I just received a nice note from Ken A., the PR & Marketing Coordinator at the new Danish independent gamestudio called Reto-Moto. Reto-Moto were the original founders of IO Interactive. They broke free of the publisher’s chains to make a browser-based persistent WWII FPS/Strategy game called Heroes & Generals.
An overview of the game can be read here.
Ken wrote to tell us about their first teaser trailer for Heroes & Generals. Here is the release:
Hitman vets redefine the shooter genre again
From the creative minds that brought you the Hitman series comes Heroes & Generals, the first title from independent studio Reto-Moto. Heroes & Generals – now in Alpha testing – introduces an unprecedented mix of frontline shooter gameplay and strategic campaign management in a massive-scale multiplayer online war.
Imagine a game where your actions can help turn the tide of a persistent online war being fought by thousands of other real players, either in the role of a hardened soldier engaged in blistering first-person shooter combat, or as a strategic officer managing the grand scheme of the campaign on a tactical war map. Heroes & Generals will deliver this combined one-two punch in a thrilling multiplayer online battle across authentic WW II settings.
As H&G enters a vital playable testing phase, we encourage all gamers to enlist for an Alpha-key now at our www.heroesandgenerals.com community site.
One great war with thousands of players.
Heroes & Generals delivers a full blown first-person shooter experience, complete with intense infantry and vehicle combat in a wide variety of modes and missions, fought on behalf of the Axis or Allies. As your customizable character advances in rank, you might join a small squad of elite soldiers operating behind enemy lines, or fall-in with a larger section fighting an epic battle for a strategic bridgehead.
The result of every clash alters the ongoing battle for European domination. Each conflict takes place across diverse battlegrounds including contested cities, factories, airfields and war torn country-sides, each one represented on the strategic map with hundreds of key locations.
As these battles are waged, resources and global strategies are managed on a tactical overview map linked to the game’s innovative War Server. Here, players who choose to be strategic officers will have the entire map at their disposal and can decide how to manage battlefield assets and where to push the attack.
Influence the fate of millions…
within your browser
Heroes & Generals is a PC game that’s fully playable in a browser, yet it offers state-of-the-art graphics and sound thanks to the proprietary Retox engine built by Reto-Moto. We call H&G a “Mass Participation Game”, a term that not only describes the ease of access and massive-scale warfare, but also our goal to create a game that embraces open feedback from the community at every step – including our current Alpha stage.
Heroes & Generals will offer incomparable early hands-on access and participation: A real opportunity for gamers to influence everything from map layout to weapon handling, truly evolving the game’s design alongside dedicated interaction with Reto-Moto team members.
Reto-Moto at a glance:
Reto-Moto was founded in 1997 and quickly transformed into IO Interactive, which went on to release Hitman and Freedom Fighters. In 2004 IO Interactive was sold to Eidos, however the founding members of Reto-Moto left Eidos and reformed their old company, bringing in some of the core developers from IO Interactive. Heroes & Generals is the first game from Reto-Moto.
Heroes & Generals Debut Teaser – YouTube
Here is some alpha footage:
Wow, I’m actually quite impressed by the fact that Reto are familiar enough with the current PC gaming community space to know to get in touch with you Jock. I must admit, I didn’t think they would be quite up to speed in that regard.
I’ve been following these chaps since they released their announcement trailer, and from what I’ve seen they’re the real deal. The communicative and transparent philosophy of the studio is extremely refreshing, not only are they telling us what they’re up to, they’re showing us too. That is something that I haven’t seen in a long time this early in development.
I believe quite a few of the Bash/Crosshairs faithful felt somewhat let down by ROHoS which is a shame. Given the similarities both in terms of subject matter, and the open, community oriented development styles, I can see people comparing Reto/H&G to TWI/ROHoS and dismissing this game on that basis. Right now, I would suggest that everyone gives Reto the benefit of the doubt, and see how this game shapes up. I’m extremely excited by it and can’t wait to get my alpha key.
Looks interesting, kind of like battleground europe (ww2 online). I’ve been looking for a shooter like this for a while except ya know… free to play