Introduction

The Rainbow Six series created the "tactical shooter" genre many years ago but all the games in the series have been globe trotting affairs as Team Rainbow go after various terrorists threats. However the upcoming and next game in the UbiSoft series is a tad different. As the title suggests, Rainbow Six: Vegas takes place in one locale as Team Rainbow deals with a new terrorist threat in the shadow of the hotels in Sin City. FiringSquad got a chance to chat with UbiSoft creative director Maxime Beland to find out more about Team Rainbow's night out in Las Vegas.


FiringSquad: First, this sounds like it will be a very different Rainbow Six game. How did the idea to set this new game entirely in Las Vegas come about?

Maxime Beland: After many years of mission-based games where you went from one city to another, we felt it was a good time to focus on one area and exploit it as much as possible. Since we’re mostly in one location, we can increase the tension, ramp up the pressure on the player with non-stop action, and ensure there’re no more menus between the missions.

FiringSquad: Most Rainbow Six games are very serious in nature but setting this new game in Vegas seems like it will allow for more humor. Do you think that will be the case?

Maxime Beland: In Rainbow Six Vegas, we are really pushing on the stress, tension and urgency elements. Las Vegas is under terrorists’ siege and players will truly live the escalation of chaos. So will the game be more on the humor side? I would say no :)


FiringSquad: How much research on Sin City did the development team do for the game and will we see real Vegas landmarks in the final game?

Maxime Beland: Our objective is to show Vegas as it is. This means that as Rainbow travels from one location to another, players may recognize the hotels they visited or saw on television or the movies. We have a dedicated team of artists working on the way Vegas looks and we are using a lot of on-site researches, reference material and the power of next-gen graphics to deliver a cool looking and accurate Las Vegas. Our objective is to make the player feel that Las Vegas itself is under attack.


FiringSquad: What can you tell us about the storyline for Rainbow Six:Vegas?

Maxime Beland: While chasing an international terrorist, Team Rainbow is redirected to Las Vegas where a terrorist strike is unfolding. Within twelve hours, a major attack could kill the city’s entire population, thus heightening the tension and emphasizing the need to act quickly and decisively. Once in Las Vegas, you’ll fight through its landmarks to stop the terrorists from succeeding.