It’s official: Brothers in Arms 2: Global Front will be released on Monday, February 22nd! Yes, you heard right, I’m actually giving you a release date! Miracles do happen ;)

Don’t forget to check out the new trailer on YouTube (and subscribe while you’re at it!) and discover an even more realistic battlefield experience with 5 different environments (Pacific, North Africa, Sicily, Normandy and Germany), 3 vehicles, online multiplayer… and Gameloft LIVE!

For this occasion IGN met with Gearbox (original creators of Brothers in Arms) and the producer of Brothers in Arms 2: Global Front at Gameloft to ask them some questions.

What’s Gearbox’s position on the emergence of the iPhone/touch as a gaming platform?

[Gearbox]:

We are extremely excited to get Brothers in Arms games into the hands of Apple gamers. We loved the way the first game turned out and we have been continually impressed with what Gameloft has been able to achieve on the platform. It is not only an incredible technological achievement but I think people are going to be surprised by the quality of the game play and the diversity of in the game.

Where does this game (BIA2) fit into the BIA franchise?

[Gearbox]:

That is the beauty of the franchise. Brothers in Arms is an idiom that reflects on the idea that a soldier that fights together builds a bond that is as strong as family. I think Gameloft has done a good job of getting the spirit of the idea right while infusing the franchise with a ton of incredible action. This game is really action game and they really bring it on the mobile platform.

Does Gearbox have plans in the future that involve mobile gaming?

[Gearbox]:

We are first and foremost entertainers and we are always interested in what new platforms we can deliver awesome games on. I would expect to continue to see games from Gearbox on mobile devices well into the future.

What lessons learned from the first Brothers in Arms for iPhone were applied to the sequel?

[Gameloft]:

BiA1 was our very first shooter on the iPhone and as great as it was at the time of its release, it’s fair to say we seriously improved our control system on iPhone. Thanks to games like Nova or Sandstorm we have refined our targeting and joystick controls.

Controls were the main priority on BiA2 and we spent a great deal of time into it, covering and shooting will never have been as easy as on BiA2.

Of course graphics and animations have been completely revamped and I think you will be really impressed by the level of details and animations we have put into the game.  The game feels like a real battlefield, its filled with explosions, shootings and corpses and you will need to be on the edge if you want to survive.

We’ve also worked on the scripting of sequences to offer credible AI for your squadrons comrades. WoW sequences and scripted events are also much more important than in the first edition and this really gives the cinematic feel we wanted for this game.

And of course, multiplayer through deathmatch and team deathmatch will offer a complete new experience for all BiA1 users.

How are vehicles being used in the game? Will you use them multiple times? Or are they just one-off stages?

[Gameloft]:

BiA2 will feature 3 kind of vehicles: the glider, the Jeep and the Tanks.

Both Jeep and Tank will have turret and driving sequences, while the glider will be controllable by accelerometer .

In BIA2, vehicle sequences are integrated during the levels, they’re not standalone levels we’ve added to diversify the action.

They’re really part of the storyline and just go with the flow. We think people will love the way levels are organized, and all the incredible sequences we will offer them.

Are there recognizable landmarks in locations like Germany?

[Gameloft]:

All our levels have been created through precise documentation and faithful modeling of real life landmarks.

Players will fight their way through Sainte Mere l’Eglise-Normandy, revive the battle of Guadalcanal and will visit Castle Eltz in Germany and Taormina in Sicily.

Are the multiplayer maps pulled from the single-player game? Or are they new locations built specifically for multiplayer?

[Gameloft]:

Multiplayer maps are based on the Single player campaign. But levels have been entirely rebuilt to offer a great experience in our 3 multiplayer modes. Each map will also offer unique features and level designs to make sure the gaming experience is really different on all the maps.

Does BiA adhere to actual history? Or does it take liberties where necessary for narrative or to create specific set pieces?

[Gameloft]:

Of course, historic accuracy was our main concern and in collaboration with Gearbox we’ve made sure all weapons, vehicles and sequences faithfully respected the WW2 specificities.

You’ll begin the game as a newly arrived soldier on the pacific front after Pearl harbor attack, and then you will move to the European front and finally come back to the Pacific to deliver your final battle.

So sorry to disappoint, but you won’t have a boss fight against Hitler on this one ;)