Matrix Games releases a WW2: Time of Wrath demo
Try your hand at battling for supremacy over Europe in this new playable demo!
Matrix Games and Wastelands Interactive announced the release of a playable demo for WW2: Time of Wrath. Coming on the heels of the release of the successful release of this new grand strategy game, the demo offers gamers a chance to experience World War II on a massive scale.
The demo is available from Patches Scrolls, Gamer’s Hell, Strategy Informer, Fan gaming, and Worth Downloading.
David Heath, Director of Operations at Matrix Games, said “Any fan of World War II strategy should give the Time of Wrath demo a download. It doesn’t take much time to pick up the game and start battling it out across Europe and Time of Wrath is one of the best game systems on the market when it comes to recreating the Second World War!”
From the front lines in France and Russia to the deserts of North Africa and the airfields and convoys of Britain, the campaigns of World War II are yours to command in WW2: Time of Wrath! This turn-based grand strategy title, the highly improved and expanded sequel to WW2: Road to Victory, puts the player in charge of the political, economic and military decisions of one or more Axis or Allied nations, including minor nations. A diplomacy system based on political points allows you to sway possible allies to your side. An upgraded and expanded naval combat system includes fleet engagements, combat patrols, massive aircraft carriers, elusive raiders and U-Boats as well as a convoy system.
Concentrate precious industrial resources on building, training and upgrading a wide variety of combat units from airborne soldiers and armored divisions up to nuclear weapons! Historical leaders enhance the performance of your armies and hundreds of historical events like the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, Lend-Lease and more give you choices that can change the course of history. WW2: Time of Wrath is fought across turns that vary in length by season and 25 km hexes with divisions and corps, giving the player a broad strategic picture of the war while still leaving enough room for operational decisions.
Get more information on WW2: Time of Wrath from its official product page and be sure to get the demo from this list of mirrors.
First Hearts of Iron 3 BETA after action report
Paradox Interactive released the first BETA “After Action Report” for the upcoming WWII strategy title Hearts of Iron 3. A long standing tradition at Paradox Interactive, the “After Action Reports” reveal key gameplay features and allows gamers to “live” the strategic gameplay and its effects through the words of the writer.
In anticipation of the release and the opening of the official “After Action Report” forum where gamers from all over the world are invited to share their “After Action Reports,” Paradox hopes you’ll enjoy this look into how the new automation system is used and how an Italian campaign is used to conquer Yugoslavia.
To read the complete entries, please visit http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/showthread.php?t=409547 or http://www.giantrealm.com.
Hearts of Iron 3 is currently scheduled for release on August 4, 2009. To read more about Hearts of Iron 3 and Paradox Interactive, please visit http://www.paradoxplaza.com.
Hearts of Iron 3
The Hearts of Iron series has become renowned for being the biggest, most detailed and complete strategic game series on World War 2 ever made. Hearts of Iron 3 will follow that tradition closely while focusing on satisfying veteran players through a multitude of brand new features and systems, including a huge map with more than 14,000 land and sea provinces. Recent recognition includes Readers Choice for “Best PC Strategy game” at E3 and nominations in the same category at IGN and Gaming Excellence.
Massive MODPACK released for Theatre of War
1C Company and Battlefront.com are thrilled to announce the release of a massive (and completely free) ModPack for their groundbreaking WW2 tactical combat simulation Theatre of War.
The TOW ModPack contains over 2.6 GB (!) of free maps, weapon and vehicle models, and buildings which can be used to create countless modifications to the original game. Two instruction manuals covering modding basics (such as how to add new units to the game as well as about model and building conversions) are included as well.
A complete list of all the material included in the mod, and a number of additional and enlarged screenshots, can be found by clicking on the Read More link below.
The ModPack is released as a free download to the public, broken up into 4 parts, via Battlefront’s File and Mod Repository at www.battlefront.com/repository, as well as via participating mirror and file hosting partner sites (download links to the mirror sites are listed below).
The ModPack contains no immediately playable materials, but can be used for creating countless mods and missions with the editors and battle generator that has been released with the game. Only your imagination is the limit!
Direct link to the Theatre of War section of the Battlefront Repository
PANZERKRIEG: BURNING HORIZON 2
COMMAND GERMAN, SOVIET AND ALLIED ARMIES IN NEW WW II PC GAME
Panzerkrieg is the new battle strategy PC title inspired by the cult game Blitzkrieg. Due for release in June 2009 by Ascaron Entertainment, Panzerkrieg is a real time strategy that combines the historical accuracy of World War II with thoroughly engaging, yet easy to master gameplay.
Based on three story-driven single player campaigns, Panzerkrieg provides gamers with over 50 hours of tactical combat and engaging strategy. Players can choose between the Allied, German or Soviet campaigns, reliving key battles from history such as the Battle of the Bulge, Operation Sturgeon Catch and Battle of the Frontiers.
German campaign: Lost Victories
Operation Barbarossa is one of the authentic battles that players can relive in Panzerkrieg. The mission begins with German troops located in the East and West, with the surrounding terrain at the enemy’s advantage. Players must deploy their troops to storm the USSR border where the enemy lie in wait. Just like the real invasion, many of the attacks will be from fighter planes in the sky. However, players can also make use of the souvenir H39 French light tank with lethal flamethrowers, for obliterating infantry and light armoured vehicles at short range.
Soviet campaign: Red Horizon
The Soviet missions begin in Orshca, 1941, when Europe was dominated by the German Reich. Players must eliminate the enemy Flak gun and take control of the Katyusha rocket launcher, a formidable weapon with immense fire power. Commanding as Marshall Voroshilov, this tactical mission provides a small number of units that must be carefully deployed. The sniper unit is particularly powerful, as camouflage mode can be used to scout out the enemy, making covert stealth attacks.
Allied campaign: Blitzkrieg Rolling Thunder
After tackling the German and Soviet campaigns, players can truly test their skills as a great war leader in the challenging Allied missions. These include the retreat to Burma from Singapore in 1941, where players can command as General Patton. Quick and strategic thinking is required, as enemy attacks are constant, rapidly diminishing the number of Allied troops. Using the right units is also important, as correctly positioned Bofors anti aircraft guns and British Cromwell and Churchill tanks will help protect troops from airborne and tank attacks. Players can also deploy snipers or officers to see further afield than other units, gaining important information on enemy positions.
Publisher: Ascaron Entertainment
Web: www.Ascaron.com
Developer: United Publishing
Release date: 12th June 2009
PEGI: 12+
Format: PC
Genre: Battle Strategy
Price: £19.99
Choose your weapons, Officer: World War II
Play your part in the greatest conflict the world has ever known.
Officers: World War II from Morphicon & GFI provides real-time strategy players the opportunity to take command in some of the greatest battles of World War II. See whether you can emulate the likes of Eisenhower & Montgomery in smashing the Axis forces and releasing Europe from the steel grip of the Nazis. Officers: World War II allows players to fight on a truly massive scale with over 1500 units to control and maps of up to 10 square miles. Construct your optimal fighting force using a realistic mixture of fighting unit types. Officers: World War II comes complete with a large range of authentic & historically accurate artillery pieces, tanks and aircraft such as;
Hanomag
The SdKfz 251, or HANOMAG half-track was an armoured fighting vehicle built by Germany during World War II. They were produced throughout the war, and are one of the most well known half-tracks of all time. The initial idea was for a vehicle that could be used to transport a squad of troops to the battlefield protected from enemy fire. The open top meant that the crew was still vulnerable, especially to high explosive rounds and shrapnel.
Panzer III
The Panzerkampfwagen III, more commonly referred to as the Panzer III, was a medium battle tank developed in the 1930s by Germany and used extensively in World War II. Armed with a 50 mm cannon and two MG-34s it was designed to fight other AFVs, serving alongside the infantry-support Panzer IV. It soon became obsolete in this role, and for most purposes was supplanted by up-gunned Panzer IVs, though some would continue to be used for infantry support until late in the war. The 50 mm front armor was sufficient against antitank grenades and MG rounds.
Sherman
The US M4 Sherman had the highest production run of any battle tank in WWII. Many variants were designed and manufactured to increase their effectiveness against German Panzer Divisions. The M4A1 was quick, highly manoeuvrable, simple to maintain and equipped with a 75MM gun and twin fixed MGs.
P-40
The P-40 fighter/bomber was the last of the famous “Hawk” line produced by Curtiss Aircraft in the 1930s and 1940s, and it shared certain design elements with its predecessors,
the Hawk and Sparrowhawk. It was the third-most numerous US fighter of World War II. An early prototype version of the P-40 was the first American fighter capable of speeds greater than 300 mph. The first aircraft went into service in May 1940
Cromwell Mk IV
This Cruiser Class medium tank was designed in the difficult economic period of the mid 1930’s. As such, the construction lacked a lot of features that would have increased its cost. The Mark IV lacked most of the exotic weapons carried by earlier models. Instead, it came with 76 mm armour plating and a 75 mm main gun that, for a limited time, made it superior
to the US Sherman.
To see the trailer, click here: http://kalypsomedia.com/trailer/Officers_Trailer.wmv
Officers: World War II will be available on the 29th May 2009 at a RRP of £24.99
For further Information please visit www.kalypsomedia.com
Next Red Orchestra Title Announced
Tripwire Interactive is pleased to announce Red Orchestra: Heroes of Stalingrad, the sequel to the hit PC title Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45, winner of multiple awards: Voodoo Extreme’s FPS and MP Game of the Year 2006, Wargamer’s Best Action Game 2006, IGN Editor’s Choice and many more.
Heroes of Stalingrad will take the Red Orchestra franchise into the next generation of gaming. Cutting edge graphics and audio built on Unreal Engine 3, inventive features and streamlined realism will deliver an unrivalled WWII experience. Focusing on the Battle of Stalingrad and the surrounding operations, both German and Russian, from July 1942 to February 1943 the game allows the player to experience one of the most brutal battles in all of human history. For the first time ever in a first person shooter gamers will be able to experience WWII from the Axis side in a German single player campaign. As always with the Red Orchestra franchise, we will aim to deliver unrivalled accuracy and attention to detail, along with gritty, vicious combat in multi-player, co-op and solo modes. Again, we have listened to the fans and have designed a whole set of new features to make the game more accessible and easy to get into – all while delivering the tactical shooter realism fans of the original game loved.
There is more information available in the June 2009 issue of PC Gamer both in the UK and US, which will be on the news stands in May. The Heroes of Stalingrad forums are also now open – head to www.HeroesofStalingrad.com for the teaser website and access to the forums. We will be releasing more information about the game over the next weeks and months, so keep checking back! Tripwire Interactive are taking the time to get the game right, so the release date will remain “when it is ready” for the time being.
Matrix Games and Tri Synergy to Publish Officers
Tri Synergy and Matrix Games team up to bring gamers massive real time WWII battles!
Matrix Games, Tri Synergy, and GFI are thrilled to announce that Matrix Games will be bringing the World War II real time strategy game Officers to its digital download store & that Tri Synergy will be handling Officers retail distribution!
David Heath, Director of Operations at Matrix Games, said “Officers does a great job of bringing gamers exciting World War II action on an epic scale. There’s nothing quite as visually spectacular as watching dozens of tanks and infantry units clash on a destructible battlefield in all-out combat!”
Defeat the Axis Menace!
Officers puts you in command of the Allied force in the largest conflict of our time. Take control of the US and British armies in order to strike back and defeat the Axis menace on the Western front of Europe. With over 1500 units on maps up to 10 square miles, Officers is the first WWII real time strategy game to let you fight on a truly massive scale. Historical battles like Operation Overlord, Millennium, and Cobra will put your tactical skills to the test using combined forces from infantry and engineers to tanks, artillery and bombers.
Blazing speed and blunt force will only secure victory if you extend your supply lines and capture enemy weaponry and warehouses. Take the high ground and use terrain to your advantage with fully realistic physics and ballistics – only sound tactical maneuver will keep your men alive!
Features include:
- Lead the Allied forces across gigantic battlegrounds up to 10 square miles
- Control over 50 authentic infantry, armor, artillery and aircraft units
- Experience the most massive battles of World War II with up to 1500 units at once
- Use real tactics with terrain and combined forces with authentic vehicle and infantry characteristics
- Destroy nearly anything, anywhere with advanced physics and a fully interactive environment
- Keep your supply lines guarded and capture enemy resources and weapons
Officers will also be available via Tri Synergy at software retailers nationwide. Get more information on Officers from its product page at Matrix Games or Tri Synergy’s product page.
ESRB Rating: EVERYONE +10 with MILD VIOLENCE.
Gametrailers.Com Announces Winners Of Distinguished Game Of The Year Awards 2008
Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto IV Takes Home Coveted “Game of the Year” Award, Along with “Best Action Adventure Game,” “Best Story,” “Best PlayStation3 Game” and “Best Xbox 360 Game”
GameTrailers (GT) – the premier provider of video for gamers – announced the winners of the “GameTrailers Game Of The Year Awards 2008,” crowning Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto IV as “Game of the Year.” Other notable winners include Bethesda Software’s Fallout 3 and SCEA’s LittleBigPlanet.
Celebrating the outstanding caliber of games in 2008, GameTrailers revealed the nominees and winners of 28 game award categories during a ten-day series, culminating on New Years Eve. The GT editorial staff selected the nominees and winners after spending countless hours reviewing hundreds of games for their gameplay, design, artistry and innovation. In honoring the five nominees and ultimate winner in each category, GT produced informative video packages that showcase gameplay highlights and editorial comments on the merits of each nominee.
“This was yet another epic year for the gaming industry, and choosing a winner for each category proved to be very difficult,” said Shane Satterfield, Editor in Chief, GameTrailers. “It was a lengthy, yet fulfilling task to sit with our experienced editorial staff and pick the winners. We want to congratulate the many developers and publishers for their exceptional games and hope their great results carry on into the New Year.”
Log on to GameTrailers to watch all of the “Game of the Year Awards 2008” at www.gametrailers.com
Winners of the “GameTrailers Game Of The Year Awards 2008” are as follows:
Best Puzzle/Parlor Game
Professor Layton and the Curious Village – Nintendo
Best Strategy Game
Sins of A Solar Empire – Stardock
Best New Franchise
LittleBigPlanet - SCEA
Best PlayStation 2 Game
Rock Band 2 - MTV Games/Electronic Arts
Best Racing Game
Burnout Paradise - Electronic Arts
Best PSP Game
God of War: Chains of Olympus - SCEA
Best Nintendo DS Game
Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia – Konami
Best Action Adventure Game
Grand Theft Auto IV - Rockstar Games
Best Sports Game
NHL 09 - Electronic Arts
Best Role-Playing Game
Fallout 3 – Bethesda Softworks
Most Innovative Game
LittleBigPlanet - SCEA
Best Story
Grand Theft Auto IV – Rockstar Games
Best Third-Person Shooter
Gears of War 2 - Microsoft Game Studios
Biggest News Story
Final Fantasy XIII for Xbox 360
Best Downloadable Game
Braid - Number None Inc.
Best Music and Rhythm Game
Rock Band 2 – MTV Games
Most Disappointing Game
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed - LucasArts
Best Graphics
Gears of War 2 – Microsoft Game Studios
Best First-Person Shooter
Resistance 2 - SCEA
Best Trailer
Resident Evil 5 Tokyo Game Show Trailer – Capcom
Best Software Lineup
PlayStation 3
Best Multiplayer Game
Rock Band 2 - Electronic Arts
Biggest Surprise
Final Fantasy XIII for the Xbox 360
Best PC Game
Fallout 3 – Bethesda Softworks
Best Wii Game
Super Smash Bros. Brawl - Nintendo
Best PlayStation 3 Game
Grand Theft Auto IV - Rockstar Games
Best Xbox 360 Game
Grand Theft Auto IV - Rockstar Games
Game of the Year
Grand Theft Auto IV - Rockstar Games
War Plan Pacific Launches Operation D
Playable Demo Now Available For War Plan Pacific!
KE Studios and Shrapnel Games are pleased to announce that a demo for the eagerly awaited War Plan Pacific has been launched and is ready for immediate download. Taste a slice of what to expect in the game by commanding either the Imperial Japanese forces as they rampage across the Pacific from December 1941 until March 1942, or begin the journey to Japan as the Allies and experience the fight from August 1942 through November 1942. Unlike the full game, the demo is limited to single player only, and lacks the ability to save.
The full version of War Plan Pacific is slated to ship within a week. Available only for Windows, War Plan Pacific is a turn-based grand strategic game of the epic conflict between Imperial Japan and the Western Allies during the Second World War. Players can command the historical forces of Japan, the United States, Great Britain, Australia, and the Netherlands in three different scenarios providing historical and alternate set-ups, playable against either the AI or a live opponent via the Internet.
Inspired in part by the classic Avalon Hill board game on the subject, Victory in the Pacific, War Plan Pacific has a comfortable tabletop feel while embracing the digital experience. And just like that classic title, War Plan Pacific was designed from the ground up to be playable in a single session. Average play time is under three hours. And yes, that’s from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay.
While the game plays fast don’t confuse playability with a lack of historical gameplay. John Hawkins, developer of War Plan Pacific, has simply distilled down the Pacific conflict into its more important aspects, creating a game that holds true to reality while not becoming mired with details. Players will find that they can pursue historical strategies in their bid for victory, or branch off and set their own course.
Turns are one month long, and units represent individual ships of light cruiser size or larger, amphibious and transport groups, and air groups. War Plan Pacific emphasizes air and naval combat, abstracting land combat. Combat is handled via a battleboard, and much like the game at large, provides players with many interesting decisions while never weighing them down.
But enough talk! See for yourself what War Plan Pacific has to offer by downloading the demo right now from Shrapnel Games. Just follow this link and download away!
www.shrapnelgames.com/KE_Studios/WPP/WPP_page.html
While downloading the demo check out the complete overview of the game, and after enjoying what the demo offers head on back to order the full game for only $39.95.
For more great military strategy titles from Shrapnel Games please visit us at www.shrapnelgames.com where the discriminating gamer can find such titles as the hyper-realistic line of modern war simulations from ProSIM (so authentic that they are used as a basis for real world military training) to classic tactical hex based gaming from the Camo Workshop with winSPWW2 and winSPMBT (available in FREE full versions and enhanced CD editions). And be sure to check out all the other amazing games we publish, from award winning titles such as Dominions 3: The Awakening and Weird Worlds: Return to Infinite Space to air traffic control gaming!
Seven Lights Launches The Continuum Expansion Packand New Gameplay Features at GenCon
Order & Chaos Pack Adds New Characters and Abilities to Online Collectible War Game
Today at GenCon, Seven Lights is releasing Order and Chaos, the first expansion pack for The Continuum, the premier online collectible war game. The Continuum (www.thecontinuum.com) was launched by Seven Lights in late June and in its first month the game accrued more than 20,000 active players with more than 500,000 characters in their collections. The Order and Chaos expansion pack increases the game’s ever-expanding universe of dynamic digital characters from distinct game realities that do battle with each other in head-to-head online match-ups. GenCon attendees will be able to experience these new Order and Chaos characters at The Continuum’s booth #229.
The Continuum is an original flash-based game that blends the best elements of strategy gaming, collectible gaming, RPGs and digital goods into a distinctive game universe, where players’ actions affect a gripping narrative. The Order and Chaos pack will give players a variety of new gameplay assets, including 10 new characters, 20 new abilities and other goodies that can be used in game. The pack introduces new characters such as the Legion Keracen, a trampling, goring beast used to break enemy lines; the Earth Elemental, a one-woman Manifested army; and the Lightbringer, wielder of light and wands with the ability to attack two different targets with one Basic Attack. The pack is available for purchase using “Element” or “E” (The Continuum’s in-game currency).
Seven Lights is also introducing a new single-player experience, where its players can embark on quests, training scenarios and missions against a competitive AI. As with the multiplayer game, the single-player experience will continue to expand with new scenarios and gameplay assets.
In addition to the pack and single-player game, Seven Lights is also launching a new innovative referral system that takes the typical “rewards for referrals” and expands it into a full-blown family tree. When players send referral e-mails to friends from the system, those friends become pending Descendants. When those players make their first purchase, they are entered into the referring player’s Descendant tree. Those 1st generation Descendants provide the player with a bounty of Element (in-game currency, used for purchasing new characters) to use as they choose. If 1st generation Descendants then refer other players to the game, those players’ first purchase makes them the original player’s 2nd generation Descendants and provide a smaller bounty of Element. This continues on to the 3rd generation and provides a way for players to continue to benefit from the referrals they make for an unlimited amount of time. All of this is charted on each players’ Profile, and can be followed in real-time as their tree grows.
The Continuum is free to start and download, and players are given a number of starter characters to begin battle. Armies are then developed through battles, equipment discovery, and upgrades. Players’ characters and abilities are built through victory, trade, and purchase. Each character has its own unique attributes and abilities, and range in rarity from common to rare to legendary to one-of-a-kind. The characters are constantly developing through RPG game elements, as the game allows players to use experience points for alterations, such as increasing and adding new characteristics and abilities. All customized in-game characters, not just the heroes, develop in a number of different ways to continually change the combat landscape and keep the game exciting and fresh every time it’s played.
The game can be played for ten minutes or for hours, and features a level playing field, where players can have an even match regardless of how much they have invested in their characters either financially and/or with their time. The game is playable on all the major browsers and is not platform dependent. The browser-based format allows Seven Lights to constantly add new content (characters, events, abilities, etc…) on a near real-time basis.