Looking to play an innovative game that blends MMO elements with RTS gameplay? Well, Filefront’s got you covered. We’ve teamed up with the 1UP network and publisher Silverlode to bring you 50,000 copies of the critically acclaimed “MMORTS,” Saga. The game will have players amassing huge armies to fulfill their goals in a world created by the lead programmer for Starcraft: Brood War, Dallan Christensen. You’ll be able to build up an army of human, orcs, elves, dragons, giant mechs, and much more by acquiring booster packs of units. Units and resources can be bought and traded much like items in a traditional MMORPG, and the game’s persistent world will continue to evolve and expand even while you’re offline. Plus, as icing on the “awesome cake,” Saga is completely free to play.

Want your free copy of Saga? Well, then just click on the link below to download the game client. The client will come with a serial key, which you’ll need to use to create an account at the official Saga website. Be sure to check out the file’s description for instructions on creating your own account. You’ll have between now and May 11th to secure your copy of the game, unless we run out before then. We’re seriously giving away $1 million dollars worth of stuff here, people, so be sure not to miss out.

[Update: Some people seem to be having trouble locating their serial key. After following the link below and clicking “Download Now,” the red text near the top of the page will change to display your own personal key so you can register your free copy. Happy gaming!]

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EA has announced BattleForge a new online real time strategy card game for the PC. The title is currently in development by EA Phenomic Studio. Game-play is supposedly similar to Saga.

The trading cards are all online. Players can buy, trade and win cards to build their armies. BattleForge promises “massive online battlegrounds” where players will have the ability to combine elements of cards, mixing and match to create different attacks.

There’s no word at this time on the release date, but Gaming Today will be keeping tabs on it.

via Press Release

StarCraft II continues the epic saga of the Protoss, Terran, and Zerg. These three distinct and powerful races will clash once again in the fast-paced real-time strategy sequel to the legendary original, StarCraft. Legions of veteran, upgraded, and brand-new unit types will do battle across the galaxy, as each faction struggles for survival.

Featuring a unique single-player campaign that picks up where StarCraft: Brood War left off, StarCraft II will present a cast of new heroes and familiar faces in an edgy sci-fi story filled with adventure and intrigue. In addition, Blizzard will again offer unparalleled online play through Battle.net, the company’s world-renowned gaming service, with several enhancements and new features to make StarCraft II the ultimate competitive real-time strategy game.

Features:

• Fast-paced, hard-hitting, tightly balanced competitive real-time strategy gameplay that recaptures and improves on the magic of the original game
• Three completely distinct races: Protoss, Terran, and Zerg New units and gameplay mechanics further distinguish each race
• Groundbreaking single-player “story-mode” campaign
• Vibrant new 3D-graphics engine with support for dazzling visual effects and massive unit and army sizes
• Full multiplayer support, with new competitive features and matchmaking utilities available through Battle.net
• Full map-making and scripting tools to give players incredible freedom in customizing and personalizing their gameplay experience

StarCraft II does not have an official release date for Mac or PC as of yet, so check back with us often.You can view more screens for the game here.

Namco-Bandai has released an Editor’s Day 2008 video from Warhammer: Battle March.

On the Xbox 360, Warhammer: Battle March includes the original content from Warhammer: Mark of Chaos as well as all-new features, intuitive control schemes and support for online play via the Xbox Live online entertainment network. Thrusting players into Games Workshop’s renowned fantasy world, players will be able to control six unique armies – the Empire, Chaos, Skaven, High Elves as well as the all-new Dark Elf and Orcs & Goblins forces – as they battle for supremacy in a world torn apart by constant warfare. The individual units of each army can be customized in great detail, allowing players to put their own mark on their fighting force and strike fear into their opponents with terrifying combinations of weaponry and armor. Players can also control Heroes and Champions for each army, high-powered units that gain new abilities as they tear through the opposition. Placing the focus of gameplay on combat and tactics rather than tedious resource management, Warhammer: Battle March on the Xbox 360 features two control schemes for both master battlefield tacticians and novice warriors that offer full control over all aspects of the player’s army. On Xbox LIVE, up to four players can engage in massive multi-army clashes in head-to-head and team-based modes of play.

An expansion to Warhammer: Mark of Chaos for the PC, Warhammer: Mark of Chaos - Battle March builds upon the game’s tactical foundation to offer new units for each army as well as an original campaign and new online modes. Players will be able to experience the mysterious sorcery of the Dark Elves and the savage brutality of the Orcs and Goblins in an all-new chapter of the game’s single player campaign as they battle to overcome an invasion by the armies of Chaos.

Warhammer: Battle March is expected to hit the PC and Xbox 360 in September.

A couple of weeks back, Stephany told you that Universe at War: Earth Assault for the XBox 360 had shipped to retailers. If you’re one of those people who likes to ‘try before you buy,’ you’re in luck.

According to Major Nelson, the demo for this recently released RTS is now available on the XBox Live Marketplace. The demo will feature the Novus and the Hierarchy, giving you access to two of the game’s three factions. If you want to try out the Masari, you’ll have to head out and pick up a retail version of the game.

If you’re into RTS titles, give this one a go. It didn’t make a huge splash on PC, but that usually means little to nothing about its success as a console title. It still supports Games for Windows Live, so if you have a friend who’s playing on PC, you can join in (If you both have a Gold account, grrrrrrr.)

Gas Powered Games has announced that the release date for its upcoming Demigod video game has been delayed. Although the company had previously slated the game for a 2008 release, it changed projection to accomidate a “fully supported” beta this summer.

The good news is that Stardock is producing the game and plans to digitally distribute it sans on-disc copy protection.

“Forging our new partnership with Stardock is a big deal for all of us at GPG, and we couldn’t be more excited about it,” said Chris Taylor, founder and CEO of Gas Powered Games.

“Not only do we have a proven retail publisher, but we get to partner with a pioneer in the digital distribution space… A company that totally understands what kind of experience our customer wants and the quality game they demand. The whole proposition is truly refreshing.”

I’m all for waiting on a good game that has most of the bugs worked out, instead of putting up with a rushed released that still needs a lot of work.

Gaming Today has been following the developing details of Demigod as so far the game looks very promising. You can get more information on this real-time strategy with RPG leanings here. Also, check out the latest screenshots on FileFront.

via Eurogamer

The first details on THQ’s Warhammer 40,000 MMO have come to light and according to the information made available, it is likely going to be more of an MMORPG instead of an MMOFPS with an “in-depth combat system orientated around cover, suppressive fire and flanking”.

Players will be able to form squads, and firefights will take place on an epic scale and all races important to WH40K lore will be represented. The ability to explore cities, alien temples, Chaos shrines, deserted battlefields, mysterious ruins, ancient structures, and ‘drifting hulks in space’ will be included in the content along with what creative director Joe Madureira calls: “Tons of stuff hanging off your character, weapons, and scrolls”.

This all sounds really cool, but what I am wondering is whether this will compete with Warhammer Online: AoR. Even though there will be a major difference between the two, I am wondering which of the two Warhammer MMOs will win out in the end. I guess we will have to wait and see, especially since this one is apparently years off.

Thanks: CVG

When I see screens as detailed and action-packed as the one above, I immediately think, Oh, this must be a new RPG or action title. So imagine my surprise to learn that this new batch of screens is actually for a real-time strategy game. The game, titled “Demigod,” is looking to shake up the RTS genre quite a bit with its infusion of RPG and action elements. It’s probably no wonder then that it’s being developer by Gas Powered Games, who were responsible for both Dungeon Keeper and Supreme Commander. To top it off, the game is being published by Stardock Entertainment, who recently released another ground-breaking RTS with Sins of a Solar Empire. The game will apparently have you controlling a demigod (i.e. one massive, powerful unit) who can also create other units to aid him. It sounds kind of like the Heroes in Warcraft III, but taken to the next level. All I know is it’s being made by a proven developer, released by a proven publisher, and already looks awesome; and that’s good enough to make me keep an eye on it.

You can check out the rest of the screens here.

This past week brought great news to WH40k fans when THQ and Relic announced Dawn of War II, the highly anticipated sequel bringing savage warfare to your computer sometime in the Spring of 2009.

Today comes word that the official website is up along with teaser trailer and some other highly recommended goodies, as well as three hi-res screenshots which I have happily posted for you.

Even though I have never played any games in the WH40k franchise, the news of DoWII gives me something to smile about because when this game comes out my boyfriend and I will no longer have to fight over the computer - he will get this one and I will get a nice pretty new one. So, thanks Relic for sealing the deal for me - you can expect the cake I baked for you to arrive in the mail any day.

Gamers enjoying the immensely popular Sins of a Solar Empire start jumping up and down for joy because Stardock President and CEO Brad Wardell has stated that an expansion for the game is currently in the works. Although a release window was not given, he divulged that the expansion would include a full on campaign mode and new playable factions.

With this news, comes word that patch 1.04 will be coming out in the next few days and Patch 1.1 is in the works as well and will include a revamped networking system and new maximum graphics settings.

So hang tight my Vasari brethren, more content is coming soon!

Thanks: Wired

Relic and THQ officially announced Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II through a press release issued this morning. The highly anticipated sequel is scheduled to bring the 41st Millennium’s savage warfare to life in the Spring of 2009 and will be powered by an enhanced version of Relic’s Essence Engine 2.0. WH40K: Dawn of War II will take players to the frontlines of war for an intense and visceral non-linear single player experience and a fully co-operative multiplayer campaign.

In addition, THQ has announced that gamers than plan to or have purchased the recent expansion WK40k: Dawn of War Soulstorm will be able to participate in an invitation-only multiplayer beta for Dawn of War II. Beta dates have yet to be announced, but how cool is that?

An exact release date has not been given, only the aforementioned estimated Spring 2009 release - but as the year shuffles along, fans have loads to look forward to because I am sure assets will be forthcoming very soon and then of course there is the beta (providing you purchased Soulstorm). Hit the jump for the full press release which includes some nice blurbs from Relic and THQ.

Via: Press Release

Read the full article

cdv Software Entertainment and Fireglow Games today shipped their WWII RTS Sudden Strike 3: Arms for Victory to North American retail. Sudden Strike III drops players into some of the biggest and most furious battles of WWII with new campaigns, massive battles, and historically modeled units, along with significantly expanded gameplay so players can wage war across a variety of terrains and environments.

For more information about Sudden Strike 3, please visit the official website and our previous posts.

Via: Press Release 

Here’s a tip, game developers: do not make a game trailer where your company logo is more interesting and eye-catching than the actual game. Take this trailer for Dawn of Fantasy, for example. Already, I’d rather know more about how the words “Reverie Entertainment” came to be assembled by robots in some warehouse than I would about a fantasy-based MMO/RTS hybrid. Nevertheless, Dawn of Fantasy will allow players to create a stronghold from the ground up and try to invade other strongholds with a roaming army, all against a completely derivative fantasy backdrop. The whole video features a lengthy voice over that could probably be summed up into two lines: “You ever seen Lord of the Rings? It’s like that.” It’d be nice if they’d highlight something really, truly groundbreaking; because I’m having trouble picking that out in this sunnier recreation of The Battle of Helm’s Deep.

SEGA have announced that Universe at War: Earth Assault for the Xbox 360 is now available in North America retail stores. Universe at War: Earth Assault supports Microsoft’s Games for Windows - LIVE initiative and allows cross-platform play between Windows-based PC and Xbox 360 and in an effort to even the playing field, cross-platform play will be made available via free download in early April 2008.

Universe at War: Earth Assault is set in the near-future, when Earth has become a battleground for three different alien factions: the Hierarchy and their massive war machines called “Walkers;” the Novus with their swarms of robots and nanotechnology; and the Masari, ancient astronauts who awaken from centuries of slumber below the world’s oceans to turn the conflict into a three-way war.

The control scheme in Universe at War: Earth Assault for Xbox 360 has been designed to streamline every possible function in an RTS for use with a console controller. The game features a quick “snap-to” function that allows players to access adjacent units and points of conflict very quickly with the D-pad. Another control feature is the “paint brush” function, which allows the selection of multiple units. This function also allows players to quickly assign control groups. The game also employs a balance system called “Tactical Dynamics.” This groundbreaking feature allows players to retrain and customize units in the midst of battle to better cope with enemy forces and tactical situations. Weaponry and defenses can even be modified in real-time, allowing players to take advantage of constantly shifting battlefield conditions. Fully customizable tech trees allow players to control the development of technologies that they deem key to victory. With super-weapons and alien powers, players can destroy large-scale cities and whole territories in one move.

For more information Universe at War: Earth Assault check out our FileFront page and the official website.

Via: Press Release 

Earlier this month, we received a press release stating that the PC exclusive Stranger would be arriving on North American shores March 17. Ten days later, it is finally here. Not sure what the delay was, but regardless, if you were wanting to play this RTS/RPG hybrid you can now go down to the store and pick it up.

With a world populated by more than a hundred unique monster types, players can take control of three main characters and their henchmen and enjoy a single-player campaign lasting more than 30 hours, while also being able to take their game online in eight-person multiplayer matches.

For more information about Stranger, visit the official website and our previous posts.

Via: Press Release

The first details for the delayed PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of World in Conflict, now titled World in Conflict: Soviet Assault have emerged. The cold war RTS game that puts you in the shoes of Soviet forces contains the following features:

• Super-Powered Warfare: Unleash the arsenals of the great military superpowers in the gripping single-player story created by Larry Bond.
• Bleeding-Edge Graphics: The latest version of Massive’s proprietary Masstech engine allows for a full 360° range of camera control and features advanced lighting and physics effects.
• Complete Destructibility: As the battle rages, the world environment pays the price - every object in the game will crumble under the force of war, including cars, buildings and forests.
• Deep Multiplayer Modes: World In Conflict: Soviet Assault will support up to 16 players for head-to-head and team-based battles in Domination, Assault and Tug-of-War gameplay styles.
• Real World Units: Players will take control of the most devastating arsenal of military weaponry ever created, including Soviet, American and NATO tanks, planes, trucks, troops and helicopters as well as nuclear weapons.
• Player Roles: Players will choose to play as Infantry, Armor, Support Forces, or Aerial specialists - multiplayer teams will need to master each role for maximum effectiveness.
• Made for Next-Gen: Optimised gameplay for the Xbox 360 controller and a new heads-up-display (HUD) that is more functional and appealing for console gamers.

World in Conflict: Soviet Assault is the expansion pack to the original PC game and is set to be released on PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 this October.

Thanks: Tiscali.cz

Introversion Software’s Darwinia is planned for an Xbox 360 release, which basically means that it will most likely come to us via Xbox Live Arcade. For those unfamiliar with Darwinia, it is one of those games that does fit into any particular gaming mold as it has RTS, puzzle, action, God-style, and action elements to it.

With a retro style 3D graphics and its colorful and intellectually stimulating gameplay, Darwinia is a favorite among PC gamers and now, hopefully the Xbox 360 generation will get in on the fun.

No release date has been issued for it, but it is currently being given a rating by ESRB (which is unknown at this time) for the Xbox 360. If you want to see what all the fuss is about in the meantime, you can visit the official Darwinia site and check the game out yourself if you have a Steam account.

Thanks: Videogaming247

Starcraft was probably one of the most popular RTS’s ever made. Even now, almost a decade after its release, people the world over are still playing it (especially in Korea, where it’s pretty much a sport all its own). How could anyone ever top something like that? I don’t know, but Blizzard’s certainly up to the task. In this video, lead producer, Chris Sigaty, explains how the Zerg have evolved in the upcoming sequel. One thing that’s sure to cause screams of anguish from your rivals is that all of the Zerg units can now burrow. Also, the queen has now been changed to a central defensive unit that can essentially add buffs to your units and buildings. It already looks like gamers everywhere are going to have to come up with new strategies for this one.

Thank you, developers of alternate history games. Thank you for reminding us that if World War II had never happened, the forces of evil would be invading the world with missile-carrying dirigibles…for, um, some reason. EA has released a handful of new screens for the upcoming Red Alert 3. As you can imagine, they feature lots of electricity-firing vehicles emblazoned with the Soviet hammer and sickle. Ridiculous premises aside, this game’s already looking like it will satisfy many an RTS fans needs when it comes out eventually.

You can check out more screenshots from the game here.

It’s like some weird monthly ritual to have new information for the upcoming Starcraft II to suddenly spring up out of nowhere. In Korea recently, Blizzard revealed a new intro trailer for the Zerg which was pretty awesome-looking. Unfortunately, it’s shot off a screen, so it’s a little fuzzy and hard to hear. One thing’s for sure though: those Zerg rushes are going to be epic.