Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30

Publisher: Ubisoft · Studio: Gearbox Software · Creator: Randy Pitchford (CEO), John Antal (conseil militaire)

Anecdote

The first installment of a trilogy that became legendary, Road to Hill 30 was launched in March 2005 by Texas-based studio Gearbox Software, led by Randy Pitchford and published by Ubisoft. The title follows Sergeant Matt Baker and his squad from the 502nd Regiment of the American 101st Airborne Division, from the parachute drop over Sainte-Mère-Église on the night of 5–6 June 1944 through to the capture of Hill 30 near Carentan on 13 June. The project's historical rigor is exceptional: Gearbox consulted military historian Stephen Ambrose and then Colonel John Antal, and obtained Pentagon authorization to access original D-Day archives in order to faithfully reproduce each village, hedgerow, and bocage. The missions reconstruct step by step the operations carried out by Major Dick Winters and Lieutenant Ronald Speirs, made famous by Band of Brothers. The tactical fire system is built on an original suppression mechanic that forces the player to maneuver two teams — one pinning the enemy with automatic weapons, the other flanking — in accordance with the fire-and-maneuver doctrine actually taught to American infantrymen. The sepia art direction, Ed Lima's orchestral score, and Baker's voiceover addressing the wife of a fallen comrade create a singular melancholy atmosphere. The campaign runs approximately twelve hours and features a split-screen cooperative mode. The game was praised as the most authentic FPS set in Normandy and spawned two sequels, Earned in Blood and Hell's Highway. It remains a pedagogical reference for classroom study of the tactical conduct of the landings.