Armored Brigade (video game)
Real-time tactical wargame simulating Cold War combined-arms combat.
Last updated
Fred the Oyster · Public domain
Armored Brigade is a real-time tactical wargame that focuses on realism and playability. The first incarnation was published in 2008, and the most recent freeware version was released in January 2016. A commercial version with gameplay improvements and new features was under development with a scheduled completion during fall 2018. The game simulates modern combined-arms combat from a top-down perspective, with players controlling individual tanks and vehicles on a zoomable map.
Background
Armored Brigade simulates modern combined-arms combat from platoon to regiment/brigade level. The freeware version only represented a hypothetical World War III scenario in 1987, while the commercial edition covers years from 1965 to 1991. Sides available include the US, USSR, West and East Germany, UK, Finland, and Poland, with plans to add more nations. Players control individual vehicles, platoons, and companies; infantry is mostly in squad/section sized units.
The game includes accurately researched squads, weapons, vehicles, aircraft, and artillery. Unit morale, experience, fatigue, command delay, and a wide set of weapon and vehicle parameters are taken into account for realistic combat simulation. A wide range of orders is supplemented by standard operating procedures such as rates of fire, engagement ranges, and dismount policy. Units can be organized into nine formations with customizable spacing.
The current version includes large real-world terrain maps representing areas likely involved in a Cold War engagement, such as the Fulda Gap and North German Plain. Up to version 0.801 beta, maps could be randomly generated; afterward, real terrain maps were introduced from satellite data, ranging from 2x2 to 15x15 kilometers, covering initially about 7,300 square kilometers and later increased to 30,000 square kilometers. Different terrain sets for summer, autumn, winter, desert, tropical, and nuclear wasteland are available.
The game features dynamic time of day, variable visibility, weather including night and storm, a 3D battlefield overview, and civilian units. The AI can analyze terrain for offensive and defensive operations and conduct maneuvers according to predetermined routines: Armored, Mechanized, or Infantry.
Note
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Armored Brigade (video game)?
Armored Brigade is a real-time tactical wargame that simulates modern combined-arms combat with an emphasis on both realism and playability. It lets players command individual tanks and vehicles from a top-down, zoomable map rather than dealing with abstract unit counters.
How does gameplay work in Armored Brigade?
The game is a single-player experience where you control individual armored vehicles in real time against AI opponents. You manage your units on a zoomable top-down map, making tactical decisions about positioning, engagement, and combined-arms coordination.
When was Armored Brigade released and what versions are available?
The title first appeared in 2008, received its latest freeware update in January 2016, and had a commercial edition with additional features targeted for fall 2018. The freeware build remains freely downloadable for players who want to try it.
More in Video Games of the 2000s
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Armored Brigade (video game) (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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