Thanks Shane. As mentioned I am the Community/PR manager at Bohemia Interactive Studio, primarily I work day to day within the community that built up around our company and games. I also deal with various aspects of public relations to help spread the word about our company and our games.

The main campaign is called Cold War Crisis; this campaign is set in 1985 at the height of Cold War tensions. A small NATO force stationed on an Island in Eastern Europe, is drawn into a rapidly escalating conflict initiated by a rebel Soviet faction led by a General disillusioned with the progress of perestroika and glasnost in Russia.

The NATO forces are located on Malden, the largest island of the Malden Islands group. The other islands making up the group are: Everon, a peaceful independent republic and Kolguyev, a Soviet outpost controlled by General Ivan Vasilii Guba - an old-school Communist general who firmly believes in the harshest of Cold War policies. Guba has set himself up as a feudal warlord in his stronghold on Kolguyev and refuses to listen to any orders from Moscow. The island has become a staging post for his well-equipped modern army to attempt to control the surrounding area.

General Guba starts a dangerous adventure of his own with the invasion of Everon. Worse still: Guba controls an unknown number of nuclear weapons. The new Soviet government is unable to do anything about this flashpoint at the moment and US president Reagan meets the new Soviet leader Gorbachev. The expected outcome of the meeting being an agreement for an international NATO force to go out to the region to try to help to keep the peace.

The game is a very complex and detailed simulation of modern warfare, offering large scale maps, numerous playable vehicles and allows you to take on nearly any role you can imagine: infantry grunt, squad commander, special ops, airborne and armoured.

The second campaign, entitled Resistance, is unlocked once Cold War Crisis has been completed and forms a prequel to the Cold War Crisis storyline. Resistance is set several years before the events of the main campaign and casts the player as Victor Troska, ex-Special Forces soldier. Troska is trying to live a peaceful civilian life on the island of Nogova, a devastated former socialist outpost of the Soviet Union, which is now a fledgling democracy.

Nogova is located a short distance from the Malden Islands, and its gorgeous natural beauty spots are juxtaposed with built-up areas which still haven't recovered from years of socialist ideology and life-style. However, the situation changes when a Soviet force invades the island group and destroys Troska's idyllic dreams. Reluctant at first to return to his warlike ways, he is forced to participate in, and then lead, the ramshackle Resistance effort, which grows up in response to the Soviet occupation of the island. Players have to scavenge equipment from whatever sources they can manage, which provides for a different play experience and hope for some assistance from the US forces.

Throughout the 18 closely linked missions, the overriding objectives include adding to your resistance force by gaining new recruits, gathering and stockpiling equipment as well as preserving as many of your comrades as possible to build an army strong enough to repel the Soviets.

In the Cold War Crisis campaign the player will be cast in the roles of 4 different members of the NATO force: special operations Black Op soldier James Gastovski, infantry grunt David Armstrong, tank crewmember Robert Hammer and helicopter pilot Sam Nichols.

• David Armstrong - This young and promising, if somewhat naive soldier, is thrown into the conflict while only weeks away from being shipped back to the US. The easy-going life at his deployment base on Malden is ruthlessly shattered when he and his friends suddenly find themselves in a warzone.
• Robert Hammer - Hammer is a young US Army Tanker. He's not too worried about the darker sides of war, and has an ego to match the size of his tank.
• James Gastovski - A former member of a Special Forces unit, Gastovski is a man in his late 30ies, without any visual emotions. Tired of war, he retired from the Army several years back to start a new life on one of the Malden islands. But when the conflict breaks loose there, he is called for to help out once again. While extremely capable and experienced, Gastovski does not take the military protocol all that serious anymore.
• Sam Nichols - Nicholls is a young US Army helicopter pilot. His main job is flying UH-60 transport helicopters, but due to a severe lack of pilots on Malden, he quickly finds himself piloting other aircraft as well.

The Resistance campaign casts the player as Victor Troska, an ex-Special Forces soldier, living a peaceful civilian life on the island of Nogova.

• Victor Troska - "Exiled from the island of his birth many years ago,it's said that this rowdy and adventurous young man spent time with a number of foreign special forces and secret service organisations before returning during the anti-government demonstrations of 1974. The role he played there has passed into local legend, as the pro-Soviet regime was overthrown and a new republic established. Turning his back on his past, Troska has now settled into a respectable civilian life on an island of exceptional natural beauty. No more gunfights; no more blood. Just peace, and quiet."

Operation Flashpoint: Elite comprises of two campaigns, Cold War Crisis which contains 30 missions and Resistance which contains 16 missions, additionally there are a further 15 single missions and 5 instant action missions.

Conservatively you're looking at perhaps a minimum of 50 hours of single player gameplay. Of course there's also a built in mission editor that extends gameplay virtually beyond any limit.

The original PC title was genre-breaking in terms of the size and scope of the gameplay it offered, no longer were gamers forced to do battle in narrow corridors of gameplay with little choice as to movement and tactics.

We considered it crucial that nothing was diluted, removed or reduced due to hardware limitations, rather that we somehow learned ways to circumvent what other developers may consider as unavoidable sacrifices or unachievable objectives. So to put a game of this stature onto a console system such as Xbox with its conservative hardware requirements was a significant undertaking, which took time to accomplish. The PC game required 256+ MB of memory and a reasonably fast CPU to run, initially it seemed quite impossible to bring such a complex game world to Xbox. As time passed we were not only taking everything from the PC version to put into Xbox but we were also improving and reworking all game assets as well as the game engine, to fully utilise anywhere that the Xbox's power was not pushed to the limit.

Of course it's well known that political factors beyond our control also contributed a little to the time the game took from the day it was announced as being in development to the day it will get onto shelves, but we didn't let such delays deter us from the goal. In fact the delays have resulted in a better, more complete, more realistic game, so it's the Xbox gamers that will benefit from the delay most of all.

First of all, the entire gameplay experience is very much different. Flashpoint is focused on realism, involving you in the combat in as much a way as is possible in a video

game. You have 4 massive maps, each over 100 sq. km in size. You can see a large number of AI operating at the same time and coordinating their efforts. During multiplayer you can mix AI with live players in many different combinations and play cooperative and team based scenarios.

In Flashpoint you are surrounded by a very complex and dynamic ambient life: you have bees, butterflies, mosquitoes, hawks and of course, the ever popular seagulls. Whilst this may sound funny in a military game, it is actually quite an important feature for both the immersion and the gameplay. As the battlefield is no longer static, a strategy of "shoot anything that moves" no longer works. The game world simulation we have created is so deep that it includes such things as accurately mapped star constellations, moon phases, wind, variable weather and even realistically simulated ocean tides.You can command a squad of 11 soldiers using an intuitive interface and you can use the built in mission editor to easily create various combat situations.Flashpoint has an exceptionally strong and proven single player element, providing incredible longevity of gameplay and offering a vast number of different perspectives on modern warfare conflicts.

The list goes on and on, really that's just scratching the surface that is the "whole" of Operation Flashpoint: Elite. If you're looking for a very deep and serious military simulation in large believable worlds, I don't think you can see anything else available that comes anywhere close to Operation Flashpoint: Elite.

The graphics were really improved, both on the side of model detail, and on the technology side. The Xbox version features many state of the art vertex and pixel shader technologies like hardware skinning and animation, normal mapping and detail texturing, high dynamic range rendering, depth of field camera "focus" blur, volume shadows. The models and textures are much more detailed than they were in the PC version, something that is especially noticeable for characters and foliage. This game really is powered by a brand new engine, which drives a good old proven gameplay formula.

Also, almost every single drawback or problem from the PC engine was improved or reworked. We could talk about the new flight model, new damage model, rock solid collision

detection, HDR lighting, 3D spatial sound engine with reverb and occlusions, real time shadows and... Well, I could continue for hours now as 3 years development time is really a very long time, but we didn't waste it, and the same team that developed the original Operation Flashpoint for PC focused on this project almost exclusively during the last three years.

The original PC multiplayer interface was reasonably functional, but for Xbox Live the emphasis is more on ease and simplicity, gamers don't expect to be required to invest much time navigating and exploring. So we streamlined the interface to be more conducive to Xbox gamers, for example it's possible to be playing in a Live game or to have a server up and running in mere seconds, with a couple of controller button presses.

Specific online features are:

• Downloadable Content (DLC)
• Dedicated Server Mode
• Live Aware
• Online Scoreboards
• Optimatch

With a dedicated host running on a 2 Mbit line we have tested 32 players and it ran very smoothly, we intend to test with more players and anticipate more will be possible. On a standard Xbox with 256 kbps up connection speed we currently recommend hosting games for around 8 players, depending on the mission type.

The usual game modes will be included, Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, etc. and of course cooperative. Cooperative was one of the strongest and most popular gameplay modes in the PC version and the Xbox incarnation is no different, cooperative missions on Xbox provide for some fantastic teamwork and camaraderie.

Below is a complete list of the multiplayer gameplay modes and a summary of how they work:

• My Missions - Play with and against other people on missions that you have edited yourself.
• Death Match - The goal is to kill all your opponents. Nobody is your friend.
• Team Death Match - The goal is to kill all your opponents, your team mates are your friends and you should avoid killing them.
• Capture the Flag - The goal is to capture the opponents' flag and return it to your own flagpole (as well as killing your opponents if they get in your way).
• Flag Fight - The goal is to capture the flag and/or kill those around you. Everybody is a threat.
• Cooperative - The goal is to complete pre-defined objectives, other players can make up your team-mates and your enemy is an AI force.
• Team Mission - Each team has a separate goal they must achieve which is contrary to that of the opposing force.
• Sector Control - The goal is for each team to fight to control certain sectors of the island.
• Hold Location - There is a designated area of the map that a team must try to hold for a certain time, the enemy will fight to win the location and then hold it themselves.
• System Link - Operation Flashpoint: Elite also supports system link for all multiplayer gameplay modes.

Operation Flashpoint: Elite features a complex and easy to use mission editor. Like the PC version it allows for an almost endless amount of mission types, obviously due to a lack of keyboard it was necessary to tone down certain scripting aspects from the original editor but rest assured it still retains great depth.

Gamers will be able to design their own multiplayer and single player missions. It's not possible to swap anything over Xbox Live but they can design and play custom made maps online.

Of course that is the big challenge for any developer working on a console FPS. More so for us with the fact that in Operation Flashpoint: Elite you not only move around on foot but also in different vehicles such as cars and tanks, in planes and helicopters and even in boats.We spent a lot of time figuring out the best way to implement the controls. We made sure that there are a number of different configurations to choose from so that gamers can pick what they're comfortable and/or familiar with. With the number and variation of transportation modes we also decided to implement full and simultaneous support for wheels (aimed for vehicles) and joysticks (for aircraft). So you can connect all of the mentioned controller types to your Xbox and use any of them at any time according to your current vehicle and taste. Also we received extensive feedback from Xbox media representatives which helped us to achieve well-balanced, intuitive and comfortable control schemes.

We started as die hard PC fans and it took us some time to get familiar with the console controls but over time we've started to enjoy the Xbox controller. We managed to not only adapt a very complex control system for it (including commanding your squad mates and the ability to perform a wide range of different actions in the game world), but also to add some totally fresh features. Now on Xbox you can very lightly press the fire button to hold your breath for a couple of seconds to stabilise your weapon aim more. You can also look around any time while you move in the game environment, which is very important in retaining your situational awareness on the battlefield.

As one of the last minute additions and improvements there is now the ability to lean in Flashpoint, it really is a good addition and provides various tactical options to players of Operation Flashpoint: Elite.

So you can see, Xbox gamers only benefit from the longer development time as game's quality is improved in countless areas, even up to this very late stage in the process.

The following are available to the player, either at some point during one of the campaigns, during a single mission, during a multiplayer mission, or by choice in a user created mission in the mission editor:

There are a large number of different character classes available to the player and opposing the player, below are the ten most common character classes that the player will use and see whilst playing the campaigns or single player missions:

• Rifleman - Versatile and effective, the standard infantry soldier forms the mainstay of any army.

  NATO: M16A2, M61 Fragmentation grenades

  Soviets: AK74, RGD-5 Fragmentation grenades

  Resistance: Samopal vz.58, RGD-5 Fragmentation grenades
• Grenadier - Grenadiers are equipped with a rifle-mounted 40mm grenade launcher, effective against area targets and fixed positions.

  NATO: M16A2 with M203 launcher, 40mm grenades

  Soviets: AK74 with GP-25 launcher, 40mm grenades

  Resistance: AK47 with GP-25 launcher, 40mm grenades
• Medic - The combat medic is capable of providing first aid on the battlefield, while still able to defend himself.

  NATO: M16A2

  Soviets: AK74

  Resistance: Samopal vz.58
• Officer - An infantry squad is led into battle by a commanding officer. He carries the responsibility for the lives of all the men under his command.

  NATO: M16A2, M61 Fragmentation grenades, Smoke grenades, Binoculars

  Soviets: AK74, RGD-5 Fragmentation grenades, Smoke grenades, Binoculars

  Resistance: Samopal vz.58, RGD-5 Fragmentation grenades, Smoke grenades, Binoculars
• Machine Gunner - The machine gunner is able to lay down vast amounts of suppressive fire on an enemy position or contact, allowing the rest of the squad to advance safely.

  NATO: M60E1

  Soviets: PK

  Resistance: PK
• Anti Tank (AT) Soldier - AT troops carry guided or unguided launchers, capable of taking out heavily armoured enemy vehicles.

  NATO: M16A2, M72 LAW or M2 Carl Gustav launcher

  Soviets: AK74, RPG Nh75 or AT-4 Spigot launcher

  Resistance: Samopal vz.58, RPG Nh75 or AT-4 Spigot launcher
• Anti Aircraft (AA) Soldier - Using heat-seeking missile launchers, AA troops form a very effective defence against any low-flying aircraft.

  NATO: M16A2, FIM92A Stringer launcher

  Soviets: AK74, SA-7 Grail launcher

  Resistance: Samopal vz.58, SA-7 Grail launcher
• Special Forces - Relying on stealth and skill, Special Forces operatives are trained to go behind enemy lines and destroy vital enemy equipment.

  NATO: XM177 or MP5-SD6, Satchel charges, binoculars, NVG

  Soviets: AKS74U or PP-19 Bizon, Satchel charges, binoculars, NVG
• Sniper -A feared presence on the battlefield, snipers are often used to disrupt the enemy command structure, by taking out important enemy personnel.

  NATO: M21, binoculars

  Soviets: SVD Dragunov, binoculars

  Resistance: Hunting rifle, RGD-5 Fragmentation grenades, MAC M11, binoculars
• Crew and Pilots - While individually not heavily armed, or excelling at combat on foot, tank crews and pilots control the deadly array of combat vehicles seen on and over the battlefield.

  NATO: XM177, M61 Fragmentation grenades, NVG

  Soviets: AKS74U, RGD-5 Fragmentation grenades, NVG

  Resistance: Samopal vz.58, RGD-5 Fragmentation grenades, NVG

The weapons available in Operation Flashpoint: Elite are listed below by class:

• Assault Rifles

  NATO: M16A2; M16A2 + M203; XM177; XM177 + Scope; FN FAL; G3A4; G36

  Soviets: AK74; AK74 + GP-25; AKS74U

  Resistance: Samopal vz.58
• Machine Guns

  NATO: M60E1

  Soviets: PK

  Resistance: PK
• Submachine Guns

  NATO: MP5-SD6; UZI

  Soviets: PP-19 Bizon

  Resistance: MAC M11
• Sniper Rifles

  NATO: M21

  Soviets: SVD Dragunov

  Resistance: Hunting rifle
• Sidearms

  NATO: Beretta 92F; G17; G17 Silenced

  Soviets: Tokarev TT-33

  Resistance: CZ75; Revolver; Samopal vz. 61 Scorpion
• Mobile Launchers

  NATO: M72 LAW (AT); M2 Carl Gustav (AT); FIM92A Stinger (AA)

  Soviets: RPG Nh75 (AT); AT-4 Spigot (AT); SA-7 Grail / 9k32M Strela-2 (AA)

  Resistance: RPG Nh75 (AT)
• Explosive Ordinance
  All forces: Hand grenades; Rifle Grenades; AT Mines; Satchel Charges
• Additional Equipment
  All forces: Binoculars; Night Vision Goggles; Flares; Smoke Grenades

The Vehicles that are available to the player in Operation Flashpoint: Elite are listed below by class:

• Wheeled Transports

  NATO: M151A2; M151A2 with M2 HMG; M939 Truck

  Soviets: UAZ-469b; Ural-375 Truck

  Resistance: M151A1; V3S Truck
• Armoured Transports

  NATO: M998 HMMWV

  Soviets: BRDM-2
• Armoured Personnel Carriers and Infantry Fighting Vehicles

  NATO: M113A2 Gavin; M2A2 Bradley

  Soviets: BMP-1; BMP-2
• Main Battle Tanks

  NATO: M60A3 Patton; M1A1 Abrams

  Soviets: T72; T80

  Resistance: T55
• Mobile Air-Defense Systems

  NATO: M163 Vulcan

  Soviets: ZSU-23 Shilka
• Patrol Boats

  NATO: PBR Mk.II

  Soviets: Patrol Boat
• Transport Helicopters

  NATO: UH60A Blackhawk; CH47D Chinook

  Soviet: Mi-17 HIP
• Gunship Helicopters

  NATO: AH-1S Cobra; AH-64A Apache; OH-58 Kiowa

  Soviets: Mi-24 Hind; V-80 Kamov prototype
• Ground Attack Aircraft

  NATO: A10 Thunderbolt II

  Soviets: Su-25 Frogfoot
• Civilian Vehicles
  Civilians: Cars; Sports Car; Truck, Tractor, Bicycle, Motorbike, Airplane.

With so many titles fighting for their interest, this Autumn certainly looks to be a very good time for fans of military shooters on Xbox. But with the work we've done in recent years on our first console game our arsenals are well stocked and we're ready to face up to any competition.

Operation Flashpoint Elite really is a very special title for Xbox and we hope that once you become familiar with it and realise how deep the game is, you'll never go back to more simplistic military shooters on the platform.

It was extremely hard to bring such a complex game to Xbox and it often looked an impossible task. We worked hard for 3 years on this game to make it as good a game as is possible on Xbox (which the Battlefield team also did). This game not only matches all features of the million selling PC original, it also adds and improves the game in an endless number of ways. It's really a dedicated Xbox game and not a sub par port of an old PC title.

This is our first console game and we put all of our skills and hearts into make it as good as is possible, we're very proud with the result. It's a unique game that offers a game world larger than you have ever seen on Xbox and it really pushes the console capabilities to all limits. It's a dedicated Xbox only game that follows the storyline and structure of the famous PC original.

Don't let propaganda fool you by steroid-beefed up so-called "in game screenshots" from so many other upcoming Xbox games (you would be surprised what dirty tricks are common nowadays in the game industry to make screenshots look nicer than reality). Take some time to explore the large and deeply involving Flashpoint universe on a large TV in the comfort of your living room. Flashpoint has it all: two big cinematic campaigns with strong narrative and storyline, full multiplayer support, mission editor. If you want to experience something that is more complex, more realistic and more challenging than the rest, you should take a look at Operation Flashpoint: Elite.

Did you know that the same technology that is now coming to Xbox is used in large scale by the Australian Defence Force to train your soldiers? And did I mention that we have some nice surprises for our Australian audience after the game is released? I probably didn't so stay tuned for more information from us on this topic.

Right now we are focusing all of our attention on the three announced projects: Operation Flashpoint: Elite for Xbox, Armed Assault (ArmA) for PC and "Game2" for PC.

But never say never is a good phrase to live by and Xbox 360 seems to be a really nice console for the future.