining upgrades like weapons for example? Unlocks etc, etc.

FFOW: Rather than persistent upgrades, we have round-based ones that allow the players to level up their roles in individual matches. We’ve heard a number of complaints about how persistent unlock systems encourage selfish play, as many players become more concerned about their own individual rank than the team winning the match they’re actually in. We wanted to give the players some progression but avoid telling players their own score is more important than their team’s.

FAQ here

Originally Posted by interview

Unlocks yes or no? and will there be a extremely large variety of them? And also if you will get them automatically (cod4 style) or manually (bf2142 style)?

DV:>> I'd have to say yes and no The Frontlines system isn't like the eternally persistent BF/COD weapon unlocking, but rather is it centered around ranking up during any given round. These ranks can be persistent across several rounds, or reset after each one. The nice thing about this is that after the game has been out for a few months, everyone can still play on the same level to each other. Some people will of course have become more skillful with the higher level tech tree weaponry, but each game can still start on an even playing field.

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MAPS VARIETY

interview here Dec 28, 2007

Originally Posted by interview

OPG: Could you explain what type of map sizes will FFOW support in Multiplayer, can you tell us how a map’s parameters will be determined?

FFOW: We felt like one of Desert Combat’s strongest points was its combat diversity. You could play intimate urban battles like Lost Village and then next map be flying in the gigantic aerial dogfight of No Fly Zone. Not to mention the total battlespace represented by Desert Shield. So, we set out to create that same diversity in our maps. We have maps ranging from Street, an aptly-named close-quarters infantry map, to Solar Farm, a huge map that features jets, helicopters, tanks, jeeps and pretty much every weapon of war we’ve brought to the party.

interview here Jan 7, 2008

Originally Posted by interview

What's the highest amount of vehicles, soldiers, etc. that can be in a battle at one time?

On the PC we’re going for 64 player matches.

As for vehicles, our biggest multiplayer map (Solarfarm) can have about 30 vehicles active at any one time. This includes troop transports, armored fighting vehicles, tanks, helicopters and jets. It makes for quite a battle!

To add to PCF's question, will too many vehicles cause LAG, or will there be a set limit.

DV:>> There is of course a limit, which we've found to be around thirty. The limit is not only network traffic or lag, but also making sure the game maintains a playable frame rate. Because we've been making these kinds of games for years now, it's something we paid close attention to throughout the development of the game, optimizing frame rate and how the number of active vehicles affect the game and network performance. We're pretty happy with how it's all come together.

How many multiplayer maps will be on FFOW at launch? Will there be downloadable maps on the marketplace in the future?

DV:>> There will be at least 8 multiplayer maps for release and more as downloadable content that will soon follow. We are currently working on several of the new downloadable maps as well as the new weapons and vehicles that will go along with them J

FAQ here

Originally Posted by faq

1.2.3 How large are the maps? (0 comments)

Maps are broken up into 3 different classifications:

Small - These maps are usually based around city landscapes, focusing on infantry play. Because of the ruined urban environment, there are plenty of places for you to hide and surprise your enemy.
Medium - These levels allow for a limited vehicles on the battlefield, like a few jeeps or a tank. Because of the limited vehicle usage, these maps are still perfect for infantry firefights.
Large - Tanks, helicopters, and jeeps. Vehicles will be key on these levels, as the wide open spaces allow for plenty of large-scale battles.

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GAMEMODES

interview here 19-Dec-2007

Originally Posted by interview

(FRONTLINES GAME MODE) As for using the Frontline Mechanic, instead of having both teams spread out across the map capturing undefended points, there are 2 or 3 centralized points at a time being fought over. Once a team seizes these points in battle, their frontline will advance deeper into enemy controlled territory, and suddenly one team is on the defensive, scrambling to recover lost ground. If you want to go where the highest level of action and battles are at... head towards the Frontline!

interview here Dec 27, 2007

Originally Posted by interview

The frontlines game mechanic really helps Frontlines stand above its competition; it ensures a dynamic battlefront and a constant stream of concentrated action. What were the thought processes that lead up to the development of this mechanic, and were there any other ideas thrown around regarding how it would function?

FD:>> For the frontlines game mode, we went back and fourth on a few ideas. We look at everything from standard conquest style game modes to game modes such as Push, which we had in Desert Combat. When we went back to look at the problems with the current games, we realized that no teamwork was really required and Push was the closest to teamwork. However, Push was a single objective, which caused serious choke points. So we looked at real battle plans, which have multiple objectives on a frontline. Once you achieve the objectives, the front pushes forward. So our inspiration came from real battle plans as well as our experience on Desert Combat on what worked and what didn’t. We really want to get away from having people spread all over the map with no teamwork.

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FAQ

FAQ here

Originally Posted by faq

What is Frontlines: Fuel of War?

Frontlines: Fuel of War is about the dark depressed result of the excesses and missteps of 20th century modernism. Overpopulation, environmental decay, technology, and the erosion of civil political structures have left the world a dangerous, chaotic place. It depicts a desperate, near future setting where controlling the planet's depleting fossil resources determines the ultimate fate of civilization. A global war for oil is being waged between two superpowers, the Western Coalition (US/EU) and the Red Star Alliance (Russia/China), and players will be instrumental in determining how the war is waged -- and won. You can read the rest of the Story

Who is developing and publishing Frontlines: Fuel of War?

Kaos Studios is the developers. They are best known for making a mod called Desert Combat for Battlefield 1942. THQ will be the publishers for the game.


What are the two factions for Frontlines: Fuel of War?

There is the Western Coalition consisting mostly of US and European Union soldiers. On the other side is the Red Star Alliance which consists mostly of Chinese and Russian soldiers.

What platforms is this game being developed for?

PC, Xbox 360 and Playstation 3.

What are the release dates?

PC & Xbox 360 - February 12th, 2008
Playstation 3 - Spring 2008

What engine is Frontlines: Fuel of War being developed on?

Unreal 3 Engine.

How many players can be in a server on each platform?

PC - 64 Players.
Xbox 360 - Up to 16 Players by using the Xbox 360 as the server. Up to 32 using Xbox Live Dedicated servers.
Playstation 3 - Unknown at this point of time.

When is a beta or demo coming out?

PC - open beta.
Xbox 360 - December 12th the Single Player demo will be available on Xbox Live Marketplace.
Playstation 3 - Unknown at this time.

Will there be modding tools available?

Yes, Kaos Studios will provide the community with a full suite of mod tools.

How many maps are available in the game for Multiplayer?

Eight maps ships with the game. There have been mentions of content updates after release.

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HACKS

Pay for hacks websites have been in the beta
Hacking will be a reality right from the beginning

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FAQ

FAQ here

Originally Posted by faq

1.1 General Information

1.1.3 What platforms will Frontlines be available for? (0 comments)

Frontlines: Fuel of War will be available for Windows PCs, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3.

1.1.4 When will Frontlines: Fuel of War be released? (0 comments)

Frontlines: Fuel of War is currently scheduled to be released in North America on February 12th for the PC and Xbox 360. The PS3 version has been delayed to ensure that it has the same level of polish that one would expect from Kaos Studios.

1.1.6 What is Frontlines: Fuel of War rated? (0 comments)

Frontlines: Fuel of War has been rated T for Teen.

1.2 Gameplay

1.2.2 How many weapons and vehicles are in the game? (0 comments)

There are over 60 weapons and vehicles found in the game

1.2.3 How large are the maps? (0 comments)

Maps are broken up into 3 different classifications:


Small - These maps are usually based around city landscapes, focusing on infantry play. Because of the ruined urban environment, there are plenty of places for you to hide and surprise your enemy.
Medium - These levels allow for a limited vehicles on the battlefield, like a few jeeps or a tank. Because of the limited vehicle usage, these maps are still perfect for infantry firefights.
Large - Tanks, helicopters, and jeeps. Vehicles will be key on these levels, as the wide open spaces allow for plenty of large-scale battles.


Small maps may only be a few city blocks in size, while larger maps can be upwards of four square miles!

1.2.5 What are the different classes? (0 comments)

There are 6 different classes: Assault, Heavy Assault, Sniper, Anti-Vehicle, Special Operations, and Close Combat. Each has at least 15 different weapon configurations they can use.

1.2.6 What are roles? (0 comments)

Roles allow you to unlock abilities during a match that will help define what you can do in the battlefield. There are four roles:


Ground Support - Revive, heal, and repair. Ground Support can also place defensive guns such as sentry guns or rail guns.
Air Support - Call in air support to mix things up. Whether it be the airstrike, cluster bombs or an Osprey attack, Air Support roles can target the enemy and summon a deadly aerial attack.
Drone technician - Call in remote-controlled drones. Whether they're for recon, or attack, Drone Technicians can handle both. You'll get to use explosive recon drones to deadly mortar drones.
Countermeasures - Disable enemy airstrikes, and utilize EMP weaponry to disrupt enemy technology. Useful for countering Drone technicians.

1.4 Multiplayer

1.4.1 Is there bot support? (0 comments)

No. Frontlines is meant to take full advantage of the excitement and challenge that actual human opponents offer.

1.4.2 How many players can the PC version support? (0 comments)

The PC version will support up to 64 players.

1.4.3 Are stats persistent? (0 comments)

No, stats are not persistent. They are per-server.

1.4.4 How many multiplayer maps will there be? (0 comments)

The game will ship with 8 multiplayer maps. Kaos promises to add in more maps after the game is released.

1.7 Miscellaneous

1.7.4 Will there be downloadable content? (0 comments)

Yes. Kaos plans to release new maps, weapons, vehicles, and more.

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WHAT GAME IS FFOW LIKE

FAQ here

Originally Posted by interview

Would you compare this games overall style with a game like battlefield 2142 or a faster paced cod4 more?



DV:>> Well if we're talking about pacing and intensity, I would say that Frontlines contains a somewhat faster, more intense style than you'll find in any of the Battlefield series; and depending on the map, can feel similar or wholly unique when compared to COD4.



With the Battlefield comparison you can go all the way back to Desert Combat and BF1942. In DC, the Trauma team really increased the speed and pacing of the game, partly due to modern military weaponry vs. WWII style weaponry, and partly due to choices made in implementation and tuning. All the vehicles in DC were made to try and generate intense experiences. Taking off in a jet and piloting it in battle for example was something that should have you sweating, and we've wanted to maintain that level of frenetic gameplay ever since the DC days. In Frontlines not only did we aim to make similar intensity choices with the vehicles, weapons and drones, but the frontlines multi-player game mode inherently creates fast paced, intense skirmishes. Because both teams are always fighting in a common area of the map, it's rare that you'll ever be out of the action. And with all the high-tech weaponry found in the Roles system (where you rank up in each round), you're constantly in a rock/paper/scissors battle of tactics. There are many ways to counter a tank for example, with drones, with EMP, with air strikes. Depending on the Role you choose, you gain certain advantages and give up others. Combining these individual choices with the role diversity that your overall team ends up with, changes each and every multiplayer game so you're constantly thinking on the run.



In COD4 you're basically looking at close quarters infantry combat which of course can be very intense. You'll find these types of maps in Frontlines as well, small 8-12 player urban combat skirmishes for example, but of course you have to factor in weaponry like drones, air strikes, and deployable turrets. Once you start moving to the larger maps, with up to 32 players and vehicles ranging from troop transports to tanks, jets and helicopters, the game turns into a whole new style of intensity. You're still in the middle of intense action, but you are now faced with taking on enemy armor and aircraft. You can do this with your own arsenal of vehicles, or playing as an infantryman with EMP, drones and air strikes, you're still very deadly on foot.



Overall I think you guys will find a great mix of experiences and choices in Frontlines, and for fans of Desert Combat, find that the intensity and the 'hard to put your finger on' fun-factor is still going strong.

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PUNKBUSTER

FAQ here

Originally Posted by interview

We are planning on using PunkBuster as well as the Unreal anti-cheat system.

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