IMPERIAL GLORY BECKONS FOR COMMANDOS DEVELOPER

19th century strategic battler in development at Pyro Studios. New screens inside

17:19 War, what is it good for? Making bloody good strategy games, that' s what. At least that' s what Pyro Studios would have you believe, after the developer announced a " gruesome" epic of " spectacular land battles and breathtaking naval battles" for the PC next year.

Set during 19th century Europe, Imperial Glory will let you command the mighty empires of either Great Britain, France, Russia, Prussia or Austro-Hungary, with large-scale battles the inevitable outcome of your insatiable greed.

The usual strategic traits such as politics, trade, diplomacy and resource management all enter the equation, with gameplay switching between turn-based imperial management and real-time warfare in full 3D.

There will also be options for commanding some of history' s most notorious leaders such as Wellington and Napoleon, plus multiplayer options for up to four budding commanders.

Imperial Glory releases in early 2005, published by Eidos.


Stephen Daultrey