VIP mode is here! This is a game mode that’s been requested for a long time now and we are extremely proud to finally have it in game. With the new mode we’ve also updated the mission editor to support making VIP mode maps! Another new addition is the Swenson range, a great single player training map to learn weapon drop and recoil patterns. As always we’ve included a host of bug fixes so make sure you read below for everything.

VIP

VIP game mode has returned to America’s Army!

The VIP is chosen at random at the start of each round; players may choose how often they are chosen as the VIP via a setting under Miscellaneous.

The VIP comes equipped with a single weapon, limited ammunition and extra armor.

Protect the VIP and escort him to the extraction point within time limits. The ambush team’s mission is to capture and secure the VIP before he can escape.

The VIP is indicated in the HUD by a unique icon and color; this color may be customized in the Settings menu.

Score extra points for escaping as the VIP and reviving, securing and neutralizing the VIP. Seven new VIP-themed achievements have been added.

The VIP game mode has been added to numerous existing maps: Inner Hospital – FLO & BDX Springstreet – BDX Slums, Overload, Intercept, Homestead, Redline – FLO

Weapon and smoke grenade pickups may be found scattered across some VIP maps

Weapon Ranges

Swenson Range – New weapon range for testing and analyzing weapon behaviors

Spotting Scope – New item added to both weapon ranges and available when exploring all maps in single player

Gameplay

Lean in and out speeds slowed slightly – this was done as the previous speed on the lean was so high players could lean in and out so quickly they would effectively be invisible to their target(s)

Supernova shotgun’s spread tightened up slightly

M24 bolt cycle time lengthen slightly (up to 1.85 seconds; was 1.7)

M24 unsighted accuracy cone increased slightly

Map Changes

Targets in the shoot houses updated to better accommodate players with color blindness

Fixed spawn barrier shenanigans on Cabin Fever

Plugged a spot where players could get outside the playable area on Cabin Fever

Addressed a spawn-to-spawn shooting issue on Rocky Road

Fixed a few instances of floating bamboo on Homestead

Fixed LOD issues where props would not be visible at long ranges on several maps

Fixed several collision issues on Stone Ruins, Rocky Road & Intercept

Fixed an unintended bullet penetration issue on several Inner Hospital stairways

Removed an extreme rock climbing path from Rocky Road

Arcade sounds are more muffled when in the furniture store above it

Fixed a mislabeled comm volume on Checkout

Blocked an unintended sightline on Intercept

Blocked a spot on Inner Hospital where players could reach an unintended play space

Fixed an issue where very rarely one or two players would not spawn on a full Bridge map

Overload now correctly has twelve rifleman slots on each side

HUD/UI

New Admin player list widget is available; open it via the Admin Panel

National Guard icon now supported on the scoreboard for those players who served in the Guard

VIP option added to the nameplate menu

VIP Preference options added to the Miscellaneous Settings list

Mission briefing description displayed at the start of each round

Team role (Attack/Defend, Escort/Ambush) added to the top of the screen

Credits screen added to main menu

Admin messages now appears on top of all other HUD/UI elements

Players can no longer see where the C4 is being placed before the arming process is completed

Nameplates are no longer lost for a round for players killed by a C4 explosion

Fixed an issue where the VOIP labels would sometimes show the incorrect team

VOIP labels no longer become stuck if VOIP is used within the Settings screen

Button animations on several menus were incorrect – now fixed

The Steam name of a player is displayed in the lower left corner of the scoreboard when hovering over that player’s name

Fixed an issue where the setting to mute game audio when focus was lost would not always work

Players may now choose to mute game audio and VOIP separately when focus is lost

Fix for the scoreboard mute button getting stuck in an incorrect state

The four Answer bindings removed from the Controls list to reduce clutter

Mission Editor

VIP templates added to the Mission Editor

Full VIP support added to both Mission Editor and Advanced Editor

Custom maps now have the correct audio/text briefing when created from a template

Miscellaneous