Chandler:Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Island Thunder is set in Cuba in the near future. Some of the new environments include a lush area with dense foliage and rock formations, an isolated beach resort, a brightly colored city, and a treacherous mountain stronghold. Also, there are several desert maps available for play, but they are not linked together in a campaign. In addition, other desert maps and original maps not seen on the PC or Xbox versions of Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon will be available for download.
Xbox.com:Ghost Recon: Island Thunder is a standalone game. Do you consider it a sequel or an expansion? Why or why not?
Chandler: This game gives fans more of the most played game on Xbox Live—Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon for the Xbox—tense enemy encounters, fun maps, and an awesome Xbox Live experience. We also added live statistics and downloadable content to enhance the experience.
Xbox.com: What new game types are included inGhost Recon: Island Thunder? Anything that will cause sweeping changes in the Xbox Live landscape?
Chandler:Ghost Recon: Island Thunderincludes the same game types that were in the original. However, the Defend mode is already available to play in Ghost Recon: Island Thunder. In the original, the Defend mode needed to be unlocked.
Xbox.com: Are there any weapons or items that will affect the way people play on Xbox Live?
Chandler: We did include the MM1 grenade launcher. Players will have a lot of fun dumping grenades on the enemies.
Xbox.com: Has feedback from the Xbox Livecommunity had any impact on the game’s development?
Chandler: Yes it has. There were a few new features we added to the game based on feedback from the community. Some of the things that we added were a "Force Launch" button for multiplayer and an icon to indicate who is currently talking during Xbox Live games. There were a few other little tweaks we made as well.
Xbox.com: I've got Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon and can't imagine how it could get any better. What makes Ghost Recon: Island Thunder a must-have for me?
Chandler: People who already have Ghost Recon will enjoy having Island Thunder because of the additional maps and missions and the Xbox Liveenhancements. We have made it faster for players to find and join games. The inclusion of statistics and downloadable content also make this game a must-have. We will be providing new maps and missions for download, and players can see how they rank against other players. The statistics will also be available on www.ubi.com, along with some other stats that are not included in the actual game interface.
Xbox.com: Have there been any major changes to gameplay? What about the game engine?
Chandler: We concentrated on giving players more of what they love about Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon, with a few modifications. The engine has had a few tweaks here and there.
Xbox.com: Much of the focus is no doubt going to be on the Xbox Live play, but what about single-player? Can you describe the overall story arc?
Chandler: The single-player campaign takes place in Cuba in the near future. Castro is dead, and Cuba is getting ready to hold its first democratic election for a new leader. There are some people who don't want this election to happen. The Ghosts are sent in to safeguard the elections. While they are there, they go against some pretty nasty guys.
Xbox.com: Will newcomers to Ghost Recon-style tactical gaming find Ghost Recon: Island Thunder accessible?
Chandler: Yes, I think if newcomers spend a few minutes with the game, they will quickly figure out how to get into the game and have a lot of fun.
Xbox.com: Is there anything that you just weren't able to get into the original Ghost Recon that's finally seeing daylight in Island Thunder?
Chandler: We did add some enemy interactions with vehicles. They will ride around on jeeps and trucks and try to take out the player. Also, downloadable content is something we were really excited about adding.
Xbox.com: Have you got a favorite new game type, weapon, and/or map?
Chandler: I like C03 High Sierra. I enjoy chucking grenades up into the guard towers to take out the snipers. For game type, I like the co-op missions the best because I can stay alive the longest. We have some very good Ghost Recon: Island Thunder players at Red Storm, and I would never stand a chance against them in a solo game.
Xbox.com: Overall, what's the new feature that's going to make people say "Wow!"?
Chandler: I would definitely say the maps look really fantastic, and the sound design is very immersive. Also, I think people will really enjoy the live statistics and downloadable content.
Xbox.com: Finally, please describe Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Island Thunder in 25 words or less.
Chandler: Real-life battlefield action! Take command of The Ghosts, an elite squad of military personnel equipped with the latest weaponry, as they are called in to stabilize Cuba after a bloody coup. Great online gameplay—the original Ghost Recon for Xbox is the most played game on Xbox Live—and bonuses like stats and downloadable content.
