Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising Message Board

Four eminent 2K Czech and Bohemia Interactive employees have split to form Warhorse, a new development studio in Prague, and are now working on a previously unannounced RPG. Mafia and Mafia II creator Dan Vávra is heading the team at Warhorse, co-founded with Martin Klíma, author of Dragon's Lair. Viktor Bocan, designer of Operation Flashpoint, and Mafia animator Zbynek Trávnivký complete the fearsome foursome.

Combined, the Warhorse crew's games have sold more than 11 million copies. They are hiring now for work on this mysterious RPG, requesting people who are willing to move to Prague to work with talented, successful, laid-back developers, which we're sure will be nearly impossible to find.

Codies may have grounded the DLC chopper for Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising, but that hasn't stopped Valve from dropping a nuke on its price tag and featuring it as the Steam weekend deal. Up until Monday, you can grab the military shooter for a meager $7.50 -- 75 percent off the usual asking price of $30.

As for what to do with the cash you save should you choose to download, you could tuck it in the piggy bank or even use it towards financing your own real war in a fictitious country. We really wouldn't suggest that, though -- real life is woefully lacking in respawns. Also, $12.50 only gets you like 1/300,000th of a tank.

"... I just wanted to inform you all that the team have now completed the 'Dragon Rising' chapter of Operation Flashpoint and that's it for DR-related content going forward."

And with that simple proclamation, delivered by Codemasters Community Manager Helios, comes the end of Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising. While fans on the boards are predictably upset, we're hard-pressed to find fault in Codies' DLC strategy. With two DLC packs released to date - the Skirmish and Overwatch DLC packs, which included four new multiplayer maps, two new multiplayer modes, and four new Fire Team Engagement missions - it would appear Dragon Rising has already received more post-release support than most games in its class.

But if it's simply more Operation Flashpoint you're after, Helios drops some not-so-subtle hints about the future of the franchise. "... in the grand scheme of future plans and schedules the vast majority of the team are already busy planning the future of modern combat," Helios assures the angry mobs before adding, "... please keep on posting and letting us [know] your thoughts regarding the game, or even what you'd like to see in future titles and maybe sequels!"

See that, everyone? There are "future plans" about the "future" of modern combat and they want to know your thoughts on "future titles." Do we have to spell it out for you? Operation Flashpoint 3 will take place in the future!

[Thanks, Skwurl; via 1UP]

The second wave of DLC has finally deployed for Codies' Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising on Xbox Live Marketplace, and where the first pack focused on more team-based content, this new DLC addition, dubbed "Overwatch," is -- uh, actually, it's more multiplayer stuff. It's kinda this game's thing, you know? Overwatch adds two new multiplayer modes: Blindside and Supremacy. In the former, PLA players are tasked with accomplishing goals as quickly as possible, while the USMC players are charged with preventing the PLA team from achieving said goals. Supremacy pits players in a race to capture strategic checkpoints featuring "multipliers," including gun emplacements and air strikes. And, just like the Skirmish DLC before it, Overwatch also packs two new Fire Team Engagement missions to play though: Friendly Skies and Hostile Takeover. You can get the new DLC on Xbox 360 today for 400 ($5) -- PS3 players ($4.99) and PC gamers (free download) will have access "soon."

It's Monday, and you know what that means -- it's ... Monday. Er, we mean it's time for news from the world of Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising! In this case, it's word that a second helping of DLC for Codemasters' hardcore military FPS is on the way. While the developer "can't give out too many specific details at the moment," Ian Webster, the game's community manager, has confirmed that "the pack will include amongst other things additional MP modes" on Xbox 360 and PS3. More info on the content is promised soon. We hope you'll join our internet petition in the event the DLC doesn't introduce the ability to ride actual dragons into battle. (Ohhh ... never mind, it's Dragon "Rising.") [Via VideoGamer.com]

[Image Source] It's a good thing our Avatars have endless walk-in closets, because there's yet more wearable advertising licensed clothing coming for them, this time from Codemasters and its military sim Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising. According to the game's community manager in a post on the Dragon Rising forums, the clothing will be available "soon" and start at the seemingly standard 80 ($1) -- probably for one of the several T-Shirts. Speaking of which, check out how gung-ho Dexter's sis, Deb, looks wearing one of them (right).

Tomorrow's one of those days when it'll be nice to be a PC gamer. Not only will you be able to get a title update for Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising (the full details of which are available here) you'll also be the first to get your hands on the "Skirmish" DLC, which includes four new multiplayer maps and two new Fire Team Engagement missions. The console title update (which you can read about about here) is due on the 360 tomorrow and on the PS3 "shortly after." Moreover, when Skirmish is eventually released on consoles, it'll come with a price tag of 400 points ($5) on 360 and $3.99 on PS3. Sure, the price discrepancy will cause a flare up in the console war, but what do you care? You're a PC gamer. You rise above.

360 and PC owners getting more Flashpoint fun.

Ten-hut, soldier -- Codemasters' Sion Lenton reveals in an interview with Telegraph that the company is currently working on DLC for Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising and the first round will be available in "a matter of weeks." Lenton also says the company has "ambitious plans" for the game's DLC, though he only mentions the requisite weapon and map add-ons most shooters receive post-release.The rest of the interview isn't a bad read; Lenton discusses how the idea to bring back the Operation Flashpoint series came about, why Codies went for consoles, the balancing act between keeping it a hardcore, realistic experience without making it too frustrating for gamers and planned Title Updates to keep the game balanced. We're glad he mentioned that last item, because we've heard some folks in the game's forums aren't all too happy with the experience right now.[Via CVG]

Here at Joystiq, we take our duty to cover teh vidya gamez seriously, but one of our lesser jobs goes unnoticed. While we do our best to bring you the scoops and news you want, we also kind of see ourselves as paternal figures for these budding new titles. We coach games along through previews and hands-on sessions and we do our best to be honest about a game's flaws and the things that we like. Now, with this final trailer to go along with the release of Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising today, we kind of feel like a parent sending off its kid to college, where it will undoubtedly learn the secrets of the world and not drink itself into a stupor. Fly free, Operation Flashpoint -- fly free!

Guys, if you haven't been keeping up with Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising, then brace your butt for the first glimpse at its massive multiplayer action. The latest trailer comes from the game's official site, and impresses us not only through the sheer scale of the maps shown, but also -- oh man, did you see that helicopter blow up everything? Sorry, what were we talking about?[Via Big Download]