CMP Releases Esports Combine 2: Sightline Sandstorm
December 27, 2023
By Ashley Dugan, CMP Staff Writer
The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) is excited to announce the launch of Combine 2 in its Sightline series of esports games – Sandstorm!
In November, the CMP began its venture into esports through Sightline, Combine 1, which had over 100,000 unique users and aimed to present versatile marksmanship training through gameplay that can later be translated to a live range. Combine 2 expands upon that notion by engaging users in breath control, crosswind and shot visualization – featuring fresh gameplay mechanics within a desert environment.
“Sightline Sandstorm adds several features which increase the marksmanship challenges,” said Will Dantzler, CMP’s Chief Information & Technology Officer. “With a new environment including incentives, the game keeps bringing you back to do better!”
Similar to Combine 1, users in Combine 2 will play from a perspective set behind the firearm to simulate range scenarios for action pistol, rifle and shotgun. Users will enter a 3D arena where he or she will be given a series of nine tasks to complete. The player uses a keyboard and mouse to control the speed of play and the movement of the firearm itself.
New elements in Sightline Sandstorm include exclusive rewards, like earning your own custom firearm skin for a more personal feel, as well as score history/past shot display to verify which shots earned the most points based on proximity to the bullseye.
In pistol, precision and speed are tested within tasks such as Target Frenzy, Tempo Precision and Drone Wave. Shotgun challenges each user’s reflexes through Trap Shoot, Maze Race and Zone Defend – firing at clay pigeons while navigating through a winding labyrinth or defending against a horde of targets. Rifle tasks focus on breath control, simulated through sway motion during gameplay, along with accuracy and crosswind compensation with scope and iron sights.
Global leaderboards will be collected within each task. Finish within the Top 100 of users and earn a special Title! Users may go back and play as many times as they’d like, so keep playing, share with your friends and earn those rewards while absorbing marksmanship fundamentals along the way!
Those interested in playing may access Sightline Sandstorm by following this step-by-step setup guide through the Steam and Aimlabs gaming platforms: https://thecmp.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/SightlineAccessGuide_Windows.pdf. Unfortunately, MacOS is currently unsupported by Aimlabs, meaning Sightline is only accessible to PC/Windows users until a later date. Note that download times may vary due to user internet connectivity and available hard disk space.
CMP’s Esports Mission:
The CMP is dedicated to finding ways of expanding its footprint and base participation, especially with youth, outside of its static ranges in Ohio, Alabama and at travel competition sites across the country. Making a move to the virtual world, the CMP is launching a series of “Combines” for users to enter gameplay. Each Combine will present a new series of tasks using a variety of firearms and training techniques through engaging settings, with the hope of migrating marksmanship gameplay to real-world applications.
*If you check out the game, feel free to send your feedback to sightline@thecmp.org!*
Waiting for Mac support.
I tried to install on my late model Dell laptop at least five times and got the green check mark for the captcha, but in every case the program came back and said “Your response to the CAPTCHA appears to be invalid. Please re-verify that you’re not a robot below.
(Reference ID: 4025719699767427184)
I had tried in November and got the same response. Evidently it does not like my Dell with windows 11.
Can’t play, no Mac support.
Let’s see