Warhawk Operation: Fallen Star

384 58

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.

FallenStar_11

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.

FallenStar_03_SMALL

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.

FallenStar_05

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.

FallenStar_04_SMALL

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.

FallenStar_15_SMALL

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.

FallenStar_08_SMALL

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!

FallenStar_02_SMALL

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

Comments are closed.

384 Comments

58 Author Replies

  • The store usually updates around the same time every Thursday, [DELETED] some folks be getting too impatient.

  • hey dylan, 1.5 is as cool as any update ive ever seen. but this morning when i logged on(i havent been on in a while and actualy played) my points where up. i turned my ps3 off and got back on. and i was reset!!!!! called sony, contacted webmaster they said they dont know why. can you help please. i was a 1st LT.

  • People, this Booster Pack is just amazing!!!

    Thanks Incognito, thanks Dylan!!!
    The Bester Booster Pack ever.
    Jetpacks and new level are unbelievable!

    We had a lot of fun here in my server in Europe the last 5 hours, but my eyes are heavy…I have to sleep now! :-)

    So you guys in US should be happy, you will love it! Waiting is not for nothing!!!

    See you on the Battlefield of Warhawk!

    Bye

    Torsten
    http://www.mywarhawk.de

  • Psyched, downloading it now.

  • And yes, we finally have the booster pack in the US!

  • Hey, just wanted to say love your work, but I have a problem. I have Omega Dawn, but neither Broken Mirror nor Falling Star- is it more efficient to buy both seperately or buy the Booster Combo? Is there anyway to get a pack with Broken Mirror and Falling Star only?

  • Has anyone played with in-game music? I’m going to start putting together a playlist just for Warhawk! Some obvious songs will be:

    Rocket Man
    War
    Why Can’t We Be Friends
    Everybody Wants To Rule The World
    If I Ruled The World
    Life During Wartime
    The Warrior
    Six Gun
    Rebels Are We
    War At 33 1/3

    I’ll think of more!

  • Amazimg stuff.Who knew how much it would grow.Prop’s Sony.

  • Damn, the pack (no pun intended) is sweet! I like that new level too! One major change – you’ll be looking at new areas to explore because you’re moving slower and reaching higher ground. I was really surprised how high up I could get! I saw an antenna array in the Island Outpost level that’d be a sweet sniping spot!

  • can someone tell me how to reach the top of the dome in omega factory to grab the proximity mine?

  • I’m having a problem with the Chief Sergeant Trophy. I was Airman 1st class, then I skipped straight to Wingman because I had all the requirements met up to that except for the Warhawk recruiting badge for the rank of Sergeant.

    Once I received that badge it said I ranked up to Sergeant then straight to Wingman because I had the rest of the requirements met up to then.

    The problem is that I did not receive the Chief Sergeant trophy! I was wondering what I need to do if anyone knew.

  • ive just downloads and installed fallen star and my game isent working it comes up with this message error occurred joing start opotration (8002952) whats shell i do??

  • hey guys the message above is weird right i have 2 ps3s and i just installed on the other one and it works fine, but the one down stairs comes up with that message above why? is it because i got it on 23rd march when it came out?

  • 57% more trophies
    more
    more
    more
    more

    the rank 1’s will b killing me though

  • youtube the mines at the battle dome its easier then explaining it type it the name of the trophy and it will show you how to do it exactly

  • Dylan can you please check my account? I swear it is stuck and I am not progressing anywhere. :-[

    My PSN is Stoffinator

    I also messages you on PS forums but I am sure you are a busy man.

  • GreenLantern_JLU…

    Here’s the exact video name at YouTube:

    Warhawk.How To Get The Mines On Top Of The Rumble Dome

  • cmargary…

    Did the video name above help? GreenLantern_JLU is right – the video makes it really easy to do this. It requires a little patience to make the first jump, but once you do that it’s almost intuitive to get to the top. Practice in an empty level first.

  • Jetpacks = Awesome!

    Don’t know how I will ever be able to play without them now.

    Wish we could mix booster packs…

  • I need an expansion pack with broken mirror and fallen star bundled together! I know you guys can make it happen.

    thanks,
    Lh

  • Warhawk needs a kind of half-track, a cross between a tank and APC, and 4X4. It should have a couple slots for troops like an APC, and a couple machine guns like the 4X4. The driver should be protected.

    Anyway the Fallen star looks SWEET!!!

  • Are you going to make more booster packs?

  • a hybrid would be the perfect thing for the big maps like glacier n island i agree with white phantom, and if you guys look further up you can all see i made a suggestion about a water craft of some sort too dylan, if anyone can do it, its you guys. the entire GBH Clan Thanks you guys for making this game what it is today. you have the support of all of the members of the GBH Clan, we know all the booster packs to come will be everything we all wanted in a game

  • I’m guessing that Vaporfield Glacier and Omega Dawn aren’t “retro-fitted” for jetpacks?

  • @green and rocky

    Yes I already did it the same day and yes was really easy but I wasn’t sure but thanks anyway. 42 trophies so far…. some are difficult and need to play more like the general one, the all medals and badges in warhawk level.

  • hey dylan, thanks to u and your team for making this booster, its the best one yet… BTW will there be another booster in the future

  • i just did a dedicated server for 4 hours without it being ranked because i couldnt pick it… and i didnt get trophy… they should of just made it ranked or unranked.

    Can you guys please change it for it can be ranked or unranked…. some of us cant host a ranked game…..

  • In a response to post 24, you said that it is possible to get the Bandwith Donor trophy without hosting a ranked match. I tried this and it did not work for me. I don’t find this completely fair to the people who can’t host a ranked server (like me). Is this going to be changed so people like me are able to get the trophy?

  • Got this last week and have to say – BEST pack yet! Jetpacks FTW!

    My only single gripe is my huge disappointment that multiple packs cannot be used together. I’ve all three DLC packs now, and each has their own appeal.

    The APC adds such a great new element of gameplay, with the moveable respawn point, I really miss it across when I’m on the jetpack levels.
    Likewise, i really miss the jetpack when Im enjoying some APC action.

    Please please please open this up to enable multiple packs on all combinations of levels.

    Jetpacks on Omega Dawn? *NEED*
    APC’s on Tau Crater!? *GIMME!*

    Awesome work guys, keep it up :)

  • @429
    oh they should enable it.

  • i think they should make a patch for that now

  • you should make a booster for underwater play
    like some kind of submarine or equipment for the troops to go urderwater and a new map
    to make this happen it would be really cool!!

  • i believe there should be a map layout section on either here or on the official warhawk site so that clans can make battle strategies for when playing against other clans thank dylan i know you can make this happen for all of us

  • just wanted to know if any one could help me:

    just want to know how to dodge rpg shots while your using the jetpack.

    PSN: GreenLantern_JLU
    Server Name SpaceAgeTDM/CTF/Zones/Col/Hero

    I’m on after 9pm if any one can help me
    Thanks Alot.

  • what about if u guys make an update that your friends in the game are in a different color so that u can find them easier and be with them cuz it is hard to find them

  • noelmaxboss, actually, someone in the GAP made a suggestion along similar lines…

  • This question is the only reason I made an account on the blog so plaease answer. Can you tell me that sony has a team working on the bluetooth headset problems.

  • And about what time they will be fixed, just an estimate.

  • Dylan, I need you to get a message out for me. I have a great suggestion that will make a lot of PS3 fans (including me) happy. In an Update for the PS3, can you give us the option to record gameplay using software created by SONY.

    I have an idea, you could make it accessible in all games via the XMB bar. It would make us very happy to be able to post good quality videos on YouTube of our gameplay.

    If you are not the guy who can make this happen please pass this message along.

    Thank you so much Dylan.

  • warhawk is a great game, but I have one huge problem with it, there has been a bug i have suffered since release (i have talked about it since then) where my whole ps3 will crash at the end of a round at about 00:24 until next game. No matter what I do it will crash, this madfe me stop playing i picked the game up again the otehr day thinking new patches would haev fixed it but they havent the game still crashes at the end of every round. The whole system willl lock up and i have to reset any chance of a fix?? or soem compenstation for my lack of real warhawk, its stopping me buying the new bundles as i dont belevie my game will work becasue of them.

  • where did u find the game it looks fun

  • Dylan,

    Wasn’t sure the best way to contact you.

    I’m just wondering if the paint/insignia contest winners (like me) will ever get their statues. (?)…

    I’d appreciate any update you can give.

    thanks,
    ArtByTragedy

Please enter your date of birth.

Date of birth fields