Sturmovik: Battle for Stalingrad

I was sent this link by a site member in mid 2012. It appeared to be pre-conference press release about a new game supposedly from 1C
http://igromir-expo.ru/presscon/313

Originally I thought it was a hoax, especially after it was denounced by 1C spokesperson BlackSix. But now, with the the December 2012 announcement of almost exactly the same project  (IL2 Battle of Stalingrad), with 777 Studios instead of BUKA, I believe the announcement was pulled at the last minute, and the deal with 777 was made later.

So, remember you read it first here on BoB Gamehub!

BUKA announces Sturmovik: Battle for Stalingrad

Moscow, Russia - At the Igromir 2012 conference this week, the multimedia publisher BUKA announced its plans to release Sturmovik, Battle for Stalingrad, in Russia and the EU.

Sturmovik: Battle for Stalingrad takes place from 1941 to 1943 during the pivotal aerial battle for the skies over the beseiged city of Stalingrad.

Key Features:

New aircraft - Incredibly detailed true-to-life modeling of aircraft systems based on thousands of hours of dedicated research. Every single aircraft component can be damaged for realistic and immensely satisfying results.
-Flyable aircraft – Over twenty famous and highly detailed Russian, German, British and US 'lend-lease' aircraft available, with all crew positions open to players. All flyable aircraft have been painstakingly researched, resulting in incredibly accurate cockpit interiors;

-Non-flyable aircraft – 15 additional AI-controlled aircraft are also available, created with the same attention to historical accuracy, for an even more varied and immersive combat environment.

Aircraft may include:

Luftwaffe
Bf109G4
Fw190A4
He111H
Ju87D
Bf110F4

VVS
Yak 1
Pe2
IL2
La-5
Hurricane
P40 

Immersive game modes:
-Two exciting historically correct campaigns – The campaigns thrust the player into the middle of the battle. On one side, is the German Luftflotte 4 hitting ground targets with Ju87s, fighting for air superiority over the city, and trying to keep the airbridge open to its beseiged troops. On the other side the Russian Air Force or VVS, initially limited to small daylight or night operations, but increasingly throughout late 1942 and 1943 able to take the offensive in daylight as well.
- Massively Only Multiplayer: Up to 128 players at a time able to engage in cooperative, head to head, deathmatch, or dynamic campaign contests in which players can fly or crew aircraft, man anti aircraft weapons, drive and crew ground vehicles including tanks, artillery and anti-tank weapons.
-Interactive training – Comprehensive interactive training for new players – fly a real Luftwaffe trainer plane with a computer controlled instructor through a series of training missions. 

Brand new map – The battle will take place on a large area covering Southwest Russia. The huge map will contain thousands of historical cities, towns, roads, airfields, radar stations, ports, and industrial areas – all located exactly where they were in 1942-3.Includes a painstaking recreation of Stalingrad in 1942, with all buildings and locations accurate and destructable.

New 3D engine – Latest-gen graphics engine with DX10 and DX11 API support. Huge variety of photorealistic German and Russian ground vehicles, buildings and other environmental elements recreate minute details of the defence of Russia.

Customizable difficulty – Dozens of realism options allow newcomers to the franchise to reduce the difficulty and focus on the fun while learning the ropes of being a pilot.

 

About BUKA

In 2011 leading Eastern and Central European publisher 1C Company announced an agreement in which it acquired one of the largest Russian publishing and distribution companies, BUKA. 1C and BUKA are two of the most well known brands in the Russian games and multimedia market. Future cooperation opens new horizons for the strategic development of both companies.

"BUKA is one of the oldest players on the Russian game market. I always admired the company, its corporate culture, staff, management and operational efficiency," said Boris Nuraliev, Director of 1C Company. "The mutual potential of 1C and BUKA opens new unique opportunities and will help us to achieve success on this challenging and rapidly growing market. It will be an honor for us to develop such a well-known and popular brand."

"1C is our long-term partner. We have experienced firsthand what 1C’s basic principles are – to be honest to partners, customers and employees," comments Igor Ustinov, Chairman of Board of Directors of BUKA.
  

About 1C Company 

1C Company specializes in distribution, publishing and development of business, entertainment and educational software. Founded in 1991, 1C has become the largest publisher and distributor of computer and video games in Eastern and Central Europe. 1C Company is widely acknowledged as a game developer and has several internal studios. Internal development of 1C includes IL-2 Sturmovik series and Theatre of War series. 1C Company works as a publisher and producer with over 30 independent development studios and has produced over 100 projects for PC and consoles including titles like Rig'n'Roll, Space Rangers, Soldiers: Heroes of World War II, Faces of War, Men of War series, Perimeter, Fantasy Wars, Death to Spies, King's Bounty: The Legend, King's Bounty: Armored Princess and King's Bounty: Crossworlds.

Q&A with Sturmovik: Battle for Stalingrad project leader, Ilya Yevchenko.

How is this project related to your earlier work such as IL2 Sturmovik and Cliffs of Dover?

This is a new project.

We have heard earlier about another sequel to IL2 Sturmovik, Cliffs of Dover, called Battle for Moscow, is this the same project?

No, that is a different project which we are also announcing at the expo. With Battle for Stalingrad we are focusing on one of the most famous Battle of the Eastern Front, and which the air war story has never been told.

What can players look forward to?
We’re looking at some major improvements to the terrain and water. Also players will be able to join massive online games with a dynamic war flavor.  Also players in this game will be able to drive vehicles such as tanks, aim searchlights, and man the anti aircraft weapons.

Is the latest in SLI support included?

We haven’t made changes to our usual SLI and Quad SLI support

What operating systems are supported? For example Windows 8 

Windows 8 is not supported at this time, perhaps in future.

For more information on 1C please go to the website at www.1cpublishing.com