 Like earlier computer adaptions of the pen-and-paper wargame genre, V4V used a hex-based map covering its area of action and used military markers to indicate the location of various units.However, V4V used a much simpler user interface where commands were given by point-and-click and dragging the units on-screen with the mouse, compared to arcane commands and map coordinates used in earlier games.At the same time, the game engine was able to simulate many operational factors that earlier games like "Squad Leader" had to ignore in order to avoid overloading the user with minutia.