Friday, January 20, 2006

Imperivm: Great Battles of Rome


Developed together with Haemimont, the company behind the acknowledged AI of Celtic Kings (2002) and Worldwide success Tzar (2000), Imperivm GBR introduces RTC (Real Time Conquest), a novel gaming concept that combines three key ideas:

* Military conquest-oriented RTS.
* RPG features playing a key role in battles.
* Storyline based on historical facts, scenarios and characters.

Romans, Egyptians, Britons, Germans, Gauls, Iberians, Carthaginians... Command the Legions and relive the great victories of Rome or lead their enemies in their fight for freedom.

12 epic battles designed with the help of historians and where the main characters are some of the greatest strategists of all ages: Julius Caesar, Cleopatra, Augustus, Queen Boudicca, Marcus Aurelius...

From their "key points" document:

1.1 - Military conquest-oriented RTS

Concentrate on military strategy and focus your efforts on commanding your troops:

? Forget about technologies, giving orders is much better.
Orders are powerful, for example, in situations of grave danger ?Call to arms?
changes your entire civilian population into an army.

? Don?t build structures, instead use your army to conquer them.
If you need gold, what better way is there to get it than by seizing it from your enemy?

? Don?t waste time producing resources, just take them.
Control as much territory as possible, levy taxes and protect the supply lines of your troops.

1.2 - RPG features playing a key role in battles

The battles become more realistic when RPG features come into play:

? The heroes, more decisive than ever.
Julius Caesar, Cleopatra, Augustus, Queen Boudicca, Marcus Aurelius... Real heroes who transmit their charisma and experience to the troops under their command.
Their decisions make the difference between defeat and victory.

In Imperivm GBR each hero has five skills that are unique to them and their civilization. These improve not only their individual combat abilities but also that of their army.

The battle experience your units acquire makes them each time more lethal against enemy troops. In addition, your forces are most effective when they use their special skills; for example, the ?Charge? multiplies by eight the strike force of your mounted units.

The game includes five centuries of battles that built the greatest Empire of all time.

Imperivm GBR takes you to the third century B.C., when the Roman Republic took
its first steps towards expanding beyond the Italic Peninsula, all the way to the second century A.D., when the Empire was at its zenith. During this period you have the opportunity to command Rome?s legions and relive their greatest victories or, if you prefer, you can lead their enemies in their fight for freedom.

Each battle was designed with the input of historical experts. A video will show you
the key moments in the historical period and the battle you are about to relive.

Landing in Africa ? 204 B.C.
Each victory reaped by Hannibal in the heart of Italy is a further
blow to the pride of Rome. To force him to withdraw, the Senate entrusts Scipio with the task of attacking Carthage on its home territory. The Roman general, who defeated the Carthaginians in Hispania, disembarks in North Africa...

The Siege of Numantia ? 134 B.C.

The impregnable Numantia has become the refuge of the resistance forces confronting Rome on the Iberian Peninsula. After 20 years of failures, the Senate assigns Scipio Emilianus the task of subjugating the rebel city once and for all. The Roman general lays siege to the city.

The Battle of Alesia ? 52 B.C.
The Gallic War is at a crucial crossroads. Five legions, led by Julius Caesar, raise a palisade and surround the fortified hill town of Alesia. In order to defend itself from the Gallic army that is on its way to assist their besieged compatriots, they construct a second outer defence. Caesar?s military genius is put to the test against an army that outnumbers him tenfold...

Augustus at the Nile ? 31 B.C.
Mark Anthony, supported by Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, yearns for the absolute power of Rome. An ambition that is dashed when his rival, Octavius Augustus, defeats the Egyptian fleet at the battle of Actium off the coasts of Greece.

After this victory, Augustus? legions prepare to disembark in the Nile delta and take possession of the land of the Pharaohs.

The Conquest of Britannia ? 77 A.D.
The noble tribune Gnaeus Iulius Agricola is appointed Governor of Britannia. By express desire of the emperor, he travels to the Island with a twofold mission - to pacify the southern regions and to hold back the threat of the Caledonians to the north, true experts in ambush tactics -.

Marcus Aurelius in Germany ? 167 A.D.

The Germanic hordes swarm across the Empire?s borders and sack the Roman city of Aquilea, in the gulf of Venice...

The emperor Marcus Aurelius is not prepared to tolerate such audacity and he takes command of the largest army ever seen.

The objective, to expel the invaders beyond the Danube and to end
the Barbarian threat once and for all.
Hannibal at the Gates of Rome ? 216 B.C.
Leading a force of 50,000 infantry, 9,000 horsemen and 37 elephants, Hannibal crosses the Alps and invades Italy.

He defeats the legions at Tesino, Trebia and Trasimene and culminates this series of feats with a tremendous victory at Cannae.

The Carthaginian army is at the gates of Rome itself...

Viriathus dominates Hispania ? 146 B.C.
Viriathus is elected leader of the Lusitanians, the most powerful tribe
in Hispania.

For eight long years he is the bane of Rome, thanks to his knowledge of the terrain and his command of guerrilla tactics.

At the height of his power, Viriathus dominates practically the whole
of the Iberian Peninsula.

Egypt in Arms ? 58 B.C.
In Egypt, the splendor of the Pharaohs is nothing but a memory.

While Rome maintains King Ptolemy XII in power, it demands abusive tributes from the Egyptian people.

Discontent spreads until the uprising breaks out. Egypt takes on
the might of Rome.

The Battle of Gergovia - 52 B.C.
The nobleman Vercingetorix has proved capable of unifying the Gallic tribes and leading the resistance against Rome.

But fight for freedom demands sacrifice. The Gallic leader devastates his own villages, thus depriving the legions of food and supplies.

This scorched-earth strategy proves successful and turns Vercingetorix into a fearsome enemy. Caesar is forced to attack his capital...Gergovia.
Arminius, the Rebel General ? 9 A.D.
Rome?s dream is to extend its dominions beyond the Rhine, a territory where the Germanic tribes are wreaking havoc. The governor Publius Quinctilius Varus takes on the mission of securing a new border along the banks of the Elbe river.

Among their ranks is Arminius, a general of Germanic origin, ready and willing to renege on Rome to defend his own people.

Queen Boudicca?s Rebellion? 60 A.D.
Britannia is a hotbed of rebellions, rising up against the arrogance of Rome. While the governor Paulinus Suetonius smothers a revolt on the island of Anglesey, the queen of the Iceni, Boudicca, heads for the capital of the Roman province.

In the face of tenacious resistance by the imperial army, Boudicca wields her sword fiercely to slice through their ranks.

I urge you to click on the link to the full Key Points document to review the beautiful graphics and historical detail of this outstanding effort.
I see Slitherine Software is working on a sequel to Legion entitled Legion II: Civilizaton and Empire. It is scheduled for a 2007 release. The developers at Slitherine say you will be able to:

  • Found new cities & improve existing ones with a choice of hundreds of different buildings.

  • Explore the vast campaign map, discover continents, meet new tribes and locate rare resources.

  • Use the random map generator for endless replay value.

  • Research new technologies, build new structures and recruit new troops.

  • Send diplomats to negotiate, spy, broker peace deals & provoke wars.

  • Allocate workers & keep them happy to prevent riots and revolts.

  • Withstand droughts, floods and religious unrest along with a wide range of external influences.

  • Win by total domination or by completing missions.

  • Recruit great leaders to command your troops.

  • Build fortresses and besiege enemy strongholds.

  • Undertake epic construction projects to impress your people and other civilizations, which bestow great benefits.

Sounds promising to me!

Friday, January 13, 2006

Cinecitta Studio plans Theme Park


Great News! I went up on Cinecitta Studios website today and was excited to read that Cinecitta is planning a "Universal Studios"-type theme park. I can't help but assume it is, at least partially, due to the success of HBO's "Rome" miniseries and the potential to capitalize on the elaborate sets that were produced for it.

"Cinecittà World intends to build a Park that, with a view on national and international accomplishments, but always acquainted of a European matrix and heritage, will "transport" visitors in the fanciest journeys of movie magic and entertainment.
Located not far from Rome, the Park of Cinecittà World will cover a surface of 60 hectares. " - Cinecitta Studios