This Month's Most Popular Games Tagged 'Windows, core, rts' on The Great Games Experiment http://www.greatgamesexperiment.com/games/popular/month/Windows/core/rts/?utm_source=feed&utm_medium=rss ]]> This Month's Most Popular Games Tagged 'Windows, core, rts' on The Great Games Experiment http://www.greatgamesexperiment.com/css/logo.jpg This Month's Most Popular Games Tagged 'Windows, core, rts' on The Great Games Experiment http://www.greatgamesexperiment.com/games/popular/month/Windows/core/rts/?utm_source=feed&utm_medium=rss ]]> en-us NERO Neuro-Evolving Robotic Operatives, or NERO for short, is a unique computer game that lets you play with adapting intelligent agents hands-on. Evolve your own robot army by tuning their artificial brains for challenging tasks, then pit them against your friends' teams in online competitions!
]]> 10 Dec 2006 05:23:36 Syndicate Controversial at its time of release ('93), Syndicate is a violent, real-time tactical game with cyborg agents performing missions all over the world ranging from political assassinations to abductions and rescues.
]]> 01 Dec 2006 02:15:43 Darwinia The world of Darwinia is a virtual themepark, running entirely inside a computer network and populated by a sentient evolving life form called the Darwinians. Unfortunately Darwinia has been overrun by a computer virus which has multiplied out of control. Your task is to destroy the Viral Infection and save the Darwinians from extinction.
]]> 02 Dec 2006 03:37:52 Sacrifice Sacrifice is a beautiful and innovative RTS played from the battlefield instead of above it; through an adventurous campaign, you, as a great mage, must decide which of the five elemental gods to serve, and thus the fate of the world as it approaches Armageddon.
]]> 06 Dec 2006 04:03:24 Battlezone Taking place in an alternate 1960's Battlezone features 2 campaigns, with the USA and the Soviet Union battling across the solar system over alien technology and bio-metal.

1998 Activision 3d remake of the arcade game of the same name, but remade into a hybrid of a tank sim, fps and rts. Also features multiplayer modes including death match and strat.

Features include

  • Innovative Command System menu that integrates troop and resource management for full control from within your vehicle.
  • 3-D topographical radar displays your base location, unit placement, field of vision and enemy position.
  • Nav Beacon Cameras that can be set up for for surveilance purposes or to stage attacks.
  • Scrap scavengers, Unit-building factories, Tanks, Solar arrays, gun towers, resource meters, numerous weaponry options that can be balanced according to your resources.

There are updated texture/asset files available, and due to continued fan devotion an alternate server.dat, as well as numerous community made maps.

Still a good looking and immersive game!
]]> 06 Dec 2006 08:19:51 Starcraft An excellent RTS. Control one of three races to battle and destroy the opponents. The three races have different properties and abilities, but the balance in gameplay is superb.

Made by Blizzard, creators of Warcraft.
]]> 07 Dec 2006 01:22:55 Really Rather Good Battles In Space Really Rather Good Battles In Space: Galactic Conflict 4320 - 4359 AD

Welcome to Really Rather Good Battles In Space - a space based real time strategy game for Windows and Linux.

The game has a website, complete with a discussion forum. You can visit it at:
http://rrgbis.sourceforge.net
]]> 08 Dec 2006 12:49:23 Warcraft 2 Warcraft II Battle.net Edition is the continuation of the ruthless clash between the armies of the noble Humans and the brutish Orcs. From the initial, unexpected invasion of the Orcish Horde to the quest of the Great Alliance to forever seal the Dark Portal that links their two worlds, you will experience the epic saga of the mighty battle to gain dominance over the kingdom of Azeroth. Along the way you'll need to carefully manage your limited resources to successfully construct and rule your medieval empire while engaging in real-time tactical warfare over land, sea and air.
]]> 08 Dec 2006 02:25:32 Moonbase Commander Moonbase Commander is a turn-based strategy game where players compete to spread a web-like base across a lunar battlefield while annihilating their opponents. Players can select from four factions each of which has a unique look for it's units and a specifically voiced adviser (although all four have identical capabilities) and compete alone or in teams against other humans (locally or via the net) or the assorted Bots that are included. Competition takes place on a variety of terrain, sometimes barren and empty sometimes green and full of rivers.

Once a battle is started, players take turns using a limited supply of energy to launch weapons against their enemies or launch new buildings to expand their base. Both are done with a simple aim and force interface similar to Worms or most early golf games so it takes some skill to land a building exactly where you want it. Because buildings are connected to your main hub with a web of power lines, careful planning is required to avoid leaving important nodes unprotected. There are 18 different weapons and buildings each with an energy cost based on how powerful and useful it is. Ultimately, you must destroy an enemy's main hub unit to eliminate him from the battle.

Moonbase Commander has a minutes to learn, lifetime to master quality. There's never enough energy to do everything you want to and your opposition is always breathing down your neck. Should you risk a tricky shot to place an expensive shield generator by your hub or just settle for launching waves of cheap cluster bombs at those enemy anti-air batteries in hopes of overwhelming them. Maybe you should just bide your time and send up a few more observation balloons. The possibilities are surprisingly limitless in this simple yet complex game.

(from the Moby Games Moonbase Commander site)
]]> 09 Dec 2006 08:55:01 Battlezone II: Combat Commander The war over bio-metal continues in this sequel to the 1998 "Battlezone", which itself was a remake of the much earlier arcade game. Like it's predecessor, it's a 3d hybrid of a tank sim, fps and rts.

Whereas the former game took place in an "alternate 1960's" in which the Soviets and Americans were rivals over the newly discovered alien technologies, Battlezone II takes place in an "alternate 1990's" in which humans have joined forces to combat the gathering threat of the alien race of "Scions".

Additional features of Battlezone II: Combat Commander

  • Challenging campaigns as well as varied multiplayer modes.

  • 3-D topographical radar system which, as in Battlezone, is linked to the Command Interface system.

  • The HUD displays icons that further simplify the tasks of monitoring units and resources.

  • Meters allow you to observe resource and unit development progress at a glance.

  • Units under your command can be tasked individually or linked together into groups that can be hot-keyed for quick response.

  • Units can be assigned to the control of allied players in multiplayer!

System Requirements
200 MHz CPU, 64MB RAM, 4MB video card RAM, DirectX 7.0, 600 MB available hard disk space, Windows 95 (and above. Can reportedly be played on 2000 using "compatibility mode")

Developed by Pandemic Studios, and published by Activision in 2000.
]]> 14 Dec 2006 04:28:31 Homeworld Homeworld's epic tale begins in the far reaches of the universe. You were the benign lords of a peaceful society located in the center of a lush spiral galaxy. For as long as anyone could remember, no one challenged your peaceful existence. But then came the conquerors, invading with the sole purpose of overtaking your world. Billions died, and the survivors were relocated to a cold, lifeless planet on the edge of the galaxy. Hundreds of years later, all knowledge of your previous existence has been lost. Only vague myths remain, until the discovery of an ancient tablet buried within the ruins of a half-destroyed craft in the great-banded desert. This Guidestone reawakened the knowledge of your ancestry, and set your race on the path home - coordinates leading straight into the heart of the galaxy. Sixty years ago, construction began on the giant Mothership that will carry millions of your people into deep space. Construction is now complete. Your journey to the Homeworld begins here...
]]> 14 Dec 2006 12:19:35 Warcraft 3: Frozen Throne Following in the tradition of previous Blizzard expansion sets, Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne provides gamers with a vast new chapter in the epic Warcraft saga! In the single-player campaign, players revisit the war-torn world of Azeroth. Several months have passed since Archimonde and the Burning Legion were defeated at the battle of Mount Hyjal, yet a new threat has arisen throughout the land.
]]> 15 Dec 2006 08:35:24 Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos It has been nearly fifteen years since the war between the orcs and humans ended. An uneasy peace settled over the land while, for years, the drums of war were silent. Yet the kingdoms of men grew complacent in their victory - and slowly, the defeated orcish clans regrouped under the banner of a new visionary leader.

Now a darker shadow has fallen over the world, threatening to extinguish all life - all hope. The drums of war play upon the winds once again - rising urgently towards the inevitable hour when the skies will rain fire - and the world will tremble before the coming of the Burning Legion.
]]> 15 Dec 2006 08:50:23 Freedom Force vs The Third Reich
When Nuclear Winter returns with a plot to destroy Freedom Force and the free world, gaming's greatest heroes must team up with a flurry of fresh faces! As the sinister soviet's plan unfurls, patriot city's finest find themselves flung through time into the greatest conflict the planet has ever seen: World War 2!


The second of the series, Freedom Force vs. the Third Reich is a superhero tactical-rpg/strategy game with an extensive character customisation system. As in the original Freedom Force game, the interface is intuitive and easy to use, the storyline is lighthearted and humorous, and there are excellent character development tools.

Missions are framed within stylish cutscenes that are highly reminiscent of the golden age of comics. Nearly all of the action and movement in the game can be controlled by mouse, but shortcut keys are also functional. Gameplay is in real time by default, but with a turn based aspect, as with a tap of the spacebar you can pause the game and issue orders.


Additional game features

  • A brand new chapter in the ever-expanding Freedom Force universe.

  • Six new playable heroes from two distinct eras of comic books.

  • A hoard of new villains bent on world domination.

  • Radically enhanced graphics running on a brand new engine (Gamebryo).

  • Vastly improved multiplayer, including several completely new modes.

  • For the first time in gaming, a trip to the Golden Age of comics.

  • Create your own comic battles with story-based multiplayer.

  • Fully destructable environments.

  • Real-time shadows, dynamic lights and more new rendering features.

  • Create your own hero with the hero editor.

  • Robust Modding tools.


Computer Gaming World's Strategy Game of the Year 2002!


Developed by Irrational Games, and released in the U.S. on March 8, 2005 by publisher Vivendi Universal Games.

System Requirements:
733 MHz P3 or Athlon processor or equivalent. 128MB RAM, ATI Radeon 7000 or NVIDIA Geforce GTS or equivalent DirectX 9.0c compliant 32MB video card with hardware T&L. 700MB hard disk space. DirectX compatible sound card. 56K modem or broadband internet connection for online play. Windows 98/ME/2000/XP
]]> 16 Dec 2006 03:04:54 Allegiance Allegiance, the multiplayer space-combat game from the minds of Microsoft Research, combines the challenges of tactical squadron-based combat, intense one-on-one space dogfights, and amazing graphical and sound effects into a space-action experience like nothing you've seen before.

Allegiance is an online multiplayer game featuring a mix of 3D space combat, and real-time strategy.
]]> 16 Dec 2006 12:55:54 Command and Conquer Command and Conquer. The very mention of this game sends shivers down the spine of any gamer born before 1995. The game that (while not inventing the genre) almost singlehandedly brought the RTS genre into the minds and harddrives of the general gaming public.

In the game, you play as a lowly general fighting for either the (supposedly) good Global Defense Initiative, or the semi-terrorist Brotherhood of NOD. Both struggling to unlock and control the secrets of the mysterious new lifeform "Tiberium". Eventually, as the plot thickens, you will learn just how the Tiberium future really is.

The gameplay is fairly simple by todays standards, being composed of the now-standard RTS mechanics, but in 1995 it revolutionized the gaming world. This game has a superb storyline, great gameplay, and really is a classic.
]]> 19 Dec 2006 07:27:31 Age of Empires Age of Empires involves building a civilization consisting of many different groups, such as the Greeks, Egyptians, etc. that start out in the stone age, and gradually move up to the final stage which is iron. There are 6 different types of fighting that can occur. One being sword, 2 being archery, 3 being mounted horse, 4 being religious between priests, 5 being battles between catapults and ballistas, and 6 being between ships. Many of the different types are mixed in with each other, such as archery horsemen. AoE was one of many great strategy games based around previous civilizations.
]]> 25 Dec 2006 10:25:38 Star Wars Empire at War: Forces of Corruption Expansion to the best-selling Star Wars Empire at War, you get to control a new faction, the Zann Consortium, led by the criminal mastermind Tyber Zann. With all-new tactics like bribery, piracy, kidnapping and racketeering, you can control the shadowy forces of corruption in your attempt to rule the Star Wars underworld
]]> 27 Dec 2006 05:46:23 Blizzard of War A classic RTS game (Real-Time Strategy) with a fun and long deserving theme -- the winter snowball fight. Harvest the precious maple sap, fortify your snowy defenses, and command your grade school army in a battle for supremacy over the vacant lot and community soccer fields. Dominate the other neighborhoods to prove your snowy genius amidst a Blizzard of War.

The sap must flow...

Developed by Heliostorm Digital Media, Inc.
]]> 28 Dec 2006 07:59:14 Sins Of A Solar Empire Sins of a Solar Empire is an innovative real-time strategy game featuring seamless transition between epic strategy and tactical combat modes, initiating what is already becoming known as the RT4X sub-genre. A galaxy of intriguing aliens, powerful starships, and colossal planets comes to life with stunning 3D graphics, unparalleled sense of scale, and a cinematic musical score. Explore and conquer nearby planets and distant solar systems by applying brute force, cunning strategy, elegant diplomacy, economic mastery, and researched technology.
]]> 18 Feb 2007 06:10:30 WarCraft Warcraft: Orcs & Humans is the real-time fantasy strategy game from Blizzard Entertainment that quickly became a best seller. Warcraft has not only become a classic, winning many awards, but it has set new standards for multiplayer games. Set in the mythic kingdom of Azeroth, players are given the task of maintaining a thriving economy while building a war machine with which to destroy the enemy.

By playing either the Humans or the Orcs in this saga, two separate story lines evolve with 12 scenarios per side telling the tale of the battle for Azeroth. From swords to sorcery, all the elements of classic fantasy are here to explore: rich forests, dark dungeons and bubbling swamps await the stalwart troops amassed to fight for dominance. Command many unique armies and creatures including Knights, Archers, Clerics, Warlocks, Daemons, Elementals, and the Dead.

The multiplayer aspects of the game bring Warcraft to a new level of excitement.Challenge another player on over 20 custom maps and determine who among you is the supreme warlord. Head to head play is supported over modem, serial link, and IPX networks, and works cross-platform with both the IBM-PC and Macintosh versions.
]]> 30 Dec 2006 08:13:54 Ground Control Note: Don't fail to notice that the full Ground Control game is now a free download!

Speedy3d said,
At the beginning of every mission the units are pre-selected before play so that concentration can be put on the battle rather than the base. This opens up a whole new can of possibilities and ways of expanding just the gameplay itself rather than the management. The need for detailed battle plans and increasingly deceptive and cunning tactics suddenly grows tremendously.

Two political factions have gone to war over a distant world and the secrets it holds in Ground Control, a visually stunning and frenetically paced action/real-time strategy game from Sierra and Massive Entertainment.

By combining strategic combat with fast-paced 3D action elements, Ground Control promises to deliver a fresh experience that will appeal to a wide audience, including online gaming enthusiasts.

At its core, Ground Control is a frenetically paced RTS played out in a visually stunning 3D world. During the course of the game, players will be challenged in an intense arena of battle- effectively managing tactical squads of foot soldiers, mobile units, air craft and support units as they vie for control of a distant planet.

In addition to the epic single-player game, Ground Control's extensive multiplayer component features several unique multiplayer modes including deathmatch-style drop-in games - a first for RTS.


Additional Game Features:

  • Command your squads in a variety of formations, across rugged terrain, and to victory in several different mission objectives.

  • Focus on the strategy and action. Ground Control eliminates many of the tedious aspects of typical RTS games and focuses its gameplay on tactics, strategy, and the art of battle.

  • Choose your troops. Various types of tanks, hover bikes, airplanes, and soldiers will be at your disposal, delivered to the battlefield by orbital dropships. However once you are in battle you won't be able to make more, so proper troop selection will be key to success.

  • Arm your troops. Each unit type has special weapons, abilities, and armor. Players can choose to custom fit each unit or let the game auto-select the proper load out for each mission. Special equipment can include medikits, repair kits, image intensifiers, afterburners, various stationary turrets, or repair stations. Most specials can usually be used two or three times during a level, although the most powerful special abilities, such as the bomber's tactical nuclear warhead, are limited to a single use.

  • Advanced artificial intelligence makes your troops and your enemy's troops act and fight realistically.

  • A gripping story line will unfold as you command your troops through 30 single-player missions.

  • Take the battle online. Battle your friends or enemies via the Internet or LAN in traditional RTS multiplay, as well as in multiplayer modes new to the RTS genre.

  • Control the camera to get a better view of the action. A free-floating camera allows you to zoom in and out and view the action from any angle.

  • Ground Control completely does away with resource and economic management, expanding the conventional focus from real-time strategy into real-time tactical combat.

  • Ultra high quality 16Bit textures and amazingly detailed units and buildings. Ground Control employed relatively new 'Rendering Distance' code features that control the level of polygons you can see by the distance at which they are. A character seen at great distance may consist of only a few polygons, but zooming in reveals gorgeous detail.

  • Hands-on tutorial gets you up to speed for your role as a battlefield commander by tasking you with various and comprehensive objectives and enemy engagements.

Developer: Massive Entertainment
Publisher: Sierra
Released: June 1, 2000

Minimum System Requirements
233 MHz CPU, 32 MB RAM, 4 MB video card RAM, 4X CD-ROM drive, DirectX 7.0a, 306 MB available hard disk space, Windows 95.
]]> 01 Jan 2007 09:10:23 Steam Brigade Steam Brigade is a 2D side scrolling real time strategy game. In an alternate steam-punk history you take on the roll of General Mackenzie's son getting revenge and stopping the evil Garr and his band of robots. The gameplay is unique and addictive, the story is thought out and well presented and the art is great.

Give the Steam Brigade demo a try and I'm sure you'll fall in love with it.
]]> 05 Jan 2007 01:01:48 Stratagus Stratagus was previously an open source project known as 'Freecraft', and its original purpose was to re-create the Warcraft 2 engine to the point of 100% playability. It succeeded in that goal and decided to move on towards other more challenging goals. Stratagus is now a general use open source engine that a large number of games have based themselves upon, such as Wargus, Battle of Survival, InsectWar, and more.
]]> 09 Jan 2007 04:48:39 Dark Oberon Dark Oberon is an open source real-time strategy game similar to Warcraft II released under GPL. It has got unique graphics - textures created from shots of real models made out of plasticine!
]]> 10 Jan 2007 03:12:53 Shattered Galaxy Shattered Galaxy, the world's first published massively multiplayer online real-time strategy game, combines the excitement of real-time strategy with the character development of role-playing in a persistent online world.
When you play Shattered Galaxy, you enter a community of thousands of gamers like yourself. Fight with hundreds in an ever-evolving universe!

Discover new friends, new strategies and new technologies!
Advance to greatness in the only massive online warfare
experience available.
From the official site.

Full game can be played for free, but to get everything out of the game a subscription is required.
]]> 20 Jan 2007 04:53:26 Outpost 2: Divided Destiny Outpost 2 is a real-time strategy game developed by Dynamix and published by Sierra, released in 1997. Outpost 2's relation to the original Outpost is little more than a namesake.
]]> 16 Jan 2007 06:24:38 Rise of Nations In this historical RTS, like in other many RTS games, is to advance your technological levels and conquer your enemies using your army supplemented by your shrewd tactical prowess.

This game combines the combat-heavy gamplay of the Age of Empires games with a elements of the more city and technology centric Civilization.

Generally speaking, you start the "ancient" age and work your way all the way up to the information age and slightly beyond.

Elements like managing the borders of your empire, exploring, keeping you resource production high, and building more cities are as important as any game of this kind. But features like the ability to build unique age-specific "wonders" which provide special bonuses to the player that manages to construct them first make this game a unique and fun experience to play.
]]> 19 Jan 2007 04:57:46 Rome: Total War Rome: Total War is the third game in the popular Total War series. The player begins by choosing to play one of three Roman factions: the Brutii, the Julii and the Scipii. The player must manage each city under the faction's control, build armies, assign faction members to positions of mayor or general, and expand the faction's territory by defeating enemy factions such as Gaul, Greece, Macedonia, and many more. Meanwhile, the other Senate issues special missions for the player to complete and gain favor. Senate offices may be assigned to faction members. As the game progresses, each faction member's political and military influence can grow or shrink. If the faction leader dies, he is replaced by an heir. It is up to the player to choose who is in line for that role. Once the game reaches a certain point, it changes up and the player must fight the other Roman factions for control of Rome.

When combat takes place, the game moves from the strategic, turn-based map view to a full 3D real-time tactical view. The player has several units under his command, usually comprised of 50 or more individual soldiers. Each unit (not each soldier) can be maneuvered individually or all units as a massive formation. Siege equipment can be built to capture cities, the citizens of which can be left as they are, enslaved, or slaughtered at the player's discretion. Mercenaries can be recruited to fill in weaknesses in a particular army, but their loyalty is not at all assured and they, like the cheap peasant units, may prove unreliable and in fierce combat -- units with low morale may break and flee the field. When an army engages the enemy, if another friendly army (of the player's own or that of an ally) is within range, they will rush to reinforce the battle.

The combination of turn-based and realtime strategy is quite enjoyable. The scope of the game makes for some long and often intense playing sessions. Plus, when a player beats a particular faction other than the three starting Roman factions, it then becomes playable. So there is a great deal of replayability as well.
]]> 22 Jan 2007 05:13:30 Arcalines Since August of 2006 we have been working on our new RTS game called Arcalines. The game takes place on earth in the yeat 2029. Human kind are fighting for these survival Against a hidden danger. Something we created something we can not controle. The game is based on pick up and play RTS action with no resorce collection to worry about. We plan to launch an Alpha version of the game this spring.
]]> 23 Jan 2007 12:20:01 Galcon Galcon is an awesome high-paced multi-player galactic action-strategy game. You send swarms of ships from planet to planet to take over the galaxy. It's arcade action risk with planets! Anyone can play - only takes 30 seconds to learn. Multi-player network game for up to 12 players with teams. 15 different single player missions against 7 different computer players. Attack planets with thousands of swarming ships! Short battles, epic warfare - only 5 minutes per round. Net ranking of all net players. Good times guaranteed!
]]> 23 Jan 2007 06:58:24 Fragile Allegiance In this game, as the new employee of TetraCorp, it is your job to colonize asteroids and make them successful mining colonies. You start with one asteroid to mold into the shape you see fit. Then you must break out into the great unknown, colonizing nearby asteroids. Soon, you must sell your precious ore to the Federal Ore Transporter. Once you get enough ore, money, and time, you must create massive fleets of warships, for you are not alone. The Mauna will try to destroy you. However, the other races despise them as much as you. Negotiate peace treaties, Joint Combat treaties, and hire agents to sabotage the enemy. May the best man win.
]]> 24 Jan 2007 11:03:40 Syndicate Wars Syndicate Wars presents a rough sequel to the events in Syndicate. At the game's opening, the player-controlled syndicate (called the Eurocorp Syndicate) is at the peak of its power (achieved in the previous game), an alliance of corporations controlling the world through a combination of military and economic power, and technological mind control. Corporate decisions are facilitated through a number of AI entities connected through a global communications network.
]]> 24 Jan 2007 11:14:12 Gene Wars Gene Wars takes a page from some fairly obscure sci-fi strategy games like SimLife and gives us a battlefield where organic life forms, not tanks and planes, will sway the day. It seems that four galactic races, one of which is us humans, made a terrible mess of the Galaxy during one of our wacky interstellar wars. Between nukes and bio weapons, we were in danger of wiping out all life on the planets around us--but luckily for everybody, the saucer people were watching and waiting to spank us when things got out of hand. As is standard in real-time gaming these days, Gene Wars consists of base building and combat. For an added twist, players can extend their will across a planet through the use of Specialists. These nutty volunteers come in four varieties: the Engineer, who builds your structures; the Geneticist, who studies new life forms so you may reproduce them, and also heals anything that lives; the Botanist, whose job it is to gather rare seeds and plant them again at your discretion; and the Ranger, who tends your living animals, encouraging them to fight, feed, or fool around (reproduce).
]]> 26 Jan 2007 03:53:43 Empire Earth
Essentially the 3D successor to designer Rick Goodman's previous successful title "Age of Empires", with a similar interface, great sounds effects, but with a much broader historic scope.

Forge the Greatest Empire the World Has Ever Seen!

Reign as a Greek conqueror, Roman emperor, medieval monarch, Renaissance prince, or benevolent despot. Select from 14 epochs in world history including the Bronze Age, the Renaissance, the Imperial Age, World War II and the Digital Age and establish an empire for the ages.

In Empire Earth, the military option is just one possible path to victory.

Additional Game Features:

  • Choose from 14 different epochs spanning 500,000 years of human history, from the Prehistoric Age and ending with the Nano Age, and even beyond by adding the Art of Conquest expansion.

  • Select from four epic single-player campaigns, and choose from 21 civilizations or create your own.

  • Campaign with legendary heroes of the past like Hannibal and Alexander the Great.

  • Deploy 30 types of aircraft, Spitfires, F-15s, B-2 bombers, and 40 types of ships - ships of the line, U-boats, aircraft carriers.

  • Visit natural catastrophes such as plague, famine and earthquakes on your adversaries.

  • Construct Wonders of the World that endow your civilization with special powers.

  • Fixed isometric view of the visually rich environments means no camera management required.

  • Major campaigns include Greek, English, German and Russian campaigns as well as a learning campaign.

  • Includes a robust campaign/scenario editor!

  • Designed by Rick Goodman, lead designer of Age of Empires, utilizing the Titan engine.

  • Full Multiplayer enabled for even greater challenge.


Developer: Stainless Steel Studios
Publisher: Sierra Entertainment
Released: November 13, 2001


Minimum System Requirements
Windows 98, Me, or 2000, Pentium II - 350 MHz or higher processor, 64 MB of RAM, 450 MB of hard disk space, DirectX 8, SVGA monitor supporting 1024 x 768 resolution, AGP (4 MB) or PCI (8 MB) 3D video card that supports 1024 x 768, 16 bit color resolution.
]]> 26 Jan 2007 09:23:17 Sudden Strike Sudden Strike is a real-time strategy game that takes place during World War II and has lots of little soldiers, tanks, and artillery pieces. And that's it. The game might initially rekindle nostalgic childhood memories of playing with plastic toy soldiers, thanks to its clean graphics and its variety of authentic-looking World War II military units. However, Sudden Strike's simplistic, straightforward gameplay prevents the game from staying interesting for very long.

Despite how it looks, Sudden Strike is not a realistic war simulation. There may be a superficial resemblance to the Close Combat series, but Sudden Strike doesn't attempt to model any of the factors - weapon lethality, vehicle armor thickness, and unit morale - that made Close Combat a real-time wargame. Sudden Strike takes the conventional 2D isometric real-time strategy perspective and, instead of filling it with aliens or futuristic tanks, fills it with the sights and sounds of World War II. It's an interesting setting, and it gives a great first impression. However, though the graphics are superficially attractive, it can be somewhat difficult to discern different infantry types, especially behind obstacles. Nevertheless, the game does superbly reproduce a number of historical units, and this helps give Sudden Strike its realistic appearance. But that realism doesn't carry through to the gameplay, which would be fine if the gameplay had something else to recommend it. Unfortunately, it doesn't.
]]> 27 Jan 2007 05:48:07 Close Combat
It's 4 a.m. Your men are dog-tired. They're desperately trying to take the bridge. They're under heavy fire. Casualties are mounting. You order your armor to move up. Two platoons of infantry to follow. But some of your men won't budge. Some are even retreating. You've got to take that bridge and time's running out. What do you do?

Real Men. Real Consequences.

In the award-winning Close Combat games, you must unify your men for one mission; to bring the enemy alliance to its knees. In this, the first of the series, you fight six operations, each composed of several battles. You begin with the U.S. 29th Infantry Division moving from Omaha beach into the Norman countryside. Other operations include Across the Aure, Hedgerows!, Purple Heart Draw, Hill 192 and on to Saint-Lo where the German commander has dug in deep, forcing you to claim the ground in house-to-house fighting.

It's raining hellfire. Your squads are hungry and tires. You're in command. But will they follow your orders? To succeed, you must lead your men through WWII's bloodiest battlefronts based on the strengths, stamina and psychological profile of each soldier.

Experience the heat of battle with continuous real-time action. Keep your eyes open and your head down. Great graphics, animation, and sound effects help make the battlefield come alive as you command the Americans or the Germans. Test yourself on the battlefield under authentic conditions.

See how well you command under the same conditions faced by World War II commanders as you fight through historically accurate battle situations. Deploy realistic weapons, vehicles, and troops that come with detailed information on each.

Defeat the enemy in nonstop World War II battle action. Lead your men through the terror, fatigue, and hell of war on to victory. Only you can bring 'em back alive!

Additional Game Features:

  • Direct and indirect fire with limited ammunition.

  • Relive World War II with archival film footage and still photos.

  • Point-and-click control lets you execute commands and access information quickly and easily from a 2D top-down viewpoint.

  • Go head-to-head with other desktop commanders in two-player mode.

  • You deploy your forces before the battle begins. Your leadership and strategic skills make the difference between victory and defeat.

  • Modify the battlefield-blast holes in buildings and hedgerows, and dot the landscape with mortar craters.

  • Play as the Americans or the Germans.

  • 4 combat game types include boot camp, maneuvers, campaigns and replays. Replays can be created at the end of any maneuver or campaign battle. Start the replay to review your battle and jump in at anytime you wish to achieve a new outcome!

  • Head-to-head play over LAN or by modem.

Developer: Atomic Games
Publisher: Microsoft
Released: July, 1996

PC Minimum System Requirements
  • Multimedia PC with a Pentium or higher processor, 8 MB RAM, 20 MB of HD space, 2X CD-ROM drive
  • SuperVGA 256-color display (800x600 or higher resolution strongly recommended)
  • Windows 95
  • Windows 95 compatible sound board plus speakers or headphones required to hear audio
  • Head-to-head network or modem play requires a TCP/IP connection (9600 baud modem or higher)

    • Macintosh Minimum System Requirements
  • Macintosh with PowerPC processor, 12MB RAM, 20MB of hd space, 2X CD-ROM Drive
  • 13-inch monitor (15-inch or higher recommmended)
  • Sound Manager 3.1
  • 9600-baud modem and MacTCP 2.0.6 (for dial-up head-to-head play)

    • The Close Combat game series is based upon the Avalon Hill boardgame Advanced Squad Leader.
    ]]>     27 Jan 2007 09:56:20     Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War From the Developer's web site:

    Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War is a revolutionary science fiction real-time strategy (RTS) game set in the violent, post-apocalyptic universe of the 41st Millennium. Utilizing the exceptional game design skills of Relic Entertainment, Dawn of War provides an immersive entertainment experience of epic proportions. Command hardened troops, deadly vehicles and high tech weaponry with one goal in mind, the complete extermination of the opposition.

    Whether you lead Humanity's finest - the Space Marines, - the masters of mechanized warfare and billions-strong human army of the Imperial Guard, the diabolic and villainous traitors of man - the Chaos Space Marines, the brutal and savage beasts - the Orks, or the psychic and technologically advanced alien warriors - the Eldar, you control the action and the fate of your race!
    ]]>     29 Jan 2007 09:15:15     Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War Winter Assault From the Developer's web site:

    Lost amongst the ruins of a leveled city lies an Emperor Class Titan, a war vessel of untold power forged in the planet-wide furnaces of Mars, and revered by billions as the epitome of Imperial dominance. The one who controls it will command the power to destroy, or defend, a world. The Imperials will summon it to overcome great evil, Chaos will corrupt it for their own designs, Orks will destroy it in their bloodlust and Eldar will disregard it in their arrogance. The expansion pack to the award winning Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War will build upon the most exciting, visceral, front-line battlefield ever seen in an RTS game. Winter Assault promises to be one of the biggest expansion packs ever.
    ]]>     29 Jan 2007 09:18:37     Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War Dark Crusade From the Developer's web site:

    Deep under the central desert of Kronus, a vast honeycomb of skull-lined tunnels and funereal chambers house the awakening mass of the Necron plague. Eons ago, these were the boulevards and squares of a great necropolis built to house the bones of the races who had fallen to the Necron purge, and ultimately for the Necron themselves to retire to. Over the millions of years, sand and rock had covered it all until ill-fated excavations awoke the deathless again. Play any of seven races, striving for control over Kronus. Take other races' strongholds by winning challenging battles on various maps individually associated with the respective Strongholds.
    ]]>     29 Jan 2007 09:20:40     Homeworld 2 Homeworld 2 is the sequel to award winning 3D real-time strategy game from developer Relic Entertainment.

    The game takes place a hundred years following the events of Homeworld and pits the player to defend the homeworld from the new threat, the Valgyr.

    Homeworld 2 continues the original's core gameplay with new added features, graphics, improved audio, and a brand new campaign.
    ]]>     29 Jan 2007 01:24:34     Codename: Panzers Phase One From the Official web site:

    GAMEINFO

    Codename: Panzers thrusts you into the high-powered battles of World War II. Whether played in towns with bullet-riddled buildings, bleak mountain landscapes, or treacherous swamps, Codename: Panzers offers real-time combat rampages with awesome 3D graphics. Create your combat force from over 100 finely detailed units, from a flame-throwing squad to a Soviet Stalin organ rocket launcher to a German Königstiger battle tank. Be the commander - demolish the enemy with clever tactical maneuvers. Experience the nerve-jangling thrill of strategic gaming - in Codename: Panzers!

    From the contributor:

    Codename: Panzers Phase One is a very satisfying RTS overall. There are a variety of mission styles and objectives and you can play through from 2 different sides. There is the occasional mission that doesn't makse sense or is frustrating, but by and large the experience is entertaining. It might not satisfy a die-hard RTS player, but is enjoyable for casual fans of the genre.
    ]]>     29 Jan 2007 07:30:45     Codename: Panzers Phase Two From the Developer's website:

    Codename: Panzers Phase Two, the second game in Stormregion's successful series of RTS games in the Codename Panzers series.

    Join us as we visit the war-torn battlefields of Africa, Southern Europe and the Balkans where players will fight as the Anglo-American Allies, the German-Italian Axis or the Yugoslavian resistance.

    Players can battle online and offline as any of the three forces in the game (Anglo-American Allies, German-Italian Axis and the Yugoslavian resistance) in competitive and cooperative modes. Phase Two includes more than 20 new combat units, hundreds of fully destructible objects, new battlefield environments and a selection of new heroes to lead armies on the battlefield.

    From the contributor:

    This game was purchased on the strength of the first title, Codename: Panzers, Phase One. Having only played a few missions, the first impression is that it is solidly more of the same well-crafted gameplay as seen in the original title.
    ]]>     29 Jan 2007 07:54:20     The Battle for Middle Earth From the Developer's web site:

    Command the legendary heroes and armies of Middle-earth in a real-time, open world.

    Experience Middle-earth like never before in The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth, the first The Lord of the Rings game that puts you in command of a real-time, open world. Control the legendary heroes, massive armies, and epic campaigns of Middle-earth in over 25 missions based on all three films of The Lord of the Rings trilogy. From waging all-out combat among the vast forces of good and evil to controlling your favorite heroes and characters to managing the troops and resources of your side, the fate of a living, breathing Middle-earth is in your hands.

    From the contributor:

    The Battle for Middle Earth is surprising in that it takes some bold steps to change the RTS standard fare with a very high profile franchise. Most notably, the system for creating buildings and your base in general is very different from the RTS standard. Many people don't care for it, and it was in fact revised for the sequel. Whether that change bothers you or not, the game is enjoyable and also introduces a high-level campaign map which adds another level of tactics and decision making for the player.
    ]]>     29 Jan 2007 09:10:47     WarCommander From the Developer's web site:

    Daybreak of 6 June 1944 finds you and your soldiers sitting ready for battle in a landing craft, under heavy artillery fire. All around you are crashes, detonations, desperation and chaos. The losses are already immense...

    ... and that's just the beginning! More decisive battles await you and your 2nd US Ranger battalion in France. You will face many intrepid missions within the operations "Market Garden", "Autumn Mist" and "Lumberjack", as well as special missions in selected war zones.

    From the contributor:

    This game was recieved by way of a random drawing and has not yet been played. Please feel free to contribute any additional information, otherwise this profile will be updated when time permits playing the game.
    ]]>     29 Jan 2007 09:30:10     The Settlers: Heritage of Kings From the Developer's web site:

    Exerpts from the FAQ:

    The Settlers: Heritage of Kings still is very much about building up an economy. Affectionately made animations and a living environment have consequently been a part of the series. The player still can just sit back during the game and watch the busy little settlers doing their work.

    It was important to us that the Settlers Saga evolves further. Therefore there have been several changes since The Settlers 3 and 4 including the new graphics style, the 3D environment, a storyline and the heroes.

    That is also the reason why we do not speak of The Settlers 5 but of the Heritage of Kings.
    ]]>     29 Jan 2007 10:09:59     Sun Age SunAge is a new breed -oldschool- 2D RTS with revolutionary graphics and supersmooth balanced gameplay, while being playable on a vast range of PCs. The game will include the full set of a singleplayer campaign, skirmish as well as multiplayer battles (LAN & online).

    SunAge runs on an indie developed engine that had been in development in-house at Vienna based Vertex4 for some time; recently the transfer to Direct X 9 has been made, resulting in better looking environments and vastly improved effects.
    ]]>     30 Jan 2007 06:25:37     Cossacks - European Wars From the Developer's web site:

    What is so special about Cossacks - European Wars ?

    Endless fun by a range of long campaigns and extra scenarios. A true 3D-modelled landscape, that seriously affects tactics and strategies. No less than 16 nations with their unique architectural styles, technologies and units. Not to forget titanic battles with up to 8000 units on one map. The economy system is complex but easy to handle and provides increased game balance, e.g. when iron and coal are used up as ammunition by artillery and warships. Civilian buildings and units can be taken over, so that a fierce guerillia war can be led behind the enemy borders for the first time.

    From the contributor:

    Cossacks - European Wars is a game for the serious RTS player and history buff. It can be incredibly challenging at times, but always impressive and engrossing.
    ]]>     31 Jan 2007 09:22:30     Star Wars Force Commander From the Developer's web site:

    THIS IS WAR!
    PREPARE FOR GROUND ASSAULT

    Think you have what it takes to command a battalion of AT-ATs? Or to defend the Rebel stronghold at Hoth? Prove it in Star Wars: Force Commander, an intense real-time ground combat experience like no other. As you weave through the epic storyline, lead both the Empire's monolithic military might and the ragtag-yet-resourceful Rebels. Keep your war machine humming in single- and multiplayer modes. The ultrarealistic 3D terrain and vehicles give you the power to guide your troops to victory. This is war. This is Force Commander!

    From the contributor:

    Star Wars Force Commander is one of the first Real Time Strategy games I can remember trying to do things differently with the genre. The reception was varied in regards to this, among critics and friends alike. The game did away with resource collection in favor of a point system for requisitioning troops.
    ]]>     31 Jan 2007 09:49:02     Stronghold 2 You play as a lord in the middle ages and have to choose your path as you battle foes with funny names such as "The Bull" and "The Hawk". It is a full 3d rts with MANY options for building your castle and many types of units and resources.
    ]]>     01 Feb 2007 07:52:05