Ground Control

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Ground Control

Developer(s)	Massive Entertainment
Publisher(s)	Sierra On-Line
Release date(s)	June 1, 2000
Genre(s)	Real-time strategy
Mode(s)	Single player, Multiplayer
Rating(s)	ESRB: T (Teen) USK: 12+ ELSPA: 15+ OFLC: G8+
Platform(s)	Microsoft Windows
Media	CD-ROM, Internet Download
System requirements	233 MHz CPU, 32 MB RAM, 4 MB video card RAM, 4X CD-ROM drive, DirectX 7.0a, 306 MB available hard disk space, Windows 95
Input	Keyboard and Mouse

Ground Control is a 2000 real-time strategy computer game developed by Massive Entertainment and was at the time a forerunner in its genre, winning many industry awards.^{[citation needed]} It features 3D graphics and a free-floating camera which allows one to zoom in and out and view the action from any angle, from a bird's-eye view to the perspective of one's own assault units at ground level. The game focuses more on strategy and tactics than its real-time strategy brethren and completely does away with resource and economic management. The player must therefore focus all of his or her attention on controlling their units to achieve victory.

Units in the game include various types of tanks, hovercraft, aircraft, and infantry, and are delivered to the battlefield by orbital dropships. However, once in battle, the player is not able to summon reinforcements, so proper troop selection between levels is a key to success. Each unit type has special weapons, abilities, and armor. Players can choose to customize each unit or let the game auto-select the proper load-out for each mission. The two armies differ in their types of units. The Crayven Corporation has hardier units that rely on traditional ballistics and movement. The Order of the New Dawn's units move around via a hover propulsion system that grants them increased speed and mobility and use energy weaponry that give them more damage potential.

Shortly after the release of its sequel, Ground Control was made available to the public for free through FilePlanet. [1]

1 Storyline
2 Gameplay
3 Expansion and Sequel
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] Storyline

The Crayven Command APC and a squad of Marine Infantry

Ground Control is set in the 25th century. Mankind emerged from the devastation of the Third World War (known in the game as "The Sixteen-minutes War") and managed to colonize several planets across the galaxy. The Earth is ruled by a council called GCC (Global Central Command) that is formed by elected representatives and representatives of the mega corporations which rose to power after the fall of the Terran nations.

The game's plot revolves around the conflict between the Crayven Corporation and the Order of the New Dawn for the possession of the distant world of Krig 7-B. In the beginning of the game, the player assumes the role of Major Sarah Parker of the Crayven Corporation, as she leads the Crayven forces in order to eliminate the presence of the "Dawnies" (the derogative name for followers of the Order). Later, the player assumes control of Deacon Jarred Stone in his attempt to drive the "Crays" from the surface of Krig. During the course of the campaign, however, both characters unravel a dark secret hidden within the depths of Krig 7-B, a secret that threatens all mankind, and turns out to be the reason for such interest in what seems to be a desolate fringe world...

[edit] Gameplay

The most notable gameplay elements revolve around the game's focus on tactics. Carefully designed to discourage tank rush strategies. Armoured units (Terradynes and Hoverdynes) are weaker at the sides, rear, and from above, consequently flanking maneuvers can be effectively used. High ground offers many major advantages, from this position the attacker can take advantage of the weaker topside armour, the units also receive increased accuracy and sight range. This is especially useful for placing artillery.

Suppressive fire is also simulated, units being suppressed will fire less accurately. Suppression fire can be applied by any unit against stronger opponents, therefore, infantry units can effectively suppress even heavy tanks.

Stealth tactics can be used, units can take advantage of shadows cast by higher terrain to make them harder to spot by their enemy. Infantry can also use foliage to hide. This means commanders will have to scout ahead of their tanks to preempt any ambushes.

Friendly fire is taken into account, units behind the front line will shoot friendlies in their line of fire. Since damage in the rear is multiplied careful attention to squad placement is required.

Units are rewarded with experience throughout the campaign including medals awarded for each squad's combat performance, giving improved abilities. As a result, commanders will have to be more protective of their squads.

Dropship loadouts are selected prior to missions, with a limited number of squads available. Each squad is categorized as Infantry, Armour, Support, or Aerodyne (aircraft). The type of unit within that category can then be selected. For example, a Terradyne unit can be a Scout, Light, Main Battle, or Heavy Terradyne, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. Main Battle Terradynes have less armour and firepower a Heavy Terradynes, but are far faster and maneuverable, making them more useful for flanking tactics. A player is discouraged from using simply massed ranks of a single type of unit because each unit is extremely vunerable to a wide variety of opponents. The most effective dropship loadout would consist of a squad of each unit type.

All units, except for the Command APC, have two kinds of finite special weapon and special equipment to choose from. One choice of special weapon can offer a tactical advantage by improving a squad's abilities against an opponent it would normally struggle against, for example, an infantry squad can be armed with anti-tank rockets, or a tank squad can be armed with anti-infantry shells. The other special weapon choice could simply improve a unit's attack strengh.

Special equipment can include medi-kits, repair kits, image intensifiers, afterburners, various stationary turrets, or repair stations.

Most specials can usually be used two or three times during a level, although the most powerful special abilities, such as the bomber's tactical nuclear warhead, are limited to a single use.

All units belong in squads, individual units cannot be moved, but are selected and moved with their squad, however units still attain individual damage. The one exception is the powerful artillery unit, a squad of which consists of a single unit. Different squad formations can be selected (box, line, column) can occasionally gain more effectiveness depending on the landscape and location of the player's units and the opposition. For example, a line formation places all units in a squad at the front line, increasing their field of fire, and thus firepower, this however also increases exposure, so they will also be easier to hit. The formation also requires a lot of space, so it can not be deployed effectively in a canyon.

Most units both sides are similar in function, some however are quite different. For example, the Order's Templar Infantry is an all-female squadron equipped with extremely powerful anti-vehicle missile launchers. Their counterparts are the Crayven Jaeger Infantry - a four-man squad of snipers, whose vast sight range makes them excellent spotters for artillery Terradynes.

Generally Order units possess more firepower and speed, thanks to their use of energy weapons and hover technology, while Craven units are thicker armour.

[edit] Expansion and Sequel

The Crayven Artillery Terradyne unit fires a barrage

An expansion, called Ground Control: Dark Conspiracy, was swiftly released for the game, which added a new faction (the Phoenix Mercenaries) and an extra 15-mission single-player campaign, expanding on the storyline.Unfortunately,it was discontinued.

A sequel entitled Ground Control II: Operation Exodus was released four years later with an updated graphical engine and story, but with a faster-paced style of gameplay that is more in line with contemporary real-time strategy games.

Unfortunately, while Ground Control can now be freely downloaded online, the expansion can only be found on websites like eBay and still require the CD version of the original to play. However, copies of the Ground Control Game Of The Year Edition, which includes the original and the expansion may be found