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"To play this game three people can be chosen from: the Spartans, the Persians or the Egyptians. Each of them has their own campaign in which you once again (re)write history. These there people all really differ from each other: style, buildings, the way they collect resources and so on. Because of the disadvantages and advantages of each people are balanced well. None of them is the best to play with, but one might fit your playing style best..."

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"Strategy games: they’re a bit like Marmite, or Bovril, when you think about it. The main problem is speed. Playing these games is like watching a sloth with a hangover: nothing seems to do anything fast. To the best of my knowledge, strategy gaming is the only genre that allows you to have your dinner without pausing. Certainly, this has its advantages. Set up your workers, peons, slaves or minions to gather resources, put up a defensive perimeter, come back after a half hour and build a juggernaut army to demolish the opposition. Works every time..." 

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“IgroMir” – the first immense exhibition of computer and video games took place in VVC, Moscow on the 4^th and 5^th of November. In spring, at the “KRI – 2006” exhibition (game development conference), the organizers realized the necessity of creating the analogous exhibition for gamers only. The entrance ticket to “KRI” was about 3 000 rubles but this couldn’t stop instant gamers. So they loosened their purses and saw all the innovations with their own eyes, visited interesting seminars, lectures and presentations. And now, at the beginning of November, the organizers of “KRI” opened the doors to a new exhibition of computer and video games “IgroMir – 2006”!

 The weather was frosty, the sun’s shining, kids were on vacation and students had holidays – all this has brought many thousands of gamers at the pav. №57 at VVC, Moscow. The developers of dtf.ru, who were responsible for the registration, noticed: “Well, we’ve surely surpassed all queues to McDonald's over the whole world taken together!”. And these words were far from being an exaggeration – a huge queue, guarded by militia troops, was twisting like a snake within a kilometer.

 Just 150 rubles and you can enter this wonderful world of computer games! Although the organizers planned 30 000 of visitors within two days of the exhibition, on Saturday night they had to print more tickets. The ticket was valid for both days. The only inconvenience was a crowd during the latter part of the day; the sponsors were crying over spilt milk and regretted that they hadn’t given the visitors the bracelets with timers. After standing through that queue and entering the exhibition, the gamer not only didn’t want to leave it but called and invited his mates instead. And there was a reason for that – a PR campaign that had been launched before the “IgroMir” exhibition said: “IgroMir” exhibition – the analogue of the “E3” in Russia! Everyone’s invited!”.

 The “IgroMir” exhibition was a precise name! Beautiful and expensive stands, new projects, games, novelties in the electronic entertainment, a great number of visitors, contests, quizzes, shows, prizes, autographs of famous people in the game industry… and much more!

 Our company “World Forge” presented the “Ancient Wars: Sparta” RTS. The stand was located on the first floor, in the hall to the left of the exhibition center. Everyone could not only enjoy the game trailer, posters on the stand and take their photos with a Greek girl, but also play the demo-version the game.

 There was a huge banner hanging over the stand and the stand itself was decorated by the poster with a Persian warrior on it. To the left of the stand there was a rotating cube with colorful artworks of logotypes of the developers, publishers and sponsors. If there was a contest, whose stand was better, then “Sparta” would get the first prize thanks to our talented artists – Roman Tulinov and Lev Boiko.

 On the second day of the exhibition there was a press conference for the press and mass media representatives. The conference was really fruitful. I told about “Burut CT” and “World Forge” companies, about released games and projects that were still under development (“Hard to Be A God”, “UberSoldier”, “UberSoldier” add-on, “Atlantis”). But the main stress was made on the RTS presented at this exhibition – “Ancient Wars: Sparta”.

 
I was answering questions about the graphics engine which supports the latest graphic technologies (Parallax, Chrome, Bump mappings, Specular, Shadow map), physical model as an element of the gameplay (buildings consist of physical objects, the physics influences on units and many other features). The so-called presentation was closed by the storm of applause. After the press conference the journalists were being delighted by the graphics, interested in the storyline depth and sincerely excited about its realistic statement, surprised by the huge number of units and their detalization. It was really great to represent such a project.

 
Well, dear colleagues and gamers, they say that “Every cook praises his own broth”, so in spite of the fact that this game is really worthwhile, it’s up to you to decide how good it really is.

 The release of our game will take place on the 1^st of December 2006 in the “Renaissance” hotel!

 

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FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE

The primitive race of the “humans” worships the war. From time immemorial silly people have been diligently destroying and annihilating one another. Why? There are many answers. The power, gold, foolishness and childish complexes… The wars have always taken place, even when the world did not know about chemical weapons, tanks and gunpowder… When the group of peasants equipped with hoes could significantly change the course of the battle. There is nothing to do about it – that’s all about our rapacious nature. The evolution of the gaming industry gives you almost boundless opportunities to become the illustrious commander. Do you want to take part in the mass battles without leaving your chair? No problem. Just wait for the game “Ancient Wars: Sparta” by Word Forge studio from Voronezh.

Check out the full preview on ogl.ru .