Brothers In Arms Hell's Highway brings the critically acclaimed squad-based WWII shooter into the next generation of gaming with amazing graphics and sound?? new cutting-edge gameplay features?? and a totally redesigned online component. Delivering on the franchise's compelling story?? unrivaled authenticity and intense squad-based action?? Brothers In Arms Hell's Highway drops you into Operation Market Garden?? the largest paratrooper operation in World War II. Lead Matt Baker?? Joe Hartsock and the rest of the 101st Airborne Division as they fight to open "hway" in a daring bid for a quick end to the war in Europe.
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Meet the Squad
Although players see the chaos of Operation Market Garden exclusively through the eyes of Sgt. Matt Baker?? Hell's Highway is squad-based and as such players will direct?? interact with?? and get to know all the members of the 101st Airborne in intimate detail. Some of the characters return from earlier games in the series?? while others are brand new. Regardless?? each has his own personality?? history and attitudes towards the plight the squad finds themselves in as they seek to survive a bold?? but doomed plan. Some of the dog faces players will encounter are include:
 | Name & Rank: Sgt. Matt Baker Preferred Weapon: M1 Rifle Bio: With his experience from the battles of Normandy?? Baker enters Holland fully accepting the mantle and responsibilities of squad leader. However?? the loss of half his original squad still weighs heavily on him and he will not let any more of his men die. |
 | Name & Rank: Sgt. Joe "Red" Hartsock Preferred Weapon: M1A1 Thompson Bio: A corporal under Baker's command?? he was promoted to Sergeant after the battle in Carentan. Unlike Baker?? Red understands the realities of war and is prepared to make the tough decisions required of a squad leader. All he can do is minimize the casualties. |
 | Name & Rank: Pfc. Mike Dawson Preferred Weapon: M1A1 Thompson Bio: Though a newcomer to the squad?? Mike served with the 502nd PIR in Normandy. He believes in fate and is interested in the story of Baker's "ursed pistol." His inquiries have made him a pariah?? as the other members would rather not re-live those events. |
 | Name & Rank: Cpl. Tom Zanovich Preferred Weapon: M1918A2 B.A.R. Bio: The "old man" and veteran of the squad?? Zanozich served in the French Foreign Legion before enlisting in the U.S. Army. Despite all the combat he's seen?? Tom has a strong sense of humor - even when the situation doesn't exactly call for it. |
 | Name & Rank: Cpl. Sam Corrion Preferred Weapon: M1A1 Thompson Bio: Corrion was a corporal with Baker and Hartsock before Normandy?? and much to his dismay?? is still a corporal. Sam excelled as a foreman in the saw mill back home?? and believes that he could perform better than either of his compatriots?? if only given a chance. |
Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway: The Colonel Antal Interview
Since 1985?? when it dropped into the WWII division of the popular tactical/strategy shooter genre with Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30?? the Brothers in Arms series has consistently met with critical acclaim and gamer praise. This was a tough mission to accomplish?? but it did so by focusing compelling squad-based tactical gameplay against" backstory of a fictional squad within the US Army's 101st Airborne Division as they battle through a historically correct re-creation of the events of the Allied invasion of Europe during WWII. This type of realism is more or less unheard of in the video game world and can only be provided by someone who really knows their stuff. Enter Colonel John Antal?? US Army (Ret.).
Vice President of Knowledge Operations and Military and Historical Director at Gearbox Software?? developers of the Brothers in Arms series?? Colonel Antal is an Airborne-Ranger officer?? and a published author of scores of magazine articles?? as well as several fiction and nonfiction books on military topics. Most importantly for the subject at hand though?? he is also a major force behind the development of the Brothers in Arms series. Recently I was able to catch up with him and ask some questions regarding the newest title in that line?? Brothers in Arms Hell's Highway.
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Colonel Antal: I just returned from a ten day visit with US and NATO troops in Afghanistan and I can report to you that when Soldiers are not fighting they are training for the next fight. The more time Soldiers spend training in realistic simulated battles the less blood spilled in battle. During my thirty years in the US Army I trained thousands of Soldiers using constructive virtual and live military simulations. Once I retired?? it was an easy leap for me to switch my experience with military simulations into value-added content for video games.
Amazon.com/games: I know you've probably been asked this question a thousand times?? but let's make it a thousand and one. Operation Market Garden?? the WWII allied offensive that <"ell's Highway is based on culminated in a German victory. Why make a video game based on a defeat?
Colonel Antal: Market Garden was not a complete success?? but war is fought at many levels. At the squad level?? war is about fighting for the next hill?? hamlet or road junction. Victory and defeat is very clear in a squad - when the battle is over you either have won and lived?? or have lost and most of your comrades are dead or wounded. In Brothers in Arms?? Hell's Highway?? we created a historical fiction that is true to the real history of the battle in ways no other game has approached. The true story of the battle for Hells Highway is dramatic and a worthy story. If we told only stories of victories?? we wouldn't be telling true historical fiction. War is about victory AND defeat?? gain and loss. Telling both is part of being true to the actual history.
Amazon.com/games: As a follow-up to this?? because this game is based on a very real and in many senses?? tragic event for the forces involved and the civilian population?? was there more pressure to"e facts in this game in order to get things right? And if so how did your team ensure this?
Colonel Antal: Yes. We have done our best to make the game the most authentic WWII experience ever. Our goal is to put you in the boots of a true-to-life squad leader in the 101st Airborne during the fight for Hell's Highway. This game addresses the true history of the Battle for Hell's Highway?? uses realistic tactics and requires you to lead a rifle squad in ways that no other game has ever done.
Amazon.com/games: The game's story is centered around the events of an American squad?? but since Operation Market Garden was an allied offensive?? will players get to control?? or even better?? play as other allied forces? And will there be any playable German characters?
Colonel Antal: The player will play as an American?? Staff Sergeant Matt Baker. If you want to learn more about the British?? the Dutch Resistance and the Germans?? read my companion novel to the game?? "hers in Arms?? Hell's Highway" published by Ballantine Books?? Random House. There will also be a history book out in January 2009 that explains the battle for Hell's Highway in day-to-day detail with maps?? historical photos?? screenshots from the game and much more. Shop for the Colonel's companion novel?? "hers in Arms?? Hell's Highway."/p>
Amazon.com/games: I've read that Hell's Highway will contain a whole new multiplayer experience. Can you shed some light on how this experience is different from what previous games in the series offered?
Colonel Antal: Multiplayer is really exciting. Our multiplayer design is different from other games because it brings squad game play on-line. We created a team based game?? where the team-based aspect is about squad organization. The game will select (or players will vote on) a commander on each team. There can be up to 20 people in the game?? 10 per team. The teams will go after objectives in each map that will be resolved in rounds.
Amazon.com/games: A common criticism in squad-based games is that AI enemies engaged in singleplayer modes are too easily outwitted?? which is obviously something that should not happen on a real b