WebOps: Brothers in Arms (February 2005)
San Francisco, CA – April 13, 2004 – Ubisoft, one of the world’s largest video game publishers, today reinforces its strategy to dominate the war games market by announcing a long-term deal with award-winning developer Gearbox Software to publish a new military franchise: Brothers in Arms.
SAN FRANCISCO – February 24, 2005 – Ubisoftâ„¢, one of the world’s top game publishers, and acclaimed developer Gearbox Software, today announced that Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30â„¢, the highly-anticipated World War II game, has gone gold and will soon be on store shelves.
{default}In a gaming genre flooded with games featuring one World War II battle or another, these two announcements have still managed to grip ears and turn heads with the breakneck speed of a Delta Force commando. This month’s WebOps column will pay special homage to Ubisoft’s and Gearbox’s Brothers in Arms. I’ve collected some of the past years’ best online coverage of the game, from sites including Gearbox, GameSpy, and GameSpot. Above that, I also bring you links to some of the best sites in accord with the background storyline, which is based on factual historical elements of the 101st Airborne’s 502d Parachute Infantry Regiment during the first days of the Normandy invasion.
The buzz here at Armchair General is especially loud for Brothers in Arms, because of the involvement of one of its own: Colonel (Ret) John F. Antal. Col. Antal is the former Managing Editor and current Editorial Director of Armchair General magazine, and was the Technical Advisor for Brothers In Arms.
In case you missed it, first place to look isn’t on the Web. It’s the November 2004 issue of Armchair General (Vol. 1, No. 5), featuring a detailed cover story on accurate World War II military tactics to employ in the game (COVER STORY, pgs. 86-88). Also, Mark H. Walker provides us with a preview emphasis on the story and gameplay with his article, Brothers in Arms: Real Men, Real Combat (VIDEO GAME REVIEW, pgs. 84-85). Of course, if this happens to be your first time with Armchair General, we hope you are impressed enough to go ahead and get a subscription! Be sure to stay tuned to this website for the excellent Brothers in Arms review sure to come!
Have you been held under alien abduction for the past year? Perhaps you are one of the brave military personnel who has been fighting the war on terrorism? Or maybe you just thought all the media attention surrounding Brothers in Arms was just hype? Then these next few sites are for you. From that first announcement, gaming sites have been publishing with keen excitement screenshots, developer diaries, video trailers, and general news about Brothers in Arms. Follow these links below to where some of the best Brothers in Arms web material is held. They will for sure get you caught up on all the hoopla from the past year.
Brothers in Arms Official Site
Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30 for PC at GameSpot
Brothers in Arms: The Road to Hill 30 (Xbox)
Brothers in Arms Interview – Randy Pitchford
Gearbox GearBlogs (Developer’s Diary): Answers From The Colonel – Issue #1
Gearbox GearBlogs (Developer’s Diary): Answers From The Colonel – Issue #2
The 101st Airborne Division has without a doubt one of the most vaulted, well-earned, and spectacular reputations in all of America’s combat history. If you are looking for an all-around tale of the fierceness and daring do of America’s World War II warriors, look no further than the 82nd Airborne Division. Then, of course, also take a look at the 101st Airborne. It’s no wonder at all why they would be the subject of so many video games. In Brothers in Arms, players follow and participate in the story of the ‘Screaming Eagles’ 502d Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR) by taking on the role of Sgt. Matt Baker of F Company.
The following links lead to great websites with the history of the 101st and/or the 502d PIR as their main subject. Also included are a couple of reenactor sites and their tributes to these units. All in all, you’ll find some grand military history in these sites, so if you are new to combat gaming, or if you are an old time wargamer, you’ll learn about or reinforce your knowledge of the 101st Airborne during the first days of the D-Day invasion.
TRIGGER TIME – 101st Airborne WW2
The 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment(PIR) during WWII
502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment – 101st Airborne Division
Easy Company, 2/502d PIR, 101 ABN DIV
101st Airborne – 502nd PIR – PFC John Webb
101st Airborne, 502 PIR Texas/Louisiana/Oklahoma/Michigan Reenactment unit
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Stay Alert, Stay Alive!
Jim H. Moreno
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