Battlefield 1942 Preview

The heat around the Xbox console right now is rapidly intensifying, as we get closer to its launch in the fall. Attracting the most experienced and skilled game creators, the Xbox has a few preliminary titles that are scheduled for release alongside with the console's launch. A rather captivating game-title (slated to appear at the beginning of the year 2002) is Battlefield 1942, coming straight from Digital Illusions, previously known for titles like Codename Eagle and Rally Masters. Now with the support of a huge publisher like Electronic Arts, they will positively go to the top of the Xbox gaming industry. Their new action game is going to recapture the moments, horrors, and the excitement of one of the most significant events in human history - World War II.

Reviving the wounded.

Take a flight through the air, or any vessel you deem fair.

The game-designers said they have employed quite a lot of movie and book titles that presented the inspiration considered necessary for portraying the ambiance of the Second World War. Among these motivations were famous 'immortal' movies like Wolfgang Petersen's 'Das Boot' (naturally, providing them with the ability to enhance their vehicle-designs, such as German U-boats, planes, etc.). For the visual appeal they used the spectacular atmosphere of 'Saving Private Ryan.' Plus they used books by: Sven Hassel ('Legion of the Damned') and Cornelius Ryan ('A Bridge Too Far', 'Battle for Berlin').

However, the importance of historical accuracy in Battlefield doesn't just reflect on the storyline's foundation; it plays an important role in the design of the central game elements. At the outset, there's the implementation of vehicles, which ought to have a genuine way of functioning as well as a truthful appearance. As expected, this also applies to the weaponry assortment and character outlooks. Moreover, there's going to be a number of historic battles from WW II, which the developers mean to highlight and bring back to life in Battlefield. This involves some of the well-known battles: Guadalcanal, Normandy, Al Alemein in North Africa and Kursk in Russia.

A most interesting element of Battlefield 1942 is the way it expresses a mixture of gameplay characteristics. The vastness this game allows the players to sense the atmosphere of WW II and experience what it was actually like to be on the battlefield at the time.

Mission assignments can be achieved in various ways and with the use of different tactics. In single-player missions, the game requires you to solve certain battlefield situations using the available resources. Some of these mission assignments will probably include rescue, reconnaissance, and related tasks.

Although the player will be controlling a single soldier in combat, the game additionally concentrates on bringing various multi-player features. Individuals can play both in cooperative and versus modes. There will be many different battle situations, which are going to require the gamers to unite in order to overcome the enemy. For instance, players can operate a huge bomber by combining their individual skills - with one of them playing as a pilot, another as a bombardier, and one as a gunner. If we take into account the numerous vehicles that can be controlled by the players, the possibilities of the multi-player games are simply endless. Another good example comes with a battleship, where four players can perform a wide range of tasks (operating gun turrets, anti-aircraft artillery, or even maneuvering the battleship). Supporting up to 64 players, the multi-player mode covers several locations like European villages, African deserts, Pacific beaches, or even Russian steppes.

A desert base.

Defending the airfield.

If we look upon the Xbox and the high-performance developing tools it features, it's obvious that game-designers can finally express their imagination to its fullest. Battlefield 1942 is being developed on the Refractor II engine, specifically created by DICE engineers, which is, according to the developers, a perfect tool for a game that features such a complex and huge environment. The designers especially stay focused on making the in-game physics look genuine therefore greatly enhancing crucial game components; such as extremely detailed modeling, precise vehicle damage, and so on. For an example: when players find themselves on a large and fully modeled battleship they will be able to move about freely on its deck in a full 3D environment. In addition to permitting dynamic modeling, the game's graphic engine will feature meticulously detailed landscapes, as well as realistic ground, sea, and air physics.

Then again, the makers have also underlined the implementation of game elements, which are a central part of gameplay - weak spots, special weapons, etc. What will the game specifically bring that will enhance gameplay? Many things that are still unrevealed and have yet to be determined. The goal the developers have here is to create a lasting appeal by improving game factors that numerous games appear to overlook these days. The fact that computer technology thrives with each passing month doesn't seem to influence the essential elements of these games. Battlefield will be one of those exceptional games that allows players to perform almost anything they yearn for, from driving trucks, tanks, and jeeps to flying airplanes, using gun turrets and, basically, a lot of different ways of moving about and taking part in battles.

Whether it's flying planes, driving a tank, or fighting on the ground, Battlefield is clearly going to be a gripping Xbox action game. The variety gameplay features induced into the game's core will provide an excellent test of the Xbox's easy-to-use controlling system. A full 3D environment, which includes highly detailed landscapes and intensely modeled objects, will surely demonstrate the effectiveness of the console's graphic capabilities. All rolled into one, the features of Battlefield 1942 confirm that the Xbox gaming system is going to be a pretty heavy competition for other next-generation consoles.