Ubisoft, one of the world's largest video game publishers, revealed plans today to expand its line of flight Sims through a partnership with 1C: Maddox Games. The publishing deal includes the announcement of The Battle of Britain, a brand new World War II flight simulation game, which is expected to build on the enormous success of the IL-2 Sturmovik franchise. Ubisoft also plans to publish an expansion pack for IL2 Sturmovik Forgotten Battles that will let owners of Forgotten Battles take to the skies again, to engage in more World War II dogfights alone or with players around the world via the internet.
Ubisoft's partnership with 1C: Maddox Games began with the highly acclaimed IL-2 Sturmovik, lauded for revolutionizing the flight sim genre. The attention to detail, technical accuracy and beautiful graphics completely immersed players in World War II skies like never before. The Battle of Britain will be packed with even more historical realism, and will utilize a new engine, a dynamic campaign system and new weather effects. The game will take place in 1940 during the infamous "Battle of Britain", between England, Germany and Italy, and it will allow players to fly for the British, German or Italian air force.
"IC Maddox Games has a stellar reputation in the industry for making quality games," said Jay Cohen, VP Publishing, Ubisoft. "We believe that our partnership with their talented team has made Ubisoft the world's premiere publisher of historical flight sims and we can't wait to bring these two new games to fans everywhere."
"Ubisoft shares the passion we feel for flight sims and they believe in our goal to constantly work at improving the gaming experience for sim fans," said Oleg Maddox.
"The Battle of Britain will be our most ambitious work to date and we are looking forward to the challenge."
The Battle of Britain is scheduled to ship in 2005. The IL2 Sturmovik Forgotten Battles Expansion Pack is scheduled to ship in early 2004."
Features
The Battle of Britain: Cliffs of Dover (Title TBC)
Product Description
The Battle of Britain (TBoB) is the next World War II flight simulation title from 1C: Maddox Games, creators of the worldwide acclaimed
IL-2 Sturmovik series. TBoB will take place in 1940 during the “Battle of Britain,” between England and Germany (plus Italy), and it allows players to fly for as either the British or German (Italian) air force.
Key Features
- Flyable aircraft - At least 10-11 highly detailed English, German and Italian aircraft - including Spitfire, Hurricane, Messerschmitt 109 and Stuka.
Non-Flyable aircraft - Between 10-17 AI controlled aircraft.
Huge number of missions - 20 single-player missions & 10 multiplayer missions (At least).
Brand new game map - TBoB will take place from central England in the North, to Northern France in the South (The part of map will include Belgium - area close to French border, from where were flying Italian AF, involved in BoB). The game-world will consist of a single large map and will encompass cities, towns, roads, airfields, radar stations, ports, and industrial areas.
Enhanced campaign system - The dynamic campaign system will be an “evolution” of the Forgotten Battles campaign engine and will include expanded pilot and squadron management.
Dynamic campaign system - Allows players to rewrite history (ability to set two variants in realistic settings for campaign system. One for realistic, and one for “rewriting history”).
Scalable gameplay - Not only appealing for sim enthusiasts, TBoB will attract the novices too through an enhanced novice mode.
Even more precise flight model – Based on the Forgotten Battles FM development with additional modules of precise calculations.
New weather effects (non-constant on the map area) - New “sky”, especially at altitude, clouds, rain, etc that will look and works better than in FB.
New 3D engine - highly detailed objects and ground, including coastal lines and sea. Expandable with add-ons for new theatres.
Air-stream effects - When flying directly behind another aircraft, there will be a noticeable realistic prop-wash effect.
Multiplayer option - 32 at minimum, dogfights, cooperative and team play with basic and special maps.
