A Preview of Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45

**Strag** · 03-13-2006, 03:01 PM

A Preview of Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45
by Strag; images by Tzefanya

Introduction
I've been playing multiplayer games since the original DOOM came out in 1993. At about the same time, I became a student of World War II history. Occasionally those two hobbies have intersected, but not like the intersection at which I've found myself with Tripwire Interactive's Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45. This is a game steeped in World War II history and anchored in realism.

What to Expect
When making the leap into Ostfront, the first thing I experienced was frustration. I quickly found that there is a fairly steep learning curve in this game, but not because of the level of complexity. In fact, Ostfront sports a nicely streamlined control system, requiring relatively few key bindings compared to other similar games. No, for me, the learning curve was proportional to the game's possibilities.

To put it succinctly, I was overwhelmed by the tactical and team play possibilities Ostfront threw at me. Here is a game that has finally figured out how to take the "rambo" type player out of the equation. Lone wolves will get practically nowhere in Ostfront, but those players who work as a team will achieve much. Moving in formations, providing covering fire, flanking, clearing buildings in teams -- these things are all possible, if not necessary, in Ostfront.

How it Works
Ostfront supports 16-player vs. 16-player action on large maps, all of which focus on various battles that occurred on what most Westerners know as the Eastern Front of World War II. On these maps, the Soviet Red Army squares off against the German Wehrmacht, with each side attempting to control various objectives. Some maps involve holding a large open field or a village, while others involve the destruction of a certain object or building. Each side is afforded a certain number of reinforcements, and once those reinforcement have run out, no more players may spawn for that side.

Maps are divided into three general types. One type involves action only between infantry forces. A second type involves action between infantry forces combined with armored vehicles. The third type involves action mostly between tanks, although other armored vehicles do sometimes figure into the mix. So far I have enjoyed the infantry maps, but the armor maps are where Ostfront truly elevates itself.

Armored Combat
Ostfront boasts about 14 different armored vehicles, many of them tanks. So far I've done battle in a Tiger, a Panther, a T-34, and an IS-2. Without a doubt, this has been some of the most thrilling action I've had in armored vehicles in a game. The vehicles are all modelled after their real life counterparts, with details like speed, armor thickness, and the look of the gun optics recreated in superb detail. Even the projectiles fired from the guns are based in reality, with gravity, velocity, and ballistic coefficient all having an impact, so to speak.

The sounds of the tanks are very well done. Tank cannons produce BOOMS that can be heard all around the battlefield, and the CLANG of a tank projectile bouncing off of armor is chilling. Being caught on foot in the middle of a tank battle is like being a small child caught in the middle of a sumo wrestling match; you really get the feeling that these vehicles are heavy, lumbering beasts capable of incredible firepower. Tanks are able to fire high explosive and armor piercing projectiles, so both infantry and armor are susceptible to their might.

Infantry Combat
Infantry combat in Ostfront is intense. Because it is rooted in realism, the game features infantry weapons that accurately reflect the weapons of the period. As such, a single shot from a rifle to a player's head or torso is almost always an assured kill. Players can't expect to take three or four hits from an enemy's rifle and survive. Also, since there is no system for healing, once a player is wounded, he stays wounded. Taken together, these factors require that successful troop movements involve caution.

Ostfront features several different infantry classes, including a basic Rifleman, an Assault Trooper, a Combat Engineer (he who handles explosives), a Sniper, a Machinegunner, and a Group Leader. Depending on the map, only certain infantry classes are permitted, and typically only a certain number of those permitted classes is allowed. A major key to success is learning how to organize the various available infantry classes into an effective team, and then applying sound tactics as a team to achieve objectives.

Conclusion
I have the privilege of playing as part of a fantastic community that thrives on tactics and team work in its games. It is within this community, I think, that Ostfront will really shine. Indeed, the game's emphasis on tactics and team work has already stemmed lively conversation on how best to organize players effectively within the game. I have no doubt that within the first few weeks, we'll have established protocols for creating formations, moving across the maps, and engaging the enemy. I'm looking forward to it!

Screenshots

Arad

Königsplatz

Stalingrad Kessel

**Magnum50** · 03-13-2006, 03:37 PM

great info...thx a mil... I've been playing the beta myself.

FYI... just got the official press release, it's shipping... of course I got mine pre-loaded on steam...

copy/paste of press release...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RED ORCHESTRA: OSTFRONT 41-45 SHIPPING TO STORES NOW!
EPIC EASTERN FRONT BATTLES TO HIT STORE SHELVES THIS WEEK!

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – March, 13– Destineer Publishing’s Bold Games label and Tripwire Interactive announce today that the highly-anticipated World War II first-person shooter for PC, Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45, is shipping today and will be available in retail stores across North America by the end of this week.

Based on the most highly-acclaimed mod ever made, Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45 is a full-featured, stand-alone World War II game that brings players to the frontlines of Eastern European combat during the height of World War II. Players choose from 28 infantry weapons or crew one of 14 detailed vehicles on the Russian Front between 1941-45. The combination of roles across more than one dozen maps, based on real-world locations and battles, allows Red Orchestra to finally achieve its goal of delivering a full first-person, World War II infantry and vehicle combat simulation.

Paul Rinde, CEO of Destineer said “we are excited to be involved in bringing this highly anticipated game to retail and are looking forward to great sales results.”

Alan Wilson, Vice-President of Tripwire Interactive, said “the sheer speed that Destineer has got Ostfront into the stores demonstrates why we were happy to sign with them. We knew we’d need a publisher who can think outside the accepted industry practices, and Destineer has done a stunning job for us, and more importantly, for the gamers who want to play! They set themselves really challenging targets. They’ve bettered those targets. Independent game developers could do with more publishers like Destineer!”

Using Navarre as its exclusive distribution partner to retail, Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45 will be available through North American retailers: Wal-Mart, Best-Buy, Target, Future Shop, and others, this week at a suggested price of $29.99.

More information on Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45 can be found at these sites:

www.redorchestragame.com
www.boldgames.com

For additional information:
Alan Wilson
Tripwire Interactive
+44 795 864 3950 (UK)
alan@tripwireinteractive.com

Steven Charbonneau
Destineer Publishing
(763) 231-8015
scharbonneau@destineerstudios.com

**Faultline** · 03-13-2006, 03:37 PM

Great preview Strag!

I really like the dark and dreary feel of the European WWII setting and this game promises to delivery just that.

My copy is preloaded and preordered. Can't wait to get into TG's new servers and shoot off Coridon's hands!

India51A · 03-13-2006, 04:37 PM

Is there any news of where and when we can get this in the UK?

[RO]Wilsonam · 03-13-2006, 05:08 PM

No date yet for boxed version in the UK. Expecting it to be in the next 2-3 weeks - but obviously you can grab it via Steam at any time!

And thanks for the nice write-up

**TG_Bubba** · 03-13-2006, 05:16 PM

Great job to all who had input. Get ready folks for it is coming.

Obi · 03-13-2006, 07:36 PM

Nice work Strag. This game should be pretty awesome.

TychoCelchuuu · 03-13-2006, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by India51A

Is there any news of where and when we can get this in the UK?

Yeah, right now. Over Steam. BUYBUYBUY!

This review, by the way, is the last straw. I'm preordering now, and saving $2.50 while I'm at it! Hooray for my miserly ways.

Usarion · 03-13-2006, 07:44 PM

Nice job. If I was not pumped before, I certainly am now.

fldash · 03-13-2006, 09:36 PM

Thanks guys. I just spent some time capturing images. I'm really glad they were usable and turned out well.

India51A · 03-14-2006, 03:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by [RO]Wilsonam

No date yet for boxed version in the UK. Expecting it to be in the next 2-3 weeks - but obviously you can grab it via Steam at any time!

And thanks for the nice write-up

Damn, I'm not that keen on Steam, I guess I will have to wait till we get the boxed versions over here.

**CingularDuality** · 03-14-2006, 06:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by India51A

Damn, I'm not that keen on Steam, I guess I will have to wait till we get the boxed versions over here.

I believe you'll still need Steam to activate and update the game...

**TG_Bubba** · 03-14-2006, 09:23 AM

Man, Cing's right, you need steam anyway to play the game.

TychoCelchuuu · 03-14-2006, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by India51A

Damn, I'm not that keen on Steam, I guess I will have to wait till we get the boxed versions over here.

You're not "keen" on Steam? Is there any specific reason? Because if you have a reason, I an convince you that Steam is a perfectly good way to get games, but if it's just for no reason at all I can't help you.

JimmyTwoHand · 03-14-2006, 11:29 AM

Since i swore off credit cards a few years ago and since steam does not accept any other forms of payment im stuck waiting for the boxed UK release.

03-13-2006, 03:01 PM	#1 (permalink)
Strag Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Columbus, OH, USA Age: 34 Posts: 5,004	A Preview of Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45 A Preview of Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45 by Strag; images by Tzefanya Introduction I've been playing multiplayer games since the original DOOM came out in 1993. At about the same time, I became a student of World War II history. Occasionally those two hobbies have intersected, but not like the intersection at which I've found myself with Tripwire Interactive's Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45. This is a game steeped in World War II history and anchored in realism. What to Expect When making the leap into Ostfront, the first thing I experienced was frustration. I quickly found that there is a fairly steep learning curve in this game, but not because of the level of complexity. In fact, Ostfront sports a nicely streamlined control system, requiring relatively few key bindings compared to other similar games. No, for me, the learning curve was proportional to the game's possibilities. To put it succinctly, I was overwhelmed by the tactical and team play possibilities Ostfront threw at me. Here is a game that has finally figured out how to take the "rambo" type player out of the equation. Lone wolves will get practically nowhere in Ostfront, but those players who work as a team will achieve much. Moving in formations, providing covering fire, flanking, clearing buildings in teams -- these things are all possible, if not necessary, in Ostfront. How it Works Ostfront supports 16-player vs. 16-player action on large maps, all of which focus on various battles that occurred on what most Westerners know as the Eastern Front of World War II. On these maps, the Soviet Red Army squares off against the German Wehrmacht, with each side attempting to control various objectives. Some maps involve holding a large open field or a village, while others involve the destruction of a certain object or building. Each side is afforded a certain number of reinforcements, and once those reinforcement have run out, no more players may spawn for that side. Maps are divided into three general types. One type involves action only between infantry forces. A second type involves action between infantry forces combined with armored vehicles. The third type involves action mostly between tanks, although other armored vehicles do sometimes figure into the mix. So far I have enjoyed the infantry maps, but the armor maps are where Ostfront truly elevates itself. Armored Combat Ostfront boasts about 14 different armored vehicles, many of them tanks. So far I've done battle in a Tiger, a Panther, a T-34, and an IS-2. Without a doubt, this has been some of the most thrilling action I've had in armored vehicles in a game. The vehicles are all modelled after their real life counterparts, with details like speed, armor thickness, and the look of the gun optics recreated in superb detail. Even the projectiles fired from the guns are based in reality, with gravity, velocity, and ballistic coefficient all having an impact, so to speak. The sounds of the tanks are very well done. Tank cannons produce BOOMS that can be heard all around the battlefield, and the CLANG of a tank projectile bouncing off of armor is chilling. Being caught on foot in the middle of a tank battle is like being a small child caught in the middle of a sumo wrestling match; you really get the feeling that these vehicles are heavy, lumbering beasts capable of incredible firepower. Tanks are able to fire high explosive and armor piercing projectiles, so both infantry and armor are susceptible to their might. Infantry Combat Infantry combat in Ostfront is intense. Because it is rooted in realism, the game features infantry weapons that accurately reflect the weapons of the period. As such, a single shot from a rifle to a player's head or torso is almost always an assured kill. Players can't expect to take three or four hits from an enemy's rifle and survive. Also, since there is no system for healing, once a player is wounded, he stays wounded. Taken together, these factors require that successful troop movements involve caution. Ostfront features several different infantry classes, including a basic Rifleman, an Assault Trooper, a Combat Engineer (he who handles explosives), a Sniper, a Machinegunner, and a Group Leader. Depending on the map, only certain infantry classes are permitted, and typically only a certain number of those permitted classes is allowed. A major key to success is learning how to organize the various available infantry classes into an effective team, and then applying sound tactics as a team to achieve objectives. Conclusion I have the privilege of playing as part of a fantastic community that thrives on tactics and team work in its games. It is within this community, I think, that Ostfront will really shine. Indeed, the game's emphasis on tactics and team work has already stemmed lively conversation on how best to organize players effectively within the game. I have no doubt that within the first few weeks, we'll have established protocols for creating formations, moving across the maps, and engaging the enemy. I'm looking forward to it! Screenshots Arad Königsplatz Stalingrad Kessel

03-13-2006, 03:37 PM	#2 (permalink)
Magnum50 Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Naples, Florida USA Age: 42 Posts: 3,701	Re: A Preview of Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45 great info...thx a mil... I've been playing the beta myself. FYI... just got the official press release, it's shipping... of course I got mine pre-loaded on steam... copy/paste of press release... FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE RED ORCHESTRA: OSTFRONT 41-45 SHIPPING TO STORES NOW! EPIC EASTERN FRONT BATTLES TO HIT STORE SHELVES THIS WEEK! MINNEAPOLIS, MN – March, 13– Destineer Publishing’s Bold Games label and Tripwire Interactive announce today that the highly-anticipated World War II first-person shooter for PC, Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45, is shipping today and will be available in retail stores across North America by the end of this week. Based on the most highly-acclaimed mod ever made, Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45 is a full-featured, stand-alone World War II game that brings players to the frontlines of Eastern European combat during the height of World War II. Players choose from 28 infantry weapons or crew one of 14 detailed vehicles on the Russian Front between 1941-45. The combination of roles across more than one dozen maps, based on real-world locations and battles, allows Red Orchestra to finally achieve its goal of delivering a full first-person, World War II infantry and vehicle combat simulation. Paul Rinde, CEO of Destineer said “we are excited to be involved in bringing this highly anticipated game to retail and are looking forward to great sales results.” Alan Wilson, Vice-President of Tripwire Interactive, said “the sheer speed that Destineer has got Ostfront into the stores demonstrates why we were happy to sign with them. We knew we’d need a publisher who can think outside the accepted industry practices, and Destineer has done a stunning job for us, and more importantly, for the gamers who want to play! They set themselves really challenging targets. They’ve bettered those targets. Independent game developers could do with more publishers like Destineer!” Using Navarre as its exclusive distribution partner to retail, Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45 will be available through North American retailers: Wal-Mart, Best-Buy, Target, Future Shop, and others, this week at a suggested price of $29.99. More information on Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45 can be found at these sites: www.redorchestragame.com www.boldgames.com For additional information: Alan Wilson Tripwire Interactive +44 795 864 3950 (UK) alan@tripwireinteractive.com Steven Charbonneau Destineer Publishing (763) 231-8015 scharbonneau@destineerstudios.com __________________ Magnum www.gettacticaldammit.com Last edited by Apophis; 03-13-2006 at 04:13 PM. Reason: Removed excess line breaks

03-13-2006, 03:37 PM	#3 (permalink)
Faultline Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Tennessee Age: 29 Posts: 1,559	Re: A Preview of Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45 Great preview Strag! I really like the dark and dreary feel of the European WWII setting and this game promises to delivery just that. My copy is preloaded and preordered. Can't wait to get into TG's new servers and shoot off Coridon's hands! __________________

03-13-2006, 04:37 PM	#4 (permalink)
India51A Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: England, UK Posts: 199	Re: A Preview of Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45 Is there any news of where and when we can get this in the UK? __________________ \|TG-E1st\| India51A

03-13-2006, 05:08 PM	#5 (permalink)
[RO]Wilsonam Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: London Posts: 37	Re: A Preview of Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45 No date yet for boxed version in the UK. Expecting it to be in the next 2-3 weeks - but obviously you can grab it via Steam at any time! And thanks for the nice write-up __________________ Alan Wilson VP, Tripwire Interactive

03-13-2006, 05:16 PM	#6 (permalink)
TG_Bubba Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: In the cell next to Icky. Age: 54 Posts: 5,833	Re: A Preview of Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45 Great job to all who had input. Get ready folks for it is coming. __________________ Admin Graw 2-- Call of Duty Tactical Game Primer Call of Duty - Official Rules, Announcements & SOPs Have a problem? Need an admin? TG_Mateo: "Forget freedom, democracy, the blues, New York Pizza: our lasting contribution to human society is Bourbon." Sloppy Joe: "Don't play this game like you are on your own, because if you do... it might become a reality." kin3: "I'll try but I have the grandchildren all day today and if I'm not wiped out I'll play."

03-13-2006, 07:36 PM	#7 (permalink)
Obi Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Scotland Age: 20 Posts: 2,062	Re: A Preview of Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45 Nice work Strag. This game should be pretty awesome. __________________

03-13-2006, 07:44 PM	#9 (permalink)
Usarion Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ottawa, Ontario Age: 35 Posts: 751	Re: A Preview of Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45 Nice job. If I was not pumped before, I certainly am now. __________________ A good man stands up for himself. A great man stands up for others.

03-13-2006, 09:36 PM	#10 (permalink)
fldash Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Age: 28 Posts: 936	Re: A Preview of Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45 Thanks guys. I just spent some time capturing images. I'm really glad they were usable and turned out well. __________________ It is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9/NIV

03-14-2006, 09:23 AM	#13 (permalink)
TG_Bubba Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: In the cell next to Icky. Age: 54 Posts: 5,833	Re: A Preview of Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45 Man, Cing's right, you need steam anyway to play the game. __________________ Admin Graw 2-- Call of Duty Tactical Game Primer Call of Duty - Official Rules, Announcements & SOPs Have a problem? Need an admin? TG_Mateo: "Forget freedom, democracy, the blues, New York Pizza: our lasting contribution to human society is Bourbon." Sloppy Joe: "Don't play this game like you are on your own, because if you do... it might become a reality." kin3: "I'll try but I have the grandchildren all day today and if I'm not wiped out I'll play."

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