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."