Battlestations: Midway Preview

 Near demonstrations of Just Cause, Eidos gave attendees a look at their new tactical shooter, BattleStations: Midway. Developed for the Xbox 360 and PC formats, BattleStations: Midway includes over sixty planes, ships, and submarines. All are touted as being authentically designed, with intricate details and immense capabilities. 

I know what you’re thinking: “Been there, done that.” I’d probably agree, but this is not your typical game of aerial and submarine combat. In this adventure, players have the ability to switch between vehicles at any given time. Eidos says that you will have to coordinate actions and switch vehicles to command your fleet as a whole and fight the enemy together, not solo. 

All battles occur in real-time at the same time. If one vehicle (a plane, ship, or submarine) is destroyed, the game automatically switches over to the nearest vehicle that’s still standing. Better still, each of the vehicles shown appeared to have significant differences in the way they were maneuvered and in the way they were controlled. 

The game is played from a third-person perspective, and thus far it is looking very intense. Vehicles were deeply detailed, while water had realistic textures and a smooth, consistent ripple. Only the Xbox 360 version was shown, but it’s a safe bet that the PC visuals will be equally impressive. Keep an eye out for dynamic weather effects, which developers also plan to have in the completed game. 

Eleven single-player missions are being designed for both the PC and Xbox 360 editions, with 12 bonus challenge missions available after completing certain requirements. Up to eight players will be able to take the game online via Xbox Live. Several units will appear on screen simultaneously, with each player having the option to switch between their units at any time (just as they can in the single-player campaign).