We have new information for you regarding the latest extension of the Tom Clancy videogame franchise, Tom Clancy’s The Division. This is via interviews with the game’s executive producer, Fred Runquist, and Ubisoft Massive head Martin Hultberg.
Fred describes The Division as a online open world game. He explains how the city where the game is set in is on the verge of collapse. He also explains how the factions are fighting, either to survive, or to attempt to take power, in light of the ensuing pandemic.
Fred also talks about the extensive research Ubi did for the game. Among the people they talked to were members of FEMA, CIA, NYPD, the New York City Council, to get under the skin of New York itself.
For one thing, Ubi learned New York disposes of 18 tonnes of garbage everyday. In their nightmare scenario, all that garbage does not get properly disposed. Ubi takes concepts from real life like this and tries to put it into a game that’s fun and playable.
Fred wouldn’t give a number when asked to describe the size of thê open world, but he describes it as typical of a AAA. He also touts the density of the world itself as intrinsic to its design. It was for this reason that the cars cannot be commandeered in the game, as it simply would not make sense to even try in an overpopulated city like New York.
The game won’t have a predefined hero in the conventional sense. You customize the character, and his / her story, to take in whatever decision you would like in the world’s dynamic system. He also explains how the Echo tool allows Ubi to tell the story without taking the camera away from you.
Regarding the weapons in the game, Fred explains that the military is actually already at a level most civilians only imagine they are like. Many of those weapons, already in use or in prototyping, are in The Division. It may seem unreal, but they are not farfetched at all.
Single player and multiplayer are seamlessly incorporated in the game, but traditional PVP will be available in ‘dark zones’. However, Fred says the game is at its best as a multiplayer cooperative game.
The CGI they shared in the E3 trailer was made in such a way that it portrayed parts of the scenario that isn’t really possible in-game.
For those who don’t know, Ubi bought the Tom Clancy name years ago, so he was already not involved in these games long before he passed on. What Ubi does do is go back to Clancy’s novels in the ‘80s and try to bring back that feel in their games. Of course, with The Division and other games, they try to keep it up to date with more contemporary threats than Cold War fears.
Moving on to Martin’s interview, he emphasizes how New York, the source of the pandemic, was struck the worst, and is now on the verge of collapse, at the start of the game. It was for this reason that the POTUS sends in The Division to set everything right.
The game world is divided into districts, with each district having a base of operations, such as an abandoned supermarket. There are three major factors to keep in mind in each district, as well as each base of operations: security, morale, and contagion level. The first two are manageable, based on how you interact with the people in these areas.
However, the contagion level is entirely out of your control. When that contagion level reaches a tipping point, it will be up to you to restore order. The contagion does place limitations on how far you can go as well, based on how equipped you are to deal with it, in terms of the weapons, armor, etc you have on hand.
Martin promises the tablet app is available as soon as the game is available, and will literally allow anyone to jump in a game already at play, as long as they have a tablet with said app.
The systems have been designed by fans of multiplayer gaming, so the HUD has been setup to be minimal, but logical. Without asking, the game will give you the information you need, such as maps, and/or the health of your colleagues, when you need it.
The Division is coming to Windows, Playstation 4, and Xbox One in 2015.
