Games Fusion talks with John Whitmore, Director of Development at 2015, on the forth coming Vietnam War themed title, Men of Valor.

Q. There appears to be a recent trend in bringing out games, which are based on the Vietnam War. This can be seen in titles, such as Battlefield: Vietnam, Vietcong, Shell Shock NAM 67 and now Men of Valor. What do you think has initiated this trend? And do you think we can expect to see even more titles appear in the near future?

A. Historical, military themed shooters are very hot right now, and you can only make so many WWII games, so it was inevitable that some developers would eventually turn to Vietnam for source material. In our case, we felt that the technology available had advanced sufficiently to allow us to portray the densely foliated natural environments and hectic jungle combat of Vietnam, so we thought we’d set our next game there. Because of the technical difficulties of portraying the environments, and the creative difficulties in designing gameplay and creating a story that really captures the atmosphere of this controversial war, I think only top developers are likely to be successful with Vietnam themed games – the trend will peter out because of this. It’s much easier for the developer and much less risky for the publisher to stick with World War 2.

Q. At present there is a lot of competition out there between games which are based on the Vietnam War. What sets Men of Valor aside from the competition? And what unique features will you be implementing to ensure that the title stands out from the rest?

A. Men of Valor presents a mature and serious depiction of combat in Vietnam, supported by intensive research, high production values, and gameplay systems designed from the ground up to represent the feel of combat in the environments of Vietnam. The game presents the war at its highest level with documentary style introductions featuring war footage from then National Archives; at a personal level through the letters the player writes home that serve as mission briefings; and within gameplay with tons of dramatic in-game events, licensed music from the period, and a dynamic Battle Chatter system that helps recreate the intense soundscape of a firefight. Overall, Men of Valor provides a complete player experience that captures the atmosphere of the conflict in a way we haven’t seen from any of the competition.

Q. Entertainment based on real-life events, whether it may be film or games, has played a big part in the film and gaming industry. Why do you think products, such as films and games, based on real-life events are so popular? Is it because people thirst for realism, similarly to how reality TV is so popular in the US?

A. History is accessible and can be easily related to by the consumer. When you mention Vietnam, you conjure up images and associations in a gamer, a set of expectations that give you a target to meet with your product. Mention a Vietnam game to a publisher, and they’ll understand how a game set there could be marketed and sold. Historical games, if done correctly, can leverage all the power of a popular license, without the expense of licensing fees.

Q. Games featuring real-life events no doubt come with some criticism and controversy. It is obvious that the notion of a film based on 9/11 and the war on terrorism would attract quite a compelling and moving storyline, which would no doubt make a lot of money. How long do you think it is safe to wait before bringing out a game or movie based on such a controversial and harrowing event?

A. Creatively, I don’t think there’s a reason to wait at all – if you have a story to tell or a message to deliver, and it can be done more powerfully close to the event it references, then why not take a shot? But commercially, of course, that’s not viable. You’d have to gauge the market to see how sensitive the topic is to the public. There were definitely some concerns about making a Vietnam game when we started, but with all the other titles that have been announced, the idea has become quite accepted.

Q. At what degree is the depiction of the real Vietnam War highlighted in the storyline of the game? Obviously there was no real winner of the Vietnam War (some may argue this), but there were a lot of casualties on both sides, many believe the Viet Cong had an advantage due to their knowledge of the open jungle. How will this show in the gameplay?

A. The storyline follows a young Marine from the beginning of major combat operations in 1965 through the height of the Tet offensive in 1968. During this time, the player will experience the kind of events that defined the conflict – booby traps and roadside bombs, the difficulty of telling friend from foe, the dissolution of battle plans due to bad luck or incompetence, the arrogance of some parts of the military in the dealing with the Vietnamese, and the way in which politically motivated rules of engagement affected the progress of the war. The storyline, missions, and characters in the game are all derived from battle reports and first person accounts of the war.

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