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DF-BHD has been described as more action-oriented than previous Delta Force games, and having seen Scott's movie that's not too hard to imagine, but does this mean that you've said goodbye to the more considered approach it's necessary to adopt in Delta Force 1-3?
Certainly not, although the environments players fight in are a dramatic departure from previous Delta Force games. Because of the range of missions, there will be plenty of long-range outdoor engagements, whereby gamers will fail missions if they go in guns blazing. When it comes to close quarters fighting, players will still have to be cautious. Players will need to systematically clear rooms in a building to make sure they're safe. The best way to do this is for the player or his team-mate to throw a flashbang grenade into the room. Once the grenade goes off, the team swarms in to deal with the now dazed enemy.
The game is based on a modified version of the (excellent) Commanche 4 engine, rather than the Delta Force engine used for Land Warrior and most recently Task Force Dagger. How well does the C4 engine cope with Mogadishu and the game's other environments?
The type of city fighting in DF-BHD is new to the series. In using the Comanche 4 engine we're able to achieve an enormous city that the player can run through or fly over. The size of the city should avoid giving players the fenced-in feeling of corridor shooters. There will be plenty of rooftops to snipe from, and plenty of long streets for the player to navigate. At the same time, we've added some cramped alleys and basement areas for players who pine for close quarter combat and want to explore.
Somali rebels don't really try to stand out from the average Somali civilian - will their human camouflage be reflected in BHD, or will everybody on screen outside of your unit act as cannon fodder?
It will be tricky to distinguish the civilians from the bad guys… That's one of the challenges of the game. Since the militia members really didn't wear uniforms, the only way to tell the bad guys from the civilians is that the bad guys will be the ones holding weapons. The player will have to constantly exercise caution as he's moving through the city.
Ridley Scott gave the Somalis rocket propelled grenades, machine guns, pistols and anti-aircraft guns - what sort of tools will the enemies in Black Hawk Down use, and how well equipped will the player be?
AK-47s, RPGs, and .50 cals mounted on the backs of trucks (Technicals) are all staples of the opposition in Delta Force - Black Hawk Down. To counter these forces, players will have access to the CAR-15 and M-16 assault rifles, several different sniper rifles, light machine guns like the SAW and M-60, and a variety of explosives and vehicle mounted weapons.
Finally, you're working on a co-operative mode with BHD, as well as deathmatch options for the more belligerent. How will the various players communicate orders in-game, will there perhaps be a command hierarchy, and will the co-operative support work over the Internet?
There is no inherent command structure in multiplayer. It's up to players to work together and sort out who's doing what in multiplayer. The usual team text chat is available for teams to work out their strategies.
Player's will be able to play coop over the Internet. We will most likely limit it to four players per mission in coop only. For other multiplayer game types, we can have up to 32 players.
Wes Eckhart, thanks for your time. Look out for Delta Force - Black Hawk Down appearing on store shelves on November 29th."
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