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To be honest, I did not think that Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.X. title sold well enough to warrant a sequel in the eneys of Ubisoft.  It was a decent arcade flight combat title, but it was missing a lot of options that most joystick jockeys want to have in a flight game, most notably, takeoffs and landings.

Well, takeoffs, landings and more will be coming to the Tom Clancy universe this fall with the announcement of Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.X. 2.  This new H.A.W.X. title will add more realism to the environments with GeoSat data and more planes than ever before, including the chance to hop into an F-35 Experimental Fighter, an AC-130 Combat platform and UAV craft.   Older mainstays are here as well including the F-117 Nighthawk Stealth Fighter/Bomber, the F-14 Tomcat, the stodgy A-10 Warthog and the fly by wire F-16C Falcon.

Also, you will now play as three pilots from different countries, one British, one Russian and one American, all linked together through the main story. 

Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.X. 2 is set for release for Fall 2010 on PC, Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and Nintendo Wii from Ubisoft.  Check the jump for a full Q&A doc from Ubisoft, which explains the plot and more of the new features to the title.

HAWX 2 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS – 1^st look

By Bogdan Bridinel, Game Content Director and Emil Gheorghe, Producer.

1.       What is the story behind the HAWX squadron?

HAWX is an elite military squadron performing black ops and surgical interventions on behalf of the United States government. HAWX pilots are elite professionals and they have access to the top equipment and aircraft available, ranging from mainstays like the A-10 Thunderbolt II or the F-16C Fighting Falcon to the cutting edge F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II. They also have access to more specialized equipment, like surveillance UAVs or the AC-130U Spooky gunship.

2.       What is the storyline and how does it unfold. What is the setting and when does it happen?

The storyline in HAWX 2 starts in the Middle East, in the near future. The HAWX squadron is deployed in the Middle East, where insurgent activity is showing a rise both in the level of activity and in the violence of it. With new insurgent leaders rising in several hotspots of the world and a number of nuclear weapons belonging to Russia being mysteriously stolen, a storm is brewing and the HAWX are sent to the center of it. As the story unfolds, the HAWX will have to discover the source of the new threats and fight this dangerous new adversary. The HAWX will not be alone this time – the story will also show missions of a British naval pilot and of a Russian pilot, all of them caught up in the same complex web of conspiracies and conflicts. You will also be able to catch a glimpse of other familiar characters, as the events in HAWX 2 and all other Tom Clancy games take place in the same universe.

3.       Can you tell us a bit about the main characters?

The player will be swapping between three groups, one American, one British and one Russian, each with its own pilots, its own cast of supporting characters and its own dramatic questions.

4.       What kind of aircraft we can fly?

HAWX 2 features a very strong selection of aircraft including several new additions. Expect to fly the top aircraft available in the following years worldwide including F-22 Raptor, F-35 Lightning II, Su-37 Terminator, Eurofighter Typhoon, Rafale. You will also be able to fly some of the most iconic older generation aircraft, like the F-117 Nighthawk or the legendary F-14A Tomcat. Apart from that, the AC-130U Spooky and the new UAVs will be playable, each providing a specific gameplay experience.

5.       As a Tom Clancy game, how connected with the real world developments is HAWX?

HAWX 2 is driven by the latest military evolutions and forecasts in terms of hardware, tactics and technology. We made sure that we incorporated key moments that the public will recognize from the real world military conflicts such as precision bombing using smart ammunition. We took into consideration for example the ascent of the UAV as an effective reconnaissance and attack platform that allows new tactical options and increased survivability and persistence on the future battlefields. Our approach emphasizes also the increased network centric nature of the incoming conflicts, in which the pilot is just the spearhead supported by a large variety of assets including firepower and surveillance platforms.

In terms of story, we were also inspired by current events and where they could lead. We did this well enough that sometimes we stumble in the media on an event that sounds eerily similar with something that we have in the game – let’s just hope that none of the things that happen in the latter part of the game comes true!

6.       Can you give some details about the new weapons and capabilities in HAWX 2?

The main new addition to the player’s arsenal is the inclusion of precision weapons, which allow him to aim and designate the location of the strike with perfect accuracy. There are several such weapons, including a missile that the player can control while in flight.

7.       Give us some examples on how you incorporated player feedback from HAWX 1?

Listening to the player feedback, we understood that we needed to focus more on delivering an authentic experience and to add the features that increase this feeling of authenticity and of belonging to a real world. This meant, for instance adding take off and landing (which was requested by many players), but also adding various features that weren’t necessarily requested by players, but we felt would go into the same direction and increase the authenticity of the experience.

8.       Can you describe a bit the new environments and technology used for them in HAWX 2?

We are using the top solution available, GeoEye hi-res satellite imagery. Our environments are huge – 130km x 130km – which is what you need when you give players the freedom to sprint around at Mach 2. They offer some spectacular and diverse vistas, including mountains, deserts, mountainous coastal regions and some well known cities, like Cape Town. We also manage to add a great deal of detail where it matters – for instance you will be able to see people going about their jobs in the bases where you take off.

9.       Are there drones or UAV’s in HAWX 2? What role do they play?

Yes, unmanned aerial vehicles are in and they play an important role. Using an UAV, you will be able to spy on enemies without being detected, listen in on their conversations and gather important information. Some of this information can be surprising, pushing the story in a new direction. Armed UAVs will also be featured, offering their ground attack capabilities in some missions.