Shack: I noticed in that early cutscene, it only shows up for maybe less than a second, but is that 9/11 on the television? Are those the events around which the game is set?

Reid Schneider: It is 9/11. Definitely, 9/11 is tough. We wanted to treat it with respect, but really we're taking a page out of history to a certain extent. It's really what drove a lot of the PMCs [private military corporations] coming into the public eye, and a lot of them getting more and more business.

We don't want in any way to make fun of it, or belittle it in any way, but want to paint it as something that triggered an even bigger rise in the world of private military corporations. It's historically accurate.

Shack: In one cutscene, there is a direct reference to President Eisenhower and his famous farewell speech cautioning against the growing power of the military-industrial complex. I don't know the politics of the development team, but the game itself dismisses Eisenhower's warning and makes a strong statement against it. Do you have any thoughts on that, or do you--well, what are your thoughts on this?

Reid Schneider: I think, um--you know, we're not making an educational title. It's not even edutainment any way. But, at the same time, if people play Army of Two, and it inspires them to do some research and look into what's going on with the military-industrial complex and private military corporations and the relationship of war and business, then I think that's pretty cool.

If we push people to want to learn more about what's going on in the world--of course this an entertainment game, it's meant to be fun--but if that causes people to want to learn more about this stuff, then we've gone above and beyond just making a video game.

Shack: Again, speaking of EA, the company always makes a big deal with its Medal of Honor series about being respectful to World War II veterans and that conflict. Just as they have their military advisors, you have your PMC veteran advisor. It's a very different political perspective.

Reid Schneider: It's a different take.

Shack: I think the advisors for those games would clearly disagree with some of the advisors on your game when it comes to certain issues, including PMCs.

Reid Schneider: They probably would. I think that's what's cool about this, that these are guys who are modern day mercenaries. They are guys who get paid to fight, and there's a really interesting dynamic.

Let me give you an example. In Iraq or in Afghanistan, the average day rate for a contractor there is between $800-1000. That's what an enlisted guy would earn in a week. That's an interesting dynamic, because now you see these modern day mercenaries who are making seven or ten times what soldiers are earning. There is a conflict there, and I think that's an interesting topic to draw from.

Shack: These days, there's so much controversy about video games. This isn't a particularly gruesome game compared to a Manhunt or something, but as far as the political overtones, do you imagine any kind of, well...

Reid Schneider: Fallout? [laughs] I think people are always looking for an excuse to hate on video games, more than any other medium. I'm sure some of the things people see in Army of Two will cause some controversy. If that happens, we'll manage it. It's never our goal--our goal is not to make something that attracts controversy. Our goal is to make something fun to play that people will like, and make the best game experience we can.

Shack: As [Army of Two PMC advisor Richard] "Woodie" [Mister] mentioned, there's a lot of exaggeration of real-world techniques and practices inherent in a video game, but that aside, do you feel that the world of Army of Two represents a fair and relatively realistic portrayal of what's going on with private military organizations?

Reid Schneider: I think so. Obviously we have over-the-top characters because it's still a video game, but I think in terms of the kinds of missions that PMC contractors are expected to do, for the most part these are things that PMCs actually do in the real world. Again, if that causes people to research these things, then I think that's pretty cool.

Turn the page for details on Army of Two's multiplayer mode and replayability system, and whether we can expect a PC version.