Why hasn't anyone told Blizzard that? Well, nice or not, they've put up their second teaser to allow us to guess their latest title, soon to be announced. (First one located here) Any guesses as to what it is? Seems pretty vague to me. Come on Blizzard, want to give us a better hint?!?!?
Firaxis has released their next civ of the week, the Chinese. They are "Scientific and Industrious," which means they get Bronze Working and Masonry free and well as a free random tech, better workers, reduced science improvement costs and extra production in the city center. Their leader is Chairman Mao and their Unique Unit is the Rider, a very quick version of the knight.
China leads the world in terms of horse population, having nearly 11 million horses within its borders. Once the discovery of the stirrup made its way to China, heavy cavalry soon followed. As the Chinese found out first-hand when the Mongols invaded in the 12th century, it is better to have heavy calvary than to be attacked by them.
The Rider is an upgraded version of the Knight. Like the knight, it requires both iron and horses to build, but it has bonuses to its defense and movement ratings, which makes it an extremely valuable siege unit as well as a defender. Its upgraded movement rate makes quick strikes possible and allows the Chinese to keep a smaller standing defense, since units can quickly move to bolster positions of weakness.
The Chinese Rider gets 4 attack, 4 defense, and 3 move. See the whole thing here.
If so, this is your chance to absorb some of that knowledge you missed while getting your forty winks! Civ3.com is now offering a Civ Trivia feature, which every day serves up a challenging history question for you to answer. Challenge your brain and sign up for an account today. And no encyclopedias allowed!
Crave Entertainment, as I'm sure you know, is in the process of creating an RTS called Battle Realms. Battle Realms focuses on the Japanese culture, and all of the different factions in the game are modeled after ancient Japan. These new screen shots show basic activites such as farming. Head to Gamespot to find the links to the new screenshots, as well as to other cool Battle Realms information!
Computer Games Online did an interview with Sid Meier and Bruce Shelly today on the creation of the "civ" games. It's a failry long interview but here's a bit of it:
Civilization is infamous for it's "one-more-turn" quality, which is mainly a product of the fact that there are constant milestones for the player to reach. How unique was this dynamic to Civilization?
SM: I think we'd been learning that over time and it came to real fruition in Civilization, the idea that it doesn't hurt to reward the player, to give them stuff and make them feel like they're making progress. We realized that players enjoyed developing a new technology, having something added to the palace, meeting a new ruler and having negotiation turn out well. Really, we had a lot of things we could work with and we could really bring the player along with lots of new things, discoveries and victories. There was no harm in that. We didn't have to require an hour of gameplay before you got promoted from sergeant to lieutenant and in another two hours you might make captain or something. In our early games, we'd been more stingy with rewards and promotion and encouragement. We found in Civilization that by adding more of that, we really promoted this phenomenon of people looking forward to "What's the next thing I'm going to accomplish? I know it's not going to be too far off so I'm going for that." And then once they got to that, there was something else happening. So the combination of being fairly generous with the rewards and the fairly rapid pace of the game led to the one-more-turn phenomenon. It's certainly not something we consciously designed into it. It came from some of the game ideas and philosophies we'd been developing over time and it came together with Civilization.
You can see it here. Now pardon me as I go back to drooling over Civ 3.
Our friends at Blizzard Entertainment have given us another view of WarCraft 3. This screenshot shows a face-off between the Orcs and Humans. The caption reading
Annoyed by a blatant display of Human trickery during what were to be peaceable negotiations, Marn Thunderhorn readies his catapults.
As I'm sure you've noticed by now, we have yet another chappy posting news on this site. Joining Icefyre and Crowsong, I'm proud to present Angel Samurai, news poster extraordinaire (and not a bad EU player either ).
Anyways, down to business, and there's only really one item on the agenda today. Angel Zen has been hard at work with his graphics tablet and copy of Photoshop and has re-jigged the Age of Kings Heaven main page. Be sure to check it out, but make sure you tell him you like it - otherwise, you'll break his heart .
An exciting new site for any Black and White clan hoping to plunge into the community recently opened; the Clan Strength Project can be found here. It accepts both good and evil clans (but hopefully only good people...), and seeks to strengthen the weak bonds of the B&W community. More power to them, I say!
Here's another newsworthy Tycoon: Gadget Tycoon, due out this October. In this game developed by MonteCristo (also creators of Airline Tycoon and Political Tycoon), you choose to manufacture and sell one of three products: latrines, roller-blades, or androids. Sounds a bit unserious; and it is. The graphics are cartoonish and wacky upgrades are available, such as TV monitors for the toilets. You can visit the game's official site here.
Gamespot has reported that Kelly Sumner of Take 2 Interactive announced that Rail Road Tycoon 3 would be released late 2002. No further information was available but you can check out their article here.
IGNPC has an interview posted with Chris Foster on the up and coming MMORPG. : ) A quick excerpt:
IGNPC: Apart from the graphics, what do you think the biggest improvement this game has over the original AC?
Chris Foster: For the expansion pack, the biggest improvement would have to be housing. Having a place to socialize, to personalize and to reflect your status in the world, is really exciting. The first time I owned a house in one of our test worlds, I felt this rush of pride over acquiring a piece of virtual property – my own corner of the world. Also, I think the Live Team will have a lot of fun with the systems we developed to support housing, which can be used down the road to add new, exciting elements to both housing and the rest of the game.
For new players, or earlier players of AC, I think the biggest improvement will be the many enhancements and additions we've made since shipping the game. We've added entire islands of content, extended and improved game systems and enhanced the interface. People who buy the expansion pack will be getting a significantly improved game over the original.
Firaxis, creators of the Civilization series, including the upcoming Civilization 3, has formally announced that there will be no demo for the latter, much to the dismay of many diehard fans across the world. Any rants, raves, or sobs of grief can be directed to Apolyton's Civilization 3 forums, where they just love discussing such things.
Sony Online Entertianment has announced a free add-on area to Everquest called the Stoneburnt Mountains. The official description is:
Located on the small continent of Odus, the Stonebrunt Mountains are rich with vegetation and distinctive hills that give way to the towering Mount Klaw; the largest mountain in Odus and home to the Kerran village of Kejeka. The zone of Stonebrunt is designed to be a mid-level, outdoor zone similar in scope and scale to the Lake of Ill Omen on Kunark, which has proven to be a very popular zone in EverQuest.
There are 5 screens included with some sort of panda on steroids and a kobold encampment. Full story here
And the betas keep marching on...This is a really exciting-looking game, it's called Duelfield. In it, you assume the role of a deity and battle online with other divine beings. Sort of like Black and White without the game progression. Take a look; if I signed up, so can you! The beta signup form is here.
Unfortunately, this 3D0 turn based strategy game series has been delayed until next year. Head to Gamespot for more information. Also, if you'd like to check out Gamespot's preview, or any of the interviews that have been conducted, head here.
Also, if you haven't seen it yet, check out the new AoM screenie!
Atriarch, an upcoming MMORPG that takes place on an alien world, is looking for beta testers. You can help them tweak their world by moseying on down to their website and signing up, I'm sure they'd appreciate it!
RedBedlam, a new team of British developers, recently announced what may be music to the ears of the low-budget gamer and the historian alike: They will be working on creating a free online game based on the Roman Empire. You start out as either a Roman slave or a free non-Roman outside of the Empire. In the game, you strive to earn citizenship through cunning and strength, and fight in epic battles. Sounds too good to be true? Maybe it is; here's the one 'catch': Gladius Online claims it will use a 'unique revenue system' that will enable users free play without subscriptions or ads. Now maybe I'm a little jaded, but 'revolutionary new features' turn out to be hoaxes far too often. (anyone remember Dawn, the MMORPG that promised the world and then dropped off the face of it? ) Though to be fair, I must admit if this turns out to be all it claims to be, it will surely be a stunning and exciting new addition to the world of online gaming. But hey, don't listen to me, make your own judgement. Whatever happens in the course of Gladius Online's history, I'm sure it will be interesting to follow, and the bounty will certainly be a worthwhile one. You can find out more regarding the game at Gladius Online's official website.
Funcom Launches Website For RPG World, Posts Press Release
6:06 PM EST
Earlier today Funcom, international game developer, posted a press release announcing the launching of a website for their upcoming MMORPG title, Midgard. Designed to emulate the medieval world of the Vikings, the game will bring "traditional single-player elements into [a] massively multi-player setting", according to the release. It incorporates aspects of many different gaming genres, including RTS, where the influence can be seen in Midgard's inclusion of diplomacy and resource development. You can read Funcom's press release here. ...Raiding party!
The official site for No Man's Land is up today. The game is made by a Swedish company called Prelusion. The battles take place on the western front between 1916 and 1918. There are also four screenshots up with the new site.
CDV, the German publishers who have brought to us such games as Cossacks (which HeavenGames has a great site devoted to) and Sudden Strike, recently announced that they have another title up their sleeves, a 3D RTS called Blitzkrieg. There seems to be precious little information yet about the game, but apparently you will be able to play from the point of view of the Germans, Russians, or Allies, and control 3D units (there will be almost 200 different kinds of infantry and equipment combined) in groups up to the size of a regiment (I'll be darned if I know how big that is...). You can catch a glimpse of what Blitzkrieg will look like from these GameSpot screenshots.
Paradox, makers of the upcoming Europa Universalis 2, has kindly provided some truly exciting screenshots for your viewing pleasure: You can see them here. Not only are they nice eyecandy, but they also provide a peek into what new ideas are hidden up Paradox's sleeve; some new things that can be spotted in the screenshots are Trade Agreements, Vassal Liberation, and the ability to dispatch Missionaries.
Angel Thunder over at AOMH has announced the winners of the Rising of a Hero story contest, so congratulations to King Barbarossa and Uilleam Mìcheal Stiùbhart!
However, that's not all that's going on at our newest site. There's news of a recent Zone chat with the one and quite possibly only The_Sheriff, as well as a lovely new poll for you to check out .
This October's issue of Computer Games magazine will be graced by the many faces of Sid Meier's Civilization III, including Indira Gandhi, Abraham Lincoln, and Mao Tse Tung. The magazine's main feature will be a full review of the game, and will also contain a ten year look-back on the history of Civilization. Yet another perk for Civ fans is the CD of the original Civilization for Windows, apparently rather difficult to find these days; consumers will be able to relive the game that started an era. Now if only the magazine also came with a Civ III CD...
Though the mysterious female Assassins are not officially part of the Sentinel army, they serve the militaristic needs of Kalimdor with as much passion and precision as their moon-worshipping sisters. These dark women prefer to stay in the shadows and strike from afar. Like all Night Elf women, Assassins are able to Shadowmeld at night.
Hey everyone... I haven't been posting the past two or three days becasue I was in the process of moving into college. Orientation is still going on, but hopefully I'll be able to post news on a more regular basis now : )
On Voodoo Extreme this morning there's a link to the dev. diary for the nearly finished Rails Across America. Check it out for some cool info! Here's a little bit to get you interested:
With most of our bugs gone, our main focus is on gameplay tuning. Each of us (developers, testers, and artists) plays a lot of single player games a day, after which we get together for the big multiplayer games. The amazing thing is that after years of working on this game, we still find new strategies, especially with the scenarios. The latest strategy when racing for a goal is to use influence to convince the target city to build a new shortline, hit the shortline with influence to force it to auction itself, and then try to win it in the auction. It's a risky strategy, since other players can buy the shortline too, but not if they've been hit with a Financial Panic and a Stock Raid recently!
As you may have noticed (if you haven't, then it's time to get a prescription for sone new glasses ;)), we have yet another new face appearing here on HG Main. Following on from Icefyre's arrival, I am pleased to welcome Angel Crowsong (formerly known as Cherub Temulin), who will be assisting Icefyre in posting general RTS news here on our portal.
If you're a bit bemused by the title of this update, let me assure you that it's nothing terribly out of the ordinary, merely a way of playing Age of Wonders. Play By E-Mail is the name of the game, and it's becoming increasingly popular (especially in areas where playing games 100% online is prohibitively expensive). Well, one of the prerequisites for PBEM is, of course, e-mail ('PB' by itself probably wouldn't get very far). If you're on the lookout for a new e-mail account which can take the strain of AOW PBEM, then check out Draco's latest recommendation - sounds like a winner!
Voodoo Extreme has released 4 new screenshots of the game Dark Age of Camelot. The screens are of a new area called "Tir na Nog" (wasn't that a Fox show? ) which is an Elven city in Hibernia. There's also a snippet of beta news, so go check it out.
If you're already addicted to this game, good news! According to what I just read at IGNPC, The second part of the game, Control, will be out the 27th of August. Here's a link to the article, which also contains links to the newly released streaming video preview of Control.
Revelation puzzles, put into the game by popular demand, seem to be the most exciting and intriguing addition in this part : )
Further to my post about contests earlier today, here's something which might interest some of you out there who have missed the chance to get in on the EE beta test but who don't want to pre-order the game just yet. EE Heaven is holding a beta contest to give people another shot at participation in the multiplayer beta. Click here to check it out.
The original creators of Civilization, Firaxis, are in charge of the game's latest sequel. Among other goals, they hope to increase the fun factor and balance out the complexity of the game. The following quote is from Gamespy's excellent preview of the game:
At its core, Civilization III gives gamers the same goal as its predecessors. Players must manage their nations military, financial, and technological resources to compete with other countries. The sequel contains several nuances that make doing so deliciously addictive. There are also several enhancements to the artificial intelligence and interface that make the game flow more smoothly. Of course, the graphics receive an obligatory facelift, but this game isn't about looks -- it's about new and inventive ways to dominate the world!
I don't know about you guys, but I'm all about world domination! ; )
Contests seem to be all the rage at several of our sites right now. Cossacks Heaven is currently in the middle of its Tournament of the Generals (don't forget to play those games, please), and AOKH has word of a massive AOK marathon over at MFO. Finally, Pharaoh Heaven brings word of (you've gessed it) a Pharaoh competition. Sounds like a good time to be a competitive soul!
Btw, thanks to Angel Zen for doing a new button for HG Main. Nice job!
Yup, Shogun: Total War has an expansion pack out! Head over to IGNPC to read their review!
The title probably tips you off to the theme here, but if you can't figure it out, the expansion deals with the historical fiction that asks the question, "What would have ensued if Kublai Khan's hordes weren't destroyed on the sea by the storm known as the divine wind?" The answer: a crapload of fun! Let's just get to the gist of it here, this is a good expansion pack. Creative Assembly has managed to throw plenty of good stuff in here to keep any fans of the original interested in playing more while fixing some of the minor problems and balancing things like enemy AI out a little bit more so that enemy actions on the battlefield are smarter and more challenging while remaining pretty fair overall.
Sounds like a cool addition to an already fun game : )
If you're looking for something magical to spice up your day, then look no further than what AOWH has to offer this morning. There's planty of talk about the upcoming AOW2, focusing mainly around the wizards, wizard towers, and heroes. Sounds perfect if you're looking for a little bit of escapism.
EE Heaven is still buzzing about the beta (many sites are at the moment - looks like EE will be making waves when it hits store shelves). Park has looked around the Net at all the other EE fansites, and has collated links to their beta sections (as well as starting up one of his own at EEH). So, if you're looking for EE beta info, then EEH is your one-stop shop .
First off, let me welcome Angel Icefyre to this hallowed part of Heaven. It's good to see someone else's name up here .
Just because we're turning HG.com into more of a general news site relating to strategy games doesn't mean that we won't be getting up to the usual hijinks here any more. There will still be summaries of what's going on around Heaven (unless we get feedback that you chaps and chapettes would prefer just gaming news).
With that, let's have a quick look at what's going on at Age of Mythology Heaven these days. With AOM itself still some way off, the team has been concentrating on posting some mythological articles for you to savour, and judging the Rising of a Hero story contest, the results of which should appear at some point this weekend.
Gamespy has a lot of information on the new and intriguing game Magestic. Check out this interview with Majestic creator Neil Young for some interesting insights as to what was going through his head when he dreamed up this (frighteningly) realistic game. Here's a quick excerpt:
GameSpy: Where did the original idea come from?
Neil Young: It was sort of three things coming together at the same time: a frustration, an observation, and a creative seed. The frustration was that I had grown up playing games, but as I grew older, I felt like games weren't being made from me. I'd grown out of developing my dexterity, and I was looking for more in my entertainment than adolescent male fantasies.
You may also want to read this true story detailing Peter Lemonjello's experiences playing the game : )
PC Gamer has posted an interview with Sid Meier and Jeff Briggs of Firaxis Games. Here's a snippet:
PCG: Could you explain what role you’re playing on the creative side of Civ III? How much Sid Meier is there left in the final game?
>>SM: There’s kind of two sides to that. What has been surprising to me, in a lot of ways is that the Civilization system has survived through all the Civ titles. We have a really solid base to build on; it’s not like it’s a new design. My role is to be the player’s eye on things, to play the game and respond to what’s working well, what feels like Civilization and what doesn’t. We have a great team of programmers and artists that are creating the pieces of the game, seeing what things work, while Jeff is leading the design process.
Thanks for the welcome, Zen! Phew! Got through my first news post! ; )
Well, it did indeed happen on Monday, as EE Heaven predicted it would. Unfortunately, I wasn't one of the lucky ones to get picked, so have had to read the EE beta reports coming in to EEH with something of an envious eye. A quick message to all the beta winners: congrats, but remember that you're doing valuable testing work, not just getting to play the game a few months before everyone else. If there are any bugs in the final version then you'll be to blame .
Be ye not disheartened, people who were unable to get into the EE beta test. There's still plenty to occupy your time - for instance, try your hand at a bit of screenshot analysis, as ES has released the second AOM weekly screenshot.
Empire Earth Heaven is alive with rumours that tomorrow might be the day that emails will be sent out to the lucky chaps who have been selected to participate in the upcoming EE beta test(*crosses fingers*). However, even if you're not one of the lucky ones to get picked, you can still add a bit of that spicy & crispy EE flavour to your computer with a prehistoric EE ICQ skin.
Good luck to AOKH's Angel Thunder today as he takes on the great and the good of the Canadian AOK community at the World Cyber Games RTS Regional Preliminary Tournament being held there this weekend. Stay tuned to AOKH for all the latest news on that - sock it to 'em, Thunder .
In an effort to stamp out the recent release of one or two trainers deisgned to make it easier for people to cheat when playing AOK on the Zone, ES has released the 1.0c Conquerors patch. Head over to AOKH for more info should you want to protect yourself against cheaters.
Meanwhile, today is the last day of Age of Mythology Heaven's Rising of a Hero story contest. It might be too late to start writing something from scratch now, but if you've already started something, now is the time to overcome that writers block and get your composition finished!
Finally, a hearty congratulations goes out to the team beavering away at Pharaoh Heaven, as they have been recognised for their efforts by the awarding of a "Site of the Week" prize. The icon now proudly resides on the left hand side of the page. Nice going, folks .
Looks nice, doesn't it? Well, it would do, as it's the first Screenshot of the Week from ES, showing off more of what Age of Mythology will have to offer. AOMH, of course, has all the latest information.
More walkthroughs have arrived at Zeus Heaven too, thanks to a very hard-working Cherub mouse, so be sure to pop over and have a quick butchers (i.e. look).
Here's something that's been causing more than a little anxiety in some corners of Heaven for a couple of days - G.O.D. is rumoured to have expired. Nothing to do with any Supreme Being though - this G.O.D. is the Gathering of Developers, publishers of (amongst others) Age of Wonders. Head over to AOWH to catch up with the latest news.
Alternatively, Zeus Heaven has some new strategy articles up for your reading enjoyment today - some Poseidon walkthroughs and the latest installment of the ongoing scenario design series have broken through the clear blue waters of the Aegean.
Interested in participating on AOMH's story contest but don't know anything about mythology? Fear not, as Thunder has just posted the first article at AOMH explaining the roles of some of the mythological figures represented in AOM. The first one deals with the Norse chappy, Odin. Stay tuned for more in the near future.
Age of Mythology Heaven is currently running a story contest, so if you fancy yourself as a bit of a myth writer, then there's only one place to be. That's not all, of course - there's the promise of better things in the future, with the news that ES will be released one new AOM screenshot every week!
*gasps from the assembled crowd*
In other sequel-related news today, Age of Wonders Heaven has info from PopTop's Phil Steinmeyer about what we can expect from AOW2. So, if turn-based is more your scene than RTS, head over there and take a look.
What? A mugshot at AOKH? Has Angel Thunder been arrested for disorderly playing of AOK in a public place? No need to worry folks, it's just ES's new range of merchandise, which happens to include goodies like t-shirts and (of course) mugs.
And what's this about a trainer for AOK? *sigh* Some people just don't want to play fair, do they? Oh well, at least the Dallas boys are on the case and looking for a way to address the issue, so at least you can sleep safe in your beds tonight .
A bit strapped for cash at the moment? Could your bank account do with an injection of a cool $50,000? If so, then make Age of Kings Heaven your first stop, as they have news of a massive AOK: TC tournment which gives you the chance to win exactly that amount of money.
Alternatively, if you don't need money but would like to get your hands on some cool Empire Earth calendars, then EE Heaven has all the info you'll be needing.
Don't waste another moment on HG main and head right over to our Empire Earth Heaven site for info on how to be part of this, now!
What? Still here? Ok, then I'll just tell you that Angel ParkDude sent me a big update message two days ago on this gem of a news item. Due to (incompetents running) the Catholic University network I had no access for two days! Anyway, enough griping (gonna be outta this uni in under a week anyway--yeeeaaah-deal with that!). I'm going to leave you with the full beta test announcement that Parkman was cool enough to send me. Enjoy!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Adam Kahn PR Manager Sierra adam.kahn@sierra.com 425.638.5606
Thousands Invited to Beta-Test Empire Earth Pre-Order Program Gives Gamers Opportunity to Preview this Holiday’s Hottest Real-Times Strategy Game
BELLEVUE, WA (August 1, 2001) – Sierra and Stainless Steel Studios, Inc. today announced that thousands of gamers will have the opportunity to participate in the public beta test for Empire Earth™, their upcoming real-time strategy (RTS) game due to be released this Fall.
The beta test program will focus on multiplayer play balancing and load testing to ensure the best possible launch for the ambitious RTS that will take gamers beyond the ages.
To ensure entry into the beta program, interested testers need only pre-order Empire Earth at their local Best Buy, CompUSA, Electronics Boutique, or GameStop, Software Etc.& Babbages retail store. Beginning on or around September 1st, each store will be stocked with special pre-order copies of the beta version of Empire Earth and instructions on how to participate in the program.
Sierra is also currently taking entries for a select group of beta testers online at http://empireearthbeta.sierra.com/. Enrollment via online application will be based on a variety of criteria, including system specs and skill in documenting suggestions and communicating them clearly. Those who are not chosen by Sierra from their online application can still guarantee access into the beta program by pre-ordering the game at the local retail stores listed above.
All beta testers will get a pre-release version of the game, and have access to a private message board to communicate directly with the developers at Stainless Steel Studios, Inc.
About Empire Earth From Prehistory to the Nano Age of the 22nd Century, Empire Earth serves up gaming on an epic scale. Empire Earth is an epic real-time strategy (RTS) game that covers 500,000 years of human history, from the discovery of fire to the laser battles of the future. Each player takes control of a fledgling civilization and strives to forge the greatest of all empires. Rick Goodman, Lead Designer of the acclaimed game Age of Empires®, catapults the RTS genre into a bold new era.
About Stainless Steel Studios, Inc. Stainless Steel Studios, Inc. headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is a game design and development organization. Founded in 1998 by Rick Goodman, lead designer of Microsoft’s Age of Empires, SSSI will produce advanced real-time strategy titles for the new millennium. Goodman was the winner of the 1998 Computer Game Developer Conference’s “Annual Achievement Award for Game Design and Development.”
About Sierra Sierra On-Line, Inc. http://www.sierra.com, a studio of Vivendi Universal Publishing and part of its Games division, is one of the original developers and largest worldwide publishers of interactive entertainment and productivity software. Sierra is renowned for releasing critically acclaimed and award winning titles that represent a wide variety of computer entertainment on both next generation console and PC platforms.
About Vivendi Universal Publishing Vivendi Universal Publishing is a world leader in mass-market multimedia communications. The Company has 22,000 employees and 300 brands in 40 countries and aims to become the unchallenged leader in each of its operating sectors – Games, Education, Literature, Health and Information. VU Publishing had 2000 pro-forma revenues of 3.6 billion euros. A leading publisher of online and PC and Console-based interactive content, the Company’s portfolio of entertainment software brands includes Blizzard Entertainment, Flipside.com, Sierra and Universal Interactive Studios. Interactive entertainment is one of parent company Vivendi Universal’s key content areas, along with movies, music and other publishing activities.
You didn't see me - I'm Angel Alexander I in disguise .
Sad news at Age of Empires. Angel Soc had to post cancellation of a tournament that he has been working so hard on. Just doesn't figure. Megs of fans ask the 4-year-old site to continue and then there's no support. Just as well that the prizes (yeah, we work for them too) are going to more deserving sites at HeavenGames.
Good news! Both Age of Kings and Mythology are reporting on gummi-bear-like features. Do not miss out on this yummy news! Chew on baby!
Well, nice or not, they've put up their 
Firaxis has released their next civ of the week, the Chinese. They are "Scientific and Industrious," which means they get Bronze Working and Masonry free and well as a free random tech, better workers, reduced science improvement costs and extra production in the city center. Their leader is Chairman Mao and their Unique Unit is the Rider, a very quick version of the knight. 
And no encyclopedias allowed! 
The original creators of Civilization, Firaxis, are in charge of the game's latest sequel. Among other goals, they hope to increase the fun factor and balance out the complexity of the game. The following quote is from 
Contests seem to be all the rage at several of our sites right now. Cossacks Heaven is currently in the middle of its Tournament of the Generals (don't forget to play those games, please), and AOKH has word of a massive AOK marathon over at MFO. Finally, Pharaoh Heaven brings word of (you've gessed it) a Pharaoh competition. Sounds like a good time to be a competitive soul!
Be ye not disheartened, people who were unable to get into the EE beta test. There's still plenty to occupy your time - for instance, try your hand at a bit of screenshot analysis, as ES has released the second AOM weekly screenshot.
Looks nice, doesn't it? Well, it would do, as it's the first Screenshot of the Week from ES, showing off more of what Age of Mythology will have to offer. AOMH, of course, has all the latest information.