Battlefield 1942
Electronic Arts Taiwan
Interface: English/Chinese
Release: Today
With the release of Flashpoint Operation by Codemasters last year, the first-person shooter (FPS) format for the first time allowed players to go beyond the handle of a gun and actually start controlling tanks and helicopters. Following this trend, Electronic Arts Taiwan released Renegade, an addition to the Command and Conquer: Red Alert series, which also allows players to make use of a wide variety of mechanized transport and weaponry.
But these games were still very much prototypes, and the model for combined air, sea and land operations in the FPS format didn't really arrive until Return to Castle Wolfenstein and Medal of Honor: Allied Assault earlier this year.
With EA's release of Battlefield 1942 today, the full impact of modern mechanized warfare will be brought to the screen. The game gives players the chance to take part in the Normandy landing, drive a tank in the war in the dessert or fly in the Battle of Midway.
"Currently, it is the only first-person team game that places the player directly on a WWII battlefield, while at the same time providing the option of directing air strikes or fleet movements," said Jack Lin (林守杰), general manager of EA Taiwan.
"The use of mechanized elements is not just for added excitement," said John Chiang (蔣鏡明), chief editor of Net Game Biweekly and a FPS enthusiast, "For many scenarios the use of mechanized units is essential to the mission."
As to the all important question of online play, Lin said the game allows up to 64 players to take part, selecting from US, German, British, Soviet and Japanese forces. Players can also select to play special forces, medics, recon, anti-tank or engineer units, each of which have their own special characteristics. A wide range of realistic WWII battle scenarios provide the background to the action.
Team Factor
Interwise Multimedia Corp.
Interface: English
Scheduled Release: End of Sept.
Team Factor, designed by Australian firm Acclaim, also seeks to break the FTS mold by incorporating role-play elements. To start, the player selects one of four character types -- soldier, scout, Ssniper, specialist -- who gains experience points by participating in missions. These points can be used to acquire new skills, with the aim of developing the ultimate killing machine.
The game is set against a background of conflict between the US, Russia and NATO, and while the battle grounds are fictitious, the weapons and accoutrements of the characters are closely based on modern state-of-the-art military technology.
In the tradition of Counter Strike, online play in which players are required to cooperate as a fire team is also emphasized.
"An added feature is that Team Factor allows two-on-one combat situations in which two teams might temporarily ally to destroy a third," Jay Huang, marketing manager for Interwise, said.
It is no surprise that Team Factor has strong support for online gaming, allowing up to 60 players at any one time. In such large combat scenarios, individual skills and team dynamics are equally important.
Interwise will also be releasing its already highly popular Delta Force collection with an expansion set titled Dagger which provides scenarios extrapolated from the current war against terror, with special forces engaged in search and destroy missions in the Middle East and Afghanistan.
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