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Squad Leader Producer Andy Mazurek
by Jim Cobb

Cobb: Some companies have given up on AI and depend on head-to-head play for competent opponents. How much work is going into SL’s AI?

Mazurek: AH, Finally someone else noticed this trend as well!

An enormous amount of work has gone into the AI for Squad Leader. I wanted the game to do everything that the player would do. I figured if I can do it as a human player, why can’t the computer? Anytime any of the team sees something that the computer can do better, we ask the programmers to code it.

Cobb: If a gamer is really enthralled by Combat Mission or Close Combat, why should they give SL a look?

Mazurek: Well Squad Leader is very different from those games. While they all take place during WWII, the games are really different from each other.

Squad Leader is a tactical squad level turn based game. Hopefully, the player will become attached to his/her soldiers in a way not seen since X-COM. Combat Mission and Close Combat are real time games. Squad Leader is turned based. Combat Mission is a 3D squad-based game whereas Squad Leader is a 2D man to man game. Close Combat is also a 3D top down view real time game whereas Squad Leader is a 3rd person perspective turn based game.

Both of the games mentioned are fantastic and I play them both but it’s really comparing Apples to Oranges.

Cobb: Will there be an editor? If there is one, what aspects of the game will be subject to editing?

Mazurek: Yes, a mission and campaign editor as well as a map editor will be included with Squad Leader when it ships. These are the same editors that the developer is using to developer the game. The player will have total control and the freedom to design and make their missions. The player will be able to do just about everything but add new art. The player can make macros that can be used by the random generator when building maps. The macros can include buildings, trenches, foxholes, pillboxes… just about any customized terrain. Additionally, a very industrious person can add new music, new sounds, new character voices, new movies, change weapon stats…

I didn’t want the consumer to be forced into playing only our missions. I realize that there are people who have there own ideas and concepts of what is fun for them and they may not be the same as my ideas and concepts. So we allow them to build maps and campaigns and allow them to swap them amongst their friends.

Cobb: When do you expect SL to be released? What is the confidence level of your answer?

Mazurek: The game is due to ship in mid to late October of this year.
100% confidence.

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