The War Continues in Battlefield Vietnam

by Louis Bedigian

“Our goal was always to create the best Vietnam game ever and I think we succeeded.”

When the battle begins you load up your gun

Aiming it high, got a shot in the head

When blood covers the wall, your job will be done

Until someone pulls the trigger…you’re dead

Watching the maggots all laugh in your face

Teaming with others, won’t cut you some slack

Throw a grenade, then run from that place

Sneak up behind them, send a shot through their back

Endless wars means endless fights

If peace ruled out, there’d be no one to kill

Put on your goggles, now turn out the lights

Sometimes I do it just for the thrill

When you think it’s over it’s probably not

Wash away the last bloodstain

Spit on the bodies, then leave them to rot

Your victory is not in vain

Battlefield Vietnam is headed to the PC later this month.  In order to celebrate the game’s release, we had a bloody-good conversation with Reid Schneider, producer of this upcoming war game.

This being the third game in the Battlefield series, how different is it from its predecessors?  Are you giving fan more of what they love, or are you attempting to give them something new to love?

Reid Schneider: We're doing both.  We are maintaining the core gameplay of Battlefield, but at the same time offering a completely new and fresh experience.  Our goal was always to create the best Vietnam game ever and I think we succeeded, I hope people will agree when they play the final product.  

Give us some details on the game's exciting weaponry.

RS: One of the things that is really exciting about Battlefield Vietnam is that it was the dawn of modern weaponry.  Weapons like the M16 and M60 were first used in this conflict, and those weapons are still around today (albeit in much updated models).  You also have heat-sinking missiles in this war, and of course Napalm.  All of these are in Battlefield Vietnam.

This proves it once and for all: tanks are as powerful as Sephiroth!

The multiplayer aspect is a key component of Battlefield Vietnam.  We already know that it can support up to 64 players -- what else does it have to offer?

RS: Multiplayer gaming is really our main focus in the Battlefield series.  In Battlefield Vietnam we are offering new multiplayer experiences like Evolution Mode and Custom Combat.  This is of course in addition to the normal assault/conquest modes in multiplayer. 

Evolution is where two maps are strung together.  The outcome of the first map is carried over onto the second map.  Custom Combat allows people to set up a server however they want.  You could have a map of all snipers, all heavy weapons, no helicopters…Everything is up to the user.

Could you describe one of the single-player missions from Battlefield Vietnam?

RS: The single player mode is where you play amongst NPC bots.  In BFV we have made a big effort to improve the AI so the experience is more like what you have online.  Of course there is still no substitute to playing against real people :)

Anyhow, the bots will now listen to your commands and do as instructed.  In short, they work with you now, not against you.

Heading into battle.

Battlefield Vietnam is said to have vehicles authentic to the Vietnam conflict.  What are they, and how do they affect the gameplay?

RS: I think the best example of this is the helicopters inside Battlefield Vietnam.  They have an all new physics model and control the way a player would expect.  You can hover over a control point picking off players, or capturing a flag.  Of course you're far from invincible while hovering.  Some well placed shots from an RPG or tank will take you out. 

We also have Vietnam-era tanks, planes, boats, and even the Vespa Scooter inside BFV. 

EA is known for acquiring the best soundtracks for their war games.  Who did the music for Battlefield Vietnam?  What style of music was used?

RS: The music inside BFV is a very big component of the game.  We found that the songs from that era are hugely iconic, and really immerse the player in that world.  We are really happy with the soundtrack, you can really rock out while battling.  You'll have the ability to hop into a helicopter and tune to your favorite Vietnam-era song and blast away.

We worked with EA Music Licensing and Syncope Entertainment to create an awesome sound track for this game.

If war is hell, why in the world do we enjoy it so much?

What are the levels going to be like?  How do the single and multiplayer maps differ?

RS: There will be maps from all over the Vietnam war.  We have everything from cities, to jungles, to riverbeds.  The team did a great job of balancing map locales so the end-user has varied experience.

The single and multiplayer maps are basically the same.

The Medal of Honor series has an important story, but it's more of a secondary aspect.  Is that the case with Battlefield Vietnam?

RS: No.  The Battlefield series is focused on intense arcade action.  It’s jump in and play.  This pretty much precludes a story mode.  That being said all of the maps are modeled after real life battles.  This is part of what makes Battlefield so cool.

Battlefield Vietnam has some impressive visuals.  Were they created using a new engine or an altered engine from a previous game?

RS: The team built an all-new rendering engine to take advantage of DX9 features.  This new engine is what gives BFV its unique look, they did a really job with this.

Yes, they did!

Thank you for your time.