The ultimate tank simulation isn't a simulation at all. That was the logic behind a Novalogic event Wednesday that offered a first look at the forthcoming Armored Fist II: M1A2 Abrams and, for a lucky handful of journalists, a dusty nighttime ride inside the real thing - courtesy the California Army National Guard at Fort Hunter-Ligget.

　　Armored Fist II brings down to earth the same Voxel Space 2 3-D rendering technology that was used to great effect in Comanche 3. The player has four tactical views: driver, gunner, and commander "buttoned" or "unbuttoned," tanker slang for a topside or a sealed-hatch view. The game offers four campaigns, each with more than 35 combat missions set in Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.

　　The game realistically models the M1A2, a wide variety of terrain including desert and snow, and enemy vehicles, including helicopters and Russian vehicles such as the T-90 MBT. There will be three thermal views, support for eight-player networked play over LAN or Internet via Kali. Players will be able to control their own tanks or up to 32 friendlies with a single mission.

　　The game will use actual recordings of inter-tank radio traffic, as well as the sounds of live fire and the whine of the 70-ton tank's gas turbine engines - which was recorded inside the beast at Wednesday's event.

　　Armored Fist II is scheduled for a late August release.