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{{Infobox |title = Steel Battalion |image = Steel battalion.jpg |developer = [[Tekki]] <br/> [[Capcom Production Studio 4]] <br /> [[Nude Maker]] |publisher = {{vgrelease|JP=[[Capcom]]|NA=Capcom|EU=[[Microsoft Game Studios]]}} |director = [[Hifumi Kono]] |producer = [[Atsushi Inaba]] |engine = |released = {{vgrelease|JP=September 12, 2002<ref name="dates">{{cite web | url = http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/xbox/data/554980.html |title= Release dates |publisher= GameFAQs |date= |accessdate= 2008-02-11}}</ref>|NA=November 21, 2002<ref name="dates"/>|EU=March 28, 2003<ref name="dates"/>}} |genre = [[Mecha]] [[Simulation]] <br> [[Action]] |modes = Single-player <br> Campaign, Free mode |ratings = {{vgratings|ESRB=T (Teen)|PEGI=12+|USK=12}} |platforms = [[XBOX]] |media = DVD |requirements = Steel Battalion Controller |input = ''Steel Battalion'' specific controller }} {{Nihongo|'''''Steel Battalion'''''|鉄騎|Tekki|lead=yes}} is a 2002 [[mecha]] [[simulation]] [[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 [[gamepad|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 [[Japanese yen|¥]]19,800, [[GBP|£]]130, or [[United States dollar|$]]200.<ref name="garaph">{{cite web | title=GID 1118 - Steel Battalion - Xbox - Garaph | url=http://garaph.info/softwareindividual.php?gameid=1118 | publisher=Garaph.info | accessdate=2009-04-06}}</ref><ref name="cvg">{{cite web | author=Bishop, Stuart | date=February 10, 2003 | title=Interview: Steel Battalion | url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=87075 | publisher=Computer And Video Games| accessdate=2009-04-05}}</ref> 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. At the time of its release in 2002, the game was considered the most realistic mecha simulation available on a home system up until then, and one of the most realistic simulation games in general up until that time.[http://www.1up.com/features/japanese-games-turned-genres-ears] ==Gameplay== 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: Battlecry|Robotech]] wouldn't let us into the cockpit, Steel Battalion won't let us out".<ref>{{cite web|first=Aaron |last=Boulding |url=http://xbox.ign.com/articles/378/378622p1.html |title=Steel Battalion Review |work=IGN |publisher=IGN Entertainment |date=November 25, 2002 |accessdate=2010-01-06}}</ref> ===Vertical Tanks=== Vertical tanks (VTs) are the [[vehicle]]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, [[Shock troops|assault]], support, [[reconnaissance|scout]], 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. {{Peripheralbox| title = Steel Battalion "Behemoth" |image = SteelBattalion.jpg |system = XBOX |creator = [[Capcom]] |games = Steel Battalion, Steel Battalion: Line of Contact |released = [[2002]], ([[North America]]) |inputs = 30 light up buttons and 2 normal ones, 5 switches, a dial, 2 joysticks, 3 foot pedals, a trigger, a clickable thumbstick, a gearshift |rarity = Limited release, no longer in production }} 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]]<ref>{{cite web |archiveurl=http://replay.web.archive.org/20050206023353/http://www.capcom.co.jp/studio4/index.html |title=Production Studio 4 |language=[[Japanese language|Japanese]] |archivedate=February 6, 2005 |publisher=[[Capcom Co., Ltd]]}}</ref> in collaboration with former [[Human Entertainment]] designers that would go on to form [[Nude Maker]].<ref name="over">{{cite web | author=Sheffield, Brandon | date=October 23, 2006 | title=Capcom & Clover, Over and Over: Former Clover Head Atsushi Inaba on a Post-Capcom World | url=http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20061023/sheffield_01.shtml | publisher=[[Gamasutra]]| accessdate=2009-04-04}}</ref> 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.<ref name="product">{{cite web | author=Sheffield, Brandon | date=March 11, 2005 | title=Postcard from GDC 2005: Lessons from Viewtiful Joe: Making a Creatively and Financially Successful New Game | url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/2251/postcard_from_gdc_2005_lessons_.php | publisher=Gamasutra| accessdate=2009-04-04}}</ref> Inaba's superiors were skeptical about putting such a game on the market.<ref name="over"/> 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.<ref name="cvg"/> Online play was taken out of consideration close to the development's start due to being too ambitious.<ref name="cvg"/><ref name="product"/> While the game and its special controller received critical acclaim, the project turned little [[profit (accounting)|profit]]. Inaba stated that ''Steel Battalion'' was developed to show "what can be done in the game industry that cannot be done in others."<ref name="product"/> ==Reception== {{Expand section|date=January 2009}} {{VG Reviews <!-- Aggregators --> | GR = 83.31%<ref>{{cite web |accessdate=2010-06-21|url=http://www.gamerankings.com/xbox/554980-steel-battalion/articles.html|title=Steel Battalion for Xbox |publisher=[[Gamerankings]]}}</ref> | MC = 83/100<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.metacritic.com/game/xbox/steel-battalion | title = Steel Battalion (Xbox) reviews at Metacritic | publisher = Metacritic | accessdate = 2010-06-21}}</ref> <!-- Reviewers --> | EuroG = 6/10<ref>http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2010-09-16-capcom-reveals-kinect-steel-battalion</ref> | Fam = 35/40<ref>''Xbox - 鉄騎''. Weekly Famitsu. No.915 Pt.2. Pg.106. 30 June 2006.</ref> }} ''Steel Battalion'' was the 5th best-selling game during its week of release in Japan at about 15,092 copies.<ref name="garaph"/> Inaba concluded that the game ultimately broke even in terms of units shipped and units sold.<ref name="product"/> {{clear}} ==Sequels== A sequel called ''[[Steel Battalion: Line of Contact]]'' was released in 2004, and also used the game's unique controller.<ref>{{cite web | author=Bishop, Stuart | date=January 6, 2004 | title=Xbox News: Steel Battalion: Line of Contact retail plans confirmed | url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=99912 | publisher=Computer and Video Games | accessdate=2009-11-19}}</ref> The third installment called ''[[Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor]]'' was announced at the Tokyo Game Show 2010. This installment uses the [[Kinect]] motion sensor control rather than the original controller. The new game was released in June 2012 due to poor reviews. ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== *[http://www.steelbattalion.org/ www.SteelBattalion.org] *{{moby game|id=/steel-battalion|name=''Steel Battalion''}} [[Category:Xbox games]] [[Category:Mech games]] [[Category:2002 video games]] [[Category:Tekki games]] [[Category:Capcom games]]
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