Archive for December, 2005

Publishing house GFI and development company GFI UA continue unveiling secrets of the "Officers" game world. This time we are talking about air forces, artillery and sappers.

The role of air forces can hardly be overestimated during the war. They serve for supply transportation purposes, deliver commandos in the enemy’s rear, and do reconnaissance missions. With battle-planes and bombers being redoubtable and terrifying angels of death spreading panic and devastation among the enemy, fighters may be called guardian angels that bring hope and inspiration.

While playing Officers you will be able to use aircrafts for powerful air strikes, carpet bombing, aerial reconnaissance and dropping off commandos. In case of the hostile air strike, you can call fighters, and steel birds will engage in a deadly round dance to the accompaniment of machine-gun fire. The air force use will be limited because of its extreme killing power and effectiveness. Hence, the player will have to decide for themselves whether and when to use regular forces and ask for air support.

As for the artillery, everything is also very similar to the real war. There are different types of howitzers, anti-tank and flak cannons, reactive artillery, self-propelled artillery and multiple-launch rocket systems. Similarly to the tanks we have already mentioned in our previous communiqués, cannons also have a set of damageable parts and can fire two types of shells, i.e. armor-piercing and high-explosive.

The player can pick the type of ammo manually or allow the AI to do so. Cannons can also be entrenched, what makes them less vulnerable and more effective in defense. But on the other hand, entrenched cannons can not turn around on 360 degrees that sometimes may be a serious drawback. To increase cannon mobility the player can hitch it to a truck. This been done, the player should keep an eye on their troops to protect them from possible ambushes and air strikes.

Sappers also known as engineers as well play an important part in the game because of their special abilities. They can set up antitank installations, place and clear minefields, repair damaged technique, and build pontoon bridges and mobile supply depots. The latter are extremely vital for offensive operations because they are the only supply stations that can quickly provide so much needed ammo and fuel to advancing troops.

Source: http://news.softpedia.com/news/More-Detailes-On-Officers-15689.shtml

The 2006 Gamer’s ‘Tome of Ultimate Wisdom: An Almanac of Pimps, Orcs and Lightsabers’ book by William Abner is filled with entertaining reviews, previews and commentaries on all gaming platforms and the gaming industry as a whole.

The 300 page book takes a month-by-month look back at the significant game releases of 2005 and looks ahead to the exciting titles gamers can expect to see in 2006. Along the way the Gamer’s Tome offers insights into anything and everything that has to do with gaming, including why sports games are the biggest rip-off in the industry, advice on how to talk about games in public without being shunned by "regular" people and even what energy drinks give you that extra oomph you need to get through an all-night LAN party.

The book includes:

- A daily dose of gaming goodness for PC, Xbox, Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, GameCube, GameBoy, Nintendo DS, and the PSP

- "Best of" and "Top 10" lists for every aspect of gaming

- Trivia, history, and nifty facts about gaming

- Nostalgic trips with classic games and how to play them on your computer today.

- Corporate Graveyard essays that discuss the legacy of formerly popular developers such as Ion Storm, Troika Games, and Looking Glass Studios

- Bargain Bin essays that highlight great games that can be bought for $20 or less

- Links on where to grab some of the best mods for popular PC games

- The Gamer’s Tome covers every genre from sports, shooters, platformers, adventure, role-playing, strategy, MMOGs, and much, much more.

Source: http://news.softpedia.com/news/2006-Gamer-s-Tome-of-Ultimate-Wisdom-An-Almanac-of-Pimps-Orcs-and-Lightsabers-15678.shtml

Fireglow announced today the launch of a brand new website www.suddenstrike.com for ‘Sudden Strike 3: Arms for Victory’, the first WWII game to be based on the new generation game engine "Sudden Strike Next 7".

The game does not stay in the borders of conventional RTS genre. They introduce some major interface and game play innovations, distinguishing it from other WWII games, and definitely from all previous Sudden Strike series games created by the company.

The game simulates joint operations of all combat arms on the global scale: land forces, air forces and navy. New paradigm of user interface allows the player to control vast areas and large amount of troops conveniently, being easy to use even for a beginner player, and avoiding undesired micromanagement. The player will be free to choose different ways to play at his own discretion, this leading to significant diversity in game situations and in ways of completion of scenario; therefore it would be interesting for some players to complete the scenarios several times.

The gameplay will include sea battles, supported by aviation, submarines and planes hunting the enemy’s caravans. The player will be able to build profound coastal defense lines. Carrier-based aviation will participate in naval battlesand support land operations. The player should control his naval and air forces carefully, as they are a clue to success in land operations. Ports will play an important role in the game, as the gates for shipment of infantry, weapons, ammunition and fuel. Land operations will cover vast territories, and therefore reconnaissance will be essential. These are the innovations which could not be seen in WWII games until now.

Source: http://news.softpedia.com/news/Fireglow-Launched-A-New-Brand-Website-For-Sudden-Strike-3-15680.shtml

ZUXXEZ Entertainment causes new fascination in the RPG-world with the presentation of the Hollywood ready role playing highlight "Two Worlds".

Together with the developer team Reality Pump, creator of the most popular RTS game "Earth 2160", the publisher introduces a new blockbuster candidate with opulent graphics and gameplay.

Thrilling fight choreographies, gripping characters and realistic worlds create new dimensions in the genre. The title also introduces new benchmarks in content. Experienced script editors link the cinematic story with maximum gaming freedom in a medieval fantasy world.

CEO Alexandra Constandache: "Thanks to "Two Worlds", we again have an excellent title in our portfolio which allows us to sight the genre throne. We don’t need to hide from international competition. Over the last years, the Reality Pump team has created another brilliant masterpiece that thanks to free character development, an exiting story and an ingenious combat system."

Source: http://news.softpedia.com/news/Two-Worlds-RPG-Announced-15635.shtml