Steel Battalion
Encyclopedia
is a video game created by Capcom
for the Xbox
console where the player controls a "Vertical Tank" — a bipedal, heavily-armed mecha
. To control the tank and play the game requires the use of a large controller
made specially for Steel Battalion.
The controller has two control sticks and around 40 buttons. The game, bundled with the controller included, launched at a retail price of around ¥
19,800, £130, or $
200. Only limited quantities were made available. These quickly sold out, making the game a collector's piece. It has since been re-released in limited quantities worldwide, with blue controller buttons distinguishing it from the first edition with green buttons.
A sequel called Steel Battalion: Line of Contact
was released in 2004, and also used the game's unique controller.
The third installment called Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor
was announced at the Tokyo Game Show 2010. This installment uses the Kinect motion sensor control.
At the beginning of every mission, the player must 'start up' the machine and operating system; this is handled through a series of switches and buttons dedicated to this purpose. If the player does not eject when prompted, the player's in game character will die, and all saved data will be lost, causing the player to start over. If a corner is turned too fast, the machine will tumble over. If the player's machine overheats, its operating system must be reset. The game even simulates window wipers in case of mud hitting the monitor.
A reviewer on IGN wrote, "where MechAssault
and Robotech
wouldn't let us into the cockpit, Steel Battalion won't let us out".
s piloted in the series. Essentially bipedal walking weapon
s platforms, VTs are classed by their developmental generation and sub-categorised by their combat
role. Primary combat roles are standard combat, assault
, support, scout
, and fast attack. VTs are divided into three weight classes: light, medium and heavy.
As the player progresses, new generations of VT will become available. This allows a newer, more advanced operating system, startup sequence, and combat functions, as well as a wider cockpit view and layout. New generation VTs also handle better and can provide better firepower over previous generations.
designers that would go on to form Nude Maker
. Producer Atsushi Inaba
stated at the Game Developers Conference
in 2005 that the Steel Battalion was a "product-focused project" in which the team initially focused on creating a new peripheral and software designed to go with it. Inaba's superiors were skeptical about putting such a game on the market. The amount of staff working on the project grew according to the team's experience with making new hardware. The earliest build of the game was created for the PlayStation 2
. However, when the Xbox became available, the development team switched to it because of the system's greater power. Online play was taken out of consideration close to the development's start due to being too ambitious. While the game and its special controller received critical acclaim, the project turned little profit
. Inaba stated that Steel Battalion was developed to show "what can be done in the game industry that cannot be done in others."
announced a "Kinect-enabled" version of Steel Battalion was in development. It is set to be released exclusively on Xbox 360
sometime in 2011. This version will not use the original Steel Battalion-exclusive cockpit controller.
Capcom
is a Japanese developer and publisher of video games, known for creating multi-million-selling franchises such as Devil May Cry, Chaos Legion, Street Fighter, Mega Man and Resident Evil. Capcom developed and published Bionic Commando, Lost Planet and Dark Void too, but they are less known. Its...
for the Xbox
Xbox
The Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console...
console where the player controls a "Vertical Tank" — a bipedal, heavily-armed mecha
Mecha
A mech , is a science fiction term for a large walking bipedal tank or robot, including ones on treads and animal shapes.-Characteristics:...
. To control the tank and play the game requires the use of a large controller
Gamepad
A gamepad , is a type of game controller held in two hands, where the digits are used to provide input. Gamepads generally feature a set of action buttons handled with the right thumb and a direction controller handled with the left...
made specially for Steel Battalion.
The controller has two control sticks and around 40 buttons. The game, bundled with the controller included, launched at a retail price of around ¥
Japanese yen
The is the official currency of Japan. It is the third most traded currency in the foreign exchange market after the United States dollar and the euro. It is also widely used as a reserve currency after the U.S. dollar, the euro and the pound sterling...
19,800, £130, or $
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
200. Only limited quantities were made available. These quickly sold out, making the game a collector's piece. It has since been re-released in limited quantities worldwide, with blue controller buttons distinguishing it from the first edition with green buttons.
A sequel called Steel Battalion: Line of Contact
Steel Battalion: Line of Contact
is a 2004 video game created by Capcom for the Xbox console where the player controls a VT . It is the online-only sequel to Capcom's Steel Battalion game. The game was developed by Capcom Production Studio 4 and Nude Maker...
was released in 2004, and also used the game's unique controller.
The third installment called Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor
Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor
is a video game currently in development by From Software and published by Capcom for the Xbox 360. It is a sequel to both Steel Battalion and Steel Battalion: Line of Contact on the Xbox. It was announced at the 2010 Tokyo Game Show, and will be compatible with the Kinect sensor.-Story:Steel...
was announced at the Tokyo Game Show 2010. This installment uses the Kinect motion sensor control.
Gameplay
A reviewer on IGN wrote, "where MechAssault
MechAssault
MechAssault was the first BattleMech video game published for the Xbox. Developed by Day 1 Studios and published by Microsoft, MechAssault was initiated when Denny Thorley of Day 1 Studios approached Jon Kimmich of Microsoft about developing an original BattleTech game built from the ground up to...
and Robotech
Robotech: Battlecry
Robotech: Battlecry received mostly positive reviews upon its release. Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the game an 8 out of 10, saying, "It does an incredible job of re-creating the show's fast-paced mech combat by combining slick animation and spot-on controls." GameSpy gave it a 3.0 out of 5 and...
wouldn't let us into the cockpit, Steel Battalion won't let us out".
Vertical Tanks
Vertical tanks (VTs) are the vehicleVehicle
A vehicle is a device that is designed or used to transport people or cargo. Most often vehicles are manufactured, such as bicycles, cars, motorcycles, trains, ships, boats, and aircraft....
s piloted in the series. Essentially bipedal walking weapon
Weapon
A weapon, arm, or armament is a tool or instrument used with the aim of causing damage or harm to living beings or artificial structures or systems...
s platforms, VTs are classed by their developmental generation and sub-categorised by their combat
Combat
Combat, or fighting, is a purposeful violent conflict meant to establish dominance over the opposition, or to terminate the opposition forever, or drive the opposition away from a location where it is not wanted or needed....
role. Primary combat roles are standard combat, assault
Assault
In law, assault is a crime causing a victim to fear violence. The term is often confused with battery, which involves physical contact. The specific meaning of assault varies between countries, but can refer to an act that causes another to apprehend immediate and personal violence, or in the more...
, support, scout
Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
, and fast attack. VTs are divided into three weight classes: light, medium and heavy.
- Light VTs focus on mobility. They are designed to pursue fleeing enemies or attacking weakened bases. Light VTs are capable of being transported by air and are designed to be dropped into key drop spots. Their use can be pivotal for air assaults on bases.
- The Medium VT is the most common, featuring a balance of firepower, armor and mobility. This VT has the most possible variations through add-on armor and weapons.
- Heavy VTs employ heavy armor and great firepower, but lack mobility compared to other VTs. Consequently, heavy VTs are mainly used to protect key locations and bases.
As the player progresses, new generations of VT will become available. This allows a newer, more advanced operating system, startup sequence, and combat functions, as well as a wider cockpit view and layout. New generation VTs also handle better and can provide better firepower over previous generations.
Development
Steel Battalion was developed by Capcom Production Studio 4 in collaboration with former Human EntertainmentHuman Entertainment
Human Entertainment was a Japanese computer and video game developer and publisher. The company produced games for a number of platforms, including Dreamcast, Game Boy, Nintendo 64, TurboGrafx-16, PC , PlayStation, Saturn, Sega CD, Super NES, TurboGrafx-CD, and WonderSwan...
designers that would go on to form Nude Maker
Nude Maker
is a Japanese video game developer based in Tokyo, Japan. The company is composed mostly of ex-Human Entertainment members, including Hifumi Kono, who directed the first two titles in the Clock Tower series of horror games...
. Producer Atsushi Inaba
Atsushi Inaba
is a Japanese video game producer for Platinum Games. He is also the former CEO and producer of the Capcom subsidiary Clover Studio, best known as the creative force behind Viewtiful Joe, Ōkami and God Hand.-Career:...
stated at the Game Developers Conference
Game Developers Conference
The Game Developers Conference is the largest annual gathering of professional video game developers, focusing on learning, inspiration, and networking...
in 2005 that the Steel Battalion was a "product-focused project" in which the team initially focused on creating a new peripheral and software designed to go with it. Inaba's superiors were skeptical about putting such a game on the market. The amount of staff working on the project grew according to the team's experience with making new hardware. The earliest build of the game was created for the PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
. However, when the Xbox became available, the development team switched to it because of the system's greater power. Online play was taken out of consideration close to the development's start due to being too ambitious. While the game and its special controller received critical acclaim, the project turned little profit
Profit (accounting)
In accounting, profit can be considered to be the difference between the purchase price and the costs of bringing to market whatever it is that is accounted as an enterprise in terms of the component costs of delivered goods and/or services and any operating or other expenses.-Definition:There are...
. Inaba stated that Steel Battalion was developed to show "what can be done in the game industry that cannot be done in others."
Reception
Steel Battalion was the 5th best-selling game during its week of release in Japan at about 15,092 copies. Inaba concluded that the game ultimately broke even in terms of units shipped and units sold.Upcoming Games
In September 2010, CapcomCapcom
is a Japanese developer and publisher of video games, known for creating multi-million-selling franchises such as Devil May Cry, Chaos Legion, Street Fighter, Mega Man and Resident Evil. Capcom developed and published Bionic Commando, Lost Planet and Dark Void too, but they are less known. Its...
announced a "Kinect-enabled" version of Steel Battalion was in development. It is set to be released exclusively on Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
sometime in 2011. This version will not use the original Steel Battalion-exclusive cockpit controller.