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Empire Earth III Pre Order Info

Sierra Entertainment announced today that Empire Earth III will be shipping this November to PC. The pre-order campaign kicks-off at select retailers nationwide this week and features three exclusive unlockable units.

• Machine Mortar (Far East Region, Future Epoch) - A genetically engineered soldier that launches a devastating, area-affect salvo of shells.
• Persian Mercenary (Middle East Region, Ancient Epoch) - An ambidextrous warrior armed with a pair of lethal blades.
• Urban Special Forces (West Region, Modern Epoch) - A highly disciplined, well-armed Urban Special Operations soldier.

“Empire Earth is an award-winning real-time strategy franchise where players can grasp the entire globe within the reach of a mouse,” said Al Simone, senior vice president, Global Marketing for Sierra Entertainment. “Empire Earth III will be one of the most expansive strategy games for the PC.”

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World in Conflict Available Now

Sierra announces that World in Conflict is now available in North American stores.

Sierra Entertainment, a division of Vivendi Games, has delivered World in Conflict(TM) — the game unanimously chosen as the Best Strategy Game of E3 2007 — to retail stores across North America today for the personal computer. The highly anticipated action-strategy game was created by Massive Entertainment, a Sierra Entertainment internal studio, and is available in both Standard and Collector’s Edition versions for a suggested retail price of $49.99 and $59.99 respectively.

“Sierra Entertainment is extremely proud to have delivered World in Conflict, one of the premier PC games of 2007, the best strategy game of the year and a title that will appeal to fans of all genres,” said Martin Tremblay, president of worldwide studios, Sierra Entertainment. “World in Conflict represents the next-generation of PC gaming, effectively blurring the lines between strategy, action and first-person-shooter with amazing DX10 graphics, groundbreaking multiplayer, and a deep, emotional single player game.”

World in Conflict emerged from E3 2007 as the clear choice of industry insiders and media as the Best Strategy Game of the show, claiming victory in the category from all major outlets hosting E3 awards. In addition, the game was recognized as one of the top PC games of 2007, earning additional nominations in several “Best PC Game,” “Best Graphics,” and “Best Multiplayer” categories.

Early reviews from around the world are hailing the game’s intense action-packed gameplay and cross-genre appeal. IGN PC called the game “An RTS for the shooter generation” and ” … an action junky’s dream,” awarding World in Conflict a 9.3 out of 10. Eurogamer.de’s 9 out of 10 highlighted the game as “strategy at its finest.”

“World in Conflict reaches out to fans of all genres — from action to strategy to shooter — with content that represents the absolute best of what PC gaming has to offer. As a result, our retail partners worldwide are offering amazing support to help launch this important and highly anticipated product,” said Pascal Brochier, president of Global Retail, Vivendi Games. “We expect World in Conflict to emerge as one of the most successful PC games of 2007.”

Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts Goes Gold

Available to purchase on the 25th:

THQ Inc. today announced Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts, developed by award-winning Real-Time Strategy (RTS) developer Relic Entertainment, has reached the gold master stage of development and is now entering manufacturing. Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts is the next installment in one of the highest-rated RTS franchises of all time, building on the success of the original Company of Heroes with two new armies and vastly enhanced multiplayer options. Developed for Windows PC, the game is expected to begin shipping to retail outlets in North America later this month.” delivers the most cinematic and intense RTS experience available on any platform,” said Kevin Kraff, director of global brand management, THQ. “Relic Entertainment’s reputation is legendary among strategy gamers and Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts blasts away all previous benchmarks for brutally dynamic battlefield action.”

“Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts is a massive game, featuring two new campaigns with more campaign content than the original, significant enhancements to our proprietary Essence engine, and two totally unique new armies for multiplayer action,” said Tarrnie Williams, general manager, Relic Entertainment. “We’ve consistently redefined the standard for excellence in the RTS genre over the last five years, and Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts represents another leap forward in technology and strategic gameplay.”

Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts is the next chapter in the critically acclaimed Company of Heroes franchise. Players take command of the German Panzer Elite as they struggle against the might of the Allied forces, or lead the British 2nd Army in the vicious battle for Caen, France. Internally developed by Relic Entertainment, this standalone title does not require the original Company of Heroes to play, features two unique armies with full length campaigns, new multiplayer options when combined with the original Company of Heroes, Microsoft DirectX 10 support, mission persistence, improved vehicle and soldier AI, enhanced physics and a dynamic weather system. Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts is fully compatible with the original Company of Heroes, allowing players to wage war with four unique armies.

SEGA Unveils Empire: Total War

SEGA today announced Empire: Total War, the revolutionary new instalment of The Creative Assembly’s wildly successful, multi award winning Total War RTS franchise. Empire: Total War will maintain the series genre leading 3D battles, grand turn based campaign map and rich historical flavour while for the first time introducing 3D naval combat into the series.

Empire: Total War is set in the 18th century, a turbulent era that is the most requested by Total War’s™ loyal fan base and a period alive with global conflict, revolutionary fervour and technological advances. With themes such as the Industrial Revolution, America’s struggle for independence, the race to control Eastern trade routes and the globalisation of war on land and sea, Empire: Total War promises to be amongst the richest and most dynamic PC RTS games of all time.

Empire: Total War will see the debut of 3D naval combat within the Total War franchise. PC Gamers will be able to intuitively command vast fleets or single ships upon seascapes rich with extraordinary water and weather effects that play a huge role in your eventual glorious success or ignominious defeat. After pummelling your enemy with cannon fire, close in to grapple their ship and prepare to board taking control your men as they fight hand to hand on the decks.

Along with the revolutionary introduction of Naval Combat, Empire: Total War will see further enhancements to the Total War series signature 3D battles and turn based campaign map. Real time battles will pose new challenges with the addition of cannon and musket, challenging players to master new formations and tactics as a result of the increasing role of gunpowder within warfare. And the Campaign Map – for many the heart of Total War – will see new improved systems for Trade, Diplomacy and Espionage with agents, a refined and streamlined UI, improved Advisers and extended scope taking in the riches of India, the turbulence of Europe and the untapped potential of North America.

“Empire: Total War is a huge revolutionary step for the series. We’re delighted to introduce true 3D naval combat, something that adds a totally new dimension to Total War games.” commented Mike Simpson, Studio Director at The Creative Assembly and the father of the Total War franchise. “We’re genuinely excited about what we’re achieving with the naval battles and also by the scale of the improvements being made to the core of the game – the land battles and the campaign. This will undoubtedly be the biggest and best Total War game we’ve ever made.”

Empire: Total War has already been secretly in development at The Creative Assembly’s Horsham studio for over a year and is priming its forces for a release in 2008.

StarCraft 2 New ScreenShots And Game Info.

Blizzard today offered players the first-ever public opportunity to play an early version of its highly-anticipated real-time strategy game, StarCraft II. Attendees of the company’s BlizzCon gaming festival enjoyed single-player skirmishes as well as multiplayer battles on six different StarCraft II maps. “Since announcing StarCraft II at the Blizzard Worldwide Invitational in May, we’ve been hard at work bringing our ideas for the game’s Terran race and single-player campaign to life,” said Mike Morhaime, president and cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment. “We’re excited to be sharing these new features and gameplay experiences with our players and seeing their reactions.”

One highlight of BlizzCon was the formal unveiling of the Terran race, which features new units such as the Banshee aircraft, the Cobra hover tank, and the fearsome Thor, a massive assault mech designed for attacking enemy bases. Blizzard also emphasized the Terrans’ adaptability, upgradeable structures, and other unique gameplay mechanics designed for strategic flexibility. The first details on StarCraft II’s immersive single-player campaign, in which players will interact closely with the characters of the StarCraft universe while determining their own course through the game’s story line, were also revealed.

Designed to be the ultimate competitive real-time strategy game, StarCraft II will feature the return of the Protoss, Terran, and Zerg races, overhauled and re-imagined with Blizzard’s signature approach to game balance. In addition to its unique single-player campaign, which picks up the epic saga where the last entry in the series, StarCraft: Brood War, left off, StarCraft II will offer fast-paced online play through an upgraded version of its renowned online gaming service, Battle.net.

Blizzard is developing StarCraft II for simultaneous release on the Windows and Macintosh PC platforms.

Crusader Kings: Deus Vult Expansion PreView and ScreenShots

Paradox Interactive announced today an expansion pack to Crusader Kings, their grand strategy game for players vying to create the most powerful dynasty of medieval Europe.

Play as the leader of a glorious dynasty in the period of 1066 to 1453 A.D. Your task? Amass prestige; increase the greatness of your lands and your treasure coffins, build Cathedrals and Castles, appoint vassals and battle traitors, introduce laws and set taxes while interacting with hundreds of courtiers and nobles.

In addition to a graphical overhaul to increase player experience, the epic and intense strategy expansion Deus Vult brings:

• Various added inter-character relations, representing loyalty inside courts, relations between countries, as well as friends and rivals for all characters. No longer will realms just fall apart, a beleaguered King will always have friends who will support him. Also beware as your smoothly running realm could run into trouble when your nice loyal vassal becomes your rival.
• Introduction of new gameplay aspects like the stability affecting realms, numerous traits for characters and options for diplomacy, such as the possibility to send fosterlings to other courts. Plus an all-new system for children. No longer will a 3 year old be able to run a realm effectively. Children are all now born with 0 stats and then develop over childhood. You’ll never know how good your heir will be until he matures.
• A revised interface to streamline gameplay, with several completely redesigned windows. Immediate alert icons highlight immediate problems with your realm and a full ledger with more than a dozen detailed pages.
• A variety of new events as well as a substantial amount of changes and improvements to the tools used by modders.

Deus Vult is scheduled for a release in late September, 2007 and will be available through digital download on GamersGate. The game will retail for $14.99/€14.99.