Battle For Shanghai and the SGS Battles Series

SGS Battle for Shanghai is the fourth game of our SGS Battle Series, covering intense fights and battles in well know (or not) small but fighting-heavy locations ; ‘grand’ tactical’ scale for regiment, battalion, company and even platoon-size units (depending on the games) and game turns which represent a very short real period of time (one or two days, half a day, a few hours…).

One of the many particularities of the Battle series compared to other SGS relates to a unit activation system which means that not all units will necessarily be able to move and fight in a turn. This will only be possible for them if they have been activated. And depending on the battles or the episodes during them, the activation limits will be more or less important.

Shanghai, one of the most famous and bloody battle of the Second Sino-Japanese war is marking the beginning of a terrible conflict, and is depicted in this game where you can play both sides, Chinese or Japanese ; against another player in PBEM or in hot seat, against AI.

SGS Battle for Shanghai covers the period from August 13, 1937, to November 26, 1937, till the final Japanese capture of the city and the heavy destruction brought to the city. At the end of November, when the game ends, the Chinese have lost ground and are even now threatened at their capital of Nanking. But could manage to have them seize the initial enemy positions in Shanghai and hold them before the Japanese reinforcements and counter-offensive (from late August) strikes at you, thus complicating Tokyo’s plans and achieving your own, to draw worldwide attention to the conflict? Or, as the Japanese commander, can you hold your ground in the city and put the assaulting Chinese in an even more precarious situation than the historical one when your counter-offensive comes? Each quarter of city and nearby towns and suburbs will become the stake of a thousand battles.

The game will contain a grand campaign scenario covering the battle from August until November, as well as other (intermediate or shorter - see below) scenarios based on different starting days or limited to specific areas (Shanghai city, the Yangze river banks, etc…) of the battle.
We plan to also provide the players with interesting options to explore potential what-if situations.

The player will also find in the game historical events.
Those can be strictly historical or random depending on their nature, and/or depending on the game setting (historical scenario or what if). A more efficient Chinese artillery? A better preparation for the defenders? A stronger implication of the navies on both sides? Or, on the contrary, a scenario where all external events occur at exactly the same time as in History.

Most events generate even more immersion, sticking to a historical reality. All are carefully designed, with extensive historical research, to go beyond the game, to bring its playful dimension closer to what could be a highly interactive history book.

Operation Iron Fist: The offensive operation launched by the Chinese army in mid-August 1937, aimed at destroying the Japanese troops entrenched near Shanghai. This scenario will be unlocked on the day the game is released (August 13th).
Combat around Lo-tien: The combat between the Chinese and Japanese armies around the most crucial strategic point around Shanghai: Luodian, from mid to end of September. This scenario will be unlocked in the game's first major update (tentatively scheduled for September 15th).
Nan-hsang & Chen-ju Counterattack Operation : In mid-October, the 21st Army Group of the National Revolutionary Army arrived in Shanghai. The Chinese planned to use this newly arrived force to launch a counterattack against the Japanese. This scenario will be unlocked in the game's second major update (tentatively scheduled for October 15th).
Shanghai Grand Campaign : the complete campaign game, covering the entire battle from its beginning on August 13th, 1937, till the end of November. This scenario will be unlocked on the day the game is released (August 13th).

Scale
In this specific game, units are mostly battalion-size on the Japanese side and regimental or brigade size on the Chinese’s (with some exception for particular units at battalion level too). They confront each other in urban zones of the city and paddies areas on the immediate outskirts of the city. Some "off map boxes" are also integrated to represent more distant areas (where close strategic points such as air bases are located).
Each turn is three days.

The game consists mainly of ground units and some air and (few) naval units. However, the latter have more of a role of support "markers" as in traditional board games or wargames than of units with fine and dedicated management. A few river units are also present to represent the Japanese ships that operated on the Huangpu and Yangze, or the the main carrier ships off at sea in Hangzhou bay.

All the types of units present in Shanghai in 1937 appear in the game: armored vehicles, infantry, engineers, artillery and even a few surprises (block houses, trenches, terrain elements such as fortified ruins, etc.).

Estimated Playtime: from 1h to many hours… with great replayability.

Favored Side/hardest to play : depending on the scenario played and in the campaign it can alternate, being harder for one side at one point in the game before becoming easier (and harder for the opposing side).

SGS Battle For: Shanghai screenshots