Homefront - First in-depth look at PC specific features

I'm certainly glad effort is being put into making the PC version the best they can, instead of it being a simple console-to-PC port.
Most of it is stuff you'd expect, but these things have slowly started fading away, unfortunately.

For the below information, as well as a decent FAQ:Link

tl;dr version:

• Uses Steamworks features, including VAC.
• 1st and 3rd Person viewpoint on vehicles, and additional control options for helicopters. Joystick support and control.
• Practice mode to allow players to get to grips with vehicle controls.
• Extra vehicle abilities for co-pilots (Recon function on Scout Helicopter is an example).
• Multiplayer match recording and more multiplayer post-match stat tracking than consoles.
• Squad management and squad based VOIP.
• Dedicated Server (and Browser) Executable to be provided post-release.
• LAN Support.
• UI optimized for Keyboard and Mouse.
• SLI/Crossfire support for extra performance.
• 3D support via NVidia 3D Vision.

"PC SPECIFIC FEATURES:

We thought long and hard about the additional features the PC community would appreciate and expect.From a gameplay standpoint, we've done some additional work on the vehicles. On PC, you'll be able to control all vehicles from the 1st person cockpit viewpoint as well as 3rd person. We also added additional control options for helicopters, to give those players looking for more sim-like controls something to get their teeth round.

There are three settings:

• Ace: Allows for the best maneuverability, but takes the most practice to master.
• Veteran: Balanced difficulty and maneuverability.
• Rookie: Pick-up-and-play level of difficulty, least maneuverable.

We've included a Practice Mode so you can get to grips with vehicle controls outside the pressures of a live match. No need in wasting your hard earned Battle Points!

Lastly, we added some extra vehicle abilities for co-pilots, such as a Recon function to the Scout heli, and we obviously support joystick control for all vehicles.

In terms of other gameplay changes - we introduced a Squad Management system for PC, with Squad based VOIP. We also offer Clan Support on PC, and we'll be tracking more post-match statistics on the PC platform. As stated above, we're a Steamworks title and we use Valve Anti-Cheat to counter cheaters.

We also feature Multiplayer Match Recording (check out the podcast for more info), and we'll be releasing a Dedicated Server Browser Executable to allow you set your own private Homefront servers within 2 weeks of launch. LAN support in there as well!

Finally, a few tweaks you'd expect as standard - we optimized the UI to make it more PC/Mouse friendly. We support SLI / Crossfire configurations for extra performance, and we support 3D through NVidia's 3D Vision if you have the appropriate hardware."

Well thats nice...it feels good when devs are showing real interest towards PC as a gaming platform...

Btw who developed this game?I only know that TQH is the publisher...

Btw who developed this game?I only know that TQH is the publisher...rhazzy

[QUOTE="rhazzy"]Btw who developed this game?I only know that TQH is the publisher...Doom_HellKnight

i though kaos was doing everything and digital extremes was simply ripping it to cd's.. was unaware they had any involvement in the actual gaming making process

[QUOTE="Doom_HellKnight"]

[QUOTE="rhazzy"]Btw who developed this game?I only know that TQH is the publisher...ionusX

i though kaos was doing everything and digital extremes was simply ripping it to cd's.. was unaware they had any involvement in the actual gaming making process

Blah. Blah. Blah. Consolized is the norm nowadays. Will it also have proper wide screen, good or adjustable FOV, proper game controller support(not just 360 pad) and proper antialiasing support? I'll believe a TRUE PC made game when I see it till then its just more crap BS marketing talk.

Is there any reason to be excited about this game in the face of so many other FPS games out now or coming soon?

Is there any reason to be excited about this game in the face of so many other FPS games out now or coming soon?

XaosII

well idk its an homage to half life 2 and takes alot of post-it ntoes from HL2 without being sci-fi

its like hl2 if you removed the combine and headcrabs and replaced them with n.koreans and attack dogs..

it could be very interesting..

i mean if its even remotely close to the type of feel that hl2: riot act or citizen one gave me id definetely give in an 8.5 or better come review time..

Blah. Blah. Blah. Consolized is the norm nowadays. Will it also have proper wide screen, good or adjustable FOV, proper game controller support(not just 360 pad) and proper antialiasing support? I'll believe a TRUE PC made game when I see it till then its just more crap BS marketing talk.

VeryBumpy

Well it runs on UE3, so I suspect FOV can be changed via console and AA can be forced.

Well if the Dedicated Server Binary is released post-launch, expect to see about 100 players in this game a week after release lol.

I'm pretty sure they will have Server Binaries at launch if they are smart.

[QUOTE="ionusX"]

[QUOTE="Doom_HellKnight"] Kaos Studios, with the PC version being handled by Digital Extremes. As far as I'm aware, anyway.

Doom_HellKnight

i though kaos was doing everything and digital extremes was simply ripping it to cd's.. was unaware they had any involvement in the actual gaming making process

If I remember correctly in a video they stated another company (Could be digital extremes) is doing the DX10 and DX11 features for the engine. That studio is supposed to be doing a lot to spice up the visuals in the PC version beyond just AF, AA, and higher resolutions.

Blah. Blah. Blah. Consolized is the norm nowadays. Will it also have proper wide screen, good or adjustable FOV, proper game controller support(not just 360 pad) and proper antialiasing support? I'll believe a TRUE PC made game when I see it till then its just more crap BS marketing talk.

VeryBumpy

But then again I guess being a "TRUE" PC game could also mean all it has to have is these 4 things: proper wide screen, good or adjustable FOV, proper game controller support, and proper anti-aliasing support.

Now actually onto the topic at hand... It is nice that it will have LAN support because from the videos I've seen this game could be a ton of fun at a LAN party. But some of the other changes seem odd as to why they are PC specific features. For example the extra vehicle co-pilot abilties. I am just not 100% sure as to why it is a PC specific feature... Of course these PC specific and custom features sound monumentily better than Modern Warfare's 2 list of custom things... f****** custom mouse support...

Sounds good. Im a bit concerned with the Executables being sent out at a later date. It better not be one of those 5 months after cases.

Looks good expect for the server files, i really like what i have seen but this game is up in a time with some pretty big games

I do like this "TRUE" PC game talk. No game as been a "TRUE" PC game for a long time and that includes exclusives. There can't be a game that is being released now that wasn't at all influenced even in the slightest by console games. The only possible way there could be a PC game not at all influenced by console games is if the developer has in all seriousness never heard/seen/read/played a console or the games on it.

Agent_Kaliaver

Starcraft 2 and WoW: Cataclysm aren't true PC games?

Guess we need more Joint Ops and Delta Force games.

[QUOTE="Agent_Kaliaver"]

I do like this "TRUE" PC game talk. No game as been a "TRUE" PC game for a long time and that includes exclusives. There can't be a game that is being released now that wasn't at all influenced even in the slightest by console games. The only possible way there could be a PC game not at all influenced by console games is if the developer has in all seriousness never heard/seen/read/played a console or the games on it.

ChubbyGuy40

Starcraft 2 and WoW: Cataclysm aren't true PC games?

Guess we need more Joint Ops and Delta Force games.

The singleplayer is written by John Milius, who also wrote screenplays and/or directed Conan the Barbarian, Red Dawn, Apocalypse Now, The Hunt for Red October and many others... That's reason enough for me to care about the game. Also Frontlines had a surprisingly good campaign IMO. And Homefront's MP looks interesting.

Seems like a lot of people are jumping on the Homefront bandwagon. I still don't see the major appeal of this game (yet). I like some of the level designs but that's about it. Multiplayer looks interesting.Elann2008

It reminds meh of home...err I mean Battlefield 2 (Same thing :P ) Made by the team who got fired from DICE right before BF2's launch. I know they're a good studio plus their games/mods are great (Desert Combat for Battlefield, BF2, and Frontlines.)

Woah that is kind of crazy.

The singleplayer is written by John Milius, who also wrote screenplays and/or directed Conan the Barbarian, Red Dawn, Apocalypse Now, The Hunt for Red October and many others... That's reason enough for me to care about the game. Also Frontlines had a surprisingly good campaign IMO. And Homefront's MP looks interesting.

Baranga

Those are great news, I just hope the game's good, it looks pretty promising.

So.. no dedicated servers. Sorry, but "post-launch" is way too vague. And there's no good reason to expect it a couple weeks after launch, otherwise they might as well just delay the PC version a couple weeks. I'd expect a couple months, in which case the multiplayer would be dead by then.

[QUOTE="Agent_Kaliaver"]

I do like this "TRUE" PC game talk. No game as been a "TRUE" PC game for a long time and that includes exclusives. There can't be a game that is being released now that wasn't at all influenced even in the slightest by console games. The only possible way there could be a PC game not at all influenced by console games is if the developer has in all seriousness never heard/seen/read/played a console or the games on it.

ChubbyGuy40

Starcraft 2 and WoW: Cataclysm aren't true PC games?

Guess we need more Joint Ops and Delta Force games.

WoW has achievements that were most certainly popularized by consoles and I am in shock nobody has gone insane over that. Look at the games to how Starcraft 2 find's games. You can't tell me their custom game set up wasn't influenced even a little from match making systems popularized by consoles. Being influenced by consoles does not have to alter game play. It could be as simple as something in the user interface or a fancy new feature.

Hell both games had collector's edition so there could be another one that was most certainly popularized by consoles. Now I'm not saying consoles created any of these, but you can't deny that consoles have certainly popularized this stuff.

In all honesty I don't really care what a "TRUE" PC game is... I was pretty much making fun of the person who I quoted that was whining. I have just been going crazy over whining pc gamers over the past week and I think coming to this board might be getting to me.

[QUOTE="ChubbyGuy40"]

[QUOTE="Agent_Kaliaver"]

I do like this "TRUE" PC game talk. No game as been a "TRUE" PC game for a long time and that includes exclusives. There can't be a game that is being released now that wasn't at all influenced even in the slightest by console games. The only possible way there could be a PC game not at all influenced by console games is if the developer has in all seriousness never heard/seen/read/played a console or the games on it.

Agent_Kaliaver

Starcraft 2 and WoW: Cataclysm aren't true PC games?

Guess we need more Joint Ops and Delta Force games.

In all honesty I don't really care what a "TRUE" PC game is... I was pretty much making fun of the person who I quoted that was whining. I have just been going crazy over whining pc gamers over the past week and I think coming to this board might be getting to me.

I grew up with PCs, played obscure games, you can define me a bit of hardcore. But I can't stand this elitist crap about "consolisation" of games. I am a multi-platform guy now, but with emphasis on the PC. I on't have any trouble enjoying a game, as long as the gameplay is good. I don't even care if it's a port. If it's good, I play it.

[QUOTE="VeryBumpy"]

Blah. Blah. Blah. Consolized is the norm nowadays. Will it also have proper wide screen, good or adjustable FOV, proper game controller support(not just 360 pad) and proper antialiasing support? I'll believe a TRUE PC made game when I see it till then its just more crap BS marketing talk.

Teh_Can

Well it runs on UE3, so I suspect FOV can be changed via console and AA can be forced.

Don't bet on it. Singularity is also UE3 and there is no way to change FOV.

For those (including myself) asking about Dedicated Servers. Check out the link below.

http://community.homefront-game.com/forums/topic/1332

From an Admin: "There will be PLENTY of GSPs when we ship & we will be putting up servers of our own as well - in actuality, more than the forecasted player count. The dedicated server executable will be available within 2 weeks & you'll be able to enjoy the full online experience for the duration!

Q: "I'm sorry, not trying to be redundant or overly picky but you can verify that the executables will be provided so we can host servers from our own homes, not just renting dedicated servers from GSPs right? To hear you confirm this would ease my concerns a lot."

A: "YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS. You can host your own servers, that's what the Dedicated Server Executable is for."

tl;dr: Dedicated Servers are available DAY 1 of release, which clans/people can rent out, as well as a bunch that the developer will be putting up. Then, 2 weeks after, the Dedicated Server EXE files will be released where people can use their own servers.

So no P2P crap, or anything else. The first 2 weeks will simply word like Bad Company 2 at first. Good news. I am totally fine with this.

[QUOTE="Teh_Can"]

[QUOTE="VeryBumpy"]

Blah. Blah. Blah. Consolized is the norm nowadays. Will it also have proper wide screen, good or adjustable FOV, proper game controller support(not just 360 pad) and proper antialiasing support? I'll believe a TRUE PC made game when I see it till then its just more crap BS marketing talk.

VeryBumpy

Well it runs on UE3, so I suspect FOV can be changed via console and AA can be forced.

Don't bet on it. Singularity is also UE3 and there is no way to change FOV.

Pretty sure singularity runs on UE 2.5, same as Bioshock.

[QUOTE="VeryBumpy"]

[QUOTE="Teh_Can"]

Well it runs on UE3, so I suspect FOV can be changed via console and AA can be forced.

Teh_Can

Don't bet on it. Singularity is also UE3 and there is no way to change FOV.

Pretty sure singularity runs on UE 2.5, same as Bioshock.

For those (including myself) asking about Dedicated Servers. Check out the link below.

http://community.homefront-game.com/forums/topic/1332

From an Admin: "There will be PLENTY of GSPs when we ship & we will be putting up servers of our own as well - in actuality, more than the forecasted player count. The dedicated server executable will be available within 2 weeks & you'll be able to enjoy the full online experience for the duration!

Q: "I'm sorry, not trying to be redundant or overly picky but you can verify that the executables will be provided so we can host servers from our own homes, not just renting dedicated servers from GSPs right? To hear you confirm this would ease my concerns a lot."

A: "YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS. You can host your own servers, that's what the Dedicated Server Executable is for."

tl;dr: Dedicated Servers are available DAY 1 of release, which clans/people can rent out, as well as a bunch that the developer will be putting up. Then, 2 weeks after, the Dedicated Server EXE files will be released where people can use their own servers.

So no P2P crap, or anything else. The first 2 weeks will simply word like Bad Company 2 at first. Good news. I am totally fine with this.

TruedUp

I have been in the beta on this for months. I think people will like what they see :)

hah, my friend was like.. the code still works! and I'm all.. NO WAI. And then I tried it. And it does. So now I pre-ordered Homefront.

True story.

[QUOTE="Elann2008"]Seems like a lot of people are jumping on the Homefront bandwagon. I still don't see the major appeal of this game (yet). I like some of the level designs but that's about it. Multiplayer looks interesting.ChubbyGuy40

It reminds meh of home...err I mean Battlefield 2 (Same thing :P ) Made by the team who got fired from DICE right before BF2's launch. I know they're a good studio plus their games/mods are great (Desert Combat for Battlefield, BF2, and Frontlines.)

[QUOTE="XaosII"]

Is there any reason to be excited about this game in the face of so many other FPS games out now or coming soon?

ionusX

well idk its an homage to half life 2 and takes alot of post-it ntoes from HL2 without being sci-fi

its like hl2 if you removed the combine and headcrabs and replaced them with n.koreans and attack dogs..

it could be very interesting..

i mean if its even remotely close to the type of feel that hl2: riot act or citizen one gave me id definetely give in an 8.5 or better come review time..

Joke article, seriously, how about pc controls and higher graphics settings. Thats what mattters.dakan45

[QUOTE="Elann2008"]Seems like a lot of people are jumping on the Homefront bandwagon. I still don't see the major appeal of this game (yet). I like some of the level designs but that's about it. Multiplayer looks interesting.ChubbyGuy40

It reminds meh of home...err I mean Battlefield 2 (Same thing :P ) Made by the team who got fired from DICE right before BF2's launch. I know they're a good studio plus their games/mods are great (Desert Combat for Battlefield, BF2, and Frontlines.)

[QUOTE="dakan45"]Joke article, seriously, how about pc controls and higher graphics settings. Thats what mattters.TruedUp

[QUOTE="TruedUp"][QUOTE="dakan45"]Joke article, seriously, how about pc controls and higher graphics settings. Thats what mattters.dakan45

A demo would be wonderful, but those are very rare these days, especially for online games.the_ChEeSe_mAn2