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» About JCOVE Lite |
About JCOVE Lite
JCOVE Lite is a freeware game derived from Bohemia Interactive's VBS2 software - itself a derivative of Armed Assault but focused on simulated training for military purposes.
JCOVE Lite was funded by the UK MOD to give the general public, particularly potential recruits, an idea of how the British military trained for combat as well as providing a more realistic combat simulation than your standard shoot'em-up.
Overall it gives serious gamers an immensely modifiable platform to create, share and play their own missions using a huge range of British military equipment - from the humble Sig 229 to the legendary Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank.
JCOVE Lite, a Brief History
Once upon a time there was a game. This game was called Operation: Flashpoint and it was pretty successful. We're sure many of you have heard of it.
OFP was known for its realism. It wasn't your typical run-and-gun shooter; it required a bit more nouse. It also offered a very open architecture that allowed gamers to create very diverse modifications for both on- and off-line play. Users could create new vehicles, people, weapons, maps, missions and whole campaigns with relative ease.
The realism of the game made it popular with hardcore gamers and military folk alike. So much so, in fact, that one particular Australian squaddie saw the potential for customising it into a military trainer. The idea was taken on by OFPs developers, who created a dedicated military sim called Virtual Battlespace - VBS was born, and brought low-cost, highly-customisable commercial simulation into the government world. Easy-to-use editing suites allowed the military to rapidly replicate their diverse equipment ranges in the simulated environment offered by VBS, and the simple scripting techniques allowed them to build large, high-fidelity exercises in which to train their troops.
As OFP progressed, it bore a sequel: Armed Assault. ArmA kept true to its heritage and continued to offer unrivalled user access. The community continued to grow, with large numbers of people creating additional content. With the new engine came new capability, and so VBS was also uplifted with its own sequel. VBS2 built upon the ethos established in its predecessor, and pretty soon some of the West's biggest militaries were using it: The US, UK, Canada, Australia... all saw the potential and were eager to make the most of it.
Now we focus more into the British side of the story.
VBS had been used successfully in the past to deliver convoy training to Logistics troops under a project called Joint Convoy Operations Virtual Environment - JCOVE. JCOVE allowed troops to practice running and escorting large military convoys through realistic, hostile Middle Eastern environments. They learnt to communicate with each other properly, to plan safe and sensible routes, and to respond to ambushes and roadside bombs. It even helped them identify situations that could lead to such attacks, and take appropriate action to avoid them.
With the advent of VBS2, the training system was upgraded. Operational Joint Combat Operations Virtual Environment - Op JCOVE - expanded on the original remit of supporting logistics convoy training and began to cover more dismounted operations; platoons on patrol, section assaults... even cultural awareness in walking around a synthetic Afghan village.
While it is important to stress that VBS2 is not a "game" in the usual sense, today's generation - even those serving in the military - are generally quite adept at picking up such technology. The UK government were also aware of the quite high expectations of such a generation when it comes to providing things like graphical fidelity. VBS2 allowed them to fill a void that is arguably gaping in such systems as CATT.
The success of VBS2 in enabling synthetic training prompted to UK to purchase an Enterprise License, giving them even more scope to use it across Defence. One such use, not even considered in the early days, was to basically show it off to potential recruits and let them have a play. The idea was that, as good as Call of Duty is, it's doesn't depict combat particularly well. Something as realistic as VBS2, in which teamwork, communication and forethought are key, would give youngsters keen on joining up a better taste of what to expect - as well as introducing them to the training methods they would likely encounter after taking the Queen's Shilling.
In order to provide these kids with something to take home, Bohemia Interactive were tasked with creating a stripped-down version of VBS2 that could be distributed as freeware under the UK license. VBS2 JCOVE Lite was the result.
Essentially running the same engine as VBS2, Lite takes out some of the more advanced, training-specific features (After-Action Review and 3D Real-Time Mission Editing), but still gives the player access to the full range of UK military equipment and an editing suite fully capable of creating new and interesting scenarios of your own imagination. Networking is capable of allowing you and your friends to form a couple of sections of infantry, or some squadrons of AFVs, and getting stuck in with the Taleban, Iraqi insurgents, and more.
So what's with jcove-lite.co.uk?
This site was set up by some of the first Lite afficionados to provide a central place to meet up, arrange games and share our new missions. We hope in time to have a resource here that is capable of squeezing every last drop from this unique program and, who knows, maybe feeding stuff back into MOD for the future?!
We hope you enjoy JCOVE Lite as much as we do. As freeware goes, it's pretty special!
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