Strategy and Wargaming

Following the successful launch of Gary Grigsby’s War in the West earlier this month, we are happy to announce that the first update is now available, bringing the game to version 1.00.08. This patch contains a number of significant rule changes for campaign logic, as well as for the air model and various other parts of the game. In addition, the update provides you with several interface improvements and of course the priority issues have been fixed. 2by3 Games has put in some hard work to get this first update out before the holidays and we hope you will enjoy the changes as much as we do!

Gary Grigsby’s War in the West 1943-45 is the most ambitious and detailed computer wargame on the Western Front of World War II ever made. Starting with the Summer 1943 invasions of Sicily and Italy and proceeding through the invasions of France and the drive into Germany, War in the West brings you all the Allied campaigns in Western Europe and the capability to re-fight the Western Front according to your plan.

The full changelog can be found here.

Click here to download the patch, or use the automatic update tool.

Click here to find out more about War in the West.

Battlefront.com today released the v1.03 patch for Combat Mission: Red Thunder. The patch provides a number of important improvements and fixes, including the infamous “26% bug” for those affected, improved stability of internet play, improved building entry for some systems, a mouse text targeting feature indicating range, improved TacAI logic, and much more. It is all-inclusive and can be installed over any version of the game (1.0 thru 1.02)

The v1.03 patch is available for PC and Mac.

To get complete patch details and to download the patch, click here.

Flexibility, Sandbox and Creativity are the new pillars of Command: Modern Air/Naval Operations

In the spirit of the coming Christmas holidays, the restless developers at WarfareSims have unleashed an Arc-Light strike with a new huge free update for Command: Modern Air/Naval Operations, continuing their support to this deep military simulation. With this update, the players have been given some great tools to keep them occupied during the winter! Command: Modern Air/Naval Operations was already lauded for its technical accuracy, attention to detail, gameplay flexibility and its powerful integrated editor and version 1.06 really takes it to the next level.

The new update brings two great boons to airwar enthusiasts, and an a-bomb for modders and scenario creators.

Surge and Quick-Turnaround air operations allow players to faithfully recreate the frantic tempo of historical operations like the Six-Day War or the first nights of Desert Storm (or apply the same sortie rates on their own hypothetical conflicts), while also having to deal with the inevitable punishing wear and tear on both crews and airframes that this relentless pace enforces. The faithful depiction of the critical choice between sustained or “surge” rates is a first for any unclassified strategy/wargaming title on the market and pushes Command into the arena of hardcore flight simulators.

At the same time, customizable unit-level proficiency settings allow scenario creators to model both hard-seasoned eagles and green nuggets on the same side, even down to the same squadron. The effects of unit proficiency are also even more amplified than before, and veteran or ace operators now have decisive advantages over their less experienced counterparts. So now not only do you have to manage and favorably arrange the hardware, but the people too. How do you know your crews are entering battle with a vastly more proficient enemy? Maybe your briefing will tell you…. or maybe you’ll find out the hard way.

The third, and perhaps the most far-reaching improvement is the integration of the popular Lua scripting language right into the scenario editor, allowing unprecedented (indeed, undreamed of) levels of editing power and flexibility! Amongst other things, the use of Lua scripting allows players to write their own mission scripts, swap units between missions, place new units on either specific or random locations, set a wide range of unit properties, change the Doctrine/RoE settings during the course of the scenario as response to events happening (or not), and much more.

Of course there is a lot more to this update, including interface, AI & mechanics improvements and gameplay additions. The list here is so long, that the document containing the full list of changes is over 53(!) pages long.

All combined, these updates takes some of the features of Command that players love the most – such as attention to realism, vast amount of detail and the freedom to set up scenarios as you wish – and took them to the next level. All of this means that version 1.06 marks another key point in the continues improvement of Command: Modern Air/Naval Operations.

Check the full list of changes by reading the pdf file online.

Get more information on Command: Modern Air/Naval Operations from its official product page.

Today marks the 70th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge – a battle generally regarded as the turning point of World War II and referred to by Winston Churchill as “arguably the most important victory in American military history.”

The battle began on December 16, 1944 when German troops unleashed a brutal artillery on the Ardennes region with an intense barrage that took Allied troops by surprise. Leveraging poor weather and thinly spread out Allied forces, the German forces then invaded the area in an attempt to divide the U.S. and British troops. Despite being significantly outnumbered and struggling with the coldest weather on record, U.S. forces valiantly held the line until reinforcements arrived. The Battle of the Bulge would ultimately go down in history as the bloodiest battle for U.S. forces in World War II, helping to set the stage for Allied forces to finally end the war. The sacrifices made by all soldiers involved were significant both in losses sustained and in the role this victory played in the war.

Company of Heroes 2: Ardennes Assault is based on the Battle of the Bulge, and allows players to take on 18 all-new single player scenarios as they attempt to drive the advancing German forces out of the Ardennes region and lead their heroes on a path to glory.

You can watch the new Ardennes Assault trailer HERE.

In this completely standalone Company of Heroes 2 experience, players will be able to utilize the unique abilities and skills of four US Force Companies; Airborne, Support, Mechanized and Fox as they tackle the German forces on Company of Heroes 2: Ardennes Assault’s revolutionary new meta-map system. This all new feature to the series adds an extra layer of non-linear strategy and tactical planning to an already deep and challenging RTS experience and allows players to plot their own way through the campaign, adding a huge amount of variety and replayability.

Company of Heroes 2: Ardennes Assault is available on Windows PC to purchase online and in stores with an MSRP of £29.99/$39.99/€39.99.

For more information and to keep ahead with the latest news, find us at our official website.

SEGA of America, Inc. and SEGA Europe, Ltd. today announced Total War: Arena is now entering Closed Alpha, and interested players can sign-up to get involved in shaping its future development.

Total War: Arena is a free-to-play, team-based strategy game, putting players in the middle of epic-scale battles. Using key elements of award-winning Total War design, it is made from the ground-up for multiplayer realtime strategy fans, with two teams of ten players going head-to-head.

Each player controls three units of warriors, led by an iconic commander from history, each with their own battle style. Players level up commanders and units to open up more specialist skills, weaponry, armour and abilities. Decisive strategies, combat tactics and teamwork decide who is victorious.

First announced at Game Developers Conference in March 2013, the game represents a new direction for the Total War franchise, and is in development by a dedicated team at Creative Assembly, focused on a purely multiplayer experience.

“We have spent time since the announcement evolving both the gameplay and the supporting technology, to ensure we deliver smooth online service for multiplayer gamers”, said Gabor Beressy, Arena Project Lead. “We are excited to say that the game is now in Closed Alpha, and we welcome feedback from players to inform the next stages of development”.

Sign-up for the Closed Alpha HERE. Visit to find out more about taking part and for further news on the game.

New Expansion and Free Patch v2.3 Launches Today

Come all ye lost and prodigal rulers! Hearken unto what I say! Whatever path you are on can be changed, and whatever failings you have can be remedied. Close study, wise decisions and good counsel can help you transform yourself. Choose a new Way of Life!

Paradox Interactive and Paradox Development Studio today announced that Crusader Kings II: Way of Life can now be purchased on digital storefronts worldwide. Way of Life, the latest expansion for the critically acclaimed strategy franchise, is available for $7.99 and is compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux platforms.

Get a glimpse at the new Way of Life trailer HERE.

Choose who to seduce, which people to spy on, challenge characters to a duel, and much more in this new installment for the Crusader Kings II series that bolsters the role-playing elements of the acclaimed medieval dynasty simulator. Way of Life allows conquerors of all walks to further customize their methods of intrigue by offering 10 different Focuses that players can set for their characters. These, in turn, open up new options for diplomacy and events to participate in, allowing all sorts of wonders (and mischief) to befall characters during their lifetimes. Featuring hundreds of new events and over 20 new event pictures, Way of Life aims to breathe new life into the devilish demesne of Crusader Kings II.

For details on Way of Life and the accompanying patch v2.3, visit the official Crusader Kings II forums.

Alongside the launch of Way of Life, Paradox Interactive is releasing three limited collector’s editions of Crusader Kings II, each with unique offerings that diehard CK2 fans will enjoy, including the option to receive signed swag, thank you credits in the game, an invite to the next Paradox Fan Gathering, and more.

For more details on the limited collector’s editions available for Crusader Kings II, click HERE.

“Valor is stability, not of legs and arms, but of courage and the soul” (Michel de Montaigne – French Writer)

Sword, Juno, Omaha, Utah, Gold! 5 names that made their mark on history forever. 5 Normandy beaches that shattered the Atlantic Wall and brought a decisive advantage to the Allied forces in Western Europe. 5 thorns in the German side that made Berlin tremble. This massive seaborne operation was one of the main turning points that gave victory to the Allies!

70 years after the Normandy landings, players have the opportunity to relive this key moment of WW2 in Frontline: The Longest Day. They will have to lead their troops across beaches heavily defended by veteran soldiers of the Wehrmacht. Finding a path through minefields, bunkers, artillery barrages, and antitank barriers will require courage and tactical science! Successor to the very successful Frontline: Road to Moscow that reached the top of the charts on iPad this past spring, The Longest Day keeps all the ingredients that made the previous game highly addictive while introducing brand new battlefields, plenty of units, and more complex combat mechanics for an intense experience of the D-Day operations!

Today we have the pleasure to announce that the game from developer 88mm is finally released on all platforms. So whether players own an iOS, Android or PC device, they will have a chance to jump on a Landing Craft Assault and fight on the frontline with the Allied forces!

Frontline: The Longest Day is available via Steam now!

Click here to view the games launch trailer.

Get more information on Frontline: The Longest Day from its official product page.

New game world launched featuring warfare across a European world map, adds capacity for tens of thousands of extra active players

Firefly Studios has opened a ‘Europe’ game world to accommodate the hundreds of thousands of active players who log in every month to their castle MMO. Accurately based on the current day map of Europe, this new world is a direct response to requests from the community for more game worlds on a grander scale than those based on single countries. Since launch more than 3.5 million players have signed up to play Stronghold Kingdoms, two years since launch it remains one of the most actively played games on Steam.

Expanding Kingdoms with the addition of a new ‘Europe’ world provides both new and experienced players with the opportunity make their mark on an untouched landscape. ‘Europe’ promises extraordinary riches to those who take control of the 33 different countries in this persistent game world, stretching from the warm and inviting coasts of Portugal to the cooler and unforgiving trenches of Eastern Ukraine. As one of the most popular free-to-play games on Steam, Kingdoms will continue to grow through releases of new map types, community-driven updates and larger expansion-style feature updates coming in 2015, working with players to remain the leader in its genre.

With monthly active players in the hundreds of thousands, Stronghold Kingdoms continues to be enjoyed by fans and Firefly as a small independent developer. Although Kingdoms already has players from over 100 different countries, Firefly plans to expand into further territories and release new types of game world in 2015. Players enjoy the ability to build a castle near their real life home town and engage in local and country-wide politics, something Firefly is keenly aware of. New worlds will continue this trend by allowing players to expand their empire, dominate nearby regions and eventually rule over entire continents. Currently the largest game world on offer, ‘Europe’ features 33 different medieval countries and a fully persistent game world to be claimed by players, in an often brutal fight for domination and glory.

Stronghold Kingdoms can be downloaded and played for free at the Stronghold Kingdoms website.

New Expansion Brings More Role-playing Options to Rulers Everywhere

Paradox Interactive and Paradox Development Studio today announced that Crusader Kings II: Way of Life, the next expansion for the award winning strategy franchise, will be released on December 16th via digital storefronts worldwide. Way of Life will be available on PC, Mac, and Linux for $7.99.

Way of Life delves into the role-playing aspects of Crusader Kings II, giving players the ability to fine-tune their methods of seduction and break ups, and also the ability to set a Focus for your character that will influence the types of events that befall your character during their lifetime. Featuring hundreds of new events as well as over 20 new event pictures, Way of Life will give players control over their characters in ways never before available—for better, for worse, or for entertainment.

PRESS RELEASE

The new definitive wargame of the Western Front is out now!

“The enemy must be annihilated before he reaches our main battlefield…We must stop him in the water…destroying all his equipment while it is still afloat.” (Erwin Rommel – German Field Marshal)

4 years after the release of War in the East, Gary Grigsby is moving the action to the Western Front with his new grand operational/strategy masterpiece: War in the West! In this monster wargame, players will take command of both Allied and Axis forces and relive the biggest operations in Italy, France, The Netherlands, and the other main battlefields that took the Allies to the gates of Berlin.

Renowned developer 2by3 Games has used all its talent and experience to create a deep historical simulation with an incredible level of realism. Order of Battle, logistics, air war, weather, terrain features… all of the ingredients that made this front unique are included in this wargame, and players can dig into all the details to make their plans come together. To help you get up to speed, five video tutorials and a Player’s Handbook along with introductory scenarios complement the full game manual and grand campaigns. Defeating the German army or defending the Atlantic Wall is a very challenging task, and both players and AI have multiple assets and possibilities to rewrite history… forever!

The game features 3 main campaigns and 7 smaller scenarios for a comprehensive coverage of combat in Western Europe between July 1943 and mid 1945.

Today we are very excited to announced that the game is finally available on the Matrix Games Online Store! Such a game deserved a special treatment in terms of packaging so connoisseurs of beautiful objects will be pleased to know that the physical edition of the game comes with an impressive hardbound color printed manual of more than 300 pages!

For holiday shoppers, please note that we expect the physical copies to start shipping out on December 16th.

Get more information on Gary Grigsby’s War in the West from its launch trailer and its official product page as well as the many after action reports in the official forum.