R.U.S.E.

R.U.S.E.
File:RUSE boxart.png
Developer(s)	Eugen Systems
Publisher(s)	Ubisoft
Engine	IRISZOOM (proprietary)
Platform(s)	Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3
Release	September 17, 2010 (EU) September 7, 2010 (US)
Genre(s)	Real-time strategy
Mode(s)	Single player, Multiplayer

R.U.S.E. is a real-time strategy video game developed by Eugen Systems and published by Ubisoft. R.U.S.E. is a strategy game with systems that focus on deception and intellect and are intended to be key and reign superior over brute force. Players can expect the ability to be able to use a series of ruses and decoys to trick their enemies and change the tides of war. As of now the control scheme for the Xbox 360 is currently available you may view it at the link below. There are six factions in the game: USA, Germany, UK, France, Italy and the USSR.

R.U.S.E. was initially scheduled to be released in the Q4 2009; however, after Ubisoft received and accepted community feedback the game was unable to be released at that time. Two more failed release dates followed (Q1 2010 and June 4, 2010). R.U.S.E is now scheduled for a release on the PlayStation 3, PC, Mac, and on the Xbox 360. It will be available September 7, 2010 in North America and September 17, 2010 in Europe.

Scenario

R.U.S.E. takes place within the World War II time period. It is believed that players will be playing the campaign as the United States of America and Nazi Germany. The campaign takes place in several major theaters of World War II. Battles in the game take place in North Africa (Battle of the Kasserine Pass), Italy (Battle of Monte Cassino), France (Invasion of Normandy), Netherlands (Operation Market Garden), Belgium (The Battle of the Bulge), and Germany.

Artistic style

R.U.S.E. gameplay screenshot

The game possesses a unique visual style. Instead of the traditional grime and darkness of traditional World War II RTS games, R.U.S.E. has a bright, artistic view of the war. Examples of this can be found with the relative little grime of the units and the clear blue skies found in R.U.S.E.

In addition to its "pulp and clean" World War II view, the game engine displays the world in a highly scalable fashion, which helps contribute to a sense of an actual battlefield, from the perspective of the general or soldier.

Characters

There are two campaigns in the game, the first takes place from the point of view of Major Joseph Sheridan of the United States Army. A Yale dropout, Joe Sheridan later joined the US Army and then assumed control of the First Armored Division. The game follows Major Sheridan as he battles from Africa to Germany. The second takes place from the point of view General Major Erich Von Richter (German Army) a tactical and cunning general in the German army whose dreams of military perfection on the battlefield were realized with the invention of the Blitzkrieg. The game follows General Richter who while battling allied generals is trying to uncover a traitor in the upper ranks of his command.

Dimension of gameplay

Dimension is a key aspect of R.U.S.E. gameplay. The Eugen Systems' proprietary IRISZOOM Engine allows for incredibly large maps. This allows for a greater sense of scale and increased depth perception. You have the ability to zoom out be able to view the whole battle area and over the edges of a map, but as close to be able to see infantry walking through a village. The engine's zoom implemetation is very smooth and seamless, without noticable lag on mid-to-high PC systems.

Factions

Although the player can only play as the United States in the campaign mode, other factions are present in the game and can be played on R.U.S.E. online. All the factions include the United States, United Kingdom, Nazi Germany, Italy, France, and the Soviet Union. Each possesses a unique balance of strengths and weaknesses, which allows for more dynamic gameplay/strategy.

Nations

• France - Defensive: They have a recon unit produceable by an armor factory and an advanced recon unit in the prototype base. Much less research required than other nations. They get heavy artillery, cheap heavy tanks, heavy infantry, and heavy AT guns without research. They also have strong defensive bunkers. Mobile artillery can be made from the prototype base. Mostly weak air units.

• USSR - Strength: Tanks are second best in the game. Very slow bomber but very big payload. They come with two types of artillery bunkers out of the HQ and some very long range heavy artillery.

• Italy - Speed/Cheap: Most units are cheap, and sport weak armor, however, they are very fast when deployed. Some multi-purpose units (AT/AA combined).

• USA - Balance: The most balanced of the nations. Units are average in most aspects, not excelling in any areas. They are the only nation to start with mobile (mounted) AA with no research. Can build AA, AT, and MG bunkers. When upgraded, arguably possess the most effective Tank Destroyer in the game. Fighter bomber is second only to UK, and the upgraded bomber is second only to UK.

• UK - Air Power: Best fighter, bomber, and fighter bomber. They have the second worst tanks in the game (just ahead of Italy). They start with Recon bunkers which are great to protect flanks from easy infantry grabs of your supply depots.

• Germany - Quality: As a general rule, the German units are more expensive and more effective than every other nation (air units excepted). They have the best Advanced medium tank in the game (panther). The German mobile artillery is very accurate, but low range.

Online gameplay

R.U.S.E. will feature an online multiplayer component. This feature will allow for both individual missions as well as co-op missions. Players can set time limits on matches as well. Also, there is an ranking system. If an person reaches a rank, he/she will be automatched to another player with the same rank.

Ruses

R.U.S.E. employs a system of ruses that allow the player to fool or bluff the opponent. A total of ten or more ruses will be able to be used in the game. The ruses are divided into three different categories: those that reveal information (such as Decryption or the Spy Plan), those that hide information (such as Radio Silence or Camouflage Net), and those that allow for fake structures/units, designed to trick the enemy (the Decoy Offensive is an example of such a ruse).

• Decryption: The decryption ability reveals all enemy movements within a sector. Orders are represented by red arrows.
• Spy plan: A spy reveals all unidentified/hidden enemy units in a sector.
• Radio silence: Radio silence hides all allies' units within a sector. All allied units remain hidden from the enemy detection system as long as they do not leave the affected sector.
• Dummy building: Creates a decoy building.
• Camouflage net: The camouflage net hides all allies' buildings within a sector. All allies' buildings in that sector disappear from the enemy intelligence system. Units created by the player within the affected sector will remain hidden from the enemy detection system as long as they remain in the affected sector. This allows the player to create camouflaged factories/units behind enemy lines.
• Decoy offensive: This ruse allows the player to create decoy units to simulate an army. Decoy units are produced and then launched in this sector in order to simulate an attack.
• Blitz plan: Doubles your units' speed in the sector and allows for swift attack of key objectives.
• Terror: Enemy troops are more likely to be routed.
• Fanaticism: Allied units will fight till the death
• Reverse intel: Light units are given heavy unit markings when not scouted, and vice versa.

Pre-release beta

A public beta version of the game was made available on Steam, and was playable for free until April 12, 2010. Eugen Systems reported that the beta acted also as a demo.

New Release Date

In late April Ubisoft reported that Eugen Systems have decided that due to much learned from the beta, the game will not be available for purchase on any system until 17 September 2010 in the UK and 7 September USA, and stated that a lot of community feedback will be used for improving the game. On June 25, 2010, Ubisoft and Eugen Systems have promised a big surprise soon to be announced, the development team passed a milestone and has very good news for the fans, they added. This transpired to be a free weekend of multiplayer for the game, downloadable from Steam, which ended on the 21 July 2010.

Modding and Mapping support

It was revealed on 22 January 2010, on official RUSE forums that the game will not ship with a map builder, due to engine's complexity for developing such tools would be very challenging, although there is still a possibility for mod support via patch, as Eugen Systems has proven it's commitment in their previous installments such as Act of War: Direct Action and it's expansion, which received a lot of post-release support.

Game Features

The game will support the standard skirmish mode as well as diversiful AI behaviors, ranging from turtlers(defense), rushers(hit&run) and pure attackers. The game also supports multitouch screens and Playstation Move on the PS3 version. The game features robust graphics and sound settings, along with controls and hotkey assignment. One of the most welcomed bonus modes such as Challenge Mode will also be present. The PC version of the game is fully Microsoft Windows-native, not a console port. On August 11, 2010, the developers announced that they were dropping Ubisoft's permanent internet connection DRM in favour of Steamworks.

Dedicated Server

It was discovered on official Ubisoft forums in 2010, that the game will support dedicated servers. It is rare for an RTS to support such methods for online play.

External links

• R.U.S.E. Xfire Community
• R.U.S.E official site
• R.U.S.E Slovak support site
• R.U.S.E Community Site
• Unofficial RUSopedia Wiki