Spartan: Total Warrior Preview

GameSpot: "...typical of many [scenarios] that we saw during our time with Spartan: Total Warrior, one of the first level scenarios tasked us with dealing with multiple objectives simultaneously. Roman soldiers were scaling the walls of Sparta and threatening to breach a gate into the city, and while defending the gate was our top priority, we also needed to ensure the safety of the king, who had decided to enter the fray on the ramparts. To stand a chance of completing either of the objectives successfully, we had to make regular trips to a second gate where Spartan reinforcements would arrive at regular intervals. The action didn't let up for a second, and the number of soldiers onscreen simultaneously was easily in excess of a hundred at times. This might be a good time for us to point out that the bodies of your enemies don't mysteriously vanish in Spartan: Total Warrior, so after slaughtering an entire army, you'll have an opportunity to step back and admire your bloody handiwork littering the battlefield.

The first level concluded with a boss battle of sorts, when the Roman army summoned Talos--a giant bronze soldier from Greek mythology who stood taller than Sparta's defensive walls. As the statue advanced toward our position, we not only had to use catapults to fire at it whenever our comrades announced that the catapults were ready for use, but we also had to use a cauldron to pour something hot and nasty onto enemy engineers as they attempted to breach the city gates. Roman soldiers were still scaling the walls at this point, so any time we weren't needed to fire catapults or man the cauldron, there was plenty going on to keep us busy."

Civilization IV to premiere October 24

"From the opening menu, the first thing you realize about Civ IV is that this is a much more colorful and livelier Civ than its predecessors, as you're greeted with a cheery melody that feels like it could have been lifted from The Lion King. That's just a hint of what you're in store for, though. You're next launched into the familiar options from previous Civ games. Select a single-player game and you must choose the various parameters of the game, from map style and size, to climate and sea level, to the civilization that you play.

More importantly, you probably want to know what civilizations made the cut. So, without further ado, you can play as the Americans, the Arabians, the Aztecs, the Chinese, the Egyptians, the English, the French, the Germans, the Greeks, the Incans, the Indians, the Japanese, the Malinese, the Mongolians, the Persians, the Romans, the Russians, or the Spanish. Approximately half these civilizations have two possible leaders, which will mainly affect the opposition you encounter, as computer-controlled civilizations will behave differently depending on which leader they get. For example, if you like to play a peaceful, defensive game of Civ, then you'd better worry if Napoleon shows up next door leading the French, because you know he's going to be eyeing your borders like a hungry wolf. Have fun!"

Some new features listed that I found particularly interesting was the addition of civic attributes such as the existence of slavery or freedom and the expanded influence of religion. Sounds like a fascinating game. Now if I only had time to play it!

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

Rome Pt 1 breathes life into Falco's Rome

Like many of you I was glued to the television Sunday night watching the premiere of HBO's new miniseries. Having just finished reading my second Lindsey Davis Falco mystery, "Shadows In Bronze", it delighted me to see ancient Rome depicted as a seething mass of humanity, especially the scene where a sedan chair winds its way through haggling merchants and bustling slaves. It made me recall not only Falco's Rome but Gordianus the Finder's Rome as well.

Like some of you I was a little confused by the punishments administered to the legionaries and the lack of punishment of Pullo when he fell asleep on watch and allowed Gallic children to steal their horses. Falling asleep on watch was considered a capital offense so I find it unlikely that it would have occurred and been so casually overlooked.

I'm also curious about Octavian's mother Atia being portrayed as a manipulative schemer in both this production and the earlier miniseries "Empire", produced by ABC. I have not found any significant references indicating Atia played much of a role in any political maneuverings involving her son. Maybe it is for this reason that the production companies decided to develop her character along those lines. There isn't much in the classical sources to confirm or refute this type of portrayal. While researching this aspect of the production I did find an article that pointed out several interesting facts about Caesar and Octavian's relationship that I was unaware of:

"In 46 BC, Octavian took part in Caesar?s triumphal parades in Rome, earning himself some military award, despite taking no part in the effort. Clearly this shows that Caesar at least had some design on his great nephew?s future. The following year Octavian followed Caesar to Spain, where the dictator conducted the last battle of his career against the sons of Pompey at Munda. Though Octavian himself took little part in the actual military aspect of this campaign, his journey to join Caesar seems a significant development in the relationship. While en route, Octavian was faced with difficulties in avoiding enemy resistance, including a shipwreck which could?ve been disastrous. When the two finally crossed paths, Caesar was apparently very pleased with his nephew?s daring determination and courage. Other than Caesar?s short triumphal visit to Rome, this period in Spain was likely the first time the two were truly able to foster a serious relationship. If at any time, this was the chance for Octavian to impress Caesar, and for Caesar to bring the young man under his wing. While there is little historical documentation, Octavian likely learned a great deal about provincial administration, warfare and political manipulation while a part of his uncle?s entourage. Nicolaus of Damascus, though his account is unreliable at best, indicates that Octavian was so firmly entrenched with Caesar that he was able to have considerable influence. In one example, Nicolaus states that Octavian begged a pardon for the brother of his great boyhood friend, Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, who had served under Cato in Africa. Despite beginning to retract on the number of pardons issued by this time in the civil war (as many who were pardoned would continue to fight), Caesar relented, and may have helped cement a lifetime friendship with the two future leaders of Rome.

By the end of the campaign in Spain, Octavian was sent to Apollonia in Illyricum to further his studies, along with his friend Agrippa. Here he was to continue his education, while waiting to accompany Caesar on a campaign against the Dacians and the Parthians. Octavian was still a very minor player in the politics of Rome at this point, but his star was certainly on the rise. Caesar, having selected various political offices years in advance (one of many slights against Republican tradition), had slotted his nephew to serve as his right hand man, or master of horse, in the year 43 or 42 BC. At the age of 20 or 21, Octavian was expected to occupy the second most powerful position in the Roman world, but fate, and the Ides of March would have a different plan."

http://www.unrv.com/fall-republic/octavian.php

I knew Octavian had gone to Spain when Caesar was there but did not know about his intervention on Aggripa's behalf to secure a pardon for Aggripa's brother. I also did not know that Caesar had planned to make Octavian "Master of Horse" at only 20 or 21 years of age. (I bet this really irked Marc Antony).

At least the Octavian character in HBO's "Rome" is far more calculating and politically astute than the spoiled rich boy portrayed in ABC's "Empire". I am definitely looking forward to the next installment!

Class warfare, sex and death -- HBO charges boldly into 'Rome'

One critic's first take on the first six episodes:

"...we follow two extremely different men of the 13th Legion: Lucius Vorenus (Kevin McKidd), a man of loyalty, honor and duty to the Empire. And Titus Pullo (Ray Stevenson), an enormous fighting machine, a goon who thinks with his genitals, has an extremely short temper and a very quick sword (which often, and with precision, guts someone's throat from front to back).

Vorenus is torn between his loyalty to the 13th and his belief that the Empire is crumbling from years of corruption and greed. He knows that Caesar is likely to speed the decline. Pullo, though dim-witted, is more enlightened about changing times. Rome, and the world, has changed, he tells Vorenus. Don't get hung up on history -- there's no going back.

Into their world -- from senators to slaves -- comes a brilliantly nuanced group of other characters. This is where HBO really shines. A great drama goes beyond two leads and opens up and explores the lives of auxiliary characters, each making the series in question resonate much more powerfully.

That's also true in "Rome" which more than excuses the languid, complicated pace of the first two episodes. And it will be mighty handy, once you get hooked, to have access to the HBO Web site, which has set the standard for character identification, family trees, lines of power, etc.

As the episodes unfold, there are wonderful performances from Polly Walker as Atia of the Julii, James Purefoy as Mark Antony, and Max Pirkis as Atia's son, Gaius Octavian.

This is in addition to four riveting performances from McKidd, Stevenson, Cranham and Hinds. Credit must also go to series writer, co-creator and executive producer Br">Class warfare, sex and death -- HBO charges boldly into 'Rome': "we follow two extremely different men of the 13th Legion: Lucius Vorenus (Kevin McKidd), a man of loyalty, honor and duty to the Empire. And Titus Pullo (Ray Stevenson), an enormous fighting machine, a goon who thinks with his genitals, has an extremely short temper and a very quick sword (which often, and with precision, guts someone's throat from front to back).

Vorenus is torn between his loyalty to the 13th and his belief that the Empire is crumbling from years of corruption and greed. He knows that Caesar is likely to speed the decline. Pullo, though dim-witted, is more enlightened about changing times. Rome, and the world, has changed, he tells Vorenus. Don't get hung up on history -- there's no going back.

Into their world -- from senators to slaves -- comes a brilliantly nuanced group of other characters. This is where HBO really shines. A great drama goes beyond two leads and opens up and explores the lives of auxiliary characters, each making the series in question resonate much more powerfully. When television is done extremely well, you get maybe four additional characters of merit. In HBO gems such as 'The Sopranos,' 'The Wire,' and 'Deadwood,' truly fleshed-out characters often number in double digits -- a grand dramatic achievement.

That's also true in 'Rome,' which more than excuses the languid, complicated pace of the first two episodes. And it will be mighty handy, once you get hooked, to have access to the HBO Web site, which has set the standard for character identification, family trees, lines of power, etc.

As the episodes unfold, there are wonderful performances from Polly Walker as Atia of the Julii, James Purefoy as Mark Antony, and Max Pirkis as Atia's son, Gaius Octavian.

This is in addition to four riveting performances from McKidd, Stevenson, Cranham and Hinds. Credit must also go to series writer, co-creator and executive producer Bruno Heller, who has turned "Rome" into an addictive, open- ended, page-turner of sorts. Each episode is like a chapter in a book, and you don't want to wait another seven days to move forward." - Tim Goodman, SFgate.com

Great Scott: `Gladiator' worth Crowe-ing about

BostonHerald.com: "Russell Crowe, Academy Award winner for the 2000 blockbuster ``Gladiator,'' is ready to strap on a sword again for a sequel - or maybe 10 more - if he can convince director Ridley Scott. Crowe is quite proud of the film that made him a worldwide star, and, interestingly, is keenly aware of how fans on the Internet have responded. Among the dirt he and Scott share here - Crowe performed most of his stunts, despite Scott's attempts to stop him; Joaquin Phoenix was horribly nervous about filming and tried to quit the first day; and co-star Connie Nielsen knew more about the historical period than just about anyone involved with the production."

Like many other Gladiator fans, I rushed down to Circuit City last night to get my copy of the new Extended Edition. After dinner I settled down for an insightful discussion of the filmmaker's craft between my favorite director and my favorite actor. I was surprised by the apparent spontaneity of the creative process that hallmarked this production. I was always under the impression that you began production with a relatively completed script and that storyboards were used not only during production but to initially sell the concept to the production studio. So I found it quite eye-opening to learn that quite a bit of filming had already taken place before various character's fates were even determined. In fact at one point Scott and Crowe discussed how Maximus' page, played by Tommy Flanagan, was not scheduled for a reappearance in the film until much later when it was decided he would become the messenger between Maximus and his supporters. They mentioned how it was lucky Flanagan was available later on to resume his role and still had the haircut.

There was a similar indecision about the fates of Proximo and the African gladiator played by Djimon Hounsou. Apparently at one point the Hounsou character, Juba, was going to be killed and Proximo would bury his wooden sword in the arena. Of course that had to be changed when Oliver Reed suffered his fatal heart attack.

I was a bit disappointed that neither Scott nor Crowe apparently got along with Oliver Reed that well. I think, at least with Crowe, it may have been a case of two alpha males trying to coexist in the same environment. They commented that Reed apparently got on quite well with Connie Nielsen and Joaquin Phoenix. Crowe said that Reed was much more gentle with them than he was with him. Scott and Crowe did not express an opinion about Reed's performance. I thought Oliver Reed's last performance was excellent and a real tribute to his career, despite his off camera difficulties.

I was pleased that both men thought quite highly of Connie Nielsen's talents. Scott said she should have been cast as Helen of Troy. In fact, he said, there were quite a few roles that have come up since Gladiator that would have been perfect for her but Crowe added that Hollywood seems to be intimidated by a highly intelligent woman that can speak something like seven or nine languages. (She sounds a lot like the real historical Cleopatra!)

They were also both very complimentary about Joaquin Phoenix. I would hope so since I think his scene with Richard Harris, where Commodus bemoans the fact that he never measured up to his father's hopes, was one of the most outstanding scenes in the film. They relate how nervous Phoenix was about playing such an imperious role. He seemed to calm down quite a bit after having a long talk with epic veteran Richard Harris.

Russell Crowe and Richard Harris apparently became pretty close. Crowe related how he received the news of Richard Harris' death just thirty minutes before Crowe was to perform the burial at sea scene where he read the Lord's Prayer in Master and Commander.

HBO's Rome premieres Aug 28

Rome Premieres Sunday, August 28

When two soldiers of Caesar's 13th Legion are ordered into the wilds of Gaul to retrieve their legion's stolen standard -- the unifying symbol of Caesar's legion -- they set off a chain of circumstances that will entwine them in the pivotal events of the world's greatest civilization. Don't miss the intimate drama of love and betrayal, masters and slaves, and husbands and wives that critics are calling the biggest television event of the year! Rome debuts Sunday, August 28 at 9PM.

Now this is worth subscribing to HBO! I took their Pantheon Personality quiz and found my patron Roman god to be Mars the god of war. Oh, my!

Thermopylae's 300 gain a Phantom for a King

GerardButler.Net : "Gerard Butler will star in Warner Bros? adaptation of 300, a graphic novel by Frank Miller (Sin City) that recounts one of ancient Greece?s best-known military battles.

Warner, returning to the sword-and-sandal action-adventure genre that yielded blockbuster results at the global box office with Troy but more mixed fortunes with Alexander, plans to begin principal photography in Montreal on Oct 17. The studio will distribute 300 worldwide.

Zack Snyder, who recently remade George A Romero?s seminal zombie picture Dawn Of The Dead, will direct.

300 is the true story of how an elite unit of Spartan warriors thwarted the massive Persian army at the battle of Thermopylae in 480 B.C. Butler will play the Spartan king Leonidas as he takes on the Persian ?god-king? Xerxes.

In Miller?s blood-spattered interpretation the story culminates with Leonidas, riddled with arrows, exacting revenge on Xerxes with his final dying breath."

I became quite entranced with Gerard Butler when he played the starring role in the USA miniseries "Atilla". I also liked his turn as the time-traveling archaeologist in "Timeline". I just wish the story had been centered on him rather than the weaker character played by Paul Walker. I'm a little skeptical about the studio's statement that the production will feature "hyper-realistic sets" as depicted in the graphic novel but I'm still hopeful about the result.

Rise & Fall: Civilizations at War

Rise & Fall: Civilizations at War Q&A - Introduction - Rise & Fall: Civilizations at War Previews for PC at GameSpot: "Rise & Fall: Civilizations at War is set in the ancient world, and you'll assume the role of some of the greatest leaders in history as you attempt to carve out an empire. Rise & Fall is by no means a traditional real-time strategy game, and it will introduce several innovative new features to the genre.

The truly innovative thing about Rise & Fall is hero command, which will be the key to your civilization's success. A powerful, heroic leader like Julius Caesar, Alexander the Great, or Ramses the Great will perform incredible feats on the battlefield. At key, strategic moments in the game, you will leap into action and take personal control of your hero and cut a swath of destruction across the battlefield.

Rise & Fall's single-player game is divided into two full-length, story-driven adventures that take you all over the ancient world. The first chronicles Alexander the Great as he ascends to the Macedonian throne and wages war against his bitter enemies, the Persians. His campaign begins in Greece and then moves to Asia Minor, where you will relive some of Alexander's most famous battles, such as the Battle at Gaugamela and the Siege of Tyre.

The second campaign follows Cleopatra as she struggles to defeat Roman invaders, led by Octavian, who have conquered the northern regions of Egypt. Accompanied by Mark Antony, Cleopatra must fight her way down the Nile and retake Memphis, Cairo, and Alexandria. Although the two campaigns appear to be unrelated, Cleopatra was a direct descendant of Alexander through her Ptolemaic lineage, so there is a direct connection between the two characters and campaigns.

In multiplayer, there will be four playable civilizations--Persia, Greece, Rome, and Egypt. We are carefully balancing each civilization so that it will have its own strengths and weaknesses. The Persians, for example, will be able to field a large army, but their units are a little weaker than the other civilizations."

Empire's Tyrannus was also Riverworld's Nero

One more interesting tidbit about Empire's Tyrannus. I didn't realize it but Jonathan Cake who played Tyrannus played Nero in the Sci-Fi Channel's original production of 'Riverworld'. Now I'm going to have to watch Riverworld again with renewed interest. For those of you who have never heard of Riverworld, it is a production based on a book by Philip Jose Farmer entitled 'To Your Scattered Bodies Go'.

'This novel introduces the setting of 'Riverworld,' a mysterious
planet where the entire human race from all time periods is suddenly a inexplicably `resurrected.' Constructs known as grails provide food and other items for the billions of humans. Who or what created the Riverworld, and why did it reconstruct the whole of the human race? That question hangs over the entire story, as our hero, the legendary Victorian adventurer, Orientalist, anthropoligist, writer, and swordsman Richard Francis Burton, sets out on a quest to locate the masters of Riverworld. He has some interesting companions: a 20th century American, an alien visitor from the last days of Earth, a Neanderthal, the woman who inspired the character of Alice in Wonderland, and...well, Nazi leader Hermann Goering. Burton wants to uncover the secrets of Riverworld, but the entities responsible for it want to find him as well, for he holds a secret that they desperately need.'

In the original book, Hermann Goering is the villain of the piece but in the Sci Fi Channel version, Nero takes center stage - played by Jonathan Cake. It had been a while since I watched the Sci Fi piece so I didn't recognize Jonathan Cake when I watched 'Empire'. I just knew that I liked his performance.

If the Sci Fi Channel people had studied their Roman history, they would have selected Commodus rather than Nero. Nero is portrayed as a skilled swordsman and gladiator-type fighter - not the poet, actor, and lyre player.

Riverworld is also available on DVD.

Spartan: Total Warrior to debut on PS2

GameSpot: "Unlike previous "Total War" titles, this new offshoot will cast you as a lone Spartan warrior fighting alongside Greek forces against the advances of the power-hungry Roman Empire.

Your objective will rarely be a version of 'kill all the enemies to proceed'--rather, each mission will present you with a progression of specific tasks to complete as you cut down the Roman throng. You may be asked to eliminate a series of enemy commanders, then escort a couple of sappers to place explosives at the bases of guard towers, then ignite those explosives to take out the towers and secure the area. Later you juggle several objectives at once, such as preventing Roman troops from breaching the gate , while at the same time firing a series of catapults to take down a massive an approaching walking statue. The game will purportedly be unafraid to make you face multiple objectives at once, which should help to heighten the already frantic pace of the battles."

New Gladiator "Directors Cut" offers spirited Crowe Commentary

Entertainment News Article | Reuters.co.uk: "Crowe makes his debut as a DVD commentator, looking back at the globe-trotting production with his pal and director Ridley Scott. Their talk is spirited and informative, light on Roman history and heavy on location war stories. The men seem to be having a great time, especially when busting on co-star 'Joaq' Phoenix, a nervous Nellie during filming.

Crowe rides Scott about his late-in-the-game decision to have the hero Maximus killed off: 'It's cost us hundreds of millions of dollars. Great idea, mate! We could have been on 'Gladiator 10' by now.'

Scott points out some of the new footage, which adds 17 minutes to the film. 'People who have enjoyed this movie in its short form, they're going to like the hell out of this.'

The new-to-DVD extras sprawl across discs 2 and 3. Among the best is a new documentary that somehow manages not to drag over its three-hour running time. A must-see chapter is 'The Heat of the Battle,' about staging the warfare. It captures Scott making battlefield decisions: 'I need something really brutal. Chop his fucking head off.'

A 25-minute segment covers the curious tale of Oliver Reed, who died three weeks before the end of production. The visual effects team shows how their digital resurrection of the actor averted $26 million in reshoots.

This "extended edition" DVD will be available August 23.

Empire (mini-series)to be released November 29 on DVD

Empire (mini-series): I see that Touchtone has announced the release of the Empire miniseries DVD is slated for November 29.

"The epic TV mini-series EMPIRE, a captivating story set in ancient Rome, is available on DVD for the first time ever on November 29 from Buena Vista Home Entertainment and Touchstone Television. In the tradition of Gladiator and Troy, EMPIRE is a sweeping epic with a thrilling storyline of politics and intrigue. Beginning with the assassination of Julius Caesar, which sends Rome into chaos, this exciting story is filled with the infinite power, greed, action and lust that defined the Roman Empire.

EMPIRE'S powerful and dynamic cast includes James Frain (24) as Brutus, Jonathan Cake (TV's Inconceivable) as Tyrannus, Santiago Cabrera (Haven) as Octavius, Colm Feore Chicago, Pearl Harbor) as Caesar and Vincent Regan (TV's Rescue Me) as Marc Anthony. Dennis Haysbert (24) is Magonius, Fiona Shaw (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban) is Fulvia, Michael Byrne (Gangs of New York) is Cicero, Trudie Styler (Snatch, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels) is Servilia, and Emily Blunt (My Summer of Love) is Camane.

On DVD, EMPIRE will include never-before-seen, behind-the-scenes bonus material for a closer look at this epic production. Available on 2-disc DVD for $29.99 (S.R.P.)."

Explore Babylon in Prince of Persia III

In the last installment of the "Sands" trilogy, the Prince will evolve in the city of Babylon, his hometown. Our goal is to make Babylon feel like a rich, vibrant city?but plagued by conflict. That is a huge challenge for our team!

To make this legendary city feel credible and realistic, our team took inspiration from real Middle Eastern cities: Cairo in Egypt and the medinas of Marrakech and Casablanca in Morocco all inspired the color palette, textures, and architecture for POP3. The preproduction of the game was done by Ubisoft's studio in Casablanca, allowing us to draw on the daily life of the team to lend authenticity to the environment.

Babylon, like most ancient Middle Eastern cities, features a succession of rooftops that, altogether, form a real "city above the city." The rooftops are the player's kingdom. Being a powerful acrobatic warrior, here the Prince reigns as a predator. High on the rooftops, the player will see foes and objectives from a distance. Massive jumps and amazing heights will give players a great sense of vertigo. Conversely, when the Prince is in the streets, the claustrophobic environment will serve to reinforce the feeling of being hunted.

We've created a city full of contrasts: everything from the mighty palace to the lowly sewers, from the lighter "high city" of wealth and prosperity to the darker "low city," home to the poor and decrepit. Our ambition is to deliver the organic feeling of a Middle Eastern city to players, with its intricate networks of streets and its typical "living" elements such as the interiors of homes complete with everyday necessities--vases, plates, carpets, etc.

The mythical Tower of Babel is omnipresent in the game. The player will see it from afar when he's perilously leaping across Babylon's rooftops or even driving a chariot at full speed through its narrow alleys!

We wanted to break from the traditional image of the Tower of Babel established by 16th-century European painters. We aimed to create an original tower, both in terms of its shape and internal structure. In POP3, the tower serves as the Royal Palace. It is divided into two parts. The first part is inspired by the bark of a tree--a defensive layer that protects the palace from enemy projectiles or sandstorms. The second part--the Royal Palace--is much more open, with terraces, apartments, the throne room, and the famous Hanging Gardens. All of this splendor overlooks the whole city of Babylon.

Colosseum: Road to Freedom for PS2

GameSpot: "Currently scheduled for release in July, Colosseum: Road to Freedom is an action role-playing game in which you assume the role of a gladiator in ancient Rome. Colosseum: Road to Freedom will feature both cooperative and competitive play for two players when it ships in July, but for the purpose of this preview we've been exploring the single-player mode exclusively. Shortly after you start playing the game's story-driven single-player mode, you'll be sold as a slave and told that the only way you can win back your freedom is to repay your new owner the 1 million silver that you cost him. Your only income, predictably, will be the winnings that you earn in gladiatorial arenas, the vast majority of which goes straight into his pocket before you get a chance to spend it.

Colosseum: Road to Freedomscreenshot
The tutorials do a good job of familiarizing you with the game's unconventional controls.

Colosseum: Road to Freedom does a good job of easing you into your new life via a series of quick and easy tutorials at the same training camp where you'll be working out via a series of simple minigames in between arena days. The tutorials cover just about everything you'll need to know to survive as a gladiator, including multiple attack styles, dodging and parrying enemy attacks, sliding and rolling, crouching and jumping, picking up and throwing equipment, and managing your adrenaline meter. The controls are unconventional for a fighting game, but they're pretty intuitive, and it won't be long before you've decided on your favorite weapon combination and start to build an entire fighting style around it."

This title will be released in the PS2 format only.