UNCLASSIFIED

FROM: Scott Mitchell, futuresoldier@ghostrecon.net

TO: Undisclosed Recipients

MEMORANDUM

SUBJ: Press Release Summary

On April 12, 2010, Ubi Kimi, the Community Developer for Future Soldier, released some information regarding Future Soldier pertaining to the mechanics of game play. This news was posted on the front page of www.ghostrecon.net and a forum thread was created to discuss it. Additionally, a number of media outlets posted their individual press releases from their preview of Future Soldier. It appears Ubisoft Paris hosted a media tour that witnessed “a hundred game journalists”. (Sadly, I was not invited.) Press releases were received from IGN UK, 1UP, G4TV, Joystiq, Games Radar, CVG and Gamespot. (Did I miss anyone?) I anticipate more to follow with similar information.

I don’t know that I’ve seen a game receive so much press coverage with so little information being released. To date we’ve witnessed a teaser trailer, a live action video, some press releases and various artwork concepts but no real footage. I’m also amazed at some of the disparities between the reports and the inaccuracy of some of the data. Far be it for me to poke any of the real game journalists in the eye, but don’t be surprised if you read the articles and find some inconsistencies (I’m just happy to know I’m not the only one, and that the professionals screw up too LOL). It’s obvious which journalists are true fans of Ghost Recon and which were simply assigned to cover the story.

Here is my summarization of this latest round of news and a few personal comments thrown in for good measure. Basically I cut and pasted all the articles into one 30+ page document and then extracted the noteworthy data from each press release and condensed it down into this blog. There is a lot of information so I tried to keep my personal comments and speculation to a minimum.

Press Release Summary

Hands Off demonstration – apparently no one actually got to play the game.

The journalists were shown an “early build” of the game. November – the “speculated’ delivery date is 7 months away – not really a long period of time in the development of a video game, especially considering the beta is supposed to occur in about 3-4 months. Expect more news at E3 2010.

14 Missions spanning 12-14 hours of game play.

Map Locations: Urban, Countryside and Aircraft Carrier.

Modes; Co-Op, Team Deathmatch, CTF

Two player co-op mode confirmed but possibly a Four player co-op mode.

Single Player Squad - 30K (described as bloodthirsty), Bones (described as brattish and a lady-brute), Pepper (the sniper and previously unnamed) and of course Kozak, the character you play.

Capt Edward 'Kozak' Kachenko – the character you play. An American soldier with Russian roots. During single player campaigns, you cycle through the classes (assuming you always play as Kozak though, and not the other Ghosts).

Persistent Elite Creation – experience / ranking / unlock system (already discussed and compared to the system used in Rainbow Six: Vegas).

Roleplaying the Cut Scenes – we knew about playing as the Russian President’s bodyguard and the civilian fleeing during the invasion, but apparently you also get to play one of the engineers at a “facility” (also described as a refinery or power plant) that is attacked by terrorists. You’re not necessarily armed when you play these other roles.

Link Up Function - “A single button (described as LB or L1) when held, tethers the player to up to 3 other squad members and operate as a single unit with 360-degree vision. Perks are shared between characters when paired (thermoptic camouflage, shoulder mounted rocket launcher and drones).

Available in SP and MP. (This was also covered in the OXM article and my summary). Since it was released the drone is a playable 5th class in multiplayer matches, I’m assuming the drone can also link up with a squad?

While most reports suggest the Link Up feature is limited to 4 players, 1UP reported that up to eight squad mates can link up but ideally, 3 to 4 would be a more manageable number. Not sure which is correct? (The general consensus is limited to 4 players)

1UP also indicated that when you’re linked up, your squad mates visor cams flash on your screen which would coincide with the 360 degree visibility.

Blends first and third person play (doesn’t define how this is incorporated but it sounds similar to what Breach is going to offer with their cover system, but could possibly be comparable to GRAW/GRAW 2 with both views being available).

Character Leveling – Ubi Kimi also discussed this. Weapons earned in SP will be available in MP and vice versa.

Heartbeat Sensor – locate enemies far away and behind multiple walls.

Cross-com - Primary purpose is to control UAVs or to pilot the enhanced Drones.

The Drone’s nickname is “Dog”. (Only one press release mentioned this, so not entirely sure that’s correct information)

Shoulder mounted rocket launcher – confirmed to kill tanks, people and now helicopters; one journalist labeled it the “Back Mortar” but I can’t confirm if this is the actual name used. (I hope not, sounds like a medical condition.)

MR-B Assault Rifle – Well, at least we have the nomenclature for the new weapon, but no other new information provided.

Drone – Load Out was previously discussed. In addition to weapons apparently you can configure information gathering devices. That gives us a hint at what to expect, but still no firm details.

Interesting Quotes:

“Ubisoft has transformed the Ghost Recon series from a serious-minded tactical shooter to…a game that accentuates the action and introduces an all-new co-op mechanic.” –IGN UK

“Ghost Recon: Future Soldier is a departure from what has gone before, and it's a refresh that's as radical as Sam Fisher's recent turn in Splinter Cell Conviction.” –IGN UK

“It's a world away from the measured tactical tempo of Advanced Warfighter.” –IGN UK

"We didn't want to reproduce what we had done with previous titles. We thought it was time for us to move onto something new, something else." -Olivier Dauba, Creative Director

In reference to the Link Up function - “Theoretically, skilled players can take lead, piloting three other soldiers who act like human turrets and anyone who feels too restricted can simply let go of the button and run free.” –IGN UK

"The tactics haven't diminished – they've just changed.” Gabrielle Shrager, Game Writer

“Like every Ghost Recon game - and indeed nearly every Tom Clancy branded game - Future Soldier's got a serious hard-on for hardware. Taking place well beyond Advanced Warfighter's 2014 timeline, Future Soldier's technology teeters on the realms of science fiction – although Ubisoft maintains that everything in the game simply builds upon existing prototypes.” –IGN UK

“A large part of that extra weight is doubtless down to the new mortar that every Ghost has strapped to their back. It's no less than a portable rocket launcher, firing guided missiles that, as you'd expect, pack a hell of a punch.” –IGN UK

“Engineer can launch EMP rockets to disable enemy missile in midflight.” -1UP (G4TV describes it as a shield that stops missiles in their tracks and disables land mines.)

“Gone are the days of directing AI-controlled squad mates around the battlefield, as there is zero squad commanding in the game.” –G4TV

When discussing the design of the drone - “So they actually have a robotic .50 cal now, and it’s actually controlled by a gunner who sits well protected in the Humvee, and oddly enough, the control they use to spin the robotic .50 cal is very, very similar to an Xbox 360 controller…” - Stuart White, Ubisoft Producer (Many of us noticed the similarities in the live action video)

“I saw the actual game in action -- and just about everything from that trailer (live action video) is an actual gameplay mechanic. And then some.” –Joystiq

“I was impressed by the number and brutality of the various takedowns.” -Joystiq

“The toys in GRAW 1 and 2 felt forward-looking, but not fictional… and you still felt as if you were playing a relatively realistic military shooter, not another Halo. Future Soldier might be dangerously skirting that line, though the developers promise to stick only with technology that could exist in 10-15 years.” -GamesRadar

“In other words, Future Soldier combines the strategic planning from previous Ghost Recon games with the fast and frantic combat of shooters like Modern Warfare and Gears of War. Prefer one to the other? Here, you'll get both.” -GamesRadar

“Certain corners of the internet will be upset, and likely to use a certain phrase beginning with 'd' and ending with 'umbed-down'.” -Joystiq

“Future Soldier doesn't look much like GRAW at all - and it sure as hell doesn't play like it.” –CVG

“This is a shooter that's all about the melée.”

Ubi Kimi Intel: (In case you missed it on the News page or in the forums)

*Ghosts have the latest and best high-tech military equipment, which is inspired by actual prototypes

*Exoskeleton enhances the Ghosts' physical abilities, allowing them to run, leap, slide and kick farther & faster

Classes & associated weaponry:

Commando - Shoulder mounted rocket launcher

Sniper – Heartbeat detector

Engineer - Drones

Recon - Optical camo

Natural Cooperation:

*Coordinate combat by linking up with your Ghost teammates

*While linked up, you can benefit from and combine your teammates' high-tech abilities

General Info:

*You play as Kozak

*Split-screen and online co-op campaign will be available

*8v8 Multiplayer

*Ranking progression across SP, Co-op, and MP, like the PEC system in R6 Vegas games

*Ranking system unlocks rewards for your Ghost or clan

Summary:

The overall consensus is Future Soldier is nothing like Ghost Recon, even when compared to the Advanced Warfighter episodes. In fact, Future Soldier has been compared to Gears of War far more often than it has been compared to any of its predecessors.

While I have supported and defended giving Future Soldier a fair chance (and will continue to do so) as the next chapter of the Ghost Recon franchise, the dramatic changes to every core element, in addition to the inclusion of all the high-tech gadgets that are being pushed well past the realm of believability from what the prototypes suggest, makes this task rather challenging if not impossible.

There are a few upcoming titles that might gauge what gamers are looking for. Breach might just show us how big the modern day tactical shooter crowd is; and Future Soldier, becoming comparable to Halo and Gears of War, is going to have some stiff competition as both of these series have new releases coming that could conflict with the scheduled release of Future Soldier.

NOTE: When I say pushed well past the realm of believability, I will give an example of what I mean – it’s one thing to create a thermoptic camouflage cloak based on prototype technology that can hide a single user, but sharing that affect with 4 other players seems a bit of a stretch.

Don’t shoot the messenger.

Cheers.

//SIGNED//

Scott Mitchell, futuresoldier@ghostrecon.net