A War is Starting in the Pacific – Weather the Storm and Command the Skies in “Pacific Storm”

by Louis Bedigian

“Pacific Storm is an intricate blend of genres; it is not just an RTS.” 

It’s that time of the year again.

The time when developers take command of the skies and drop the big bomb on us…

The big bomb of games.

Pacific Storm won’t explode on the PC until early next year, but when it does you’ll be ready to delve into this Pearl Harbor-inspired strategy game.  Take flight over the Pacific Ocean and fight to win the major sea battles of World War II.

Most games give you America’s perspective on the war, but Pacific Storm gives you the chance to fight for Japan as well.  Whichever side you choose, one thing is for certain: this is more than your typical real-time strategy game.

How much more?  How much further will this game go?  Sergey Titarenko, Project Manager at Lesta Studio, explains why this is game is “not just an RTS.”

Q: Why did you decide to give players total freedom from strategic and tactical decisions?  This game is one part RTS after all.

Sergey Titarenko: Well, freedom of choice between strategy, tactics, and arcade to our mind gives players great gaming experience. Pacific Storm is an intricate blend of genres; it is not just an RTS.

What has been the result of giving players so much freedom?  What kind of a gameplay experience has come out of it?

ST: It is hard to explain it by means of the common language, if I just say ‘it’s fun’, it won’t mean to you much. You really need to experience that to understand the gameplay. It is really great, however, total freedom imposes certain limitations on the gameplay. For example, what concerns me is the player’s focus of attention on the tactical level—player in a cockpit of a fighter chasing an enemy airplane in total exaltation may loose some important units behind his focus of attention. This difficulty with real-time course of events and focus of attention between strategic and tactical levels is solved by pausing the entire strategic level when you enter tactical level.

How are you integrating the first-person view with the rest of the game?  Can you explain how the camera shifts and changes to keep pace with the action?

ST: Camera control in the game is easy and more or less conventional: you can move around, zoom in and out, and rotate your camera. You just need a mouse with a wheel for most camera manipulations. The player can learn how to use it really quickly. Selecting a unit with a mouse click and pressing ‘U’ key switches you inside an airplane which has a cockpit and a third-person view as well.

Pacific Storm features upgrade option, including one that allows players to produce a bacteriological weapon.  What is the purpose of this weapon? How will it help turn the tide in a losing battle?

ST: If you manage to develop a nuclear or a bacteriological weapon, its usage will be the culmination of the war and your opponent is going to capitulate.

Are there any other upgrades?  Can players produce any other weapons?

ST: There is an extensive technology tree in Pacific Storm. As you explore new technologies, new upgrades become available. Technologies are separated into 4 categories: engines, electronics, ammunition, and structures. You need time and money for upgrades and technologies.

Big, beautiful ships.

Units gain experience and can be used in multiple battles.  Is this only for surviving units?  Or can damaged units be repaired?

ST: Damaged units can recover up to 50% of their health at sea (if the crew survived in the battle). If damaged units manage to reach a friendly base they can be fully repaired, reequipped, and reinforced.

Tell us about the war machines – battleships, aircraft carriers, destroyers, etc.

ST: We tried to balance the US and the Japanese units: there are 10 types of ships and 20 airplanes from each side. The game includes detailed 3D models of battleships, aircraft-carriers, destroyers, cruisers, submarines, tankers, cargo ships and transports, fighters, attack planes, torpedo-bombers, strategic bombers, reconnaissance planes, land cannons, and antiaircraft guns – all designed according to authentic historical references. You can fly legendary Zero fighters or B17 flying fortress, and all your actions can lead to victory or defeat of your army.

How much control will players have over each war machine?

ST: In the simulator level of the game the player will have direct control of 17 airplanes from each side (the US and Japan). Onboard a plane it is possible to switch between the pilot and gunner(s) if available. 10 types of ships on each side are available for indirect control on the tactical level – you can sail them around, command them to attack and etc.

Talk about the weather conditions.  Can they affect the course of a battle?

ST: Yes of cause, there are several types of weather conditions: clear sky, clouds, and cyclones. They both are going to lower visibility range of bases and units. Cyclones damage units (little damage to ships, massive damage and loss of aircraft). Weather condition developments and movements match real hydrometeorological maps.

Multiplayer is available over a local area network.  Have you considered bringing the game online, or is there a special reason why you want to keep the game off the Internet?

ST: We planned the multiplayer game on the tactical level but faced a huge amount of work that needs more time than we have now before the release. Since we’ve already done a considerable amount of work doing the network code for the game, we plan not to abandon this important feature and will include it in patches or an add-on.

Thank you for your time.