Battlefront.com
and TBG Software announcef DropTeam! A cross-platform compatible (Mac, Win,
Linux) Sci-Fi multiplayer tactical simulation of mechanized ground combat using
a new powerful 3D engine, DropTeam is all about fun, fast and furious tactical
action ? but not at the expense of realistic physics and a credible combat
experience.



The game will be released for Mac OS-X, Windows and Linux simulataneously. It
is currently in alpha stage but expected to enter beta soon, and is expected to
go gold in the second half of 2005. Like all Battlefront?s games, DropTeam will
again not be available in stores, but only via mail-order directly from
www.battlefront.com.





DropTeam is a multiplayer capable, real-time, tactical simulation of armored
ground combat in the far future. You?ll battle for control of objectives on a
broad variety of planets ranging from verdant Earth-like worlds to desolate,
radioactive wastelands. You will use Dropships to land fighting vehicles and
other deployable assets like sensors, mines and automated turrets on planetary
surfaces. You will take direct control of various types of armored fighting
vehicles while also coordinating your team, including AI, other human players,
artillery support and more. Vast alien landscapes rendered in real-time with
detailed, accurate physics and ballistics systems and true line-of-sight
provide realistic combat. There are no ?hit points?, limited view distances,
unrealistically short weapon ranges, or other gross simplifications that are typical
of many other sci-fi games. DropTeam can be played online on a public server
with up to 16 players, or it can be played privately with as few as 2 players,
as well as single-player vs. AI opponents. AI opponents can also be mixed in
with human players in order to make the teams any size you like.





?Some people might be surprised that Battlefront is going to publish a Sci-Fi
game. But with the incredible new 3D engine, true cross-platform compatibility,
the thrilling and fun gameplay, and last but not least the realistic physics
and combat modelling, we were immediately immersed in the innovative and
fantastic world of DropTeam?, said Matt ?Madmatt? Faller from Battlefront.com.
?A good Science-Fiction game does not have to immediately suspend with all the
physical laws that we know of in the real world. Quite the contrary - the
implementation of real world physics in a sci-fi themed environment leads to
very exciting and innovative gameplay! If you have ever wondered what realistic
armored vehicle combat might feel like across exotic landscapes , e.g. on a low
gravity planet, a volcanic moon, or a barren asteroid, where real physics
apply, then DropTeam is the game for you!?





GENERAL FEATURES

? Play in a universe complete with a rich back story and detailed history.

? Realistic combat system that models projectile/armor penetration, various
munition types, and interior vehicle damage in detail.

? Huge, detailed and varied alien landscapes each planet accurately modeling
its own gravity and atmospheric density, radically changing the tactical
situation.

? Map sizes up to a massive 1000 (!) square kilometers.

? Terrain height resolutions from small ridges and vehicle fighting positions
to towering hills and mountains.

? Deformable terrain with engineering vehicles digging out trenches in real
time, ordnance created surface cratering and even trees toppling over under
artillery fire.

? Dynamic environmental effects include building destruction and vehicles
exploding and flipping over.

? Game includes 20 scenarios plus a 10 mission single player campaign. New
scenarios will be offered for download after the game's released plus you can
create you own battles and share them with others.



SCALABILITY

? Terrain uses dynamic tessellation (continuous Level of Detail) to render high
resolution terrain at large sizes.

? The game engine automatically adjusts level of detail based on your computer
hardware. This optimizes gameplay on even older computer systems and hardware.

? Game uses the OpenGL Shading Language (GLSL) for advanced graphics effects
that literally weren't possible a year ago with little to no performance impact
such as rippling water and blowing foliage.



MULTIPLAYER FEATURES

? Up to 16 human players or more supported, depending on system specs. Maximum
online players realistically only limited by game server bandwidth, CPU and
RAM.

? Game launcher allows you to browse a list of servers that shows the servers?
current scenario, current number of players, game time remaining, and connect
to the game sessions at will.

? Server management functions allow administrators to login and exercise
special privileges on the server, such as kicking players and moving players
between teams. This interface is within the GUI of the game itself.

? Various game types include "Capture the Flag" and
"Objective" based missions.



MODDING AND EXPANDABILITY

? Highly extensible, open architecture makes the game easy to modify, even by
non-programmers.

? Game uses XML (Extensible Markup Language) files for game objects. Allows for
an incredible wealth of modding options and capabilities. All information about
3D models, physics, control mechanics is encapsulated and allows specification
of any arbitrary texture data for terrains, skies, and models.

? Add new vehicles, change their physics, change turrets, swap one gun
for another or put a brand new gun on a existing unit and more. All of this can
be achieved by editing the associated the XML files. You can also create
entirely new models and textures that weren't originally included. You can even
just drop in your own 3D Studio models if you want!

? Game engine reads data from professional GIS (Geographic Information Systems)
packages such as ArcGIS and Terragen. This is the same industry standard data
formats that are used by the Department of Defense for simulations and by
engineers for land work, surveying, etc...



For more information on DropTeam, please visit:

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First Alpha-Screenshots are available at:

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