Next came the design of the real world military vehicles, where we detailed everything from the modernized scopes installed on the M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle, to the computer-controlled machine guns on the HMMWV (not to be confused with вЂњHumveeвЂќ, which is the civilian model). When operations become large, itвЂ™s not uncommon to take over buildings found in area to use as an вЂњupgradedвЂќ TOC, which is what players experience in Thunder Run as they advance. As another example, our advisors helped us design the headquarters of the game - called a Tactical Operations Center or вЂњTOCвЂќ - based on real world scenarios for how military vehicles and tents assemble to form a mobile office. So while we respect realism, our goal is not strictness, itвЂ™s authenticity - an atmosphere in the game drawn from the real world, yet balanced for game play. Therefore, no modern war game can be realistic.вЂќ Games are about symmetry, where you want even matches.

To paraphrase one of our advisors: вЂњModern war is about asymmetry, where you attack only with an overwhelming advantage. As an example of the attention to detail, in the вЂњMotor PoolвЂќ building shown below we see the M1 Abrams tank stored as they would be in real life, with turrets turned backwardsВ to take up less space in a parking area.Д®verything from transmitter antennas to fuel storage blivets came from real world military references.В That said, we knew we could only go so far in realism. The next step was building accurate 3D assets. For example, replacing the Blackhawk helicopter in the image above (which in the real world is a transport vehicle, without weapons guidance systems) with a gunship. We brought on military advisors to review our early designs, and to help lay out the technical specifications for our modern military armies.

Our creative team began with concept art for a modern war title using real world vehicles, like the below scene of a Blackhawk helicopter attacking a tank.

In 2013, we set out to create Thunder Run: War of Clans, a prototype for our new game engine built to create fast-action experiences in HTML5.

Thunder run war of clans