Continued

FiringSquad: What can you tell us about plans to update the current version of the game this year?

Chris Chambers: The America’s Army game is constantly evolving and expanding. With the release of Overmatch this summer players will be able to experience the ‘Overmatch’ capabilities of an elite Soldier team whereby they are able to defeat much larger enemy forces. This version of the game will include friendly, enemy and non-combatant AI. Friendly AI will be in the form of instructors and team members. Non-combatant AI will expand the importance and impact of rules of engagement as gamers encounter civilians and members of non-governmental-organizations in simulated training and combat missions. Other additions include key new weapons and systems used by Special Forces Soldiers including the Javelin Missile and the CROWS HMMWV. Players will go through training before they can get hands on with the weapons and systems.

Overmatch also marks the debut of the America’s Army Real Heroes program, which presents heroic Soldiers in key places throughout game. The America’s Army Real Heroes program strives to tell the stories of Solders who are put into extraordinary situations and rise above the challenge to successfully and heroically accomplish the mission. Soldiers will be represented in training missions as well as at the Virtual Recruiting Station. Players will be able to hear the Soldiers’ stories through audio and video presentations.

FiringSquad: We have also heard about plans to finally release mod tools for the game as well..can you comment on these plans?

Chris Chambers: AA plans to release the mod kit in the near future. The release will be accompanied by maps made by students of game development at academic institutions.


FiringSquad: America's Army: Rise of a Soldier was released by UbiSoft last year for the Xbox. Overall was the US Army pleased with the releases and are there plans to release future console games?

Chris Chambers: Rise of a Soldier for the Xbox did very well, as it was a top five selling first-person action game during the 2005 Holiday season with gamers rating it an 83%. UbiSoft and the Army have entered into an extended relationship to create multiple products for multiple platforms over several years.


FiringSquad: It's been announced that there will be a new version of America's Army released in 2007 that will use the Unreal Engine 3. What can you tell us about this version of the game at this time?

Chris Chambers: We are beginning our plans for the next version of America’s Army. The developers are extremely excited to work with the Unreal Engine 3.


FiringSquad: Are there any plans to release any more games as recruitment tools; maybe an RTS title?

Chris Chambers: We have no plans for an RTS game at this time.


FiringSquad: Finally is there anything else you wish to say about the current and future plans for America's Army?

Chris Chambers: We’d like to thank all of our America’s Army players for being such as active and loyal players. We look forward to delivering informative and entertaining content to them for years to come.