World in Conflict
Real-time tactics in an alternate 1989 World War III.
World in Conflict is a 2007 real-time tactics game developed by Massive Entertainment and published by Vivendi Games for Windows. Set in an alternate 1989 where the Soviet Union invades Western Europe and later the United States, the game was praised for its tactical focus and received several awards. It is considered a spiritual successor to Massive Entertainment's earlier game Ground Control.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- Massive Entertainment
- Engine
- MassTech Game Engine utilising Havok physics
- Platforms
- Microsoft Windows
- Released
- September 18, 2007 AUS (NA)
- September 20, 2007 EU
- September 21, 2007
- Genre
- Real-time tactics, real-time strategy
- Modes
- Single-player, multiplayer
- Designer
- Magnus Jansén
Facts from the source article.
Gameplay
World in Conflict emphasizes real-time tactics, where players deploy units onto a battlefield and must use them carefully to achieve victory, supported by tactical aid. Three factions are available: the United States, Soviet Union, and NATO, though the single-player campaign restricts players to US and NATO forces. Players receive a predetermined number of reinforcement points to purchase units of varying costs; after deployment, units are airdropped following a 20-second delay. If a unit is destroyed, its points are refunded, allowing the player to bring in replacements. In the campaign, some missions limit which units can be recruited, while others offer free units that cannot be replaced if lost. Each unit has strengths and weaknesses, such as anti-air guns being effective against helicopters and repair tanks maintaining vehicles. Units possess defensive abilities like smokescreens, and some have offensive abilities such as marking targets for bombardment or using grenade launchers. Special abilities require a recharge after use. Players can also call in tactical aid by spending points earned from destroying enemies, including airstrikes, paratroopers, carpet bombing, and tactical nuclear strikes. Tactical aids allow up to three deployments before recharging, and the campaign restricts which aids are available.
Plot
In 1988, the economically crippled Soviet Union attacks NATO, and the US deploys most of its troops to Europe. In November 1989, the Soviets invade the Northwestern US, starting with Seattle. Lieutenant Parker, the player character, joins Captains Mark Bannon and James Webb under Colonel Jeremiah Sawyer. They retreat from Seattle, then stall the Soviet advance and win a tactical victory at Pine Valley with help from the USS Missouri. By Christmas, Soviet forces launch an offensive to capture Fort Teller, headquarters of the Strategic Defense Initiative. Sawyer's command is ordered to halt the advance. At Cascade Falls, Sawyer leads a defense but faces overwhelming Soviet reinforcements. He is granted clearance to detonate a tactical nuclear missile above the Soviet formations. Bannon volunteers to stay behind to avoid suspicion, and the blast annihilates the Soviet forces along with Bannon and his company.
Development
In December 2015, Massive Entertainment shut down the official Massgate servers despite community outcry. In early 2016, a group of players unaffiliated with Ubisoft or Massive Entertainment restored online multiplayer functionality with a community-run Massgate. The game's designers cited the 1984 film Red Dawn as a key influence, particularly the invasion of America by Soviet troops, paratroop landings, and use of civilian transports to disguise the invasion. In the Soviet Assault expansion, the Soviet invasion of Germany is called Operation Red Dawn. According to issue 7 of the WiC Journal, other influences include the first-person shooter series Call of Duty and Medal of Honor, which give the player a small role in a large conflict, as well as Battlefield 2 and Counter-Strike: Source. The collector's edition includes a limited edition cloth packaging with a Soviet flag on one side and US flag on the other, an authentic piece of the Berlin Wall, a Modern Marvels: The Berlin Wall DVD, a Behind the Scenes DVD, and an exclusive Creative HS-390 headset (Europe only). Preorders granted beta access, username preservation, and a History Channel DVD. The Polish collector's edition differs, including a wooden container, full-sized flag, poster, T-shirt, cap, and a Trust Hs-2200 headset.
Reception
World in Conflict received generally favorable reviews according to Metacritic. GameSpot called it "the studio's masterwork" and gave it 9.5 out of 10. PC Gamer's Kieron Gillen praised the multiplayer's cooperative mechanics and communication system, while calling the single-player campaign "fun but not exactly deep." Eurogamer's Dan Whitehead described the game as "absorbing," highlighting its focus on tactical objectives rather than resource management, saying "it plays like a strategy game, but feels like an action game." Prior to release, the game won several E3 2007 awards, including IGN's Best PC Strategy Game and Best Strategy Game (All Platforms), GameSpot's Best Strategy Game of E3, and Game Critics' Best Strategy Game. After release, it earned editor's choice awards from GameSpot, IGN, PC PowerPlay, and PC Zone. PC Gamer US named it the 2007 RTS game of the year. At the 11th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, it was nominated for Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year and Outstanding Achievement in Online Gameplay. The game was included in the book 1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die and topped weekly sales charts in North America, Germany, and Australia upon release.
Frequently Asked Questions
What platforms is World in Conflict available on?
World in Conflict was released for Microsoft Windows.
Who designed World in Conflict?
World in Conflict was designed by Magnus Jansén.
What engine does World in Conflict use?
World in Conflict runs on MassTech Game Engine utilising Havok physics.
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