"We knew from the very start that Cossacks was not only going to be an instant hit, but that it was also going to generate good business for a very long time," says Terry Malham, President of CDV UK. "With this ELSPA sales award under its belt, there is no doubt whatsoever that Cossacks is right up there with the best of PC games franchises."

Cossacks: European Wars was launched in the UK on March 30th 2001 and went straight to number one in the Charttrack PC games chart. The game has enjoyed continuing success ever since; not only through continued sales of the original title, but also through the success of its first add-on, Cossacks: The Art of War, which has so far generated UK sales of 31,000. The Cossacks franchise has, to date, sold more than 650,000 units worldwide (outside of Russia, where the game is believed to have sold in excess of 500,000 units).

The Cossacks sales success story is set to continue from October 2002, as CDV is to release a new episode in the series: Cossacks - Back to War. This new release, which works as both an add-on to the original game and also as a standalone title, will be priced at £19.99.