Greetings! This is for now my first blog post on this site, so... yeah I'm gonna' babble for a bit. :P
What's currently on my mind is the Operation Market Garden project by the Benelux Development Team way back in 2006.
While it is a beautiful piece of work, it is sadly unfinished and some parts of that really show (for me at least.) So now here I am fantasizing about how good of a mission pack or standalone mod this project could have been if the production had pulled through in a complete fashion.
Perhaps the maps could have been better polished and rendered to recreate the Netherlands landscape and architecture for building structures, etc (especially the unfinished-looking Arnhem map, or at least the city half of it... the bridge looks splendid though). Maybe some better looking model skins for the different factions of the operation (American 101st, American 82nd, 1st British, Polish Brigade), and new weapons such as the PIAT for example.
The covering of the operation could have been quite vast and open to key scenarios throughout Holland. The overall campaign could have consisted of 22 Missions within these 12 sub-campaigns. (subject to change, of course)
1 - Infiltration (Dutch Resistance)
- Behind Enemy Lines: Open Borders
2 - Grave (American 82nd Airborne)
- Grave Bridge: The Landing and Victory
3 - Son & Bruegel(American 101st Airborne)
- Son and Bruegel Village and Bridge: Heavy Resistance
4 - Garden I (British XXX-Corps)
- Valeknswaard: Behind Schedule
- Eindhoven: Liberation
5 - Nuenen (American 101st Airborne)
- Nuenen 1: A Walk in the Park
- Nuenen 2: When We Ride on our Enemies
6 - Veghel & Best (American 101st Airborne)
- Veghel: The Thorn in the Road
- Best: Taking Chances
7 - Groesbeek (American 82nd Airborne)
- Groesbeek: The Stalemate
8 - Nijmegen (American 82nd Airborne)
- Nijmegen City: Battle Ruins
- Nijmegen Bridge: Preparation
9 - Garden II (British XXX-Corps)
- Mook: Precarious Path
10 - Oosterbeek I (British 1st Airborne)
- Oosterbeek Wolfheze Landings: Thunderclap Surprise
- Oosterbeek Johannahoeve: Regrouping
- Oosterbeek: Hotel Hartenstein 1
11 - Arnhem (British 1st Airborne)
- Arnhem 1: The Arrival
- Arnhem 2: Defending
- Arnhem 3: Bridge Assault
- Arnhem 4: A Failed Operation
12 - Oosterbeek II (British 1st Airborne + Polish Brigade)
- Oosterbeek 1: The Withdrawal
- Oosterbeek 2: Hotel Hartenstein 2
- Oosterbeek 3: Aftermath
I know that not all the mission are in chronological order, otherwise it would be confusing if you jump from sector to sector every time. Also you could play many different characters. Once you will be a regular infantry soldier in the British 1st Airborne, a mission later you will be member of the American 101st Airborne, and perhaps even a tank operator among the British XXX-Corps.
The order of the levels could show you how this operation slowly changes into a huge disaster that had an huge impact on the following months of the war. There could have been much variation in the missions, but most of all, it could have been a front-line-ticket for the hardest struggles in Operation Market Garden.
Anyways, that's just what's scrambling through my head right now. Till' next time!
Also, another dead mod that definitely showed some potential in covering Market Garden was "Remember September" for Call of Duty 2. Shame it got cancelled back in 2007.
Unfortunately, it seems that Market Garden plus CoD equals cancelled mod with lots of potential. I've found a video with it's Nuenen map that can be downloaded. It'll be in HCTW mod for CoD2.
I've seen that map as well. Hopefully the HCTW version of the map will make up for at least one forgotten map of one forgotten project.
Also, imagine how AWESOME the Market Garden project might have been if it was built on top of the United Offensive template. Better visual effects, better production value, and even better chances of completion because United Offensive offered a more extensive toolbox in terms ofcontent and whatnot. :)
I wish this mod was finished. Of the 22 missions planned to be in the mod, 10 were done.
I am creating 4 (maybe 5!) maps for UF that were planned to be in the OMG mod (Nuenen, Groesbeek, Nijmegen City and Hartenstein 2, maybe Arnhem 2), so if you get the permission to revive the mod, you can freely use these maps after I make them and when they are put into the UF.
Just give the credit, that's all.
I never actually thought of contacting the original crew, but I will give it a shot and see what they put on the table. If yes, then UF's campaign just got longer and more awesome. ^^ If not, we continue rolling on as usual.
Oh and I would love to see your take on Arnhem, if you do get around to it. :D
I contacted the two main authors.
Really! What did they said?
I've decided to make Arnhem city mission, I'll do it in parallel with Groesbeek.
Awesome! :D
They haven't said anything yet. I'll just wait for their response. In the meantime, we just work with our own maps.