Red Storm Entertainment
Pioneers of tactical realism in video games.
Red Storm Entertainment is the developer behind *Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Jungle Storm*, a 2004 expansion pack for the original *Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon*. Founded by Tom Clancy, the studio was responsible for creating the Ghosts, an elite U.S. Army special forces unit featured in the game. *Jungle Storm* was developed by Red Storm and published by Ubisoft for the PlayStation 2, Nokia N-Gage, and mobile phones. The expansion includes the content of *Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Island Thunder* along with additional multiplayer maps and an eight-mission campaign. Red Storm's work on this title extended the tactical shooter series into new platforms, focusing on squad-based combat in a Latin American setting.
- Founded
- 1996
- Founders
- Tom Clancy, Doug Littlejohns, Carl Schnurr, Brian Upton, Steve Reid
- Headquarters
- Cary, North Carolina, United States
- Parent company
- Ubisoft (since 2000)
- Notable franchise
- Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon
- First major release
- Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six (1998)
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Red Storm Entertainment developed *Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Jungle Storm* as an expansion pack for the original *Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon*, released in 2004. Published by Ubisoft, the game was made available on the PlayStation 2, Nokia N-Gage, and mobile phones. It contains the content of *Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Island Thunder* along with additional multiplayer maps and an eight-mission campaign. The story is set shortly after the events of *Island Thunder* and follows the Ghosts, an elite special forces unit of the United States Army, as they combat guerilla armies in Latin America that threaten to destabilize the region. The plot involves the People's Democratic Front, an anti-American Marxist-Leninist group attempting to overthrow Cuba's democratizing government, and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). The Ghosts also face the Movimiento de las Fuerzas Libres Colombianas (MFLC), a militia active in southern Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Key missions include hunting down MFLC figures, defending civilian centers, rescuing hostages, and cutting off drug smuggling revenue. The climax involves an assault on an MFLC stronghold at a radio tower to prevent the activation of rebel sleeper cells in Cuba. Combined sales of *Jungle Storm* and *Island Thunder* reached 1.1 million copies by the end of March 2004. The game received mixed reviews, with an aggregate score of 70.36% on GameRankings and 70/100 on Metacritic. It earned a runner-up placement in GameSpot's 2004 "Best N-Game Game" award category, losing to *Colin McRae Rally 2005*. The game went offline in 2011.
In Their Own Story
In 2010, the People's Democratic Front, an anti-American Marxist-Leninist political party-turned-terrorist group, attempts to overthrow the democratizing government of Cuba after losing an election. They request support from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), but they fail and are defeated by the Ghosts. When FARC attacks an American embassy in Colombia, the Ghosts turn their attention to helping the Colombian government and United Nations peacekeepers combat FARC and the Movimiento de las Fuerzas Libres Colombianas (MFLC), a similar militia active in southern Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. The Ghosts deploy to Colombia and hunt down several key MFLC figures, defend civilian centers, rescue hostages, and cut off the MFLC's drug smuggling revenue stream. Operations against the MFLC and FARC reveal the existence of rebel sleeper cells in Cuba which, if activated, could topple Cuba's new democratic government and embroil Latin America in a needless conflict. Tasked with preventing their activation, the Ghosts and a UN peacekeeping force assault an MFLC stronghold at a radio tower before the sleeper cell activation can be transmitted, preventing the escalation of the conflict and allowing the Ghosts to defeat the MFLC while making FARC lose the initiative in their rebellion.
Reader's Guide
In *Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Jungle Storm*, players lead the Ghosts through an eight-mission campaign set in Latin America. The game contains the content of *Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Island Thunder* along with additional multiplayer maps. Key objectives include hunting down MFLC figures, defending civilian centers, rescuing hostages, and cutting off drug smuggling revenue streams. The campaign culminates in an assault on an MFLC stronghold at a radio tower to prevent the activation of rebel sleeper cells in Cuba. The game was released for the PlayStation 2, Nokia N-Gage, and mobile phones. Combined sales of *Jungle Storm* and *Island Thunder* reached 1.1 million copies by the end of March 2004. The game received mixed reviews, with an aggregate score of 70.36% on GameRankings and 70/100 on Metacritic. It earned a runner-up placement in GameSpot's 2004 "Best N-Gage Game" award category, losing to *Colin McRae Rally 2005*. The game went offline in 2011.
Did You Know?
- The game contains the content of *Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Island Thunder* along with additional multiplayer maps and an eight-mission campaign.
- Combined sales of *Jungle Storm* and *Island Thunder* reached 1.1 million copies by the end of March 2004.
- The game earned a runner-up placement in GameSpot's 2004 'Best N-Gage Game' award category, losing to *Colin McRae Rally 2005*.
- The game went offline in 2011.
- The campaign is set in 2010 and involves the People's Democratic Front, FARC, and the MFLC.
Expansion Origins and Platform Strategy
Released in 2004, *Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Jungle Storm* is an expansion pack for *Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon* developed by Red Storm Entertainment and published by Ubisoft. It was released for the PlayStation 2, Nokia N-Gage, and mobile phones. The game contains the content of *Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Island Thunder* along with additional multiplayer maps and an eight-mission campaign.
Narrative Scope and Geopolitical Conflict
Set in 2010, the campaign follows the Ghosts as they combat guerilla armies in Latin America. The People's Democratic Front, an anti-American Marxist-Leninist group, attempts to overthrow Cuba's democratizing government after losing an election. They request support from FARC but fail and are defeated by the Ghosts. When FARC attacks an American embassy in Colombia, the Ghosts help the Colombian government and UN peacekeepers combat FARC and the MFLC. Operations reveal rebel sleeper cells in Cuba. The Ghosts assault an MFLC stronghold at a radio tower to prevent their activation, stopping a potential continental conflict.
Operational Objectives and Tactical Missions
The eight-mission campaign includes hunting down key MFLC figures, defending civilian centers, rescuing hostages, and cutting off the MFLC's drug smuggling revenue stream. The Ghosts and UN peacekeepers assault an MFLC stronghold at a radio tower to prevent the activation of rebel sleeper cells in Cuba. This prevents the escalation of the conflict and allows the Ghosts to defeat the MFLC while making FARC lose the initiative.
Commercial Performance and Critical Reception
Combined sales of *Jungle Storm* and *Island Thunder* reached 1.1 million copies by the end of March 2004. The game received mixed reviews, with an aggregate score of 70.36% on GameRankings and 70/100 on Metacritic. It earned a runner-up placement in GameSpot's 2004 "Best N-Gage Game" award category, losing to *Colin McRae Rally 2005*. The game went offline in 2011.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who founded Red Storm Entertainment and when?
Red Storm Entertainment was established in 1996 by bestselling author Tom Clancy alongside industry veterans Doug Littlejohns, Carl Schnurr, Brian Upton, and Steve Reid. The studio originally operated out of Cary, North Carolina, before being acquired by Ubisoft.
What is Red Storm's role in the Ghost Recon franchise?
Red Storm Entertainment developed the original Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon series, establishing the tactical shooter genre that defined the franchise's early identity. Their work laid the foundational gameplay mechanics and narrative tone for future entries in the universe.
Why is Red Storm considered important to gaming history?
The studio is celebrated as a pioneer of tactical realism, bringing military authenticity and strategic depth to video games through titles like Rainbow Six and Ghost Recon. They set a new industry standard for simulation-based combat that influenced countless developers afterward.
What happened to Red Storm Entertainment after its founding?
In 2000, Ubisoft acquired the studio, which continues to operate as a subsidiary focusing on multiplayer experiences and tactical game design. Despite the acquisition, it remains deeply connected to the Tom Clancy brand legacy.
Which major games did Red Storm release before creating Ghost Recon?
Before launching the Ghost Recon series, Red Storm released their first major title, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six, in 1998. This game successfully demonstrated their expertise in realistic tactical combat and helped secure their reputation in the industry.
More in Development & Legacy
Elsewhere in the Ghost Recon universe
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