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Captain David Render in “Friendly Fire……”

Relive WWII Stories of a British Tank Commander fighting on the front line, against the German Panzers Wehrmacht and SS divisions.

August 24, 2005

5 Min Read

[This unedited press release is made available courtesy of Game Developer and its partnership with notable game PR-related resource Games Press]

Author: JoWooD

Rottenmann, Austria, 24th August 2005 - Jowood Productions. Before the release of the arse-kicking, action-packed WWII tank game Panzer Elite Action for XboxTM, Playstation 2 and PC developed by Zootfly, Jowood Productions will be releasing a series of mini documentaries; real life stories of a Sherman tank commander, who took part in the liberation of Europe from the Nazis during WWII.

In the 2nd mini documentary to be released, David tells a story entitled Friendly Fire. "All the tanks (German and British alike) used to have recognition flags on the back. I managed to get myself a souvenir German flag from the back of a tank we had just blown up......"

In 1944, David Render - who was only 19 at the time - had what can only be described as a life changing experience when he landed on the Normandy beaches on D-Day as part of the A Squadron, 8th Armoured Brigade (Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry). This was to be the start of a journey that would take him right across Europe into the heartland of Germany as a frontline tank-driver. He came close to death in numerous tank battles; in one battle, he changed tanks three times as the other two were taken out of action by enemy fire.

In this series, David recounts some of his most memorable times during World War II, and explains how tanks were a major weapon in the campaign against the might of the German Army. He covers topics such as; where you would keep your pet dog in the heat of battle, dealing with SS foot soldiers upfront, and how aiming for the exhaust pipe is the best way to blow up a German tank!

Panzer Elite Action is an arse kicking, action packed WWII tank game, where you are in charge of 30 tons of killing machine that can flatten a village from a distance with fire power alone. In the process, you can wipe out enemy tanks whilst hiding behind buildings or, you can send foot soldiers on their way to either look for shelter or get killed by the first volleys of death from your own cannons.

Panzer Elite Action follows the story of three tank commanders and their crew. The German commander, flushed with the success of the Blitzkrieg in Poland and France, moves on to the Eastern Front and the brink of victory with the taking of Stalingrad. We meet the Russian commander in desperate straits as he helps defend Stalingrad, and follow him as the tide turns against the Germans and he joins the massive tank battle of Kursk. The American commander enters the war on the Normandy Beachhead on D-Day. After the struggle for the Bocage, he survives the doomed gamble to take Arnheim, defends the German outbreak at the Battle of the Bulge, and then drives on to the victorious crossing of the Rhine.

Panzer Elite Action lets the player have the ability to command increasingly powerful tanks in a series of intense and immersive action packed battles, which will let the player experience the adrenalin rush of charging into battle with cannons blazing death and destruction upon everything in their path.

Features:

  • Command your tanks through 3 different campaigns set against the backdrop of the most dramatic battles of WW II

  • Take on the enemy with your choice from over 15 powerful and versatile tanks

  • Become the leader of your own squad and employ various strategies using the different tanks.

  • An action filled battlefield with AI controlled airplanes, infantry and enemy vehicles making the mayhem of battle come alive

  • Blast through houses and trees in a completely destructible environment

  • Graphic engine supports all up to date graphic features - from T&L effects to day and night cycles

  • Compelling theme, storyline, and characters created by design legend Bob Bates (Unreal,...)

JoWooD Productions Software AG:

JoWooD Productions Software AG is listed on the Vienna stock exchange and is a leader in the development of computer and video games. JoWooD develops and publishes internationally competitive, high-quality entertainment software for all current and future games platforms. JoWooD has development studios in Vienna and Ebensee (Austria) as well as a further group of outstanding studios in Germany: Wings Simulations, Neon and Massive Development. The company's headquarters are in Rottenmann/Austria with subsidiaries in Germany and Japan. JoWooD games are delivered through a worldwide network of distribution partners. For further information, please visit our homepage www.jowood.com.

About KOCH MEDIA UK:

Founded in 1994, KOCH MEDIA UK develops, publishes and distributes a diverse mix of titles for home console gaming systems, personal computers and the Internet. Based in Basingstoke, the company has distribution contracts with a number of software publishers, including NINTENDO. For publishers not in the UK, KOCH MEDIA exclusively markets, sells and distributes titles. Under its own brands of DEEP SILVER and EUROPRESS, KOCH MEDIA develops and publishes its own range of gaming and educational and lifestyle software. For more information on KOCH MEDIA and its products, visit www.kochmedia.co.uk

About ZootFly

Founded in December 2002, ZootFly is a highly innovative game development company with headquarters in Slovenia, Europe. ZootFly's complementary strengths and successful cooperation as a team in the past has ensured streamlined development and production. The team had accumulated over 100 years of international experience and knowledge in the games industry and is empowered by numerous triumphs and precious battle scars. Team members were involved in the development and production of over 15 published games for various developers and publishers

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