I noticed today (hat tip to Chris Dean at the Historical Wargames Usenet group) that HPS Simulations has released Campaign Chancellorsville, the 11th game in their Civil War Battles series of computer wargames. The game covers the Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville Campaigns with other smaller cavalry battles thrown in as well.
Here’s an initial screen shot of the game (click for larger image):
I’ve purchased the game and you’ll be reading much more about it in the coming weeks, including more screen shots, a detailed list of the scenarios, one or more AARs, and possibly an interview with someone involved in the game.
The relevant portion of the Wargamer.com press release reads as follows:
Following Lee’s failed invasion of the North in 1862, and McClellan’s inability to destroy the Army of Northern Virginia near Antietam Creek in September of that year, President Lincoln tried and failed to find a commander who could defeat Lee. He chose first Burnside, then Hooker. During the next eight months each Union general would in turn fight two major battles which they hoped would win the war and end the Southern rebellion. History records these battles as Fredericksburg (December 1862), and Chancellorsville (May 1863). They would later be known as Lee’s greatest victories, the “high tide” of the Confederacy. Now comes your opportunity to repeat these victories for the South, or take command of the Federal army and crush the rebellion once and for all. Be bold and never look back!
HPS’s Campaign Chancellorsville faithfully recreates first the battle of Fredericksburg and then climaxes with Lee’s bold move at Chancellorsville. Many other smaller battles are also included that will help lead the way. Take charge and defend your country, whether it be North or South.
SCENARIOS
Campaign Chancellorsville (ACW #11)
- Over 100 stand alone scenarios and 89 campaign scenarios
- 4 different campaigns for a varied campaign experience, each also has a “weather variant” to choose from.
- Historical scenarios include: Kelly’s Ford, Marye’s Heights, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Salem Church, and more…
· Dozens of “What if” scenarios: Including meeting engagements, cavalry fights, and equal force battles.
· Many scenarios specifically designed for a tough challenge against the A/I.
· Many meeting engagements using the new random hex feature. The extreme effects of FOW will be more fully demonstrated.
· Detailed maps accurately showing the heavily forested terrain, rivers, towns, and important individual homes.
- Inclusive orders of battle offer unlimited possibilities for user-created scenarios.
Changes for Campaign Chancellorsville
– Added new Proportional Opportunity Fire Optional Rule that causes
Opportunity Fire generated by firing units to be more proportional to
the total strength of the units firing.
– Added new Parameter Data value that controls when artillery crews are
killed.
– Added new Alternate Fixed Unit release Optional Rule that releases Fixed
units within 5 hexes of an enemy unit regardless of Line-of-Sight to that
unit.
– Improvements to AI bridge crossing, and firing
Scenario and Campaign editors are included to allow the player to create their own situations to play out. Play modes include A/I, Hot Seat, PBEM, LAN & Internet play.
Campaign Chancellorsville is scheduled for release on March 6th, 2009.
MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS:
–1 GHz Pentium CPU
– 256 MB RAM
– 300 MB Hard Drive
-Microsoft Windows 98/2K/XP/Vista operating system.
-Microsoft DirectX 9.0+
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