Conference smurf::civil_war

122.0. "PC/Windows "Gettysburg" Game" by UNYEM::YANUSC () Mon Apr 11 1994 10:53

    This weekend I had an opportunity to play a Windows-based ACW game
    entitled "Gettysburg".  My wife had purchased it for me awhile ago but
    I never brought it up due to disk space limitations.
    
    If I had to describe it in one sentence, it would be very similar to
    the old WWII board game entitled "Tactics".  You play down to the
    brigade level as you move individual squares around the board to
    signify your infantry, cavalry and artillery movements.  You can play
    at four levels - slow, medium, fast, and turbo (each accelerating the
    movements of troops and response rate of the computer).  You have field
    notes on the side, such as if a particular brigade is now engaged, if
    it is decimated and off the field, and so forth.  If you do not know
    the actual names of the brigade commanders from the battle, a
    Confederate or Union flag is next to each.
    
    The options include playing any or all three days of the battle, and
    you can take the Northern or Southern side against the system, or play
    both sides yourself.  To get a feel for the game I watched it played
    out by the system as it actually happened.  Pickett's charge on the
    third day was interesting, since it shows the artillery barrage on what
    is basically an active board game.  You can play on either an antique
    or terrain-style map; basically your color preference on the monitor. 
    I played it on a 386/20MHz notebook connected to a color monitor (.28
    pitch).  I'm sure when I pick up my DX2/66MHz it will be even more
    interesting, but not bad.  A sound card was recommended, so it must
    give battle sounds that I could not attest to.
    
    There are a numbers of buttons you can depress during play.  For
    example, I would highlight a particular brigade that was in action and
    depress the Health button.  It would give me the total troops
    originally in that brigade, what their current casualties were, supply
    of ammo, and morale.  Other buttons could elaborate more, such as
    describing fatigue levels.  It was a quick viewing of the game, but
    could be interesting for someone who wishes to center on what is
    arguably the greatest battle of the ACW.
    
    I would guess she paid around $35-40 for the game originally, which was
    purchased at a chain like Software, Etc.  Try it out if you think you
    would have changed something at Gettysburg, to see how you would have
    done (How many will still commit to Pickett's charge, for example -
    Hindsight is great, isn't it?)
    
    Chuck

I received Gaettysburg for my B-day in Sept. so I have had some time to 
play it.  Overall its a pretty good game.  I like to play as the South and
give the Union the wipping it should have got!!  :-)  

  My only complaint is that the Computer assusmes the best defensive position 
and then it holds it ground until forced to retreat.  This lets you totally 
flank Reynolds corp. on the first day, block the road (Emmitsburg pike??) 
that the rest of the Union Forces came down to renforce, grab Little and Big
roundtop, as well and pretty much lay seige on the Union.  I have managed to
win the Battle by noon time on the second day...  Of course this is all done
with a little historical insight, making it a wee bit easier.  

  I also enjoy using Historical play and doing scenarios that have been 
discussed over the years as what ifs...  For instance attacking the Rebels
after Picketts failed charge on the third day.   All though successful in
further breaking the Confederates it didn't have the results I expected.
Ie: Total collapse of Confederate Army...  I have also done Picketts charge
ajusting various variables (Artillery Fire, cordinated attacks on both flanks)
and quess what??  The charge still fails...I did manage a break through but,
was unable to hold the ground...

 If your a Civil War buff this is a good game to get for your PC....

     Dan

    While in a Computer City store this weekend visiting the Rochester, NY
    area, I noticed they now have a CD version of the Gettysburg game. From
    what I could tell on the box, it appears to also have 10-20 minutes of
    film from the movie Gettysburg.  And of course, the prices have come
    down even more with time.  I think it was priced in the 20s.
    
    Chuck