"Battle of the Ironclads" Re-Creates Battle of the Civil War

DANBURY, Conn. -- May 16, 1996 -- Grolier Interactive, a leading developer
of interactive multimedia software has announced "Battle of the
Ironclads," a window into the past that gives gamers command of the most
innovative naval warships of the 19th century. Combining a robust
artificial intelligence, bulletproof historical accuracy and deep game
play, the title offers players a chance to participate in one of the most
important maritime battles in American history, the 1862 Civil War clash
between the USS Monitor and the CSS Virginia (the Merrimack).

Users have the chance to alter history by taking the helm of either vessel.
As captain of the Virginia, the Confederacy's indestructible ironclad
warship, players bring to bear superior size and firepower against a
smaller foe. Their nemesis, the captain of the Monitor exploits a
shallower draft and greater maneuverability to gain the upper hand against
the Confederacy's floating fortress. In either role, players will need to
make sound command decisions in the heat of battle to defeat a wily and
unpredictable AI opponent in their quest for naval supremacy.

Developed by San Francisco-based Hypergolic Studios, "Battle of the
Ironclads" will be the first and only battle strategy game to feature this
historic 1862 Civil War battle.

The ships, weapons, tactics and technology of the era have all been
meticulously re-constructed in full detail by the developers, who pored
through original vessel blueprints, charts, maps and daily logs from the
National Archives, Navy records and private historical collections before
producing 3-D texture-mapped models that could then be brought alive in
the computer. Since no photos exist of the Merrimack and few photos were
taken of the Monitor, the ships were painstakingly re-created from
original engineering drawings, treating history buffs to the most precise
views they will ever have of how the ships looked.

"'Battle of the Ironclads' will give players a cutting-edge gaming
experience where deep game play is enhanced by a commitment to historical
accuracy," John McIlvaine, vice president, marketing, Grolier Interactive,
said. "The title will instill an understanding in players of how they
themselves could have changed the course of the Civil War."

Depth of game play in "Battle of the Ironclads" is supported by a variety
of play options, including several levels of difficulty and alternative
battle scenarios, offering players increasingly greater challenges.

The title features a simple, intuitive interface and a clear instructional
mode that provides players with the necessary command information to get
started quickly. Complexity is introduced by the vast number of decision
inputs, ranging from choosing the experience level of the crew to how fast
the ship will sail, and the ramifications associated with these decisions,
which prevent any single input from becoming a dominant variable in the
game's outcome.

Whether ordering crew members to fire the cannons at half or full charge at
enemy lines or deciding to anchor under the protective guns of the
Confederate batteries at Sewell's Point, players are forced to make
trade-offs, which, in turn, challenge judgment and decision-making
capabilities.

"Battle of the Ironclads" features authentic music provided by the
Americus, Georgia Brass Band and video sequences of the James River
Squadron, a Civil War re-enactment group.

The title will be available September 1996 for Windows 95-based PCs and
Macintosh computers.

Grolier Interactive is well-known for its award-winning CD-ROM reference
and entertainment titles found in homes, schools and libraries worldwide,
including "The Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia." The company's main
headquarters is located in Danbury, Conn. To order or register your
product, please call (800) 285-4534. For other customer service inquiries,
call (203) 797-3530. Grolier Interactive's Web site is
http://www.grolier.com.
 
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