Gettysburg

$69.95, Windows CD-ROM

Teaches: Civil War history and the battle of Gettysburg

CTR Review

This program about the famous Civil War battle at Gettysburg combines a computer simulation of the battle with realistic new video footage. Starting with a historically correct map and a 3-day timeline along the bottom of the screen, players can either watch as the original battle is enacted, or take the role of commander of one of the armies, pretending to alter the course of history by redirecting forces. Moving a troop is accomplished by clicking on a symbol, and then dragging a tracer line to a new point. When troops meet their enemy, players can issue orders to start fighting (at which time the sounds of real shots begin), or perhaps dig in and defend. The detail shown on the map could be better. For example, when troops fire, they kneel down, but their guns point in the wrong direction. Periodically, a spyglass icon appears on the map, indicating that a short film clip is available of the battle being fought at that location. These are effective in providing a soldier's-eye view of the actual battlefield. You can assess the losses to your troops or view a logbook with details of the battles. At any time, one of six mini-documentaries highlights topics such as the artillery, weather, terrain and rifles of 1863. You can also hear Lincoln's Gettysburg address or Lee's surrender speech. This is an excellent merger of live video with a battlefield simulation and well liked by testers. In terms of the simulation details, this program is not nearly as exciting or well-designed as Sim City 2000. It is a far cry, however, from the history books we had to study as children.