Gods and Generals - The PC Game Releases February 21, 2003 - Activision, AniVision, and Baric-Maxwell, LLC announce the release of the hot new Action PC game "Gods and Generals" based on the Gods and Generals movie, which makes its nationwide theatrical debut today as well. The game is based on the three battles depicted in the movie. You play the role of a Company Captain leading your men into battle at 2nd Bull Run, Fredricksburg, and Chancellorsville. For you the pressure is even more intense. Because of the confidence your Generals have in you, they rely on you to execute special missions that will shorten each battle and reduce casualties. Your orders lead you on missions of reconnaissance, sabotage, stealth attacks, river crossings, charging attacks, and all out war. Fortunately, the Generals have given you the latest in advanced weaponry of the day including revolvers, scoped rifles, and even hand grenades. Unfortunately, you may encounter your best friend across the battlefield. The game is available for purchase for $19.95 on-line at the official game website and at most major software retailers. Missions - You will experience what it was like to be on both sides of the war. In Gods and Generals you play the roles of two best friends split apart by the war and their sense of duty. Jebodiah Jacobs from the South and William Russell from the North met as young men and matured into military leaders in their years together at West Point. Their experiences in those years formed a strong bond of friendship, which grew even stronger as they served together in the war against Mexico. But when Civil War broke out in 1861, each man was forced to choose sides. Each did what he felt was his duty and followed his allegiance to his home. Jebodiah Jacobs resigned from the U.S. Army and returned to Richmond to accept a commission as a Captain in the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. William Russell returned to Washington and was assigned to the Union Army of the Potomac. You begin as Jebodiah Jacobs leading your men into battle in three missions at Bull Run. You then take on the role of your friend, William Russell, at Fredricksburg, leading the charge across the river and up the hill to take the town. Then at Chancellorsville you once again play Jebodiah Jacobs in five final missions. Check the official game website for more details on all the missions and objectives. Weapons - In Gods and Generals you fight in realistic Civil War battle action with realistic Civil War weapons. As a Company Captain you are issued a six-shot revolver with reloadable cylinders and an infantry officer's sword. The revolver makes you particularly lethal on the battlefield in close combat. The troops in your Company carry muzzle-loading muskets, which they can reload in about 20 sec. The enemy also carry these muskets with spiked bayonets. As you play the game, you will be able to pick up additional ammo and weapons from the battlefield and from the dead. You may also begin to develop strategies for taking advantage of the enemy's reload time. Finally, we have taken some creative license to add a few twists to the game play with special weapons that were historically available during the war. While scoped rifles, hand grenades, and body armor were all used during the war, we have made them more available to you than history would have. To see a more detailed description of all the weapons in the game, go the official game website. Game Tips - When playing Gods and Generals, it is important to pay attention to your objectives. Each mission has between 5 and 10 objectives that are each worth a different amount of points. Some of the objectives must be met to advance to the next level, while others simply improve your score. So, to maximize you score, you must complete every objective. Another reason to accomplish each objective is to improve your skills. As you accumulate points, you can go into the Skills menu option (see top menu bar in the game) and use your points to purchase additional stealth, stamina, marksmanship, carrying, armor, weapons. You should be sure to purchase these items whenever you can, as you will need them as the levels increase in difficulty. Another key to beating the game is to improve your ability to kill your opponents on your first shot. This keeps them from firing back at you, helps you preserve ammunition, and minimizes reloading. Firing at the opponent's head is the surest way to kill him with one shot. But take good aim and move your gun with moving targets. Launch of Member Web Site -Visit www.GodsAndGeneralsTheGame.com, the official game web site, today to keep up with upcoming events. The site officially launched today showing off cool screen shots as well as mission and weapon descriptions. The site allows consumers to purchase the game (free shipping) and pre-order the upcoming Multiplayer Expansion Pack. Plans for Multiplayer Expansion Pack - Sharpen your skills with the single-player Gods and Generals game, because on 1 April you will be able to download the Multiplayer Expansion Pack and begin competing online against other users. The expansion pack will allow one-on-one competitions in each of the original nine mission. However, don't get too attached to each mission's goals, because the multiplayer expansion pack will include a new set of objectives for each mission. The new goals will be designed to pit you against your Confederate or Union opponent. The upgrade will also include special features for public and private lobby groups and let you challenge other site members to single mission duels or multi-mission battles. Be sure to pre-order your expansion pack today at www.GodsAndGeneralsTheGame.com (your credit card will not be billed until the expansion pack is shipped). If you pre-ordered your game at the official web site before 2/21/02 you have already been credited to receive the expansion pack when it releases. *Online game purchases made prior to 2/25/03 are now being shipped and should be received during the week of 3/3/03.