KING Alfred the Great’s dramatic victory over Guthrum’s Great Heathen Army at the Battle of Edington in AD 878 has been used as the backdrop for a new computer strategy game.

Total War: Thrones of Britannia, which will be launched by Creative Assembly on April 19, has used the defeat of the Danes on the Wiltshire battleground to explore the history of the British Isles and the different factions that emerged in their wake.

Playing as one of ten different factions, including Anglo-Saxons, Viking settlers and Gaelic clans, players will battle it out to take control of the map using the turn-based strategy system.

Despite exploring other settings in the past, game director Jack Lusted admitted that it was the growing public consciousness of early British history that attracted him to the period.

“It’s a time period that has been getting a lot of attention in the media recently, with both dramas and documentaries on the era sparking a lot of interest in it,” Mr Lusted said. “The game starts immediately after the Battle of Edington, so whilst it’s not in the game, it sets the stage for how it starts and what comes afterwards.

“We worked with Dr Neil McGuigan from the University of St Andrew’s on this, and also spent a lot of time reading books and academic papers on the era to ensure we’re capturing the history and flavour of the era.

“We have been tapping into history for a while, since the first Total War, Shogun, in 2000. We hope that the games inspire a love of history in people and that after playing them, they may go out and look more into the period covered.

“This one, in particular, I loved as it helped shape the borders of modern Britain.”

Although Total War has established itself as a leading series in the strategic gaming genre, the developer hopes that the setting - and the interest in the battle for Britain - will attract players new and old to the franchise.

“Thrones is a great era for those who want to experience the history of the time and delve deep into the story of the era,” Mr Lusted added. “It’s a game aimed more at existing fans but there’s going to be plenty for new fans too.”