Or in short, BioWare will be tracing the footsteps of Stardock Systems in their approach to piracy. What took them so long to figure this one out, you ask? Few can really explain, but we doubt we'll be seeing BioWare dumping copy protection in the near future. As long as Electronic Arts has something to say about anti-piracy measures, those Mass Effect woes aren't going away. More on BioWare's grand plan at the full story.

Cypron Studios' GODS: Lands of Infinity Special Edition will have Strategy First Inc. as its official publisher, as announced today by the publishing company.

The RPG title is actually a mix of adventure and action in a turn-based setting, wherein you have to complete missions, battles and quests of "unearthly affairs." Antasion is the place to be in Lands of Infinity, and here you'll have your hands full discovering the area as well as trading and completing the lead quests of each race or kingdom. But apart from that, you'll have other side quests to deal with - lots of them.

Check out the features of GODS: Lands of Infinity:

• Starring Supermodel Kyla Cole as a lead heroine
• Original RPG journey for the curious newcomer and a vintage experience for the hardcore player
• Tactical turn-based combat system
• Epic story of unearthly affairs
• Exciting and realistic outdoor sceneries from the 1st person perspective
• Highly advanced shader system providing realistic effects of natural ice, water, grass and other nature elements.
• Animated environment with high-resolution photo-realistic textures
• Over two hundred characters and monsters
• Variety of useful items, weapons, armors, trading goods and artifacts
• Original breathtaking soundtrack

GODS: Land of Inifinity Special Edition will be out in North America by July 17, 2007, and will carry the suggested price of US$ 19.99.

Granted, the video game console is rapidly becoming saturated with the same genres: shooters, action, sports, sandbox. Innovation did happen, but a lot of it was stove-piped, locked within the genre rather than in the greater world of console gaming itself.

Brave is a title that bucks conventions and is willing to take risks. One more recent development was bringing the traditionally PC-centric real-time strategy genre to consoles, which until games like Full Spectrum Warrior and Battle for Middle-Earth II, were rather clunky and painful affairs. But now, we have Command & Conquer 3, and Ensemble is spinning Halo Wars up to speed.

In the same vein I'm taking another PC-centric game genre and looking at its chances in console gaming. Except this time, unlike RTS games, I'm less confident about its chances - not because it can't be done, but out of the fear that just like innovation, interests in console gaming are rather stove-piped as well. And for the most part, the console is locked to shooters, action, sports, and sandbox.

Pity, really. Consoles could be a potential breakout ground for the submarine simulator.

Thar she blows up, Cap'n. Appreciation - and cynicism - for console subsims after the jump.

 

Being the third major installment of the long-running Disciples series, Disciples III has long been in hiding from the limelight. It was no secret that developers Strategy First and publisher Akella have been toiling away hours on the critically-acclaimed strategy game based on the World of Disciples.

But since updates were virtually limited to the "Euro circle" and the fans of the game, it was probably just outright necessary to establish a full blown shrine dedicated to the upcoming game. And so following an official announcement by Strategy First and Akella, an official site for Disciples III: Renaissance has been launched.

Like all other official websites, the new site will serve as a resource depot for fans closely following developments on the game, including videos, screenshots, concept art, unit proposals, stories and backgrounds to further the plot of the game. The site will also sport a new and dedicated forum for Disciples III so that new concepts and ideas can be suggested and discussed.

No longer sitting in the old disciples3.ru site, the new portal is now openly accessible to other fans from the other regions in the world hoping to gain more info on the Heroes of Might & Magic contender. You may reach the site through the "Read" link provided below.

Remember when we showed you the trailer for the new flight simulation sequel Enemy Engaged 2? Software publisher Strategy First Inc. has just signed the game. Strategy First sounded very pleased with the flight sim, saying that it's a very convincing and realistic chopper combat simulation, with an overwhelming authenticity and attention to detail.

Enemy Engaged 2 was developed by Gameyus Interactive. This sequel is going to be released Q2 of 2007. It features helicopter simulation with realistic flight physics, three theatres of war with two opposing campaigns each, real-time battlefields, flying areas over Lebanon, Taiwan and Korea, various combat environments and weather conditions, and over 1,200 detailed vehicles as well as using an immersive voice control to command your gunner and wingman.

Strategy First, Inc. has high hopes for the game, and even invites gamers to let them know what they think of Enemy Engaged 2. Then again, after the success of the predecessor of this game, Enemy Engaged: RAH-66 Comanche Versus Ka-52 Hokum, we're betting that they're going to receive only flattery for the game.

  

Strategy First Inc. has once again released another patch for their single-player strategy PC game Space Empires V, this time bumping up the patch to v1.25.

Unfortunately, there won't be any new stuff in v1.25, but it does fix a lot of stuff that a lot of users have been complaining about. This patch will also update all the previous patch versions, so if you already have the previous ones in your PC, update them with v1.25, why don'tcha? Also, Strategy First would like to remind all Steam users not to worry because the Steam patch will soon be released too.

Fixes:

• Surrendered empires would suddenly lose all of their population.
• Subjugated populations should not migrate.
• Hitting cancel on the Load / Save Game window during a game would send you to the Game Start window and not back to your game.
• Mouse pointer would still be hidden after the first ground combat.
• If you turned on the "View Names" and the "View Damage" in combat, then they would overlap.
• Improved AI's use of fleets (they don't sit waiting for ships as much).
• AI will now check to be sure safe locations to move are still safe.
• AI Satellite design tweaked towards heavier weapons.
• AI was not building as many units as it should.
• The Ships List and Planets List windows were not showing reduced flag sizes correctly.
• In a Simultaneous Game, if you created a design, saved the game, ended your turn, then processed the game turn, the game would have two copies of your new design.
• Ships moving to their destination on their last movement point were not clearing their orders.
• "Planet Utilization" tech area increased to 40 levels.
  

Download: [Space Empires V patch v1.25]

Strategy First and Glyphic Entertainment have just released a fresh batch of screens of their upcoming games for the DS, Warlords and Disciples II: Dark Prophecy.

Just in case you weren't able to catch our coverage of when the games were first announced, allow us to give you a quick primer:

Warlords is a turn-based game of conquest and empire wherein you'll be required to organize your own armies and conquer various cities. Combat skills will also play an important role in gameplay as these will be your essential tools in conquering territories. Other game features: 20 scenarios, 28 army types, WiFi support for 8 players, intelligent AI, military advisor, tutorials for newbies, hidden maps.

Disciples II: Dark Prophecy is the debut DS title off the Disciples franchise. The game is set ten years after the first great wars occurred. With multiplayer support for up to four players, Dark Prophecy is hyped to be one of the best strategy RPG games to appear on the DS. Other features: 200+ individually animated characters, character level-ups, 100+ animated magic spells, 4 campaigns which offer users multiple perspectives in telling the game's story, intelligent and challenging AI.

Click on the "Full Article" link below to see the screenshots.

Strategy First and Glyphic Entertainment announced the signing of classic turn-base strategy game Warlords for the DS. Warlords DS is an eight player turn-based game of conquest and empire. The game provides different worlds for players to showcase their combat skills.

Gamers can assemble vast armies to conquer and loot mighty cities, pursue dangerous quests, make and break alliances, and use powerful magical artifacts. Sure gamers can resort to economics, diplomacy, and exploration to win, but it is a game where military might makes all the diff. The game features include:

• Random worlds for infinite game replay value
• Hidden maps for extra tension and danger
• 20 built-in scenarios to play again and again
• Up to 8 players with hot-seat and Nintendo WiFi support
• 28 different army types to produce for your mighty hordes
• 4 terrains to choose from – grasslands, desert, wastelands and frozen tundra
• Formidable AI system to challenge even the most experienced gamers
• Exceptional graphics and sound provide deep immersion into the game world
• Integrated tutorial and military advisor provide an easy learning curve to novice gamers
• Historical tracking of all statistical information ranging from military strength to diplomatic state
• Based on the award winning Warlords franchise

Also in the pipeline is the strategy/RPG action game Disciples II, first appearance of the Disciples franchise on the DS. The game is set ten years since the first great wars as evil forces draw near. Disciples II DS game features include:

• Visually Stunning Characters and terrain set the stage for the epic battle.
• Over 200 individually animated characters
• Every character gains experience and can gain levels
• Over 100 animated magic spells
• Four unique campaigns tell the story from different perspectives
• Multiplayer supports up to four players
• Intelligent and challenging combat AI

Time to put the beer and wine bottles aside and whip up an attempt at sobriety people. So here we are, bringing you the very first release list for two-oh-oh-seven!

Sadly though, we haven't gotten hold of the list of games for the PSP, Xbox360, and Wii. But for DS owners and PC gamers all over, you might wanna take heed of the following games that's already out in the market (as well as those that are just about to be released):

DS:

• 01/02 Super Collapse 3
• 01/02 Yu-Gi-Oh!GX Spirit Caller
• 01/03 Paws & Claws Pet Vet

PC:

• 01/01 Great Invasions
• 01/01 Model Train 3D
• 01/02 Mozaki Blocks Deluxe
• 01/02 Hipsoft Puzzle Game Collection

With Strategy First as the publisher and Muzzy Lane acting as the developer, it seems that nothing is stopping the World War II PC game, Making History: The Calm & the Storm from hitting North American store shelves this coming Q1 2007. In fact, the game's demo has been released last month.

But as a Christmas gift of sorts to WWII games aficionados, the guys behind the game has unleashed an updated demo that is sure to enlighten you on whether or not this game has a space in your game collection. The new demo features improved AI, User Interface, and one scenario playable with eight nations. It also has a tutorial and it fixes some minor bugs that could be found on the first demo.

And the best part here is that it's free! The demo is 270 MB and if you're interested, feel free to click our read link below to download it.