Red Orchestra (game mod)
Encyclopedia
Red Orchestra: Combined Arms is a tactical
first-person shooter
total conversion for Unreal Tournament 2004
and previously for Unreal Tournament 2003
originally developed by an independent international mod team, set on the Eastern Front
during World War II
.
It is notable for its emphasis on realism in comparison to other WW2-based FPSs
. Unlike most FPSs, there is little on-screen information. There are no crosshairs in the middle of the screen; instead, the player must aim using simulated three-dimensional iron sights
, compensating for the breathing of the character and natural sway from holding the gun. The player must also mentally keep track of ammo usage, unlike in games such as Counter-Strike
which use an ammunition counter. Health status is not represented by points, but by a diagram of the player's body with reddened sections that show where he or she has been wounded. The bolt-action rifles in the game can often kill a player in one shot if rounds connect with any part of the torso or head. Semi-automatic rifles, such as the SVT-40 and Gewehr 43, are also capable of killing in one shot.
The development team that made the original mod was awarded the "Grand Prize" in the Make Something Unreal mod competition, run by nVidia
and Epic Games
. The prize was a free license for the Unreal Engine 2.5
and Unreal Engine 3.0
game engine
. As a result, Tripwire Interactive
was created and Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45
was developed.
Version 3.0 introduced the Combined Arms aspect, which included the addition of tanks and other vehicles. Version 3.3, which is likely the last version for the total conversion, includes the Soviet T-34/85, KV-1S, and IS-2 and German Panzer IV
and Panzer V (aka Panther) tanks. Also included are the Russian Zis-5
truck and German SdKfz 251
Half-track
.
. It features all-new maps, all-new character art and animation, and doubles the number of vehicles to 14 with new additions such as the German Tiger I
and Stug III.
On 14 February 2006, Tripwire Interactive LLC. and Valve Corporation
announced the pre-release of Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45 via Valve Corporation's Steam online delivery service. Retail availability was expected in early Q2 2006. The game was to be released via Steam on March 14, 2006, and the boxed version was scheduled to be in stores later that week.
On 14 March 2006 Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45
was released via Steam. Boxed versions of the game appeared in North American stores around a week later, and are currently being distributed across the world. Red Orchestra was also recently shipped through Scandinavia.
On 2 August 2006 Steam announced a five-day free full-game trial of Red Orchestra. Steam has made previous use of the full-game trial concept for Day of Defeat: Source.
loki installers for linux gamers
supplies a Linux
installer for the original Red Orchestra: Combined Arms modification. It is made to work with the Linux port of Unreal Tournament
2004, and has an installer for both the original mod and the Summer Offensive Map Pack Addon.
Tactical shooter
A tactical shooter is a subgenre of shooter game that includes both first-person shooters and third-person shooters. These games typically simulate realistic combat, thus making tactics and caution more important than quick reflexes in other action games...
first-person shooter
First-person shooter
First-person shooter is a video game genre that centers the gameplay on gun and projectile weapon-based combat through first-person perspective; i.e., the player experiences the action through the eyes of a protagonist. Generally speaking, the first-person shooter shares common traits with other...
total conversion for Unreal Tournament 2004
Unreal Tournament 2004
Unreal Tournament 2004, also known as UT2K4 and UT2004, is a futuristic first-person shooter computer game developed by Epic Games and Digital Extremes...
and previously for Unreal Tournament 2003
Unreal Tournament 2003
Unreal Tournament 2003 or UT2003 is a first-person shooter video game designed mainly for multiplayer gaming. The game is part of the Unreal franchise's series of games, and is a sequel to Unreal Tournament ....
originally developed by an independent international mod team, set on the Eastern Front
Eastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
It is notable for its emphasis on realism in comparison to other WW2-based FPSs
First-person shooter
First-person shooter is a video game genre that centers the gameplay on gun and projectile weapon-based combat through first-person perspective; i.e., the player experiences the action through the eyes of a protagonist. Generally speaking, the first-person shooter shares common traits with other...
. Unlike most FPSs, there is little on-screen information. There are no crosshairs in the middle of the screen; instead, the player must aim using simulated three-dimensional iron sights
Iron sights
Iron sights are a system of shaped alignment markers used as a sighting device to assist in the aiming of a device such as a firearm, crossbow, or telescope, and exclude the use of optics as in telescopic sights or reflector sights...
, compensating for the breathing of the character and natural sway from holding the gun. The player must also mentally keep track of ammo usage, unlike in games such as Counter-Strike
Counter-Strike
Counter-Strike is a tactical first-person shooter video game developed by Valve Corporation which originated from a Half-Life modification by Minh "Gooseman" Le and Jess "Cliffe" Cliffe...
which use an ammunition counter. Health status is not represented by points, but by a diagram of the player's body with reddened sections that show where he or she has been wounded. The bolt-action rifles in the game can often kill a player in one shot if rounds connect with any part of the torso or head. Semi-automatic rifles, such as the SVT-40 and Gewehr 43, are also capable of killing in one shot.
The development team that made the original mod was awarded the "Grand Prize" in the Make Something Unreal mod competition, run by nVidia
NVIDIA
Nvidia is an American global technology company based in Santa Clara, California. Nvidia is best known for its graphics processors . Nvidia and chief rival AMD Graphics Techonologies have dominated the high performance GPU market, pushing other manufacturers to smaller, niche roles...
and Epic Games
Epic Games
Epic Games, Inc., also known as Epic and formerly Epic MegaGames, is an American video game development company based in Cary, North Carolina. Its most recent success has been the Gears of War series of games, although it is also known for its Unreal Engine technology. It is the parent company of...
. The prize was a free license for the Unreal Engine 2.5
Unreal Engine
The Unreal Engine is a game engine developed by Epic Games, first illustrated in the 1998 first-person shooter game Unreal. Although primarily developed for first-person shooters, it has been successfully used in a variety of other genres, including stealth, MMORPGs and RPGs...
and Unreal Engine 3.0
Unreal Engine
The Unreal Engine is a game engine developed by Epic Games, first illustrated in the 1998 first-person shooter game Unreal. Although primarily developed for first-person shooters, it has been successfully used in a variety of other genres, including stealth, MMORPGs and RPGs...
game engine
Game engine
A game engine is a system designed for the creation and development of video games. There are many game engines that are designed to work on video game consoles and personal computers...
. As a result, Tripwire Interactive
Tripwire Interactive
Tripwire Interactive is an American game development studio and publisher based in Roswell, Georgia, formed by members of the international team that created the acclaimed Unreal Tournament 2004 mod, Red Orchestra: Combined Arms. Red Orchestra won top prize in the nVidia-sponsored Make Something...
was created and Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45
Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45
Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45 is a tactical first-person shooter computer game based on its predecessor Red Orchestra Mod. After winning the Make Something Unreal contest, the team behind the original Red Orchestra started the game studio Tripwire Interactive...
was developed.
Features
Red Orchestra features advanced ballistics for both small arms and tank rounds - incorporating bullet drop, flight time, and tanks with realistic armor properties, including penetration and deflection, in relation to range and projectile trajectory angle. Realistic player movements are modeled, such as the ability to lie and move prone, sprint, and deploy machine guns both on objects and while prone.Version 3.0 introduced the Combined Arms aspect, which included the addition of tanks and other vehicles. Version 3.3, which is likely the last version for the total conversion, includes the Soviet T-34/85, KV-1S, and IS-2 and German Panzer IV
Panzer IV
The Panzerkampfwagen IV , commonly known as the Panzer IV, was a medium tank developed in Nazi Germany in the late 1930s and used extensively during the Second World War. Its ordnance inventory designation was Sd.Kfz...
and Panzer V (aka Panther) tanks. Also included are the Russian Zis-5
ZIS-5
ZiS-5 may refer to:* F-34 tank gun, used on the T-34 tank* ZiS-5 , produced at Zavod imeni Stalina; see also ZiS-6...
truck and German SdKfz 251
SdKfz 251
The Sd.Kfz. 251 half-track was an armored fighting vehicle designed and first built by Hanomag company during World War II. The largest and best armored of the wartime half-tracks, the Sd.Kfz. 251 was designed to transport the panzergrenadiers of the German mechanized infantry corps into battle....
Half-track
Half-track
A half-track is a civilian or military vehicle with regular wheels on the front for steering, and caterpillar tracks on the back to propel the vehicle and carry most of the load. The purpose of this combination is to produce a vehicle with the cross-country capabilities of a tank and the handling...
.
Distribution
Red Orchestra: Combined Arms is still free, although its successor is not free and can be obtained from the Steam distribution, in the form of Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45
Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45 is a tactical first-person shooter computer game based on its predecessor Red Orchestra Mod. After winning the Make Something Unreal contest, the team behind the original Red Orchestra started the game studio Tripwire Interactive...
. It features all-new maps, all-new character art and animation, and doubles the number of vehicles to 14 with new additions such as the German Tiger I
Tiger I
Tiger I is the common name of a German heavy tank developed in 1942 and used in World War II. The final official German designation was Panzerkampfwagen Tiger Ausf. E, often shortened to Tiger. It was an answer to the unexpectedly formidable Soviet armour encountered in the initial months of...
and Stug III.
On 14 February 2006, Tripwire Interactive LLC. and Valve Corporation
Valve Corporation
Valve Corporation is an American video game development and digital distribution company based in Bellevue, Washington, United States...
announced the pre-release of Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45 via Valve Corporation's Steam online delivery service. Retail availability was expected in early Q2 2006. The game was to be released via Steam on March 14, 2006, and the boxed version was scheduled to be in stores later that week.
On 14 March 2006 Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45
Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45
Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45 is a tactical first-person shooter computer game based on its predecessor Red Orchestra Mod. After winning the Make Something Unreal contest, the team behind the original Red Orchestra started the game studio Tripwire Interactive...
was released via Steam. Boxed versions of the game appeared in North American stores around a week later, and are currently being distributed across the world. Red Orchestra was also recently shipped through Scandinavia.
On 2 August 2006 Steam announced a five-day free full-game trial of Red Orchestra. Steam has made previous use of the full-game trial concept for Day of Defeat: Source.
loki installers for linux gamers
Loki installers for linux gamers
linux installers for linux gamers is a website that supplies and builds game installers for Linux using the Loki and Mojo setup tools....
supplies a Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
installer for the original Red Orchestra: Combined Arms modification. It is made to work with the Linux port of Unreal Tournament
2004, and has an installer for both the original mod and the Summer Offensive Map Pack Addon.