September 11^th, 2002 (12:00am) - Today Shrapnel Games announced that the Armored Task Force demo is available for download. Also at this time the much anticipated wargame is available for pre-ordering. More information on this game, as well as other Shrapnel Games products, can be found on the Shrapnel Games website at http://www.shrapnelgames.com.

Armored Task Force represents a whole new approach to wargaming. We have modeled the entire battlefield, practically down to the bolts on the road wheels! Here is a look at some of the things you can expect to see in the final release:

* Terrain. We’ve started where we left off with BCT: Brigade Combat Team adding even more detail to the most detailed terrain ever included in a wargame. Maps are not abstract hexes or grids, but a continues elevation terrain model, complete with 3D representations of special terrain like trees, roads, and buildings.
* Single vehicle resolution. You aren’t fighting platoons or sections anymore. Each icon on the map represents a single vehicle, right down to chassis and turret facing. These are real, physical objects, with more detailed modeling than any wargame ever created!
* Vehicle Smoke. Smoke isn’t just the purview of artillery and smoke generators any more. Many vehicles carry their own smoke grenade systems. Your dismounts will pop smoke and try to disengage. HE (high explosive) fire missions and destroyed vehicles will produce smoke, too.
* Weather. Day and night aren’t the only elements you will have to contend with. rain, fog, snow, and a host of other conditions will also plague your units. And their not on/off effects either. It can be raining on one part of the map while another is dry.
* Another innovation we have included in Armored Task Force is the improved Artificial Intelligence engine. You thought BCT was hard? Well you haven’t seen nothin’ yet.
* Friendly AI. Armored Task Force features "layered" friendly AI support. You can tell a company formation, "Attack here!". Or you can tell it, "Attack here, along this route, in this formation". Or you can tell it "Attack here, along this route, in this formation, setting support by fire positions here, with these units..." Well, you get the idea. You concentrate on the big picture and let Armored Task Force handle the details.
* Enemy AI. The enemy has a new, "big picture engine", which makes tactical decisions about the implementation of his combat power based on what he sees about your battle plan. We’re talking decision point tactics here, just like the Russians use
* Flexible command levels. Fight your force at whatever level you choose. Give orders to companies and watch them execute or manage the movement of individual vehicles. It’s up to you. Armored Task Force allows you to fight the fight at the level you want.
* Adjacent Units. When we tell you that your company must cut the breach for the battalion attack, we mean it! The battalion will REALLY be rolling up behind you. Your victory conditions will depend on how many of THEM make it through.
* Civilians on the Battlefield. Those dirty Krasnovians have occupied a village, but you can’t just pound them with artillery, because it is full of civilians. your victory conditions are tied to their survival, too.

Armored Tsk Force is expected to go Gold on September27, 2002. The retail price will be $39.95, but those that pre-order the game before September 30, 2002 will save $5.00 off the retail price.