David Heath, Director of Operations at Matrix Games, said “Given AGEOD’s stellar work in their previous titles, I was very excited to see that they were turning their knack for creating great wargames to the American Civil War. I’m confident that American Civil War: The Blue and the Gray will provide a perfect mix between level of detail and gameplay to give gamers the best of both worlds.”
Based on an expanded and improved version of the “Birth of America” game engine, the game enjoys a very intuitive interface and is easy to learn. Compared to its predecessor, it features many additions such as new economic and political features, player control of troop recruitment, full chain of command from armies to brigades and much much more!
AACW features fully integrated rail and riverine transports which allows troops to smoothly combine the various movements types in the same turn. Improve your network by laying new rails and buying new locomotives. Lay waste to the enemy network by destroying rails. Use Riverine movement to surprise your opponent and block waterways or estuaries with forts, ironclads, gunboats and emplaced batteries.
Troops can be arranged into various needed organizations such as divisions, corps and armies, handled by a realistic yet easy to understand Command Chain rule. Naval units come in the form of warship squadrons and flotillas. You can also manage supply lines and wagons, water transport, forts and depots. Wide diversity of troop types is implemented, including: light infantry; sharpshooters, engineers, railroad and medics units, balloons, coastal and siege artillery; Rangers (Texan or not!) and irregulars; marines; militias; monitors and ironclads, ships of the line; frigates and transport flotillas, timberclads and cottonclads, etc. All are rated for various aspects such as offensive and defensive strength, morale, experience, cohesion, troop quality, geographical origin and movement type. Foreign units include the British, French, Indians and Mexicans.
In American Civil War: The Blue and the Gray, players must exhibit both military and political skill in the toughest operations of those five years of wild campaigning in a divided United States. The player will be faced with a large selection of scenarios and campaigns which are played over the largest Civil War map ever, complete with an unequalled level of look and detail. Additionally, American Civil War – The Blue and the Gray includes dozens of different troops, hundreds of events, over 300 historical leaders with unique abilities to make this an enjoyable yet historically accurate Civil War experience for strategy fans and hardcore wargamers alike.