First half of America's Army to launch July 4

The United States Army has announced that Operations, the tactical first-person shooter half of America's Army, will be available for download on July 4, 2002. The team-based shooter can support up to 32 players per game. The game is built on Epic's latest Unreal 3D engine, and it will include 20 single- and multiplayer missions. It will have training missions such as navigating an obstacle course and parachuting, and those missions are a prerequisite to joining the multiplayer missions. In the multiplayer matches, both teams will perceive that they are on the US team. Communication will also play a large role in the game, and players will be able to send messages to their teammates using speech, whispers, shouts, radio messages, and hand and arm signals.

Soldiers, the role-playing half of America's Army, is scheduled for release later this summer. It will take players through training and adventures that involve tactical, technical, and physical challenges similar to experiences soldiers might have on their first tour of duty both on and off duty. The Army plans to distribute both halves of the game for free over the Internet. For more information about America's Army, take a look at our previous coverage of the game.