Atari announced via press release that its real-time strategy game Act of War: Direct Action has shipped to retail stores across North America. The game’s story was penned New York Times best-selling author Dale Brown, and features gameplay that puts players in control of counterterrorist forces to defend cities of the world. A demo of the game is also available for download. Act of War: Direct Action will retail for $49.99USD.

Act of War: Direct Action(TM) is a graphically stunning and frighteningly plausible tale of suspense, international intrigue and geopolitical military conflict. Through a techno-thriller story constructed by military expert and author Dale Brown, this real-time strategy experience puts players squarely in control of counterterrorist forces to defend cities of the world. As commander of a newly formed anti-terror military unit known as the Talon Task Force, players will need to recruit combat units, develop technologies, manage finite resources, and deploy their forces against a cunning and ruthless terror network.