Graviteam Projects Update with CEO Vladimir Zayarniy

By SimHQ on September 29, 2010 in _land3

A Discussion on Achtung Panzer: Kharkov 1943: Operation Star,
Steel Armor: Blaze of War, and a New Kharkov Project

by Guest Writer Robert “Godzilla 1985” Salopek

Actung Panzer: Kharkov 1943: Operation Star

Robert: Hi Vlad, before we start I would like to thank you for participating in this latest Q&A for SimHQ about Graviteam’s upcoming historic armor simulations.

Vladimir: You’re very welcome. Several new, exciting things to talk about this time around!

Actung Panzer: Kharkov 1943: Operation Star

Robert: You guys at Graviteam have been pretty busy! I understand much is in the works, but let’s start with Actung Panzer: Kharkov 1943: Operation Star. Has it been released to the Russian market yet?

Vladimir: The release in Russia is planned for October this year.

Robert: Can you tell us when the planned release of Actung Panzer: Kharkov 1943: Operation Star will happen for the western market?

Vladimir: The game is going to be released overseas in 2011.

Robert: Will Actung Panzer: Kharkov 1943: Operation Star have the same sales distribution method used by Actung Panzer: Kharkov 1943?

Vladimir: Actung Panzer: Kharkov 1943: Operation Star will be sold digitally as well as in retail. More than that, it is possible that digital purchases will be done right from our own website. We are also going to do our best to have additional sales at Steam.

Robert: For those that already own Actung Panzer: Kharkov 1943, will Actung Panzer: Kharkov 1943: Operation Star be available as an upgrade for Actung Panzer: Kharkov 1943 or is this a stand alone product?

Vladimir: Actung Panzer: Kharkov 1943: Operation Star is a stand-alone product.

Actung Panzer: Kharkov 1943: Operation Star

Robert: For those who own Actung Panzer: Kharkov 1943 now, will anything be portable over to Actung Panzer: Kharkov 1943: Operation Star and from Actung Panzer: Kharkov 1943: Operation Star to Actung Panzer: Kharkov 1943 (like missions, terrains and combat units)?

Vladimir: It is possible that in future we may create a “gold edition” of Actung Panzer with missions and combat units from Actung Panzer: Kharkov 1943 and Actung Panzer: Kharkov 1943: Operation Star.

Robert: Actung Panzer: Kharkov 1943 was warmly received by fans of this genre and some say it’s the best they have seen. What are some of the improvements or new features we will see in Actung Panzer: Kharkov 1943: Operation Star over Actung Panzer: Kharkov 1943?

Vladimir: Several things! The big new features:

Improved logics of work of avia — and the artillery spotter which includes:

increased accuracy and decreased time of response at strike before beginning of battle
pieces of ordnance are spent during artillery bombardment
the logics of fire adjustment and calculating the accuracy of art-bombardment have been improved

Also, the possibility of smoke screen installment’s been added:

with long-range artillery
smoke shells and mines
with smoke grenades

A campaign editor and the utility of testing and installment of campaigns into the game.

Players’ statistics and achievements tables.

New techniques and battle units added including:

Heavy tank Pz VI “Tiger” ausf. H
Heavy tank Mk II “Matilda” IV
Light tank Mk III “Valentine” II
Middle tank Pz III ausf. N
Infantry gun leIG 18
Light tank Т-70М of the year. 1942

…as well as new armored vehicles and aircrafts.

Many aspects of the AI has been improved. The interface of operational and tactic phases improved, the possibility of seeing the units’ scope of view. Plus, many other little, but important improvements and innovations have been made.

Take a look at these new images from Actung Panzer: Kharkov 1943: Operation Star.