Chris was part of the SAS eight-man team chosen for the Bravo Two Zero mission, dropped behind Iraqi enemy lines during The Gulf War. Three of the team were killed in action and four were captured; only Chris escaped.

His escape involved an eight-day trek across the desert, often in full view of enemy patrols. It was a harrowing but heroic escape, recounted later by Chris in his book "The One That Got Away", which became an immediate best seller in 1995.

Chris, now the author of nine best sellers, will work with Codemasters' game designer to advise on the accuracy of the game¡¦s arsenal of weaponry and how covert tactics can be applied to IGI 2: Covert Strike's gameplay. Chris will also front a series of videos providing players with tactical advice for the game.

Says Richard Blenkinsop, Codemasters' producer on IGI 2: Covert Strike:

"It's great to have Chris providing advice and input in to the creation of IGI 2: Covert Strike. He has both the experience of real SAS combat and yet also appreciates the dramatisation of such situations through either novels or games. Chris is now an important contributor to ensuring the game hits the spot."

Chris Ryan commented:

"IGI 2: Covert Strike's open approach for the player to tackle situations by stealth or firepower makes for excellent tactical gameplay and it's great to be involved. I'm concentrating on the authenticity of the 30-plus real world firearms featured in the game to ensure they operate as they really should."

IGI 2: Covert Strike is being developed at Innerloop Studios AS, the Oslo-based team that created the original, and is scheduled to be published* by Codemasters in November on PC CD-ROM. The game's web site and forum can be found HERE

ABOUT CHRIS RYAN

Chris Ryan, Newcastle-born, joined the regular Regiment of the 22nd SAS in 1984 and served for ten years. He completed three tours that took him to many parts of the world on operations and exercises. He also worked extensively in the counter-terrorist field, serving as an Assault Team Commander and Sniper Team Commander. For his escape from Iraq in January 1991 he was awarded the Military Medal.

Chris Ryan is the author of nine best sellers:

• LAND OF FIRE (2002)
• THE WATCHMAN (2001)
• THE HIT LIST (2000)
• CHRIS RYAN¡¦S SAS FITNESS BOOK (2000)
• TENTH MAN DOWN (1999)
• THE KREMLIN DEVICE (1998)
• ZERO OPTION (1997)
• STAND BY, STAND BY (1996)
• THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY (1995)

ABOUT IGI 2: COVERT STRIKE

IGI 2: Covert Strike sees the return of IGI's award-winning stealth-based first-person shooter action and continues the modern warfare and espionage theme of the original. The covert missions continue the career of David Jones, a former SAS soldier, now working freelance for the secret organisation, codenamed "IGI". The spiralling plot will take Jones through Russia, across Libya and into China in three linked campaigns, as he infiltrates a wide variety of locations including military airbases, harbours and secret government installations. Each mission expands the plot and is sequenced with impressive animated scenes that continue to absorb the player in the game's carefully constructed narrative.