Tin Soldiers: Julius Caesar

Matrix Games"Tin Soldiers: Julius Caesar brings a completely new 3D engine into the battle, allowing users to zoom in, out, and rotate the map for a better view of the battlefield. The artwork overhaul features over 100 different replicas of hand-painted miniatures, including the fearsome legions of Caesar himself. On the inside of the game the AI has been overhauled as well to support a variety of battle formations while the legions of Caesar have been expanded from the normal block of four units to a more powerful block of six. This allows you to replicate the power and strength the Roman legions possessed.

* The complete conquests of Julius Caesar including his Gallic War campaign (58 B.C.E. to 50 B.C.E) and the Roman Civil War (49 B.C.E. to 44 B.C.E.)
* 14 battles including: Helvetii, Ariovistus, Britain, Gergovia, Nervii, Avaricum, Alesia, Ilerda, Dyrrachium, Pharsalus, Egypt, Zela, Thapsus and Munda
* Complete your conquest through a non-linear campaign
* Historic battlefields and units
* Fully rendered in beautiful 3D with free camera rotation
* Based on a unique miniature tabletop look and game play
* Fast action rules with support for legions and legion formation
* Command the entire army of Julius Caesar with an emphasis on tactical warfare
* Objective-based scenarios giving you the opportunity to defend, capture and assassinate your opponents
* Over 150 individually detailed units from Caesar?s famous Legion X to the tribes of Gaul
* Modern AI that is the master of tactical strategy ? adjusts to three levels of difficulty
* Internet/LAN multiplayer support"

Walkthru Models of Roman Architecture Available Online

I came across a marvelous site with 3D models of hundreds of buildings from around the world. Some of the Roman buildings included:

The Pantheon:

http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Pantheon.html

The Colosseum:

http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Roman_Colosseum.html

The Tomb of Caecilia Metella:

http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Tomb_of_Caecilia_Metella.html

To walk through these models you need to download free software:

http://www.artifice.com/dw_lite.html

When I have some time to explore the software even more I hope to be able to use my photographs that I took in Italy in March to map detail onto the models I have downloaded. I have also contacted the coordinator for the site to see if they are interested in including my images in their collection. I would still control the copyright and I have granted free use for educational and non-commercial use.

My photosets:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/44124324682@N01/sets/

TunisUSA offers reasonably priced tours of Carthage and other Roman sites

My trip to Rome must have really stirred up my wanderlust. I keep finding websites describing fascinating tours of ancient Roman sites. Here's another one:

TunisUSA is offering a seven night package concentrating on the northern portion of Tunisia and the legacy of the Roman period. The adventure includes a visit to the Bardo Museum.

"Housed in a former palace of the Ottoman Bey, the Bardo houses a world-class collection of mosaics, along with many remains found in sites throughout Tunisia."

It also includes Bulla Regia and Dougga.

"Dating from the fourth century, BC, Bulla Regia has beautifully preserved underground villas, built to provide an escape from the hot summers. Dougga is Tunisia's largest Roman site, covering some sixty acres. Known as the city of temples, its existence is thought to date back to the 4th century B.C."

You will also have the opportunity to visit the Roman coliseum of El Jem.

"Known in Punic and Roman times as Thysdrus, the approach to El Jem offers a scene of contrasts, due to the setting of the site amidst the barren and simple surroundings of the present day town. The coliseum appears better preserved than the one in Rome and certainly, has seen far less numbers of tourists over the years."

At a price of $1,695 including all meals, lodging, transportation, and admissions for eight days, it's a pretty reasonable excursion.

"Hercules movie for TV keeps monsters but cuts gods

Well, I tried to stay awake for the three-hour movie "Hercules" on NBC last night but couldn't quite make it. Despite its length, the effort suffered from some inadequate story background. To set the stage for the animosity between Hercules father Amphitryon and his mother Alcmene, I think it would have been better to begin the film a little earlier with a few scenes of their relationship or that of their families. Also, I think the film gives the uninitiated an erroneous understanding of the conflict between Zeus and Hera. It portrayed the events as a rivalry between them for ultimate control of the universe when Hera's actions were, once again, merely reaction to Zeus' eternal philandering. Someone who knew nothing about Greek mythology wouldn't even know they were actually husband and wife from the ravings of the characters in the film.

The young actor selected to portray Hercules had a decent physique but still resembled a "pretty" surfer boy instead of the mature Hercules portrayed in all the sculptures I saw on my trip to Rome. He was obviously chosen to appeal to the younger demographic with exposure to the Kevin Sorbo television series.

My favorite character was Chiron but in this tale, Chiron was not immortal and was killed in battle. I was also dissatisfied with the apparent lack of blame Hercules expressed when he learned that he had been affected by a potion when he killed his sons. Throughout the film we are given glimpses of Hercules problem with his temper and the deadly results but somehow he never seems to comes to terms with his own shortcomings in any meaningful way. I would hate to think that children would come away from this movie with an assumption that when you do something inappropriate it really isn't your fault. I also thought the villification of Alcmene and Megara was a poor method to use to avoid the depiction of the interventions by Olympic gods and goddesses. Much like the movie "Troy", the Olympians are mentioned by main characters, but they are given no substance so viewers can simply discredit their existence.

Costumes for ancient-themed parties

Want to own your very own expandable Asp armband or a headpiece that resembles at least Hollywood's version of something that possibly adorned the locks of Cleopatra? (It looks like you might even double for Helen of Troy!) All Costumes might be just the site for you. Their offerings include a variety of ancient-themed wear for your next toga party from a Roman tunic to a gown inspired by Greek goddesses.

Greek Hoplite joins Ignite figure lineup

Ignite Industrial Co., Ltd."Hoplites were the heavy infantry of the Greek city-states who fought in the columnar formation of the phalanx. Fighting in mass was hardly original ycenean and Near Eastern armies had done that for centuries. But from the eighth century b.c. , the Greeks of the polis (city-state) refined the earlier loosely organized mob into neater lines and files, each propertied citizen now claiming an equal slot in the phalanx, a seat in the council chamber, and a plot in the countryside."

The Ignite figure features a real metal muscle cuirass, Corinthian helmet, sword, and greaves along with a spear with a real metal spear point. The preferred customer preorder price at Michigan Toy Soldier has been quoted at $63.70 plus $8.50 shipping.

God of War (PS2) released

Winnipeg Sun: "You are cast (and cast is the best word, since the game is truly cinematic in its production values) as Kratos, a skilled and ruthless general in the Spartan army who strikes a deal with Ares, the god of war: Help me win a battle against a barbarian horde, and I'll be your willing servant forever.

But Ares turns Kratos into his earthly one-man killing machine, and only after the scarred, smooth-pated warrior has spilled oceans of innocent blood does he finally rebel against his master and embark on an epic quest to track down and slay a god.

As you travel from Athens to the home of the gods themselves, you'll fight mythic Greek monsters like minotaurs, harpies, medusae, cyclops, sirens, cerberuses (cerburi?) and legions of undead soldiers. The creatures are so radically different from one another that you'll quickly learn which weapons, magic and tactics are the most effective against each."

Sega announces Spartan: Total Warrior to be released on Xbox on XBox

TotalVideoGames.com "Sega of Europe has today announced that they have signed a deal with Total War developers Creative Assembly to publish the team?s forthcoming console title, Spartan: Total Warrior.

The game, which is set for release on Xbox, PlayStation2 and GameCube in September 2005, switches the action away from the strategy PC franchise to a third-person action/adventure strategy game set in the battles of the Roman Empire."

If the game is set in the battles of the Roman Empire, I wonder why they are calling the game "Spartan: Total Warrior" since the Spartans were Greeks?

Midway Announces Rise & Fall: Civilizations at War

Midway : "Rise & Fall: Civilizations at War is the latest creation from award-winning developer Stainless Steel Studios and renowned game designer Rick Goodman. Rise & Fall: Civilizations at War is a detailed real-time strategy game that lets players completely command one of the four mightiest empires of the ancient world: Greece, Rome, Egypt, and Persia. Rise & Fall allows players to fight alongside their troops as one of history's eight greatest heroes, and bring victory to their nation on the battlefield.

'Stainless Steel Studios is known for creating revolutionary, real-time strategy games that appeal to a worldwide audience,' said David F. Zucker, president and chief executive officer of Midway. 'This relationship and the upcoming launch of Rise & Fall: Civilizations at War will further establish Midway in the premium PC market.'

'We are very excited to be working with Midway, a publisher who is truly committed to creating the highest quality games in the industry,' said Rick Goodman, president of Stainless Steel Studios. 'With its unprecedented gameplay, historical accuracy and unique elements, Rise & Fall: Civilizations at War will be one of the most ambitious RTS games to date.'"

Roma Victor nears release

Roma Victor for PC at GameSpot: "Formally known as Gladius Online, Roma Victor is a role-playing game set in Europe during the heyday of the Roman Empire."

The Settlers: Heritage of Kings to be released this month

GameSpot: "The Settlers: Heritage of Kings will take place in a world that tends more to the medieval than to the mythological, along with a form of 'credible magic'. The maps will incorporate active terrain that includes things like changing weather and seasons as well as smaller environmental details, like forests populated with deer and ranging wolves. Resources that you can collect will include iron (used to help build your military), stone (used to help build towns and important structures), sulfur (used in the art of alchemy, which is akin to magic), and silver. Working serfs will collect resources as well as construct buildings; they'll also carry out other tasks. There will be 70 different kinds of buildings and 40 different kinds of people present in the game. Serfs will indicate their needs, like food and rest, via thought bubbles that will appear above their heads, in addition to making verbal utterances. The closer your workers are to their sources of food and shelter, the more efficiently they will work.

There will be 20 dynamic scenarios in the game, and there will be multiple successful paths you can take to complete your missions, including engaging your enemies in battle. If you've built a barracks, you'll be able to recruit leaders who will, in turn, recruit squads of troops for you. Types of troops will include men who use swords, spears, and bows and cavalry and artillery units. In addition, there will be 'hero' units that possess special abilities. You'll be able to train your troops at your barracks as well, increasing their levels and making them more successful in combat. Certain characters will also have the ability to use alchemy, which can actually be used to predict the weather. Weather will affect troop movement. So, for example, a cold, wintry setting will cause bodies of water, like rivers, to freeze, thus allowing your men to cross them quickly."

It's Alexander Madness!

It's Alexander Madness!Alexander is the officially licensed real-time strategy PC game tied to Oliver Stone?s upcoming ?Alexander? movie starring Colin Farrell.

Integrating exclusive footage from the motion picture, the game immerses players in the era of Alexander the Great.

Like Alexander, players will face the challenges of managing vast resources, a multitude of units, buildings and advancements, while his enemies always seem to have more of everything.

Blood will be spilt on the battlefield and honor will be put to the test, as the courage and cunning of each decision will determine success.

Triumph in epic real-time battles using formations, morale, and authentic battle tactics.

On sale now for only $9.90

Rome Total War Patch provides tool to script and "film" battles

DailyGame.net: "I notice that the new 1.2 version patch for Activision's Rome Total War includes several new developer tools that allow players to create their own battles, script said battles and create custom videos of those battles. This provides a wonderful opportunity for history educators to produce their own versions of battle sequences like those broadcast by the History Channel in their Decisive Battle series."

The Eye Of Isis and Mystery of the Mummy on sale

GoGamer Madness!GoGamer has been offering quite a few games featuring ancient themes in their 48-hour madness specials lately. Today I received an email notice of two more ancient adventure games offered for less than half price and I haven't even received my shipment of the two others I ordered earlier this week.

This time it's the Eye of Isis and Mystery of the Mummy, both titles are adventure games published by Dreamcatcher.

"Curse is a game that will take you from grim Victorian London, to the inside of an ancient Egyptian pyramid. And everywhere in between.

On the way, the very objects around you will make attempts on your life, and only you, with help from your friend and cohort Victoria Sutton, the beautiful clairvoyant, can return the statuette and stop the evil.

But not all of humanity welcomes your intervention. Ruthless henchmen, led by the vicious Mullins, have their own plans for the statuette and are a dangerous complication in an already highly perilous mission.

Hordes of living dead inhabit the game, all reanimated in horrific ways by the awesome power of the Curse, and their hideous monster masters are screaming for their chance to destroy you.

And, if these foes aren?t enough to deter you, the Curse itself has a surprise in store... "

In Mystery of the Mummy, you "become Sherlock Holmes as you embark on a remarkable adventure. Investigate a mysterious case, full of suspense, of the disappearance of a famous archaeologist and a valuable Egyptian Mummy, in turn-of-the-century England.

What begins as a simple case quickly becomes a web of intrigue, robbery, priceless artifacts, and potentially, a murder.

Inspired by the writings and characters of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. An involving storyline in true Sherlock Holmes style.

Wonderfully appointed, atmospheric and graphically detailed mansion. 5 different levels of gameplay.

Many rooms to search, all uniquely decorated and furnished. Numerous interesting objects to search for, collect and use during gameplay.

Exceptional puzzles of differing complexity. Interesting characters to interact with."

It's Riddle Of The Sphinx 2: Omega Stone now only $9.90

It's Riddle Of The Sphinx 2: Omega Stone Madness!After years of digging, noted archaeologist, Sir Gil Blythe Geoffreys uncovered a secret chamber and an ancient papyrus scroll overlooked for centuries that revealed the whereabouts of a treasure sought after throughout the millennia, the Ark of the Covenant.

Further exploration led to the discovery of another prophetic scroll, the contents of which unravels an ominous mystery.

Sir Gil Blythe Geoffreys, calls on you to lead the exploration and examination of the origins of this sacred scroll, whose symbols point to cultures of great intelligence and refined intellects.

Features
Stunningly realistic 3D replications of the world?s most mysterious sites including Chichen Itza, Stonehenge, Easter Island, Devil?s Triangle including Bimni, and the ruins of Atlantis.

Unrestricted access and exploration of archaeological sites currently off limits to tourists. A haunting original score evoking the unique but primitively similar spirit of each environment.

Real-time environmental effects.. rain, sun, water, with full 360° environment exploration. Over 50 hours of immersive gameplay with puzzles and challenges throughout.

Uncompromising graphical details. Breathtaking underwater dive scenes and exploration. Historically and archaeologically accurate reference material at each location.

Egyptian Prophecy now only $9.90

It's Egyptian Prophecy Madness!: "Ramses II is dying and with him the glory of Egypt shall fall. Amon-Ra, the Sun-God, promises to extend his life in exchange for the most magnificent temple ever built.

Trouble is not far away as the building site for the temple is affected by a number of sinister incidents.

Maia, a young priestess, must solve the mystery behind these events and save the life of the Pharaoh.

Features
Travel along the Nile and explore magnificent locations and monuments such as Karnak, Memphis, and the labyrinth of Ptah.

Interact with various characters and encounter Egyptian gods, including Osiris, Seth, Isis and Ptah.

Decipher an array of intriguing 3D real-time puzzles set in breath-taking environments.

Easily concoct sacred potions and perform ancient Egyptian rituals using the customized game interface and inventory.

Scour the in-game encyclopedia for historically accurate information on rituals, ancient monuments and artifacts, and Egyptian mythology."

Hadrian's Wall model

Hadrian's Wall: Geoblox offers a free download of a section of Hadrian's wall.

"At this scale, you will need 79 wall segments to make one Roman mile. To build the whole wall you would need 6400 models stretching 6/10 of a mile!" this picture shows one of the turrets although the free download is just the wall.

A book containing the complete wall along with other models from the ancient world for reproduction in the classroom is available for $26.

The Gallo-Roman Town of Glanum: Scale Architectual Paper Model

by Jean-Marie Lemaire and Anne-Marie Piaulet: "A precision three-dimensional paper model of the reconstructed town of Glanum, which is unique in the world. The roofs of the baths and that of one of the houses lift off to offer an insight of the interior layouts. An illustrated text gives historical information and step by step instructions for assembly, in English, French, German and Italian. There are 30 colored sheets to cut-out in order to build the model (scale 1:200, base 17.5 x 39.5 inches, height 6 inches)."

Shadow of Rome finally scheduled for release Jan 29

PlayStation 2: Shadow of Rome: "In the year 44 B.C., during the reign of Julius Caesar, a terrible plot comprised of murder and corruption was secretly brewing. A plot to prevent Caesar's plans for a reformed Rome was executed, resulting in the infamous 'Et tu, Brute' slaying of the beloved leader. The inevitable fallout of such a tragic blow to the Roman Empire results in Uesnius being accused of the crime. In Shadow of Rome you assume the role of an upcoming gladiator, Agrippa, the son of Uesnius. The only way you will be able to save your innocent father's life is to rise through the ranks of the brutal gladiators until you have achieved a level of infamy worthy of recognition by the Roman elite. Only the most unforgiving, triumphant gladiator is given the honor of executing the branded traitor, Uesnius. If you can reach that level of notoriety, maybe, just maybe you'll be able to free your father at the last minute. The fate of your family name rests in your hands!

Luckily, Agrippa is not alone in his quest for justice. While his portions of Shadow of Rome focus on the visceral, blood-soaked acts of pure animal violence that occur in the gladiatorial arenas of the city, your close friend and ally, Octavius, has a very different task. Octavius must infiltrate the halls of power that control the political and subversive aspects of Roman life in order to uncover the man (or men) who commissioned the incarceration of Uesnius. "

New King Arthur DVD worth a look

I watched the new "King Arthur' DVD last night and found that the Extended Edition Director's cut was much less choppy than the version that was shown in theaters. The DVD also includes a version with director commentary and an alternate ending that I hope to have time to view this weekend. Hopefully it will dispense with the cheesy "wedding" finale.

When I viewed the film last night I was able to listen more intently to the dialogue as well. Clive Owen was forced to speak such formal stilted passages that it was as if he was given expansive Shakespearean lines that contrasted too starkly with the more pedantic dialogue of the other characters.

The extended edition also emphasized Arthur's admiration for Pelagius as a basis for his world view. I was unfamiliar with the teachings of Pelagius so I did a little research and found some interesting articles at:

http://www.clive.bates.btinternet.co.uk/palagius.htm

http://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/articles/onsite/Augustine.html

http://tinyurl.com/4trs9

King Arthur (PS2, GC, XBox)

Review at GameSpot: "The whole basis for the movie King Arthur was to try to tell the 'real' story behind the legend. Set 1,000 years ago in Britain (while it was still tenuously under Roman control), the Arthur of the film is a Sarmatian commander who leads a squad of Sarmatian knights within the Roman army. Arthur's squad is just about to be granted its freedom after 15 years of service, but faster than you can say 'He was only one day away from retirement,' Arthur's unit is sent on one final mission to rescue a Roman priest and his family. All the primary characters from the Arthurian legend are here, including Lancelot, Arthur's right-hand man; Merlin, who is portrayed as the leader of a rebel tribe called the Woads; and Guinevere, who is no longer the damsel in distress or the focus of a bitter love triangle between Arthur, Lancelot, and herself. Rather, she's a feisty, bow-wielding warrior of the Woads. The story is presented through a series of computer-generated and ripped-from-the-film cutscenes, which actually tie together fairly seamlessly. Similarly, the missions the game puts you on are based entirely within the scope of the film's plot, so if you liked the film, you should very much appreciate how the game relates to its source material."

God of War (PS2)

GameSpot: "God of War, casts you in the role of a despondent former Spartan warrior under order from the gods to slay the cruel god Ares (who is--surprise--the Greek god of war). Seems the only way to do this is by unlocking the power of Pandora's box, and the finding of said box will occupy the first part of the game. After a few minutes playing God of War, we were duly impressed by the frenetic action, interesting puzzle mechanics, and cohesive visual style that the game presents.

Magic will be a powerful ally in the game as well. At the beginning you'll be able to control the thunderbolts of Zeus, which of course can be used to zap enemies. At one point in the demo you end up fighting Medusa, who can turn you to stone. In an interesting twist, once you defeat the beast, you can use her head as a magical weapon to turn enemies to stone as well. The game is scheduled for release in early 2005"

Alexander the Game

Game InfoAlexander is the officially licensed real-time strategy PC game tied to Oliver Stone's upcoming "Alexander" movie starring Colin Farrell.

Integrating exclusive footage from the motion picture, the game immerses players in the era of Alexander the Great. Like Alexander, players will face the challenges of managing vast resources, a multitude of units, buildings and advancements, while his enemies always seem to have more of everything.

Blood will be spilt on the battlefield and honor will be put to the test, as the courage and cunning of each decision will determine success. Triumph in epic real-time battles using formations, morale, and authentic battle tactics.

Dragon to release Alexander the Great 12" Action Figure

With all the interest in Alexander the Great stirred up by Oliver Stone's film, Dragon has released a 12" action figure of the invincible conqueror to complement it's other figures of ancient fame including Attila the Hun, Ermanarich" the Goth, and Subadi the Mongol.

Right now, Michigan Toy Soldier is offering Attila on sale for only $29.95 and Ermanarich the Goth for only $24.95. You can also qualify for a preorder discount on Alexander the Great if you sign up for their free preferred customer program.

Immortal Cities: Children Of The Nile

"Immortal Cities is a game where eventually hundreds of citizens, each with their own individual free will and lives, affect your city-building decisions and your ability to build and rule an empire.

Create an empire by providing for your people, and make your mark on history...

From hunter-gatherers to immortal civilization. Watch your people go about their daily lives; make the right decisions and help them, and society, move forward.

Lead your people, Immortal Cities: Children of the Nile is the first and only strategy game where citizens, who behave like living, independent beings, are your primary resource. Power and prestige cannot be purchased, they must be earned.

Build your dynasty over 2,000 years. The fate of civilization is in your hands, you must balance your own ambition with your people's needs."

Empire Earth 2 coming soon

Empire Earth 2: "Become the greatest conqueror of all time by creating, building and forging the grandest of all empires as you progress through 15 epochs that span more than 10,000 years of history.

Introducing new units, powers and leaders through 3 expansive campaigns, Empire Earth 2 will once again set the standard for real-time strategy games with the latest technology and features that expand both the singleplayer and multiplayer experience."

Coliseum now available for only $9.90

Coliseum: "Guide young warriors with training and a little dose of the Gods own luck, into seasoned veterans of the Coliseum circuit.

GoGamer is now offering this title for only $9.90 plus shipping in their Blow-Out Deals section! GoGamer is now also offering a "dirt-cheap" shipping option. If you order 1 - 2 games you can select the "dirt-cheap" shipping option of only $1.99. This option includes tracking. The "dirt-cheap" option is not the default shipping choice so you will need to remember to select it from the shipping options drop-down list to take advantage of this offer.

Roma Victor still on track for 2005 release

ROMA VICTOR: "Roma Victor, a non-fantasy MMORPG (Massively-Multi player Online Role-Playing Game) based in the Roman Empire, circa 180AD, is still on track for an early 2005 release.

Most of Europe is in the clutches of the Roman Empire. Commodus has succeeded his father Marcus Aurelius, the philosopher Emperor and is exerting tyrannical influence. The Praetorians keep a strict and oppressive rule over the entire Empire, which is defended and (outside Rome) largely policed by the Legions. Many Barbarian outposts and enclaves exist peacefully outside Imperial rule particularly in Britannia, Gaul and Germania. These people however always live in fear of the Legions, which threaten their culture and their very existence. If they stand united, they may just hold them off.

Roma Victor is the pilot project of RedBedlam Ltd., a Brighton-based development company set up with the express purpose of building compelling and exciting virtual worlds. Since it's inception back in May 2001, RedBedlam's ethos has been one of community involvement, with the belief that the best products are those that are built with the player in mind. To this end, each and every aspect of this game's development has taken place with direct participation from the online gaming community."

Hanging Gardens of Babylon Model

"The approach to the Garden sloped like a hillside and the several parts of the structure rose from one another tier on tier... On all this, the earth had been piled... and was thickly planted with trees of every kind that, by their great size and other charm, gave pleasure to the beholder... The water machines [raised] the water in great abundance from the river, although no one outside could see it."

Diodorus Siculus

The name of the Gardens is actually incorrect. The name comes from a mistranslation of the Greek word kremastos or the Latin word pensilis, which does not mean "hanging", but "overhanging", as in the case of a terrace or balcony. This means the gardens were literally spilling over the walls. Of all the Ancient Wonders, the Gardens of Babylon remain the most mysterious. In fact, it's the only Wonder that's very existence has been called into question There are records and contemporary images of each of the other six wonders and even archaeological remains, but none have been found for the Gardens. Most historians believe that members of Alexander the Great's army brought the stories of the gardens back to Greece. Were they accurate descriptions of a real place or the tall tales of returning soldiers?

The gardens were said to be located on the east bank of the River Euphrates, about 50 km south of Baghdad, Iraq. King Nebuchadnezzar II (604-562 BC) is credited for building the legendary Hanging Gardens. The story says that Nebuchadnezzar built these elaborate gardens to please his wife Amytis who had been "brought up in Media (a mountainous region) and had a passion for mountain surroundings".

Get the free model

Free Great Pyramid model

"The
oldest Wonder and the only one still standing is the Great Pyramid of Khufu,
built in 2560 B.C. presumably to serve as a tomb for the Pharaoh. This
Wonder is often thought of as a sandy golden color, but for the first 3,000
years of its existence it was white. In 820 A.D. the Arab Caliph Abdullah
Al Manum decided to search the pyramid for the fabled treasure of Khufu, and
when he did not find it his men stole the limestone covering instead. "

Free Pharos Lighthouse Model Available

"It was a monument, a tourist attraction, a brilliant business venture and a wonder of the ancient world. In many languages Pharos is still the word for lighthouse. The tiny island of Pharos was chosen by Ptolemy Soter around 290 BC to construct the great tower that would guide ships safely into the harbor of Alexandria (his capitol). It took twenty years to build and by the time it was completed Ptolemy Soter had died and been succeeded by Ptolemy Philadelphus The architect was Sostratus, a contemporary of Euclid. One of the many legends surrounding the Pharos says that Sostratus wanted to have his name engraved on the monument but Ptolemy (which one?) said his name and only his was to be engraved upon it's base. Sostratus got the last laugh by engraving his own name then covering it with plaster and engraving Ptolemy's name over it. Long after the death of both men the plaster chipped away as Sostratus knew it would leaving his name for history."

Free Downloadable Model of King Maussolus' Tomb

"The wonder of King Maussolus tomb was not so much in it's size but in it's hundreds of beautiful sculptures. Conceived of and possibly even started during his lifetime by his wife/sister Artemesia it was completed in BC 350, three years after his death. In some ways it was a very different wonder than so many of the religious structures on the list. This was a tomb dedicated to one man and the decorative sculptures by Bryaxis, Leochares, Scopas, and Timotheus, were of people and animals rather than Greek gods. All four sides had continuing friezes depicting the mythical battle of the Amazons which was supposed to have been won by the King's ancestors."

Temple of Artemis Paper Model Free to Download

"Known to historians as the Artemisian, this giant Greek temple was a wonder in it's time not, just because of it's size but because of it's beautiful decoration and statuary. Other temples were built hoping to emulate it's beauty but none ever really achieved the same notoriety as the Artemisian. This quote was written by Antipater of Sidon, "But when I saw the sacred house of Artemis that towers to the clouds, the [other Wonders] were placed in the shade, for the Sun himself has never looked upon its equal outside Olympus."

This model is 1/3000 scale and is assembled from seven pieces.

Demo now available for Rome: Total War

The demo is now available for Rome: Total War. Be sure you're on a high speed line though to download it as it is over 160 Mb in size. It will be interesting to see how they created all those simulations for The History Channel's new series "Decisive Battles"!

Excitement Continues to Build for Rome: Total War

"This game is not for the timid, nor for the twitch strategic gamers. Rome is a complex meeting of tactics and deep strategy on a global level. Activision and Creative Assembly gave us the opportunity to sit down and check out both of these aspects in the single player campaign mode. The mix and harmony between those two elements is quite impressive. Those decisions you make on the overland map have a tangible effect to the battlefield.

When selecting the campaign, players will immediately be introduced to the land and the Roman philosophy with a cutscene. After that short break, the campaign immediately begins with players taking the role of a member of Roman House of Julii. Your job will be to protect and expand the Roman borders while taking care of business for the senate via missions. For instance, the Senate had me taking trips into Carthaginian and Greek territories in order to broaden the Roman horizons. This isn't a great way to make friends, but Romans don't really need friends. They need subjects."

I had to laugh at the caption for this image: "Invade a city and watch it burn!"

The Punic Wars: A Clash of Two Empires Reviewed

DailyGame.net"You have the option of selecting four nations to play: Romans, Carthaginians, Gauls and Iberians. Each has advantages and disadvantages in the type of army you can raise and training you provide. The battlefield has a good variety with mountain, ocean and island landscapes to fight in. Players select the number of opponents and the difficulty level, there's an option to select a specific nation or a random one, and special aspects like caves link different areas while wolf packs spice up the game. There's a lot of variation possible, and that's what makes games like this so easy to replay over and over. The adventure campaigns themselves are probably only worth one play-through, but they are interesting and take many hours to complete.

Graphics processing is not a problem for older computers, but you will not be disappointed in the quality of graphics or sound either. The landscapes are rich, and the background sounds are amusing and varied. This is a 2D game that doesn't rely on a heavy-duty graphics engine that will push the limits of your video card, but it provides a detail-rich environment that never leaves you thinking that the publishers were looking to cut corners.

The Punic Wars is an intriguing take on the RTS model that provides a rich platform for trying out new strategies in different scenarios. While not on the same playing field as Rome: Total War, The Punic Wars is a good overall game that most RTS fans will not regret purchasing."

(Also marketed as "Nemesis of the Roman Empire")

Knights of the Temple: Infernal Crusade PC game demo available

Knights of the Temple: Infernal Crusade PC game demo"Sword, axe, bow and shield are the weapons you must use with great skill. Fighting your way through Europe and the Holy land, facing human warriors, assassins and demonic minions, you must find the prize that will thwart the plans of the enemy: A holy relic of immense age.

The core of the game is medieval style fighting with the classical weapons of European knights, coupled with stunning graphics of the historical milieus of the 12th century crusades and the otherworldly locations of your worst nightmares."

Atlantis Evolution to ship this fall

Atlantis Evolution E3 2004 Preshow Impressions - Atlantis Evolution Previews for PC at GameSpot: "Atlantis Evolution is the first of a planned series of adventure games based on the famous ancient lost city. You'll play as Curtis Quick, a young adventurer in the early part of the 20th century. While at sea, Curtis is drawn into a vortex and delivered to the lost city of Atlantis. There, he finds himself as the only outsider in a society oppressed by the 'Atlantian' gods. It'll be up to you to figure out the mystery of Atlantis and to help free the citizens of the city.

The game will feature 3D graphics and five distinctly different destinations to explore, each with its own culture and mysteries. As with any adventure game, you'll be challenged to solve difficult puzzles."

Medieval Lords signed for UK - PC News at GameSpot

Medieval Lords signed for UK: "Digital Jesters announced that it will publish Monte Cristo's Medieval Lords: Build, Defend, Expand in the UK in October. The historical city management game promises a more organic city-building experience than other games in the genre, and it will allow players to zoom in to explore their cities from first-person perspectives."

Gates of Troy Demo Released

Gates of Troy Demo has been released.

Gates of Troy is the sequel to the award winning turn based strategy game
Spartan. Gates of Troy covers the time before history in Greece when the
Trojan Wars were fought & heroes were made. Play as Achilles in control of
his Myrmidon warriors, or as Paris, prince of Troy, defending the woman he
loves.

The Gates of Troy demo has 3 tutorial scenarios, and two playable campaigns.
The pass of Thermopylae campaign puts you in control of 300 Spartans, and
their allies under King Leonidas and you must defend the pass for 20 turns
against the Persian horde. This small campaign is recreated on a one for one
scale with history, which will please history buffs immensely. The Crete
campaign allows you to focus on empire building & development rather than
battles.

The demo is limited to 30 turns or 5 battles.

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 "

Gates of Troy add-on released for Spartans

GATES OF TROY is a Trojan themed expansion pack for SPARTAN, the award
winning turn-based strategy game from Slitherine Software. Slitherine have
been secretly working on GATES OF TROY for months and are now finally ready
to announce it to the strategy gaming world. Available on PC CD ROM.

It includes 17 new heroes ranging from Achilles and Hektor in the Trojan
Wars to Leonidas & Demophilus in the pass of Thermopylae. Play as Achilles
with his Myrmidon warriors, or maybe you prefer Odysseus or Hektor? Control
vast armies of Trojans and Greeks and lay siege to the most powerful city of
its time – Troy!

Take command of Leonidas and his 300 Spartans against the mighty Persian
horde. The pass of Thermopylae has been re-created on a one for one scale
with 300 Spartans, 700 Thespian allies under Demophilus & 400 unreliable
Thebans who really didn’t want to be there – and can you blame them! This
small force stands against the might of the Persian army with wave upon wave
of increasingly powerful troops hitting your lines until the mighty
Immortals arrive. Xerxes launches attack after attack from his inexhaustible
horde and your objective is just to hold the pass long enough for Greece to
muster her forces.

The expansion pack includes 6 new historically accurate campaigns : The Trojan Wars The pass of Thermopylae Greek Colonization Pre-Historic Greece The Ionian Revolt Grand Campaign with Rome & Persia

Australian game producer awarded "King Arthur" contract

"Jerry Bruckheimer, producer of upcoming Hollywood epic, "King Arthur", has given Australian game company Krome the responsibility of turning the movie into a quality game. John told us that Mr. Bruckheimer's production team worked hand-in-hand with Krome in order to give the game the same feel as the movie: actual voice recordings from the film, extra dialogue just for the game, headscans modeled directly from the original actors and consistent input between the studio and the developer. Apparently the game will follow the same storyline as the movie, which pits Arthur (a Roman originally named Arturius) and 'Celtic battle queen' Guinevere against the Roman empire, which the developers say is more closely related to original historical context rather than the magic and fantasy elements of other Arthur-related movies such as Excalibur or more romantic endeavors like First Knight. The developers say the game should have a release in time for the release of the DVD sometime around Christmas. King Arthur will be published by Konami."

Shadow of Rome demo wows gamers at Capcom Gamers Day

Shadow of Rome's story is set in the year 44 BC. The leadership of the Republic of Rome has been tarnished by political corruption, and Roman society has been overrun by unruliness and violence. Julius Caesar advocates for drastic reform into imperialism in order to restore Rome, but he is met with opposition. However, being the stubborn sort, old Julius keeps on pressing for change. Unfortunately, as any history buff can tell you, things don't work out quite like he'd hoped. Caesar is murdered before the changes he had advocated could be implemented. As the news of the head of state's demise starts to spread, a soldier named Agrippa rushes back to Rome to be faced with even worse news. Agrippa's father, Uesnius, who was a close advisor to Caesar, is the accused murderer. Unlike today's poky court system, the Roman judicial system keeps a pretty brisk pace and slates Uesnius for public execution by the winner of the next gladiatorial event, which is coming up fast. Anxious to keep his father alive, Agrippa sets out to prove his innocence and uncover the truth about Caesar's assassination. Thankfully Agrippa isn't in this alone. He has the help of his best friend, Octavius, and a freed female gladiator named Claudia. As you'd expect, the road to help Uesnius is a long one, chock-full of murder, intrigue, false accusations, and a whole lot of spilled blood in gladiatorial combat. An interesting twist to the narrative is the extended cast of characters you'll interact with, which will include actual historical figures.

Battle for Troy

Paris, King of Troy, has stolen the heart and soul of Helen, Queen of Sparta. Feel the wrath and fury of a king betrayed as Menelaus rages to return his queen. Now two great legions stand poised on the brink of war. May the Gods be with you as you choose sides in an alliance that will soon drown the city of Troy in a sea of blood, all for the love of a woman.

• Command King Menelaus' Greek Alliance to lay siege against
a rebellious Troy to restore the honor of their crestfallen king.

• Defend your city and your stolen queen against the
bloodthirsty onslaught of the raging Greeks.

• Immerse yourself in historic action with 2 extensive campaigns,
each with 8 challenging missions

• March your armies onward controlling 9 unit types:
spearmen, swordsmen, archers, cavalry, healers and more.

• Take your place deep inside the Trojan horse prepared to
vindicate your king's honor.

Roman Mod Available for Chariots of War

"Mods are modified versions of a game created by the gamers for gamers. This mod takes a number of units that were available in Legion and modifies them to Chariots of War format so you can use the updated Chariots of War engine, but play as Rome and her enemies! "

Spartan goes gold

"Just Play and Slitherine Strategies today announced that Spartan has gone gold and will be released in Europe on March 24. The turn-based strategy game, which is up for an award at this year's Independent Games Festival, is set around 400BC and features no less than 100 historically researched nations for players to assume command of. No North American publisher for the game has been announced at this time.

Spartan has been nominated as finalist in the Game of the Year events at Independent Games Festival 2004."

Special Features:

Over 100 different nations on a huge campaign map that spans Greece and the ancient near east

Use ships to travel from island to island, fight naval battles & perform naval invasions.

Siege castles and assault them when they are weakened

Build city walls armed with catapults and hurl Greek fire onto your enemies, scorching the earth and killing anyone in their path

Epic structures such as the Acropolis, Oracle & the Colossus

Odyssey Toys Announces Line of Collectible Historical Action Figures

"Kids can journey through time with the real Explorers, Adventurers and World Leaders that helped shape history. Each figure has authentic sewn clothing, removable hats, flags, swords, maps and other cool accessories. The Three-Packs also contain biographical information on each character, making collecting fun and educational."

Mahdavi Toys Produces Heroes of the Trojan War

Mahdavi Toys is scheduled to launch a line of educational action figures called Trojan Legends, based on the heroes of the Trojan War. Kids will enjoy playing with these life-like figures, which come dressed in authentic attire. The figures, which include Achilles, Odysseus, Hector and Aeneas, will be launched in conjunction with the Warner Bros. Major motion picture epic Troy, starring Brad Pitt as Achilles. Additionally, a video game produced by Mahdavi Toys will be launched immediately preceding the release of the movie. "

They are also planning to release Troy the Video Game, a Real Time Strategy game that will let players create a personal epic intertwined with the story of the Trojan War. Its unique fusion of strategy and role-playing is designed to create an integrated game-play experience that will appeal to an extremely broad range of players from fans of the Warcraft™ and Total War™ series of tactical-strategic games all the way to players of role-playing inspired games such as Neverwinter Nights™ and Everquest™. Ultimately Troy the Video Game is a game which embraces the theme and feel of the Trojan War to create a bold new world for players to discover. The game can be played in as many different ways as there are players and is open-ended enough that no two people will ever find themselves having exactly the same game play experience.