As most readers know, Armchair General covers both history and wargames. Here is one unique news item which covers the best of both worlds; a war-themed game meets military history, on the History Channel!
Today Ubisoft, Gearbox Software, and The History Channel, announced that a Brothers In Arms-inspired documentary on World War II will premiere on The History Channel. Known for its unprecedented combination of authenticity, compelling story and squad-based action, the Brothers In Arms franchise established itself as a benchmark for military action games quickly after its initial release in March 2005. The two-hour special, "BROTHERS IN ARMS", is produced by Foglight Entertainment for The History Channel. The television special, hosted by actor Ron Livingston (Band of Brothers) will premiere on The History Channel on Sunday, December 18th at 8 pm ET/PT.
"Ubisoft is very excited that The History Channel has chosen the Brothers In Arms video game to tell the amazing stories of the Greatest Generation," said Tony Kee, vice president of marketing at Ubisoft. "This collaboration between the television and video game industries brings these inspiring stories to life in ways that have never been done before."
The Brothers In Arms video game series depicts the experiences of a squad in the 101st Airborne, 502nd Parachute Infantry during the first days of the Normandy invasion. The 502nd’s contributions in June, 1944 featured some of the most significant and harrowing engagements of the European campaign.
"As one of the most authentic World War II video games ever made, Brothers In Arms creates the ideal setting on which to base a program for The History Channel," said Margaret Kim, director of Historical Programming at The History Channel. "The heroic exploits of the 101st and 502nd will receive the attention they deserve in our two-hour special."
The History Channel special "BROTHERS IN ARMS" tells the story of the 101st Airborne Division, 502nd Parachute Infantry, from June 6 through June 13, 1944, as it has never been told before. Coupled with the accuracy of the game’s environments, the cutting-edge graphics in Brothers In Arms allow for vivid and dynamic battlefield walkthroughs and flythroughs that uniquely convey the conditions and situations of June 1944 Normandy. Through interviews with veterans of the 502nd, firsthand accounts by French citizens and historians; and with reenactments, rare photos, never-before-seen archival footage and cutting-edge CGI* technology, "BROTHERS IN ARMS" finally tells the story of this unheralded group of solders: the 5-0-Deuce. The special is hosted by Livingston on location from the site of the Allied landing in Normandy.
