Geffroy tells us how.
Strategy Informer: Now the game has gone gold, how excited are you for the release of Future Soldier?
Jean-Marc Geffroy: Extremely excited, we have come a long way and this is truly the best part. Having people play the game and understand what we are trying to achieve is always rewarding for any dev team.
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Strategy Informer: Has development progressed according to plan? Anything you wish had been easier?
Jean-Marc Geffroy: I don't think any development in the history of videogames ever goes a 100% according to plan and of course we would love that things were easier, but if making games was easy we wouldn't have so much fun.
We learned a lot with the development of GRFS, having rebooted in the early parts of conception was hard for the team, but it allowed us to focus on the core Ghost Recon fantasy. It would have been nice to make some of those discoveries earlier but it also made us stronger as a team and gave us the ability to provide the player with innovations in terms of the 4 player co-op campaign and cover system.
Strategy Informer: Which aspect of the game are you most proud of?
Jean-Marc Geffroy: For me giving the player the feeling of being part of an elite intelligent unit and to live that Special Forces fantasy is something I am proud of. The animations done with Former Navy seals and the cover system all add to that fantasy. Then actually translating that into a full 4 player co-op experience so you and your friends become that elite unit is something I hope players will enjoy.
Strategy Informer: With the battle between Call of Duty and Battlefield raging on, do you think Ghost Recon is under more pressure to perform?
Jean-Marc Geffroy: You always want to achieve success and satisfy players. We believe we provide new innovations and a different experience than our FPS rivals. The pacing, tactical layers, use of technology and Teamwork in Single, co-op and MP provide something unique and different for fans of military shooters. The foundations of Ghost Recon are extremely important. We pride ourselves on providing a truly authentic experience and insight into the world of special forces. Run and gun can be fun, but if you want a smart shooter you can come and play a bit of Recon.
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Strategy Informer: Which of those brands do you feel represents your toughest competition?
Jean-Marc Geffroy: Talk to the business and marketing teams, we simply try to make games that allows players to really enjoy themselves and try new things. ;-)
Strategy Informer: Do you expect newcomers to pick up Future Soldier and feel immediately at home?
Jean-Marc Geffroy: I think for players who are used to playing predominantly FPS games, it will feel natural. It will take a few minutes to adapt to the cover and OTS views. But once you get the hang of it, you start to feel the benefits of the peek, cover swap and being able to pop up and pick off enemy targets with precision.
Strategy Informer: Can you provide any details on potential DLC? Do you expect any extra content to land on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC at the same time?
Jean-Marc Geffroy: Nothing to report for the moment. But with a 12 hour co-op or single player campaign, 30+ hours of guerrilla mode, and countless of hours in online multiplayer, we think you'll have plenty to keep you busy for a while.
(Ubisoft has since announced plans for the Arctic Strike DLC pack)
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Strategy Informer: If you had to describe Future Soldier in 5 words, what would they be?
Jean-Marc Geffroy: Authentic, Preparation, Violence of Action, Smart, Teamwork, Loads of Content... I have too many words...
Strategy Informer:Any final thoughts for our readers?
Jean-Marc Geffroy: With Ghost, we set a goal to fill a void in the shooter genre that rewards the cunning player, the player who is working in a team and thinking about his next move. I think we've done that. We've done something unique in a huge market and we're proud of that.
A huge thank you to Jean-Marc Geffroy for taking time out of his schedule to speak with us, and the lovely Ubisoft PR folk for setting it up. Ghost Recon: Future Soldier is available for consoles on 25th May, and PC on 15th June. Stay tuned for our full review!
