Ubisoft sends along an announcement following-up on the recently adjusted
release dates for Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter (
story). While
the previous report placed the "quarter two" release of the PC edition of the
game at Summer 2006, the new update clarifies this will be this May while
announcing the 360 edition is gold. They also send along a Q&A with producer
Mathieu Girard about the delay:
Why do you delay the game?
To achieve better quality and deliver all the features we wanted to have in the
game. GRAW PC is a project developed specifically for this machine so its
development cycle was different from that of the other platforms.
Can you remind us what the main differences between consoles and PC versions
are?
We have a gameplay that is very different from the gameplay of the console
version; for instance the ghosts are controlled in a way that is specific to the
PC, with a much more accurate order system. This involves adapting all the game
content (including reprogramming completely the enemy AI) and tuning it to this
way of playing. We shared the storyline and setting of the XBox 360, but all the
rest had to be reworked, to appeal to a GR1 audience while at the same time
taking into account the new PC specific features. The other major differences
are, of course, full first person control, and PC-specific multiplayer modes.
What are the ambitions of the PC version?
We had some very ambitous designs for the multiplayer, and we did not advertise
on the exact content until we were sure to be able to deliver it. Things such as
simulating a fully interactive physical environment over the network were risky,
but we are now comforted that the cooperative mode will deliver unprecedented
experience of multiplayer gameplay. The domination mode is also very promising
as it changes the control of areas to something more interesting than simply
capturing flags. More info to come soon.