Christmas Comes to Stronghold Kingdoms
Stronghold Kingdoms will be giving away hundreds of thousands of presents this Christmas in the great Stronghold Kingdoms Christmas Giveaway.
As a big “Thank You!” to the Kingdoms community, Firefly’s two weeks of Christmas are almost here.
Starting next week players of free-to-play online strategy game Stronghold Kingdoms will be given the chance to win an in-game present every day.
Each day in the run up to Christmas, players will have the chance to win a prize by opening one of nine festive boxes when they login.
Prizes range from rare strategy cards to premium tokens, with a guaranteed win on Christmas Day.
The competition is open to everyone with a Kingdoms account, but it must end on December 26th.
So put on your chain mail, find that oversized Santa hat and get to it!
Aeria Games Unveiled Dungeons in Upcoming Golden Age
Aeria Games released new details about Golden Age, its upcoming exclusive browser-based, real-time strategy (RTS) title. At the core of Golden Age is classic, city-building RTS mechanics inspired by true Knights Templar history. Visit the all-new Golden Age Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/Aeria.GoldenAge.
Golden Age features a host of expansive role-playing game (RPG) elements, surprisingly in-depth strategy-based warfare, and dozens of instanced dungeons for players. When not fighting other players in the epic Battlefield or conquering pirate encampments for valuable treasures, players must lead armies through challenging instanced dungeons. Players must enter instances by conversing with a non-playable character (NPC) in Sanctum City, Golden Age’s side-scrolling, RPG-style town.
Instanced dungeons in Golden Age allow players to: Read more
Stronghold 3 will be released on PC later this summer
Leading videogame publisher, SouthPeak Interactive Corporation and Firefly Studios have today announced that upcoming castle building strategy game Stronghold 3 will be released on PC later this summer. The release window has been pushed back to include a host of great new features that will ensure Stronghold 3 truly is the king of the castle.
“We want to make sure fans get the game they want and deserve,” said Stronghold 3’s designer Simon Bradbury. “Although some may be disappointed the game isn’t coming out as soon as they expected, we’re sure they won’t be disappointed with the new elements we’re adding to the franchise, to make this the best Stronghold yet.”
Since first launching in 2001, the Stronghold series has become one of the most respected in its genre thanks to its mix of precision village building, fast-paced real-time gameplay and dramatic sieges with hundreds of enemies swarming over castles. Stronghold 3 has a keep full of fantastic features – including night time battles, an improved multiplayer, cutting edge physics and a stunning graphics engine – which ensure old and new fans alike experience a gritty slice of medieval life.
To keep up to date with the latest Stronghold 3 news, join the Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/stronghold3 and for details on SouthPeak’s other products, head to www.southpeakgames.com
Dawn of Fantasy launches on PC globally on June 3
505 Games announced today its plans to publish Dawn of Fantasy, an upcoming massively multiplayer online real time strategy (MMORTS) title from developer Reverie World Studios. Set in the massively multiplayer fantasy world of Mythador, complete with its own living economic, trading, development and diplomacy systems, players will have the opportunity to leave their mark on the land’s war-torn history when the game launches on PC globally on June 3, 2011.
Offering a fresh perspective on the fantasy RTS genre, Dawn of Fantasy will deliver a persistent world war experience like none before. Thousands of players building, exploring and fighting together to crush AI controlled strongholds and empires in a rich tapestry of story-driven encounters, all of which builds upon the already weighty single player campaign experience. In a world that continues to trade and evolve even after logging off, players will also test their armies’ constitution in matched head-to-head multiplayer encounters on their road to becoming the biggest city-state in Mythador.
Each of the three different races available to players – elves, men and orcs – offer a radically different playing style based on a carefully balanced system of strengths and weaknesses. With an in-game narrative driven by a dramatic historical background, Dawn of Fantasy will combine rich storytelling with compelling gameplay to provide a strategy experience to appeal to MMO and RTS fans alike. Read more
Avalon Heroes: huge update for the most wonderful time of the year
On December 22, publisher burda:ic will release the biggest patch in the history of the free-to-play online RTS RPG highlight.
Is it Christmas already? Not quite, but the free-to-play game Avalon Heroes will indeed be bringing the big day forward this year – by several days! Fans of the online RTS RPG will receive a superlative update on December 22: two quick-witted heroes, an improved guild system, the game modes “Elimination” and “Deathmatch”, plus many smaller updates, as well as plenty of yuletide spirit. Thus, Avalon Heroes is really cranking it up toward the end of the year, and is sure to have strategists and role-players alike glued to their screens.
Fighting for honor and glory here is just pure enjoyment! The new “reconnect system” being introduced on December 22 for the first time allows hero and game data to be saved, enabling players to reconnect to matches they started previously. The guild system will also be completely overhauled: The “guild war system” in battle mode will allow extra EXP to be collected; the “guild benefit system”, reminiscent of a popular MMO system, holds additional rewards in store for successful guilds. Moreover, there are two brand-new game modes to discover. In “Elimination”, the team still standing after 25 minutes of playing wins. In “Deathmatch”, on the other hand, the aim is to defeat more heroes in a given period of time than the opposing team.
However, no Avalon Heroes update would be complete without new heroes! There is Humbaba, an exemplary melee fighter capable of taking on several enemies at once. Or you might prefer Rukselam, whose HP and defense stats are excellent. Whichever of these two heroes a player might choose, collecting and mastering the skills of these unique heroes is about to become more motivational than ever, as the plaza market is resplendent in white, and new costumes will almost allow certain heroes to pass for Santa Claus on the battlefield.
Avalon Heroes is free to play! The games client is available for free download at www.avalonheroes.alaplaya.net/download.
HISTORY Great Battles Medieval
‘These are my battlefields. And I will fight for my men, for my king and for my country”
Publisher Slitherine’s latest title, HISTORY Great Battles Medieval is now due out at the end of September 2010 on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC. HISTORY is the leading cable television network offering award-winning non-fiction series and specials that invite viewers to experience the excitement and relevance of history – How, Why, What If…?.
This strategy RPG is the most detailed and realistic medieval combat model ever created. In these epic encounters players must lead armies through the greatest of medieval wars and make history live again. Famous figures like The Black Prince, Joan of Arc and Henry V all take their turn in this epic conflict deploying new weapons and battle tactics that finally left England as an island nation.
With all the knowledge and backing from HISTORY, this strategy RPG is the most detailed and realistic medieval combat model ever created, claim Slitherine. Each man must stand tall. Each man’s mettle will be tested. But amongst all men there are leaders, there are those who will not be cowed. Can you be that leader? In these epic encounters players must lead armies through the greatest of medieval wars and make history live again. Famous figures like The Black Prince, Joan of Arc and Henry V all take their turn in fighting for nationalism deploying new weapons and battle tactics that finally left England as an island nation. Read more
Theatre of War 3 Korea announced
Battlefront.com and 1C Company announced the third title in the Theatre of War series of tactical real-time strategy games: Theatre of War 3 Korea!
This new third title adds a whole new dimension to tactical historical warfare! And we do not only mean the inclusion of helicopters to the modern battlefield, but also the addition of a whole new strategic game mode on top of the tactical simulation engine, bringing your combat experience to a whole new level.
Theatre of War 3 Korea begins where World War II ended. Replay the events of the first hot war of the Cold War era – the Korean War, also known as the Forgotten War! The players are involved in two campaigns, both set in 1950: the North Korean campaign spans June 25 – August 20 and the American campaign from September 15 – October 8.
In this title, and for the very first time in the series, armchair generals can test their skills on an entirely new strategic level as well – the operational game mode allows you to freely move your forces over the entire Korean Peninsula, managing reserves, as well as fuel and ammo supply, and adds whole new dimension to the tactical battles.
The release date for the title has been tentatively announced for Quarter I-2011. The game will be available directly from www.battlefront.com, as usual, as both digital download and in physical form via snail mail.
Three new screenshot galleries are opening today together with the official game website, http://www.battlefront.com/korea. Watch this space for more details, coming soon…
Hearts of Iron 3: Semper Fi
Continuing to improve upon Hearts of Iron 3: Semper Fi, Paradox Interactive has released a new update that brings numerous refinements to the company’s recently released World War II strategy game expansion.
The patch further enhances the vast AI improvements found in the expansion, brings balance changes to units and weapons, and also improves overall stability. Combined, the changes make it that much easier for players to re-write the history as they lose themselves in their own version of World War II, set their own hidden victory conditions, and manage their allies.
Released in June 2010, Semper Fi marks the first expansion to Hearts of Iron 3, and is available through most major digital distributors, including GamersGate, Impulse and Steam.
Major Changes in 2.03b
- Fixed multiple stability bugs, most related to nations being annexed
- Fixed the missing unit model picture bug
- Fixed the Arcade Mode freeze during “Adapting History”
- Fixed the bug with automated HQs below Theatre level suddenly deciding to defend the whole theatre front
- Convoys should no longer ship either fuel or supplies when none are needed in the area
- AI improvements across the board
For more information and a full list of fixes, visit www.facebook.com/heartsofiron
The August Gamers Front Specials Heat Up The Dog Days Of Summer!
Save On Pushing Tin And Paratroops All This Month!
This month at the Shrapnel Games official e-store, the Gamers Front, gamers looking for something different in their strategy games will be pleased to know that Air Command 3.0 and The Falklands War: 1982 are the choices for the monthly special. Grab them all month long at their reduced prices and enjoy their unique gaming challenges.
In the majority of strategy games victory is only attainable through destruction and elimination. Air Command 3.0 is a strategy game in which violence creates failure, not success.
A rather unique game, Air Command 3.0 belongs to the strategy sub-genre of the air traffic control sim. The player is responsible for directing air traffic at one of ten airports through all manner of environmental conditions. Winning the game is dependent on those aircraft landing safely, and though it features a great UI that makes Air Command 3.0 highly accessible, there is a lot more to getting those aircraft on the ground then just a click or two.
Air Command 3.0 does an excellent job of setting the mood. Digitized vocal acknowledgements from the pilots will make you feel like you’re up in the tower at Hartsfield, and realistic doppler precipitation patterns will make your local weatherman jealous. Four levels of difficulty ensure that everyone from professionals who do this kind of thing for a living to those that are afraid to fly will find the right amount of challenge. There is even an option to simulate communication difficulty with the pilots, adding yet another layer to the challenge. An editor to create your own airports is also included, making it possible to create any airport in the world.
Gamespy said it best of Air Command 3.0. “Have you ever seen those jugglers that juggle three objects and then suddenly have three or four more thrown into the mix? That’s what it feels like during the rush hour in Air Command 3.0. Just when you think you’ve got the situation under control, it changes. However, when you get it right, it’s very rewarding, and when you get it wrong, you’re left with the mix of anger and desire to improve that is sometimes called addiction.” Read more
Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty
Highly anticipated sequel to Blizzard Entertainment’s sci-fi real-time strategy game launches around the world
Following several years of development and an extensive beta test that resulted in focused feedback from thousands of players worldwide, Blizzard Entertainment is pleased to announce that StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty is now on sale in North America, Europe, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, and the regions of Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau. To celebrate the launch with players, Blizzard Entertainment hosted retail launch parties in 12 cities around the world. For video assets from these events, visit www.newsinfusion.com/starcraft2.
StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty is the sequel to Blizzard Entertainment’s 1998 hit StarCraft, which has been hailed by players and critics worldwide as one of the top real-time strategy games of all time. Sporting a vibrant 3D-graphics engine, StarCraft II once again centers on the clash between the protoss, terrans, and zerg, with each side deploying legions of veteran, upgraded, and new unit types. Unparalleled online play for StarCraft II is available through a new version of Battle.net, Blizzard Entertainment’s world-renowned gaming service. Battle.net has been redesigned from the ground up to be the premier online gaming destination for Blizzard gamers, with several enhancements and new features, such as voice communication, cloud file storage, leagues and ladders, achievements, stat-tracking, and more.
“We’ve worked hard to deliver an epic continuation of the StarCraft story line as well as the ultimate competitive real-time strategy game with StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty,” said Mike Morhaime, CEO and cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment. “Combined with the next-generation online environment of the new Battle.net, we believe players will agree that StarCraft II offers an experience unlike anything we’ve ever created, and we’re excited to finally be able to share it with them.”
The solo campaign for StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty picks up the saga where it left off in StarCraft: Brood War®. The story line chronicles the exploits of marshal-turned-rebel-leader Jim Raynor and features both familiar faces and new heroes. Players can tailor the experience, choosing their own mission path and selecting technology and research upgrades to suit their playing style throughout the 29-mission campaign. Several challenge missions are also included, with focused goals designed to ease players into the basics of multiplayer strategies. Read more