Cary, NC, 22 June 2005



Since 2002 The Camo Workshop has made available for free SPMBT (Steel Panthers
Main Battle Tank). Based on the classic Steel Panthers 2 game released by
SSI in 1996, SPMBT is a turn-based tactical wargame covering battlefields from
1946 onwards, with of course the focus being on what Steel Panthers is famous
for, armor! That doesn't mean the rest of the battlefield gets the short
end of the stick though, as SPMBT provides a strong emphasis on combined arms
operations, allowing virtual generals to use armor, artillery, infantry, and
air to their best advantages together.

More than just some fan-based mod that tweaks a setting or
two in the original game, SPMBT is a total and complete reworking of the
original SSI code to make the game one of the most realistic and compelling
computer wargames to occupy space on your hard drive. With countless hours of
research and refinement beneath the hood, grognards demanding the utmost from
their games will surely appreciate the labor of love that SPMBT represents from
The Camo Workshop. Yet, just as Steel Panthers when originally released
was highly acclaimed for being one of the most intuitive games for players to
jump into, SPMBT keeps that aspect alive while managing to supercharge the nuts
and bolts of the game system.

With all the gaming goodness that SPMBT represented there was one gripe that
folks had.it was still, like the original SSI games, a DOS program. Well,
The Camo Workshop listened and now the days of SPMBT DOS are no more!
Welcome to the new era of SPMBT, welcome to WinSPMPT! WinSPMBT, developed by
The Camo Workshop, is the newest version of SPMBT, and is fully Windows
functional. Available as a FREE download through Shrapnel Games, this
latest version of SPMBT is more than just a Windows update for the game you
already know and love, but it also adds the following:

• Three
  new scenarios and one new campaign (in addition to all the scenarios and
  campaigns previously found in the game).
• Ten
  new terrains added, including such types as brick cobblestones and autumn
  orchards.
• Twelve
  terrain tile sets completely revised.
• Updated
  OOB files, and two new nations (Paraguay and Uruguay added).
• Barbed
  wire!
• Tanks
  actually can reverse move, instead of having to turn all the way around to
  retreat move.
• Many
  more tweaks, enhancements, and gameplay balance issues.

In addition to the free, downloadable version of WinSPMBT,
Shrapnel Games will be offering an enhanced CD version. The WinSPMBT CD
Edition includes the free version of WinSPMBT, but also includes the following
special features:

• 
  Printed quick start guide.
  
• Resolutions as high as 1600x1200 (the downloadable version only supports up to 800x600).
  
• 250 PBEM save game slots (the downloadable version includes five slots).
  
• External map editor. Multiple levels of undo, cut and paste feature allowing whole sections of a map to be cut out and used in scenarios (perfect for a campaign map).
  
• Secure tournament password protected play.
  
• Encyclopedia sorting and filtering.