Update: They have since changed the name of it on Steam to "Arma: Cold War Assault Mac/Linux" which should help avoid some confusion.
Arma: Cold War Assault [Steam] is now available for Linux & Mac, but it does not support Steamplay with the Windows version. So Steam now has a Windows version and then an entirely separate store entry for the Linux/Mac version.
It's the same price for the different versions, but Virtual Programming (the porters) have confirmed to me this is not a mistake. They also confirmed to me that multiplayer is cross platform between Linux, Mac and Windows so that's good to have at least.
This isn't the first game on Steam to force you to buy it on a different platform. Aspyr Media's 'Call of Duty: Black Ops - Mac Edition' was also one such game that did this.
I really hope this isn't the shape of things to come, as I really don't agree with having to buy for a different operating system on the same hardware on PC. As much as I truly want to support more Linux ports from VP (as Bioshock was a fantastic port, as was DiRT Showdown), I am heavily torn by this. Torn, as I likely will still buy it to support VP to continue porting as I want more Linux ports and to try a game on Linux I never tried on Windows.
Another issue, is the platform icons and how this will again cause confusion for gamers. The SteamOS icon in particular has been repeatedly confusing for people. Hopefully by now most people on Windows already have it, as it could create some support and refund headaches for people who don't properly look at the platform icons.
One thing it will stop, is grey-market keys for the Windows version being used for it. So practically all Linux gamers wanting this will be forced to pay for it properly. That redeems it a little, since I really don't like grey-market stores.
About the game
Bohemia Interactive's debut game published by Codemasters as Operation Flashpoint in 2001, became genre-defining combat military simulation and the No. 1 bestselling PC game around the world and has won many international awards, including “Game of The Year” and “Best Action Game”. Over 2 million copies have been sold since its release.
Storyline
The horrors of WWIII are imminent. There are clashes over the Malden Islands from dusk to dawn and you are caught in-between. You must use all of the available resources in your arsenal to hold back the incoming darkness. Victor Troska came back to Nogovo, he thought the pain of war was left buried in his past.
But his dream lies broken now.
His worst nightmare returns when military forces lands near Nogovo. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Arma: Cold War Assault [Steam] is now available for Linux & Mac, but it does not support Steamplay with the Windows version. So Steam now has a Windows version and then an entirely separate store entry for the Linux/Mac version.
It's the same price for the different versions, but Virtual Programming (the porters) have confirmed to me this is not a mistake. They also confirmed to me that multiplayer is cross platform between Linux, Mac and Windows so that's good to have at least.
This isn't the first game on Steam to force you to buy it on a different platform. Aspyr Media's 'Call of Duty: Black Ops - Mac Edition' was also one such game that did this.
I really hope this isn't the shape of things to come, as I really don't agree with having to buy for a different operating system on the same hardware on PC. As much as I truly want to support more Linux ports from VP (as Bioshock was a fantastic port, as was DiRT Showdown), I am heavily torn by this. Torn, as I likely will still buy it to support VP to continue porting as I want more Linux ports and to try a game on Linux I never tried on Windows.
Another issue, is the platform icons and how this will again cause confusion for gamers. The SteamOS icon in particular has been repeatedly confusing for people. Hopefully by now most people on Windows already have it, as it could create some support and refund headaches for people who don't properly look at the platform icons.
One thing it will stop, is grey-market keys for the Windows version being used for it. So practically all Linux gamers wanting this will be forced to pay for it properly. That redeems it a little, since I really don't like grey-market stores.
About the game
Bohemia Interactive's debut game published by Codemasters as Operation Flashpoint in 2001, became genre-defining combat military simulation and the No. 1 bestselling PC game around the world and has won many international awards, including “Game of The Year” and “Best Action Game”. Over 2 million copies have been sold since its release.
Storyline
The horrors of WWIII are imminent. There are clashes over the Malden Islands from dusk to dawn and you are caught in-between. You must use all of the available resources in your arsenal to hold back the incoming darkness. Victor Troska came back to Nogovo, he thought the pain of war was left buried in his past.
But his dream lies broken now.
His worst nightmare returns when military forces lands near Nogovo. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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The comments on this article are closed.
hurry up the offer ends in a few hours :)
OK nevermind I just read the entire post and discovered that it counts as a different game..
What the hell?!? hope it doesn't become a trend
Last edited by manero666 on 14 March 2017 at 3:37 pm UTC
0 Likes
VP want earn Money.... What a shame!
I buyed it twice, but i buy it a third Time. I want more Linux Ports. And i want a Finish Arma 3 Port. THX VP
I buyed it twice, but i buy it a third Time. I want more Linux Ports. And i want a Finish Arma 3 Port. THX VP
4 Likes, Who?
I bought this game for fifth time!
I have original CD version, then I have CD/DVD game of the year version (I wanted expansions, and it was cheaper to purchase GOTY than all expansions separately) and GOG version. And then I seem to have Arma: Operation Gold War Assault Windows version on steam too, but I cannot remember how I got that.
So, five versions total, that should to be enough :)
I have original CD version, then I have CD/DVD game of the year version (I wanted expansions, and it was cheaper to purchase GOTY than all expansions separately) and GOG version. And then I seem to have Arma: Operation Gold War Assault Windows version on steam too, but I cannot remember how I got that.
So, five versions total, that should to be enough :)
2 Likes, Who?
Joeyboots80 Mar 14, 2017
Not exactly thrilled about this as I already own the game on Steam. $5 ain't too bad though, so I may buy it again to support the Linux port.
1 Likes, Who?
Quoting: evergreenBought! 4Euros? no problem!
Actual problem is not the money.Why we appreciate Steam?Because when a game released for multiple platforms,you can access by having one.
That thing is not so different from Windows Store thing.
0 Likes
OG SWAT RV@Linux Mar 14, 2017
I bought it in 2001.
Has thrown it away, because dont wanna have windows games...
Today I bought it.
Seems the multiplayer is death. In game is only LAN multiplayer...
Has thrown it away, because dont wanna have windows games...
Today I bought it.
Seems the multiplayer is death. In game is only LAN multiplayer...
1 Likes, Who?
InstaBuy, Operation Flashpoint is still the best of the entire series and I mean it, and not just for any nostalgic values either... the game design and mechanics works beautifully here, it is perfectly balanced and knows its weaknesses. The newer games are too complex and ambitious for their own sake and the game engine lags behind even though they are trying to modernize it.
3 Likes, Who?
I'm genuinely surprised by this, the last game I saw like that were CoD Mac ports by Aspyr, but surprisingly it doesn't make me angry, really.
The game is so old and cheap even without sale, that I'm more than happy it got it's native port after all.
Actually, if they just gave the port for free for existing owners, I think they would barely get any profit, as most people who want it own it in one form or another already (and it'll run with WINE) or will get it dirt cheap via bundle key. Ideaologically people support the porting companies a lot (and I bet Feral, Aspyr, VP and others are really glad for it :P) but realistically speaking, they need more income to justify the cost of porting an old title, which arguably may be easier to port, but is way less profitable.
TL;DR: I'm fine having paying for an old title I own twice, if it is what it takes for it to get a native Linux port!
The game is so old and cheap even without sale, that I'm more than happy it got it's native port after all.
Actually, if they just gave the port for free for existing owners, I think they would barely get any profit, as most people who want it own it in one form or another already (and it'll run with WINE) or will get it dirt cheap via bundle key. Ideaologically people support the porting companies a lot (and I bet Feral, Aspyr, VP and others are really glad for it :P) but realistically speaking, they need more income to justify the cost of porting an old title, which arguably may be easier to port, but is way less profitable.
TL;DR: I'm fine having paying for an old title I own twice, if it is what it takes for it to get a native Linux port!
6 Likes, Who?
I just want to say this:
We can't be mad at VP, as this decision was most likely made by the publisher and was out of their control.
We also can't complain about having to buy it again. I know that real Linux gaming is recent thing, and that this is an old game, so of course anyone who gamed before 2012 would have been on Windows. So it makes sense that many Linux gamers still own a copy. But if we want our platform to grow, we have to understand that developers and publishers can't make money off of games that everyone already owns.
I don't really like this, and hope it doesn't become a trend. But if we want old games to be ported, we must be willing to pay for said porting. This is why I refuse to buy games that have yet to be ported. Sure, there are quite a few games that I'd like to play, and there was a time when I might have just pirated them. But I now own more games than I have time to download, let alone play. So I live by the GOL motto:
No Tux, No Bux
Note from Liam: Fixed the name of the porter in your comment (It's VP), so people don't get the wrong idea.
Last edited by Liam Dawe on 14 March 2017 at 7:17 pm UTC
We can't be mad at VP, as this decision was most likely made by the publisher and was out of their control.
We also can't complain about having to buy it again. I know that real Linux gaming is recent thing, and that this is an old game, so of course anyone who gamed before 2012 would have been on Windows. So it makes sense that many Linux gamers still own a copy. But if we want our platform to grow, we have to understand that developers and publishers can't make money off of games that everyone already owns.
I don't really like this, and hope it doesn't become a trend. But if we want old games to be ported, we must be willing to pay for said porting. This is why I refuse to buy games that have yet to be ported. Sure, there are quite a few games that I'd like to play, and there was a time when I might have just pirated them. But I now own more games than I have time to download, let alone play. So I live by the GOL motto:
No Tux, No Bux
Note from Liam: Fixed the name of the porter in your comment (It's VP), so people don't get the wrong idea.
Last edited by Liam Dawe on 14 March 2017 at 7:17 pm UTC
5 Likes, Who?
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