To understand just how unusual Gearbox's approach to scenario design is in Brothers In Arms, you really need a velo, a carte de Normandie, and a chambre at the delightful, peacock-patrolled Chateau Bel Enault (tel: 0033 233 713048, ask for Spencer). Rise early, devour a few pain au chocolat and a bowl or two of chocolat chaud (Vive la France!) then pedal off in the direction of Carentan. Within a few minutes you'll be at Dead Man's Corner; the setting for BiA Mission 5.Once the painful stitch ... » Read More

24 Aug 2004

Brothers In Arms

PC Preview | Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30

The Utah Beach Museum at Sainte-Marie-du-Mont is the answer. It's the answer to all those questions fired at developers about the morality of making wargames. The questions may be expressed in different ways but they always amount to the same thing: How do you feel about turning a painful, traumatic conflict into entertainment?Randy Pitchford, president of Gearbox Software, uses the Spielberg defence: "We're fulfilling a fantasy, but also retelling a story as authentically as possible. I think ... » Read More

15 Jun 2004

Brothers in Arms

PC Preview | Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30

The attack starts with a mortar round landing not ten metres away. Your commanding officer is finally roused to a decision. "Sergeant, gather your squad and clear that street. Now."Randy Pitchford, Gearbox's President and Chief of Staff is demonstrating Brothers in Arms, their bayonet-stab at first-person WWII combat. It's a phenomenal prospect: rather than funnelling you, alone, through a series of scripted encounters, you're put in command of a platoon of paratroopers, dropped into Normandy ... » Read More

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