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Sega announces new RTS: Stormrise

by Graham on July 10th, 2008

If the Total War franchise isn’t enough to fulfill your Real Time Strategy needs, then the guys at The Creative Assembly aren’t done with you yet, as Sega announces Stormrise.

Interestingly though, this is one RTS which won’t be available for PC gamers, at first.  Stormrise is being specifically developed for both the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3, by The Creative Assembly’s Australian studio.  But Sega has said that a PC version of the game is planned - which means it will no doubt be released shortly after the console versions.

Apparently the game will take full use of it’s 3D environment, letting you control units in the air, on buildings, on the ground and under-ground.

More details, including the full press release and some early screens, after the break.

Here are some of the features:

• Lead from the front - Control units and issue commands while viewing the battle from the 3rd-person POV of any unit on the battlefield. The 3rd-person camera offers unprecedented immersion in the game world and presents warfare in a more visceral, emotional, and epic manner than ever before.

• The first fully 3D RTS - Gone are the flat levels of traditional strategy games. Engage in warfare on battlefields comprised of sprawling cities and towering skyscrapers that let you play in a truly 3D environment.

• Revolutionary Console RTS Features - Groundbreaking control method for quick and intuitive controls.

• ‘Tactical Playbook’ which gives players all the strategic choice they get from a traditional RTS, but with the simplicity and accessibility of a playbook.

• Advanced Multiplayer Features - Multiplayer modes feature “join anytime” functionality, previously only seen on First Person Shooters and a breakthrough for console strategy titles.

• Premium Game audio and music - Composed and performed by BAFTA award winning team.

Press Release:

LONDON & SAN FRANCISCO (10^th July, 2008) - SEGA Europe Ltd. and SEGA^® of America, Inc. today announced the development of Stormrise^TM, an innovative real time strategy console title built specifically for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system. Stormrise marks The Creative Assembly’s first foray into developing a purpose built RTS title for console and is slated to ship in 2009.

Stormrise offers fans of the classic RTS genre an immersive and dramatic twist whilst challenging the conscience of the gamer.  Experience the heat of the battlefield by leading your troops from the front line, instead of the traditional way of controlling the units from a detached view point.   Stormrise also allows units to be commanded in the air, across rooftops, on the earth’s surface and even underground, this unique idea of “verticality” introduces multiple layers of gameplay that must be mastered for strategic advantage. The experience is heightened by a simple yet effective control system tailored specifically for consoles, which allows easy unit selection, rapid navigation and precise deployment.

“The Creative Assembly have proven their general leadership in developing RTS games through the award winning ‘Total War‘ series on PC”, commented Gary Knight, European Marketing Director, SEGA Europe.  “However, Stormrise has been built from the ground up specifically for high def consoles to provide a more intense, frenetic style of game that, coupled with the all new control mechanic, will revolutionise the way RTS games are played.”

Set on a bleak and barren earth, devastated by a catastrophic event centuries ago, Stormrise sees the Echelon and the Sai battling to survive in a hostile and uninhabitable wasteland.  Remnants of a superior technological people the Echelon survived the event through self-educed hibernation, whilst the Sai, a more tribal faction, still exist having learnt to adapt to their surroundings and the new environment.  Having evolved in vastly different ways, the differences between the two factions have spurred much animosity and hatred between the two races, and the future of the planet is now hanging by a thread…

Stormrise is in development at The Creative Assembly’s Australia studio and is priming its forces for release in 2009. For more information please visit

http://www.sega.com/stormrise or www.sega-press.com (www.sega.com/us ).

[Source: Sega PR]

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