Ground Branch (video game)
Ground Branch (stylized in all caps) is an early-access video game being developed by Blackfoot Studios LLC, and published by MicroProse. Ground Branch is a tactical first-person shooter with an emphasis on character and weapon customization, based on the paramilitary arm of the CIA's Special Activities Center (SAC).<
Gameplay
In Ground Branch, the player plays as part of the CIA's Special Activities Center (SAC), and leads "special operations forces through challenging deniable ops all over the globe."
Attachments can be placed anywhere on the appropriate rail of a weapon (for example, an optic cannot be placed on the underbarrel rail), and Picatinny rail adapters can be attached to weapons which do not feature an integrated Picatinny rail system.
Ground Branch features 15 maps: 747, Arena, Arena II, City, Compound, Creek, Depot, Docks, Power Station, Rig, Run Down, Small Town, Storage Facility, Tanker, and The Farm. Each map features its own strategies and environment, reinforcing the developer's goal of making GROUND BRANCH a tactical shooter. The player also has the ability to customize the mission or mode they wish to play, with the game featuring six PvP modes and three PvE modes. The PvP modes are Deathmatch, Dynamic Take and Secure, Hostage Rescue, Last Man Standing, Team Elimination, and Uplink, and the PvE modes are Defuse, Intel Retrieval, and Terrorist Hunt. The game also features a Training Mode, which is a singleplayer mission exclusive to the map The Farm.
Modding
Ground Branch features a Lua modding API, allowing real-time interaction with the game, and the Ground Branch Mod Kit, a modified version of Unreal Engine 4.27, both of which facilitate the creation of mods. Modders can create new weapons, attachments, mission types, gear, and more. Mods can be subscribed to through the game's modding menu or through Steam Workshop.
Development
In a response to a forum post on the Steam community page, John Sonedecker—the Founder, Creative Director, and Lead Artist of Blackfoot Studios LLC—said that the concept for the game began in 2008, although, due to a lack of funding, sustained development could only begin in 2018, when the game was released for early access.
Reception
Gameplay
In Ground Branch, the player plays as part of the CIA's Special Activities Center (SAC), and leads "special operations forces through challenging deniable ops all over the globe."
Attachments can be placed anywhere on the appropriate rail of a weapon (for example, an optic cannot be placed on the underbarrel rail), and Picatinny rail adapters can be attached to weapons which do not feature an integrated Picatinny rail system.
Ground Branch features 15 maps: 747, Arena, Arena II, City, Compound, Creek, Depot, Docks, Power Station, Rig, Run Down, Small Town, Storage Facility, Tanker, and The Farm. Each map features its own strategies and environment, reinforcing the developer's goal of making GROUND BRANCH a tactical shooter. The player also has the ability to customize the mission or mode they wish to play, with the game featuring six PvP modes and three PvE modes. The PvP modes are Deathmatch, Dynamic Take and Secure, Hostage Rescue, Last Man Standing, Team Elimination, and Uplink, and the PvE modes are Defuse, Intel Retrieval, and Terrorist Hunt. The game also features a Training Mode, which is a singleplayer mission exclusive to the map The Farm.
Modding
Ground Branch features a Lua modding API, allowing real-time interaction with the game, and the Ground Branch Mod Kit, a modified version of Unreal Engine 4.27, both of which facilitate the creation of mods. Modders can create new weapons, attachments, mission types, gear, and more. Mods can be subscribed to through the game's modding menu or through Steam Workshop.
Development
In a response to a forum post on the Steam community page, John Sonedecker—the Founder, Creative Director, and Lead Artist of Blackfoot Studios LLC—said that the concept for the game began in 2008, although, due to a lack of funding, sustained development could only begin in 2018, when the game was released for early access.
Reception
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