Q: What is Brothers in Arms?
A: BiA is a video game created by Gearbox Software and published by UBIsoft. The game is based on actual events that took place during the Normandy invasion during World War II.
Q: On what platforms will Brothers in Arms be made available and when will it be released?
A: BiA will be available on XBOX, Playstation 2, and PC. The game will be released in the first half of 2005.
Q: Why another World War II first person shooter game?
A: BiA is not exactly a first person shooter where you are a single man on a mission to kill the bad guys. BiA is about real life war tactics. The game’s artificial intelligence was programmed with the guidance of real military advisors. When you are in the game, you look through the eyes of your man, but you also must control the rest of your squad by giving them instructions. You must be a leader of your team to win. Direct your men to suppress the enemy, and then mow them down with your firing unit. Other WWII games being a good leader is not required to be a sucessful player. In BiA you must lead your AI men into authentic combat and make real-time decisions.
Q: Will there be single player missions?
A: Yes. BiA will have 18 campaign missions that are set to take place over 8 in-game days. The missions start on June 6th 1944. You will play as SGT Matt Baker who is based on a real-life soldier at Normandy (SGT Harrison Summers). Sgt. Baker is the leader of 3d Sqd, 3d Ptn, Fox Co, 502d PIR, 101st Airborne and the game follows him and his squad.
Q: Who is SGT Matt Baker?
A: Sgt. Matt Baker is based upon Sgt. Harrison Summers of the 502d PIR, 101st Airborne. He is the character you will use to lead your men during the campaign in BiA. Baker's adventures in Normandy were partly inspired by Sgt. Summers, but not wholly based on him. Sgt. Summers is only mentioned in two battles and that would be a pretty short game. Baker’s path follows that of the 502nd, so if you want to get a glimpse of the kind of missions there might be I would focus on researching the regiment rather than just Sgt. Summers. (source: GBX forums)
Q: Will there be multiplayer gametypes?
A: Yes. Multiplayer gametypes are a lot like the singleplayer mission maps you play. More details later.
Q: Will Brothers in Arms have online multiplayer gameplay?
A: Yes. BiA will be XBOX Live compatible. The PC version of the game will support online gameplay. The XBOX version of the game will support System Link and two-player split-screen. More details later.
Q: How many people can play in a game?
A: Up to 16 men can be in a game of BiA. However, a maximum of 4 humans can be in the game. This game is about leading your team, not necessarily having the best aim. The player that uses the best tactics will win. There will be 8 soldiers per team. Each team is comprised of 1 firing squad and 1 assault squad. If 4 humans are in the game, each human will control their squad of 4 players (himself and 3 AI). If 2 humans are in the game, each human will control 2 squads (himself and 7 AI). If 3 humans are in the game, 1 human will control 8 men, while the other 2 humans will control 4 men each (one will control the firing squad and the other will control the assault squad).
Q: Will there be a demo for this game?
A: Yes. A demo version of BiA for XBOX in trade magazines like Official XBOX Magazine is highly likely. Also, a PC demo version is also likely to be available for download. Not word on a Playstation 2 demo.
Q: Will there be a public beta test?
A: No. The beta test will be conducted privately and invites will be sent to those who Gearbox wished to participate in the beta.
Q: Why does Gearbox say that Brothers in Arms is "based on a true story"?
A: Gearbox has logged thousands of hours traveling to the actual battle sites you will see during gameplay. Gearbox has accurately modeled the battlefields in 3D. For instance, the buildings in the game actually existed; some still do exist. The physical area is accurate to approximately the meter - based off of aerial recon images and personal survey trips out there. Gearbox has also spent thousands of hours researching the specific battles that take place over the 8 days of the campaign. Gearbox is advised by military veterans such as COL John Antal. COL Antal has made sure that the developers incorporate real-life military tactics as used during WWII into the AI soldiers. Gearbox has trained numerous hours on the real-life weapons seen in the game. The characters in the campaign of BiA are based off of real soldiers. No other developer has done as much research in making a game as has Gearbox. No other game will be as authentic as Brothers in Arms.
Q: Will I be able to play against bots in multiplayer?
A: No. In multiplayer mode, you must play against another human. Gearbox devs have suggested that perhaps the BiA mod community will be creative enough to create a patch for the game.
Q: Will there be a Brothers in Arms 2?
A: Probably. Gearbox developers have stated that BiA is the start of a franchise. We suspect that development on BiA2 has already started.
Q: What graphics engine does BiA use?
A: BiA most likely is using UnrealEngine2.
Q: What kind of audio will BiA have?
A: The soundtrack for BiA was made by some of the most talented musicians in the world:
Recorded in Dvorak Hall, Rudolfinum, 23 - 25 June 2004
Edited in SONO Studio, Prague
recorded in 24bit 192kHz with both Stereo and Dolby Digital 5.1 mixes
performed by the FILMharmonic Orchestra which is a combination of musicians from both the Philharmonic Orchestra and the Prague Symphony Orchestra
Composer: Stephen Harwood
Conductor: Adam Klemens
Music Producer: David McGarry
