The Shadow od Aten

Silicon Garage The Shadow of Aten is a 3D Action/Adventure multiplatform game in which the player assume the role of a new hero, Allan Scott, an attractive and enigmatic adventurer who will go deep into the fascinating and mysterious world of Ancient Egypt.

The Shadow of Aten is settled in the attractive and ambiguous environment of Egypt in the 30s decade, full of mysteries, dazzling treasures, half-lights and hidden dangers.
An elaborate plot based on real facts about the worship of the god Aten, the first monotheism of mankind. "

This new title by developer Silicon Garage Arts is planned for release in the fourth quarter of 2007.

Superscape brings Gladiator Game to the Cell Phone

"Gladiator, modeled after the Ridley Scott-directed movie, allows gamers to slip into the scandals of disgraced Roman general Maximus as his rises again as a gladiator in the most vicious bloodsport of ancient times.

The game begins in the heart of the barbarian battle that opens the movie. Gladiator is not a straight forward action game -- it is more of a tactics game where you must move the general around the map square by square, balancing the amount of time and energy expended on movement with that used for fighting. For example, the reviewer spied a barbarian across the forest landscape, but to walk all the way to him would have put the player in harm's way without any time to attack.

After finishing up the forest battle, the game moves into Maximus' fall. Soon, you find yourself cast into battles in the great arenas of Italy, including the Coliseum in Rome. Maximus must battle both human gladiators and animals, using a variety of weapons like maces, spears, swords, and hammers.

According to Superscape, the game also measures the love of the crowd. The better you perform in the arena, the more extras you can unlock. It stands to give this game some replay value, which is already looking like a lengthy play."

Slitherine announces Gold release of Legion: Arena

Recruit and train your troops
* Buy equipment and choose their skills. Over 100 skills to choose from!
* Personalise the appearance of each squad by selecting their textures
* Command vast armies in epic 3D battles
* Earn experience and denari for your victories
* Two campaign paths - play as Romans or Gauls. Get drawn into the story of the rise of Rome.
* Over 100 scenarios
* Over 20 unique unit types including Legionaries, Praetorians, Elephants and Naked Fanatics.
* Special effects including water, particles, lighting & night battles, weather and grass
* Detailed combat model designed by a double world wargaming champion.
* Deploy your troops and issue orders before battle.
* Real time control in battle using the innovative order time system
* Every unit has strengths and weaknesses. Learn how to use your strengths and exploit your enemies weaknesses.
* Real terrain effects - cavalry are weaker in woods, light infantry are weaker in the open.
* Easy to learn, hard to master.

4-disc 'Ben-Hur' DVD Epic a 4-Star Experience

BY TERRY LAWSON

"Though nothing can match the thrill of seeing William Wyler's Biblical-era epic on screen, in the wide-screen process the studio modestly dubbed 'M-G-M 65,' the 1959 film had been lovingly restored, and the two-sided disc came with very good extras, including the 1993 documentary 'The Making of an Epic,' screen tests and commentary by star Charlton Heston.

But in DVD time, four years is a generation. So now comes 'Ben-Hur: Collector's Edition' (FOUR STARS out of four stars, Warner, $39.92), a four-disc set that improves on the earlier release in every way. The new Dolby 5.1 Surround remix improves substantially on the earlier one.

And it adds even more related material, including the entire 1925 adaptation of Lew Wallace's novel, with silent screen stars Ramon Novarro as Judah Ben-Hur and Francis X. Bushman as Messala, the childhood friend who becomes his bitter enemy and chariot-race-cheating competitor.

The 1993 doc is still here, but is now the companion to the newly produced hour-long 'The Epic That Changed Hollywood,' which focuses on the film's impact on the movie business. Contributors include Ridley Scott, whose 'Gladiator' owes 'Ben-Hur' an enormous debt, and George Lucas, who modeled his 'Phantom Menace' pod race after the chariot race."

Rome Total War: Barbarian Invasion

"The campaign in Barbarian Invasion starts in AD 363, several centuries after the campaign in Rome: Total War. Rome has been divided into eastern and western empires, with the east ruled from Constantinople (now Istanbul) and the west still centered in Rome itself. Meanwhile, many of the old tribes seen in Rome: Total War have faded into history, and new tribes, such as the Vandals and the Goths, have emerged in the wilderness beyond Rome's borders. Your mission in Barbarian Invasion is to take control of one of the 10 major factions of the era and survive and expand your empire, mainly through conquest.

All factions are available to play immediately at the start of the game--you don't have to unlock them like you had to do in Total War. In addition to the aforementioned factions, you can also play as the Samartians, the Germanic Frankish tribes, the Saxons, the Sassanids, the Alemanni, and the dread Huns. Of course, each faction has its own specialties and bonuses. The Huns are superb cavalrymen, capable of shattering mass formations of infantry. The Franks, on the other hand, have superior warriors; the Saxons are excellent seamen, and so on. And, once again, some factions are easier to play than others, thanks to the benefit of starting position. Western Rome still controls a large swath of Europe, while the Franks find themselves hemmed in on all sides by hostile neighbors at the start.

As expected, the campaign itself is relatively unchanged in terms of the basic gameplay mechanics. You once again must conquer provinces by capturing cities. Then, you manage the growth of the province by constructing improvements, such as temples, barracks, stables, and more. You can then raise armies and go campaigning to conquer more provinces, or defend your territory from attacks by your enemies. If you played Rome: Total War, then you'll feel completely at home with Barbarian Invasion. There are some minor differences in Barbarian Invasions to note, though.

The tribal factions in Barbarian Invasion feel a lot more fleshed out than the tribes seen in Rome: Total War, and they have more building and unit options than their predecessors. We suspect this is largely because they're meant to be played on a near-equal footing with the Roman factions, but also because the barbarian tribes themselves were more sophisticated by this time. So in addition to building sacred groves to various pagan gods, you also begin to see Roman concepts such as sanitation creep into the barbarian's technology, allowing the barbarians to build larger cities.

Religion is a notable new addition to Barbarian Invasion. Rome's adoption of Christianity helped propel that religion to the forefront, and this is reflected in the game as well. You're continually notified which religion (ranging from paganism, Christianity, Zoroastrianism, and more) has the most adherents."

Rome Total War: Barbarian Invasion is scheduled for a 9/27/05 release.

Caesar IV scheduled for Fall 2006 Release

Build, govern and manage an ancient Roman city in Caesar? IV, an up-to-date take on the most successful series of historical city-building games ever made.

Stationed in a newly established Roman province, your job as governor is to bring the region into the Roman fold by developing a thriving capital city, extensive trade networks, and of course a secure environment through the creation of a powerful military. You'll also need to funnel some of the city's wealth back to Rome.

If you are successful, you'll advance up the empire's political ladder, and continue to take on new assignments in other locations spread throughout the ancient world, such as Sicily, Spain, Britain, Germany, Romania, Greece, Asia Minor, Judea, and Egypt.

Realized in full 3d, with a straightforward and easy to use interface, simple and intuitive gameplay, and dozens of buildings and people to play with, Caesar IV offers many hours of fun to both casual and core gamers alike.

Game Description
In Caesar IV you govern a province (and most importantly its capital city) in the Roman Empire. Success yields political advancement, allowing you to take on a new challenge in another province, as you climb the ladder of power in ancient Rome.

As city planner, you design and layout each city in detail, creating road networks to facilitate the distribution of resources, and to provide homes access to entertainment venues, healthcare facilities, fire protection services, and so on. Of course, you must in turn develop these industries and services to meet the needs of your growing population.

You control your city's finances, and must quickly turn a profit in your new endeavor or face the wrath of the emperor. You must build a military force and direct the defense of the province against barbarian threats. You must establish far flung trade networks so the exotic wealth of the empire can flow into your province, bringing it fully under the Roman fold.

As the city grows from a simple village to a bustling cosmopolitan city, so too do your challenges and responsibilities increase. To achieve your goals as provincial governor in Caesar IV you must consistently provide for your citizens' needs, keep them healthy, happy and safe? and on top of that satisfy the demands of the empire. Your ultimate goal is to rise among the political ranks of the empire, and become Caesar yourself.

Features List

* State of the art city-building gameplay, feedback and visuals, including:
o More than 100 unique buildings, diagonal roads, and a set of decorative items
o More than 30 resources for trade and other uses
o More than an hour of the music of favored composer Keith Zizza
o Advisors to help you with your goals and extensive map overlays for detailed feedback on activities and problems in the city.
o More than 75 unique characters, who go and get what they want and interact with their environment in detail. Select them and they tell you what they think of your city.
o Rich, 3d environment with unlimited draw distances and immersive contextual audio
* Over 100 hours of play in a variety of modes, including:
o Career mode (campaign play) where you strive to become Caesar
o Standalone competitive scenarios
o Sandbox play in which you can build at your own pace
* Empire level trade and diplomacy with Roman and foreign provinces
* Combat