Because the events in Fallujah are current and ongoing, we used a lot of daily news imagery to create the art for Operation Vigilant Resolve and achieve an accurate representation of the area. Large quantities of pictures and video news clips are readily available. The modeling team had a plethora of reference sources to consult to fine-tune the feel of the battle-torn urban environment. We worked hard on the rich textures of buildings and debris. You’ll notice there is almost a monochromatic look to many of the older cities in Iraq, and much of this - we learned - comes from the prominence of desert dirt building material and the inevitable collection of dust.

Operation Vigilant Resolve was a month-long siege of a volatile city. Military engagements took place every day. Instead of focusing on one specific battle, we pulled back and recreated the operation’s basic MO. A cordon of US Marines surrounding the city moved slowly and deliberately inward, tightening the noose around the neck of Fallujah’s insurgent contingency. In your mission, your squad moves forward of established positions to secure new forward positions. Once secure, you move forward again. This pattern continued day in and day out in Fallujah, and playing Operation Vigilant Resolve will give you a feel of what that tactical strategy was all about.

As for delving deeper into the tactical considerations, we turned to Military Advisory Board member US Army Staff Sergeant Dan Snyder. We asked him what was going on in Fallujah from a tactical standpoint, and specifically, how the larger plan was being carried out. Turns out the Marines were engaged a long, patient, encirclement and advance on the city. The Marines established a perimeter with forward observation posts which they kept moving ‘inward’ into the city, basically looking for trouble or hostile activity. When they found it, they would engage the enemy with whatever it took: infantry including snipers, secondary fire from helos, and even jets. Presumably, as the Marines on the ground encroached on the city, they searched buildings for weapons and bad guys. The operation didn’t have big highlights so much as a constant grinding down of the enemy by pressing in on them, restricting their movement, and cutting their external supply lines. So we built a level where you move forward slowly with various, typical firing positions and defensive structures similar to what the Marines did throughout the month of April.

For this mission we built several specific fighting structures, what the Marines call fighting holes, improved fighting holes, sandbag walls, and walls with fighting apertures. We also added barbed wire which is used often by US Forces in Iraq. The improved fighting hole in our mission is the basic fighting hole with a corrugated iron roof which provides better protection. You will see these structures throughout the map, and you’ll see just how effective they are in protecting you and your fire team.