Ubisoft announced that AMERICAS ARMY: RISE OF A SOLDIER for Xbox and HEROES OF THE PACIFIC for PS2, Xbox and PC have shipped to retail stores.
Ubisoft and the U.S. Army worked together to develop AMERICAS ARMY: RISE OF A SOLDIER. With unprecedented behind-the-scenes access to the vast military expertise of the U.S. Army, Ubisoft created the most authentic military console game to date by incorporating true-to-life character progression via an all-new Career mode. The PlayStation 2 version is projected to ship in Q1 2006.
We are very excited to bring the only official U.S. Army game to consoles, said Tony Kee, vp of marketing at Ubisoft. Working firsthand with the U.S. Army to create this all-new title has ensured the deepest and most realistic military game ever to hit the consoles. Players will become immersed in the complete Army experience while learning what it takes to rise through the ranks in the all-new Career mode.
Built in partnership with the U.S. Army and developed by Secret Level, AMERICAS ARMY: RISE OF A SOLDIER offers the most true-to-life Army experience, allowing players to create a soldier and lead him through an Army career. Single-player missions and multiplayer action progress the skills of a soldier as he rises through the ranks.
Our collaboration with Ubisoft has resulted in the most authentic console game about soldiering in the U.S. Army, said Colonel Casey Wardynski, originator and director of the AMERICA'S ARMY game project. AMERICAS ARMY: RISE OF A SOLDIER emulates the real Army, allowing players to choose their own career paths. Players can focus on individual Army roles, like Sniper or Grenadier, or experience different roles in their goal to achieve Green Beret status.
Key features include:* Unique Career mode: Unparalleled character customization allows players to create a soldier and take him throughout his career from recruit to Special Forces Team Leader. * Earn experience points in training and combat missions and use them to increase core skills. * Play as an integrated member of an eight-man fire team at first then progress to become a Fire Team Leader responsible for and issuing commands to a fire team. * The only official U.S. Army game on the console: Real active-duty Special Forces operatives consulted with game designers to ensure the highest level of realism in any military game in existence. Authentic weapons, equipment and combat situations come straight from the U.S. Army subject matter experts. * Play it your way: RISE OF A SOLDIER has no linear campaign design; players can choose their own career paths. Either focus on certain roles (sniper or automatic rifleman, for example) or experience different roles in the goal to achieve Special Forces. * Intense Military Action: Quick reflexes, smart tactics, and the use of teamwork are mandatory to succeed in army missions, which plunge players into ultra-realistic combat scenarios. * Multiplayer: RISE OF A SOLDIER will offer a multiplayer experience with up to 16 players playing on Xbox Live and online for the PlayStation 2. Career Mode will be brought online, where players can create and build an online character.
HEROES OF THE PACIFIC videogame for the PlayStation 2, Xbox and PC is a dramatic World War II aerial combat-action game developed by IR Gurus of Australia.
"HEROES OF THE PACIFIC delivers more than 35 planes, 26 missions, awesome multiplayer support, realistic and historical environments and, with more than 150 planes fighting on-screen, the most intense dogfighting action available today," said Kee. "This incredible game allows players to experience the thrill of airborne combat in some of the Pacific theaters most defining skirmishes."
HEROES OF THE PACIFIC begins on Dec. 7, 1941, with the attack on Pearl Harbor and lets the player participate in the most memorable battles of the Pacific campaign including Wake Island, Midway and the Coral Sea. For the first time players will experience the epic scope of the battles, placing hundreds of planes on the screen in a single confrontation.
HEROES OF THE PACIFIC features six game modes and more than 35 upgradeable WWII aircraft, a compelling story through the war, and arcade and professional controls, as well as a workshop to customize the planes weapon loadout and plane setup.
Key features include:* More than 150 planes fighting on-screen, each with full artificial intelligence and physics. * 10 campaigns, with 26 missions taken from real events of the Pacific campaign, including Pearl Harbor and Iwo Jima. * Six game modes (Campaign, Instant Action, Single Mission, Historical, Training, Multiplayer and Online (fierce online multiplayer support for up to eight players). * Compelling and dramatic story featuring historical footage. * Arcade and professional control modes. * Player-controllable wingmen through a fast and intuitive menu system. * Highly detailed plane and ship models with complex lighting and environment effects. * Varied mission types: Ground attack, ground support, escort defense, patrol, torpedo and dive-bombing.
HEROES OF THE PACIFIC carries an ESRB rating of "T" (Teen) for strong language and violence, with a suggested retail price of $49.99 for PlayStation 2 and Xbox and $39.99 for the PC.
Ubisoft is a leading producer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment products worldwide. Ubisoft has offices in 21 countries and sales in more than 50 countries around the globe. Ubisoft generated revenue of 538 million Euros for the 20042005 fiscal year, an increase of 8% over the previous fiscal year at constant exchange rates. To learn more, visit www.ubisoftgroup.com.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
