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Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter is due for release on the PC on May 5 2006. Ubisoft has released a Q&A with producer Mathieu Girard, in which he talks about the differences between GRAW on the PC and the original Ghost Recon, and how the PC game differs from the console versions.
Q. What can you tell us about the background chosen for this new Ghost Recon episode?
A. The story of GRAW revolves around Captain Mitchell and a part of his Ghost team travelling to Mexico City to educate Mexican troops and showcase US military equipment during a political meeting, only to find themselves in the middle of a guerrilla uprising. The Ghost team becomes the tip of the spear as US and Mexican troops join forces against a ruthless guerrilla leader. Be prepared for some epic street to street fights!
Q. Apart from a technical evolution, how GRAW differs from GR1?
A. We basically kept the best aspects of GR1. In GR1 the superiority of the Ghosts was, besides their meticulous training and elite operators, based mainly on their access to advanced weaponry, such as the OICW. In GRAW PC we build on that legacy and provide the Ghosts with some of the most modern and lethal hardware in the arsenal, but we also take the other technological aspects further by providing the Ghosts with an advanced communications system. This will not only enhance the soldiers’ perception and situation awareness, but also let him receive live video feeds from his team-mates’ helmet cameras as well as from the operational command. What your team-mates know – you know!
Q. Tactics was a strong feature in GR1. How have you succeed to enhance that aspect in GRAW?
A. Combined with an upgraded tactical map with direct satellite link – providing a live overview of the battle area – the Ghost leader can plan and execute objectives strategically on the fly, always certain that he has the latest Intel. Following the evolvement of unmanned vehicles we have also given the Ghosts access to a UAV 3, a remote controlled drone capable of hovering high above the rooftops and feed the team leader and operational command with immediate and detailed intelligence updates – such as the positions of individual enemies. This is the future, and information means power more than ever. Gamers will certainly be thrilled with the new technological possibilities available in GRAW.
Q. What are the unique features of the PC version compared to the consoles?
A. GRAW PC and consoles are two completely different games, since the expectations from PC gamers are different from their consoles homologues. We did not focus on direct action as it was the case on consoles but, once again, more on a strategic and tactical aspect. Planning will be a key aspect of the PC version. The more you prepare your attack the more it has the chance to succeed! Beside that, players will discover a new interface, unique features specially designed for the PC such as the ‘Air strike’ command or a mod system allowing creating a large number of weapons’ combinations. There is a lot to discover…
Q. Multiplayer is a most wanted! Can you tell us a bit on this specific part?
A. You do not expect me to use all my bullets now?! Ok, I can assure you that the team development is currently focusing on delivering the best possible multiplayer experience for GRAW. What I can tell you at the moment is that we have a really unique and original multiplayer mode on the way and it will require the players to use all their sense of strategy to get victorious… There is more to come on that subject soon.
