Warhawk Operation: Fallen Star

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So I’ve been dropping hints for a few months now on the blog and finally, at Leipzig Games Conference this week, we unveiled our third expansion for the Warhawk Universe — Operation: Fallen Star.

The sweet, sweet hotness that is the Icarus Mk.1 Rocket pack and once you’ve played it, you wonder how you ever played Warhawk without it!


Normally we announce stuff here in the States but we thought since Warhawk has a global player base, lets show it at Leipzig first this time.

Before I answer some of the questions that I’ve seen from the past couple of days, let me give you all a rundown of what’s included in Operation: Fallen Star.

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There is an entirely new level – Tau Crater! It’s a smoky, forested island that features lots of vertical elements to give players tons of cools places to use the jetpack; huge trees that you can fly up into and land on their branches, an enormous recovery crane with lots of trusses and platforms to fly around, and of course, the name sake, a truly gargantuan capital ship wreckage smashed into the ground forming, you guessed it, Tau Crater.

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The capital ship is fully traversable meaning you can use the jetpack or other aircraft to fly up to its various surfaces, pipes, and destroyed sections. Hop out, use them to recon the other bases, snipe, call-in a binoc strike, whatever.

Around the crater are salvage platforms that have been constructed and serve as some of the bases in the Tau Crater. There’s also a huge fiery hole in the middle of the wreckage that you can climb though as a troop to quickly cross from one side of the level to the other.

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There are massive chunks of wreckage scattered around the level and the recovery efforts at these locations are bases as well.

Tau_Map

In total there are 10 new layouts for Tau Crater and since the jetpack is a massive, game-changing addition to Warhawk, we included a crap-ton of bonus layouts for the original game too — there are 30 bonus layouts that add jetpacks into the Warhawk’s original content.

TC_Mission_CriticalTC_West_CoastTC_Tug_of_WarTC_Eastern_ShoreTC_Direct_AssaultTC_Crater_ClashTC_Heavy_LiftingTC_On_the_DeckTC_Holed_UpTC_Under_Fire

And yes, of course the jet pack can be used with both of the new free game modes that we released with the v1.4 Update. Jetpack Collector mode is awesome!

Now the jetpack itself is big departure from the way we normally do vehicles and this was very, very intentional. With each of our Booster-Packs, we specifically look for mechanic changing ways to freshen-up the game — and Operation: Fallen Star is no exception.

So here’s the run-down on the jetpack…

Icarus

First off, the jetpacks are equipment that the salvage crews are using to work on the wreckage so the style of it is very much like the equipment you might see at a construction site. This is true for the Daedalus Rapid Assembly Device (D-RAD) as well. Think of it as a vending machine for jetpacks. One of our players on the Warhawk forums asked if it was like a “hot-dog-stand”…well, yes it kinda is :-)

You run up to the Daedalus and then press SQUARE to grab a jetpack off the rack, like you would to mount a vehicle or turret. The Daedalus then begins its automated construction process and makes a new jetpack for another player to grab. This construction period helps control the balance of the game so that not every single troop always has a jet pack.

Daedalus

Now to help protect against brutal base camping, we opted to not have the vending machine, err….the Daedalus be destructible. In some of our early play sessions, it just was too easy to ravage the other team if you could destroy the Daedalus.

The Warhawk forums also wondered if a jeep could drive the vending machine around, sorry, the answer is no. We spent a lot of time tuning the placement of each of the vending machines and towing them around the level would have introduced some pretty brutal exploits.

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You can also mount other vehicles if you have a jetpack. So you and your team can coordinate fast strikes with the 4x4s and then all jump-jet out to make a flag run or scoop-up a team’s cores. If you have jetpack equipped, you are also allowed use it like an ejector seat and bail out of our Warhawk or Nemesis if you get into a dicey situation. Another great tactic is to use the Warhawk and run fly-by at the enemy base then have your buddy in the passenger slot bail out with the jetpack.

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The controls for the jetpack are really easy too and operate the same as any other vehicle in the game so it should feel really natural to start using one.

R2 is the thrust button. Press it to engage the jets and your character will be carried higher and higher into the air. While you’re flying, use the analog sticks to move around. You can let off the thruster button to disengage the thrusters and your character will begin to drop towards the ground.

If you are flying around and you need to focus on combat and not thrust control, all you have to do is hold L2 and the jetpack will automatically emit enough thrust to maintain your current altitude. This way you can focus on raining death from above :-)

The jetpack also has a boost-dodge feature, similar to the afterburner for the aircraft. Simply double-tap R2 to engage the boost-dodge. The direction of the boost-dodge can be performed in any direction, backwards, forwards, side to side, even straight up depending on which direction you are pressing when you dodge.

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Now this feature not only is a great way to get around the battlefield, but the “dodge” part of the boost-dodge is key for scrubbing missiles. There is only one missile in the game that can acquire a jetpack lock-on and that’s the troop missile launcher. So if you are up in the air and you see the missile warning pop-up on your screen, you better do a dodge, otherwise that missile is going to nail you! Now if you have a jetpack equipped but you are just running around on the ground, the missile launcher can’t get a lock on you…and this is another good way to help avoid getting hit.

Another question that our players wanted to know is if you can fly with the flag using a jetpack and the answer is yes. We took a lot of time to make sure all the traversal speeds were tuned just right and CTF and Collector mode are crazy fun with the Jetpack — hell, even just straight up deathmatch is way more fun!

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So here are some of the details: Operation: Fallen Star is being released on August 28th worldwide and is $7.99 in the Playstation Store. We also worked with SONY to get a new bundle pack ready too. The new Booster Combo Pack includes all 3 of the expansions for only $15.99. That’s like getting all 3 Booster-Packs for the price of only 2!!! Quick — deploy the wacky waiving inflatable arm-flailing tube men!!!

As a reminder, keep you eyes out for our FREE v1.5 Update that goes LIVE on August 27th!

So that’s it for now — I’ll do my best today to answer comments cause I didn’t get to at all with my last post cause I was crazy busy traveling for meetings. So let ‘em rip!

Oh, and one last thing, Kudos to 3 people (topodisc, mattnz, cubehouse) who were able to breakdown my crazy color-swatch-HEX-string-mythology-reference!

Rock on,

dylan

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384 Comments

58 Author Replies

  • Dear Dylan,

    I have just recently started playing Warhawk again, and I love that you guy keep coming up with new ways to improve the game through these updates. I have a couple questions:

    -Are you guys planing on making mixed servers that take advantage of all the booster packs?

    Ex: Having a game with the Dropship, Jetpack and the APC?

    -Will you be able to exit a warhawk mid-flight with the jetpack and just hover away?

    Thanks in advance and keep up the good work.

  • Dylan,

    As a player since August 28, 2007, the game’s original release date to the US. Thank you.

    The game has remained to be a fresh game all the time, have a huge player base and be a fun and enjoyable game with the booster packs.

    I only wish the 2 months I have of no stats being recorded were back, I played the most and did the best when the game was first released because most people did not know what to do. But that is asking for a lot.

    Thank you once again for your responses and the closeness to the community you represent. It is a great thing to see these days.

  • psn id = Viprdude

  • Hi Dylan,

    You guys have done an awesome job in making this game better and better with each update. Couple of questions:

    1. Are you guys planning to add a lobby system to this game (like halo, RFOM)? Right now to change game settings you have to quit the session and redo everything which can be a pain.

    2. Or at least allow saving all the game creating settings so that you can just go load it and change some options you want and not have to create all the settings again.

    Thanks and keep up the great work!

  • Thank You for the Update :D

    Hope to See everyone on the Battle grounds/air soon ;)

    Watch for me in my Most Crazy adventure to be doing something tottaly dumb you will be saying “What the Heck is he doing?” :P

    To all with the questions that were answsered Thank you for asking all the questions that I had in mind and then some :D

    Have a Great day Gamers!

    PSN:Skater_Ricky, 8)

  • Also to add – I myself know my stats got messed up sometime in the past since I had the game at the very beginning also!

    If something would be done to it that would rock my world but if it cant I guess ill have to play harder next time :(

    Thanks agian

    PSN: Skater_Ricky, 8)

  • Depends on how fast you’re traveling in the Warhawk — but lets just say that its somewhere on the spectrum of hucking you and splattering you.

    BTW — there’s a trophy for it too

    JUST EXCELLENT this is such an awesome ps3 title i just cannot wait to get the exapansion pack, i have not read through the whole post yet but i really thought there was gonna be parachutes. Buying first day its out. Cant wait.

    thanks again for supporting this awesome game.

    DTS MAN

  • here’s my concern with the jetpacks:
    i hate people that camp a whole match with an RPG, shooting at planes for 30 minutes. so how easy/hard is it to kill someone in a jetpack, from a warhawk? if they’re on the ground, i can always get them with a cluster-bomb thenm, lightening-gun, close-up homing missle, or if need-be, a TOW.

  • @53 and Dylan what about getting our home avatar’s faces on the warhawk characters when home goes live!!? This would be pretty damm sweet.

    DTS MAN :-)

  • man i cant wait for the 27/28 its going to be awesome also dave can you check my stats they arent updating i have ranked up to wingman in my last 5 games i have played but it wont let me stay the rank everytime it still says i havent ranked up thanks alot my psn:grIMreaPR

  • sry about the other post i ment dyaln not dave

  • Manic (135) said: “Hi Dylan,

    First off thanks for this update on the jetpacks. It looks sweet! :D

    Now my question is….most of us now have both the OD and BM booster and will now also have this pack, any chance at all we can get all the different vehicles, Dropship, APC and now Jetpacks on the same maps ?? Personally I think this would make an awesome game even better and I know that alot of us would love if if this would happen.

    As always Rock on and keep up the great work!

    PSN: manicscot007”

    ————————-

    Fixuis (150) Said:

    “Hey Dylan, this is truly a dream come true! Day 1 purchase for moi. Quick question :

    Any chance of water based vehicles for this game anytime soon? Such as boats, battleships. Imagine this..Drive a boat from one base to the other..park the boat at the base of the flagbase and climb up there in knife mode, get the flag, jump down into the boat and try to get the hell outta there! that would be awesome!!

    2) Also how about different times of day for all maps, night time play ?

    Thanks and keep up the sweet sweet SWEET work!!”

    —————-

    Mr. Jobe, i definitely second these two ideas. I believe that water vehicles could definitely be a sweet addition.

  • well if u not gonna answer i refuse to buy anything your company makes untill you make the expansions in the uk compatable with my region 1 disc

  • A few questions…

    Are you aloud to use your Jetpack when you have the flag in CTF? If you can then are there limits?

    Are you aloud to dismount the Jetpack when your on the ground?

  • errrm….i just thought about this..if you eject from a warhawk, what happens to the warhawk? Do the thrusters keep going and does the plane spin out of control? cuz that would be awesome to see a warhawk spinning to the ground and exploding on impact…it should also count as a vehicle kill. you know like if you run over someone in a jeep/apc/tank.

  • exciting stuff Dylan, I’m looking forward to Warhawk becoming a whole new game again for only 7.99, So many groups are getting the expansion/content, and (free DLC in general) right lately, it’s easy for something cool to be swept under the carpet atm, I’m glad to see that isn’t the case with this, as fan response is surely compliment enough to your dedication, and warrants the small entry fee, hands down.

  • someone help me.

    I keep getting a “NETWORK ERROR” with warhawk. sometimes its at the menu, sometimes ingame. is there mantanace going on or is it my router??… I can connect to games, it just give me the network error message alot this week

  • Please fix the ranking!

  • Dylan,

    Earlier in the comments, someone asked about the glitch with levelling up, well whenever i play ranked matches, and log off. and if i log on again, i dont actually level up! no points at all! It’s as if it doesnt reconise that i logged in recently, cause it ALWAYS says “congrads, you’ve levelled up!” Do you get me? :P

  • dylan, in the [All] servers please combine map packs. I am a dropship champion (over 7000 kills) and would like to shoot down some jetpacks with it.

  • Can We expect somesort of promotion for those who already bought “Operation Omega Dawn Booster Pack” and wants to buy “Broken Mirror Booster Pack” and “Operation: Fallen Star” combined?

  • No this sucks. I didnt know about fallen star and thought jetpacks were apart of the free update and I bought the bundle 4 days ago. Now I just went and wasted my money.

  • I understand why the Daedalus can’t be towed but can, someday, it be patched so it can be towed for our private game pleasure?

  • Hey Dylan this is a little off topic, but when will you be updating your warhawk website? I mean the last time it was updated was back in april when broken mirror came out.

  • sorry to bother u but ur THE ACTUAL DYLAN JOBE U SERIOUS the dylan jobe who is like the coolest dude in gaming history

  • IF YOU MAKE ANOTHER MAP — IT HAS TO BE IN SPAAAAACE!

  • OH YHEA.. U SHOULD MAKE THE LIGHTS ON THE JEEPS TANKS & APCS WORK TOO… CUZ THEY DONT WORK. ITS NOT SAFE DRIVING LOL

  • hey dylan,
    I’ve read some of the comments and i noticed someone has mentioned the rank up glitch,
    and you said that you wasn’t aware of it…
    well the glitch is that if you have 110,000 pts. you will rank up to a major 130,000 air marshal 155,000 command marshal and so on…
    anyways the sever says that you ranked up at the begging of the game if you have the points and medals/ribbons but it never updates to your stats or gives you the new customizations. so please try to fix this

  • just wondering is there going to be a update that allows the dropship, APC, and the jetpacks all in a map?

  • Awesome!

  • Do the Jetpacks stall at a certain hight like the warhawk and nemesis do.

  • when the warhawks and nemesis goes to high and stalls they should fall all the way down make it more realtic and fun

  • So someone posted pics on the PSU forums of someone downloading the new booster already. Well, one of the layouts was called “Salvager.” Did you guys change the name at the last minute???

  • Thanks once again Dylan! Keep um coming

  • I’m digging the avatar, Dylan. Magritte is definitely my favorite Modernist.

    Also, splendid job with Warhawk. I can’t wait.

  • Ahh cool stuff, hmm don’t think i’ll be purchasing though. i bought omega dawn and then broken mirror came out with a bundle like the next week. I felt scammed haha oh well.

    Can’t wait for trophies and music though.

  • so at what time do you think the update will come out today? Sorry don’t mean to be impatient, but I could not wait to get home and play with custom music, and when I got here it did not update.

    P.S. I mean 1.5, not Fallen Star.

  • Amazing!! This game is just great!

    YOU ARE THE BEST!! Keep working like this.

    I love it.

  • Briliant job on the Training Incognito

  • Yeah I was just being a jerk. It is 7 am and I am now downloading the update. The music feature actually uses the xmb. That is a first as far as I know. Awesome job.

    I am going to see if I can finally learn a warhawk in training, that way I can stopped getting schooled by little kids all the time.

    PSN: HerbertFortoon

  • I wish as a rookie you end up with players who’re rookies as well, and not you end up with the die hard Warhawk gamers who like to have a piece of you, so you’re hardly able to fight back. It ain’t fair and not fun.

  • @Onnoa76_NL

    use the filters to control the min and max rank. then you can play with people like me who suck like you. ;)

  • Hey guys is anyone else having trouble getting online since the 1.5 came out. I did all the training, but now it says the servers are not responding. My internet works and I have to sleep soon, maybe it is just all the people “logging into” the tutorials. I don’t really understand why that i necessary.

    Guess I’ll play at 3:30 am when I get off of work. Damn

  • hey what up what is up with the servers also i think that this change is good it will not make everybody have to be good in a warhawk so arn’t the jetpacks like invicible pretty much that is kind of how it sounds

  • What!!!! I never got my ggl knife :(. I played a couple matches in the tourny, did everything rght, and wow those matches were hard to set up :(. Any help?

    -BurntOrange32 (psn)

  • Wait… maybe this is connected to the fact that I can’t access the Warhawk servers :(. What happened. My PSN works fine.

  • Servers are down for matience or however you spell it. it annouced it in the little information box before u get into the online homepage

  • so wait….you dont get jetpacks unless you buy this booster??

    damn thats kinda [DELETED]…

  • dont u think some of the trophies, can only be accuried by padding, like killing someone who has accuired 7 kills with a turret, nobody really camps on turrets that long, maybr in noob servers but i’m too high ranked for them

  • ok.

    Dylan Jobe , c’mon Read Me!

    The Update 1.5 doesn’t fix the bug of the Ranks.
    I’m Captain , and I have points to be Air Marshall , you didn`t fix it??

    Bye…

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