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Pre-release videos showed 3D animations of AB battles and firefights.

Find function finds 2 references to 3D in the manual:
1. On page 4, in the Introduction: "within a new, more immersive 3D graphic landscape."
2. In Section 6 CREDITS

The manual does not include any instruction how to access the "immersive 3D graphic landscape". Changes/Revisions of the original AB Manual are not highlighted or identified in any way.

In Options, there is nothing referring to 3D, neither under Game Options nor Video Options.
After starting the game, there is no 3D item in the Main Menu,
Clicking on the keyboard icon to review the hot-keys, there does not appear to be a hot-key to switch on the 3D landscape

On the Map icon in the lower right of the screen, the buttons available are LOS, Mark, HGT , Map and (i), OSO is no longer present. There is no 3D button

AAR does not appear to include a 3D option.

So, the question is:

What am I missing, how does a player access the "immersive 3D graphic landscape"?

Ah - as far as I can remember my game started in top-down mode and I had to use the controls on WASD and the mouse-wheel to navigate in 3d. But there's a list of short cuts in the game.

It takes a little getting used to. The transition from top-down to 3D is accomplished simply by zooming way in, at which point the camera angle adjusts and the perspective changes. It’s not very precise so the best thing is to select a particular unit and then adjust the camera to the perspective on that unit you want, using the zoom controls and panning the camera left/right and backwards/forwards with WASD, middle mouse held down for height perspective or (less precise and efficient) moving the mouse to the map borders. I think the game is designed to be played in 2D, really; the 3D is good for immersion but the textures are basic close-up and it’s of no real tactical use. I like it though. Hope this helps.

The manual and the first tutorial say:

"Hold down the middle mouse button to pan the camera, use the mouse wheel to zoom, and click on the UI compass to return to the default position."

Also in an upcoming update there's an option to use the 'C' key for the camera panning.

OK. Got it. Thanks.