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August 31, 2004 - With a goal of bringing back an old-school brand, newly formed Destineer and Atomic are working with the U.S. Marines to rekindle the Close Combat game line. Come this fall with Close Combat: First to Fight, an official military simulator designed to train U.S. Marines, Take-Two Games will give Xbox, PC and Mac users what the company hopes is the most authentic, realistic and compelling squad-based first-person shooter to date.
A tall order? Yes sir. Especially considering the massive hodgepodge of first-person shooters and military sims currently clogging, and soon to clog, retail channels. For those of you not familiar with the Close Combat series of games, Atomic Games originally released V for Victory in 1992, and in the following 14 years it produced several game of the year titles with an emphasis on military strategy. Last year, the U.S. Marine Corps released Atomic's Close Combat Marine, the first commercial title developed with the U.S. Marines and released throughout the Marine Corps, now being used as a tactical training tool for the Marine Corps and at the US Military Academy at West Point.
Close Combat: First to Fight puts players in the black stubby boots of a four-man fireteam that strictly adheres to U.S. Marine procedure and protocol. Using the well known MAGTAF (Marine Air Ground Task Force) rules, as it were, players control the fire team leader from the third battalion, first Marines, in a series of indoor and outdoor missions in a hostile Middle Eastern environment. The emphasis on this game is authenticity, genuineness and to bring your experience as close as possible to the Marines experience in a videogame.
Most of these Marine characters are actually active-duty United States Marines. In fact, most are currently serving duty right now, or they have just returned from their second combat tour in Iraq. Approximately 15 of the 20 possible unique fire team members are active. Players are assigned three Marines to fill their four-man fire team at the beginning of each mission.
NAME: Rudy M. Lacroix
RANK: Staff Sergeant
UNIT: 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines
AGE: 32
HOME TOWN: Detroit, MI
NICKNAME: Blackfoot
WHY HE BECAME A MARINE: "To serve my country. Family tradition."
WHY HE'S PROUD TO BE A MARINE: "Because the Marine Corps makes you a better person, and we are all brothers regardless of rank."
WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE A MARINE: "There are no words to describe what another Marine will do for his brother in a time of need or in combat."
HOBBIES: Fishing, surfing, snowboarding, softball.
FAVORITE QUOTE: "Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country. (John F. Kennedy)"
More team members here!