Salammbo: Battle for Carthage

Salammbo: Battle for Carthage : "The original Salammbo is the classic literary work of Gustave Flaubert. It is set during the Punic Wars. Salammbo, the daughter of Hamilcar, a Carthaginian general, falls in love with Mathos, the mercenary leader under Hamilcar's command. An escaped slave, Spendius, helps them to unite, and in the process to destroy Carthage.

The game itself is based both on the book and on Druillet's comic series. It took most of the story from Flaubert, ignoring the spaceships and monsters from the comic books, but it adopted most of the visuals from the latter. Instead of the space-faring adventurer Lone Sloane, Mathos is once again just a mercenary leader, and instead of beasts straight out of the Lord of the Rings movies, you'll see normal elephants once again. However, the very outlandish dresses, claustrophobic settings and non-traditional comics panel placement is straight from Druillet's drawings.

In this game, you play Spendius, an escaped slave turned thief, and your main goal is to survive and destroy Carthage. Throughout the story, you'll sneak into the city, hunt wild boars, fight dragons, steal, kill and maim. "

Asterix & Obelix Battle the Roman Empire on PS2

Asterix & Obelix: "Asterix & Obelix have been running rampant against the Roman Empire in their comic books for the past 40 years. This ever-lasting battle of these Gauls to prevent the gentrification and Romanification of their plot of land has led to numerous fistfights and cunning activities. Apparently, 50 B.C. was a pretty rockem-sockem time and their adventures have proven popular, selling over 300 million copies worldwide. With so much punching and adventuring, a game comes naturally and Asterix & Obelix seeks to bring the action to the screen."

Scheduled Release Date: September 7, 2004

Mare Nostrum

Mare Nostrum: "Players sail the Mediterranean Sea and explore it?s surrounding lands to find places to build cities and access to different resources (perfume, oil, gold, slaves, etc .).
Players build civilization by exploiting these finds. The commodities are used to build cities, wonders and pyramids, or to establish trade routes to the areas where the commodities are produced. Players may also conquer open provinces or even those that are controlled by their opponents."

Fading Legions Boardgame

Fading Legions: "The last true Roman armies try to stave off invasions by Germans, Persians and Gauls between 357 and 378 AD. Includes the battles of Strasbourg (357 AD), Tigris (May, 363), Ctesiphon (May, 363), Megara (June,363), Phrygia (June, 363), Sumere (June, 363), Nacolia (366), Argentum (376), Ad Salices (377), Dibaltum (377) and Adrianople (378).
Fading Legions is a stand alone addition to the Rome At War system of games."

Nero: Legacy of A Despot

"In Nero: Legacy of a Despot, you are a contender for Imperial power. Using your legions and political influence, your aim is to either seize and hold the Imperium by being declared Emperor, or to gather enough land and power so that, at game's end, you are in position to do so.

Nero: Legacy of a Despot is an exciting strategic boardgame full of opportunities. The overall strategy is to become Emperor, stay Emperor, grab areas, and amass victory points. However, to do that, rather than take an extended overview and plan way ahead, the game requires players, instead, to react and act quickly, often making their own opportunities by playing the event cards sagaciously and timely.

Event cards include Assassins, Briberies, Bad Auguries, German Tribe Attacks, Galley Fleets, Crisis in Roma, the Praetorian Guard and many more!"

Immortal Cities: Children of the Nile

Immortal Cities: Children of the Nile: "Set in ancient Egypt, this strategy game centers on AI citizens who behave like real people and serve as your primary resource. Build a place where citizens can live and work, develop your leadership position, and take Egyptian civilization to its peak.

As Pharaoh, you have a paternalistic relationship with your people. You have to address their wants and needs for your kingdom to become successful and powerful. You’ll also need a powerful city to build your monuments and, most importantly, your tomb. You’ll actually command a dynasty, and it’s important for your prestige for the pharaohs in your family to be buried in style, most preferably in massive pyramids.

You’ll be able to expand your power over the entire Nile if you play your cards right, and a strategic portion of the game will allow you to both establish colonies and build forts to expand your domain. "

Empire Earth 2 Introduces Territory Concept

"Empire Earth 2 will introduce the concept of territory to real-time strategy games. The maps will be pre-divided into a set number of territories, and if you capture one, it can tip the balance of power in your favor, because you'll then have access to all the resources in that territory. You'll also be able to use territory to great effect in the game's deep diplomacy system. For example, you can offer to trade territory in exchange for peace or an alliance, or you can grant harvesting rights in a territory to another faction that's looking for specific resources. In this case, you can give unlimited rights, or you can choose to 'tax' a percentage of the resources gathered by this other faction. This way, someone can develop unused resources on your territory, and you can benefit from it. "

Gates of Troy can be played alone or as Spartan add-on

Slitherine Software has announcee that Gates of Troy has gone
gold. I didn't realize it until the latest press release but this "expansion pack" can be played with or without "Spartan". Gates of Troy includes the following scenarios:

"The Trojan Wars
The pass of Thermopylae
Greek Colonization
Pre-Historic Greece
The Ionian Revolt
Grand Campaign with Rome & Persia "