Just make the game very modable and open, with a good script language like UT3, and plenty of documentation like UnrealWiki. While I thought the graphics were not that great for Arma, the ones in Arma II look a lot better and more realistic. I play the UT mod Infiltration and as coders and artists have moved on to other projects, the community is looking for a new fps to play. We are hard core realists so I hope that we will see weapons like the PKM machine gun, FN P90, modern variants of the RPG, etc.

One thing I would like to point out, is that most FPS these days do not make realistic vehicles. At least for jet aircraft, I suggest you take a look at a very real simulation like Open Falcon, a mod for Falcon IV. This way you could bring the flight simulation community in as well. And we could have one awesome war.

1)2-3 man portable weapon systems (MILAN, M2 machinegun.) It would add alot to the cooperation between players.

2) Climbing- what could be more cooler than climbing over a wall in a stealth mission?

3) All sorts of stations that a side could benefit from. As the number of players online constantly increases it would be nice to add more elements of modern warfare. Signal locators, UAVs, a small remote controlled car/helicopter/plane with 2 kg of C4, jammers, you name it.

4) Rework the communications.
Group without a radio cant inform the other group

5) Vechile destruction
The infamous "frying pan" manuver of the T72 caused by the explosion of ammuntion inside the vechile.

6) More tanks than just the classic T72 vs Abrams.

7) Being able to build fortifications.

8) Low system requirements.

If you could to at least 1 of the things mentioned before: i will buy.

Many thanks to BIS for the original Operation Flashpoint.

A few points:

Please change the crosshairs! A single red dot would be better than the horrible white line crosshairs - it really does kill the realism!

The weapon sounds (esp Rifles) need to be improved from ARMA - just too tinny and pop gunnish.

Looking forward to this like many thousands of other PC'ERS (PC gaming is far from dying - you cannot compare console play with a game like this!)

You have an army of PC fans of the orignal flashpoint - Improve, but please don't sway too far away form what made OFP great.

Thanks to all BIS crews for their efforts and enthusiasm in creating one of the most realistic game ever. Operation Flashpoint in its days was revolutionary so does ArmA. I hope the team keeps focusing on optimizing all kinds of details while reducing polygons as much as possible when being close to a solider or an object.

I love ARMA for it's simulator feel. Such a nice change from BF2. No bunny hopping. Tanks actually have ammo types. Rifles that are better than for shotting point blank. Just the overall realism. But the blurb about consoles? BF2 sold 2,225,000 copies last time I checked. I have trouble believing PC gaming is dying.

i hope there is a future for PvP like it was back in ofp, right now arma1 has no such factor due animation bugs and unresponsive controls. we had many awsome leagues for ctf, c&h, cti and funcups in dm, the browser was filled with tnt, czl, ecl, mfcti and cqb league maps and those battles felt really breathtaking in speed and tacticts.

All that seems to got lost while becoming more a vbs trainer in arma1, so my hope is back to the roots, make more space for fun which would not destroy the real part for coop players.

I like what I've seen so far, the AI improvements are very welcome here. The RPG and other interactive elements will add depth to push this beyond a 'shooter'.. Especially if they are dynamic, and the AI controllers list of objectives or tendancies can be easily updated by the user/scripts. I'm watching on the edge of my seat!
Thanks!

I really like these blog entries. Would be also nice idea to also see blog entries from 3d/2d artists and designers .

...even for mission design and addon making!! What about improved (3D-)editor and tools?

RPG elements nice idea! Does the players action really affect missions in campaign? Or is it "T-switch" stuff??

AI should been better in pathfinding on foot, vehicles, air and sea... lot of work beside eyecandy facial, vegetation, animal and destructionfx details ;)

Is it a good idea if ArmA and ArmA 2 can be played together?

The best change is definite the step to the new world region with the europe scenery.

I hope for arma2, the campaign will be more like the ofp cwc campaign with some characters to identify.

Scripts Addons from ArmA should work in ArmA2 but is there some massive changes in the config files?

About the BLogs, i think its a good Idea to come closer with the community.