War Plan Pacific From Shrapnel Games Now Shipping

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Monday December 15, 2008

 
   

War Plan Pacific From Shrapnel Games Now Shipping

Hampstead, NC, 15 December 2008

Just in time for the holidays War Plan Pacific for Windows, developed by KE Studios and published by Shrapnel Games, is now shipping! For those of you who pre-ordered the game, making it the best pre-order in the past five years, expect to receive your copy very soon!

War Plan Pacific is an exciting computer wargame for one or two players about the war in the Pacific waged from 1941 to 1945 between the allied nations of the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Netherlands against Imperial Japan. Grand strategic in nature, this turn based title focuses on the air and naval battles that shaped the conflict, using a historical order of battle showcasing individual ships of light cruiser size or larger.

War Plan Pacific can be described as a serious beer and pretzels title, with a play time of about three hours. And yes, that's three hours to fight the entire war-from the initial Japanese surprise attacks to the surrender in Tokyo Bay-and not just a battle. Balancing playability and accessibility with historical accuracy, the developer John Hawkins has done a fine job of making War Plan Pacific easy to play yet true to history.

Using a map of the Pacific from Singapore to San Francisco, and dotted with twenty-nine strategically important bases, players can seek out the decisive naval battle or island hop their way to victory. The Japanese player is tasked with delaying the Americans by cutting off the line of communication to Australia or holding out long enough for the US public to grow weary of the bloodshed. The Allied player must bomb the Japanese into submission, or force them to the surrender table by strangling their economy. With both sides attempting to achieve different goals, gamers will appreciate that what works for one side will not work for the other, making the game feel very different depending on which side you are playing.

Gameplay is kept to a single session by careful use of abstraction. For example, while the tin cans of the sea played an important role in the conflict at such a scale their inclusion would significantly alter how long the game would play, and so the smallest unit in the game is a light cruiser. But while destroyers aren't present players can expect to feel the effects of the deadly Long Lance torpedo on the battleboard.

Another way that War Plan Pacific manages to both abstract but retain the important aspects of the conflict is in land combat. Land combat itself is abstract, relying on the successful use of invasions. Historically invasions succeeded or failed by control of the air and sea, and thus in War Plan Pacific controlling the green is a byproduct of successfully controlling the blue.

Besides supporting single player action against the robust AI, War Plan Pacific can be played against an opponent via the Internet. With a play time measured in hours, not days or weeks, it shouldn't be hard to recreate the glory days of your tabletop wargaming experience, no matter where in the world your gaming buddies are now living.

War Plan Pacific uses XML text files for its scenarios, allowing would-be designers to edit OOB, ship capabilities, base information, sea distances, and victory conditions. Creating new content is as easy as editing the proper files!

For more information about War Plan Pacific please visit its official gamepage.

On the page you can also download a limited demo of what to expect from the full game. The demo restricts play to either playing as the Japanese from December 1941 until March 1942 or the Allies from August 1942 until November 1942. You also cannot play against another opponent, just the AI.

To learn more about the subject check out John Hawkins' Amazon list for his recommendations.

War Plan Pacific is available as a physical product for Windows and retails for $39.95.

Check out Shrapnel Games' Website for a complete list of superb strategy titles brought to you by Shrapnel Games. From fantasy to naval to modern warfare, there is something to excite consim gamers of all types, along with plenty of other unique titles (some even free!) to add to your collection.

Visit their company blog here.

     
 

 
     
 

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