For the Glory gold, in stores Nov. 10

Paradox Interactive latest historical strategy game set in the Europa Universalis universe has gone gold. For the Glory: A Europa Universalis Game will be released via digital download at all major digital download portals on November 10th. Developed by Crystal Empire Games, a team formed from Paradox’s Europa Universalis II fan community, the game was built using the Europa Engine. The title is a product of the developers’ vision for the ultimate historical strategy game. Players take the reins of a country, guide domestic and foreign policy, navigate thousands of historical events, engage in various struggles and lead their country to prosperity… or to ruin.

Those interested in get a look inside the game’s development should check out a series of developer diaries that can be found on the For the Glory forums.

Hearts of Iron III demo released

Paradox Interactive has released a playable demo for Hearts of Iron III, the third installment in its popular World War II strategy game series. The playable demo gives players a taste of what they can expect from the complete game upon its release. It contains a tutorial and the single player Campaign of 1939. The Hearts of Iron III demo allows you to play as either Germany, France, Poland or the United Kingdom for the first four months of World War II.

Demo mirror links can be found on on www.paradoxplaza.com.

Hearts of Iron III will be in stores in North America and via all major digital download portals on August 7th. Releases in Europe will follow on August 14 (UK, Scandinavia) and August 28 (France and Germany).

Dawn of Discovery demo available now

Ubisoft has released a playable demo of Dawn of Discovery demo for Windows-based PCs. Dawn of Discovery, known in other parts of the world - particularly Europe - as ANNO 1404, is the latest title in Sunflowers’ popular and long-running historical-based real-time strategy game series. The demo can be downloaded at www.dawnofdiscoverygame.com.

In the demo, players can begin to build and shape gigantic metropolises while exploring the Orient. The demo offers the first two missions from the full game, and a 60 minutes continuous game mode including most of the technologies, buildings and units from the full game,

Dawn of Discovery will be available on June 25th 2009 for the PC, Wii and DS.

1C Preps Empire: Time of Troubles for 2009

1C Company and Lesta Studio are working on Empire: Time of Troubles, a turn-based, historical strategy game which covers the events of 1350-1650 taking place in Russia, Poland and the Great Lithuanian Princedom. Players will command one of 26 factions in a large-scale historical campaign , building and assigning labor forces in cities, researching and utilizing technology, and utilizing more than 150 types of military units.

The game also promises political, economic and role playing systems, gameplay that highlights the importance of war and diplomacy , and dozens of famous historical personalities and hundreds of game characters, each with their own unique specialties including rulers, commanders, priests, alchemists and spies.

More details on this game can be found at www.1cpublishing.eu. The game is scheduled for release sometime in 2009.

Europa Universalis III: Complete in October

Paradox Interactive announced Europa Universalis III: Complete, a compilation pack the original game and the “download only expansions” Napoleon’s Ambition and In Nomine. Napoleon’s Ambition takes the grand strategy game Europa Universalis III all the way into the French Revolution and the Napoleonic era, while In Nomine puts players into October 1399 and the coronation of Henry IV of England. The expansion promises over 50 more years of gameplay through the Byzantine Empire, Tamerlane and the end of the Hundred Years War.

Europa Universalis III: Complete is scheduled for release in October and has a SRP of 29.99USD / 29.99 EUR.

East India Company Delayed

For those that care, Lighthouse Interactive has delayed its real-time strategy war game, East India Company. The game, which was originally scheduled for release in Q4 2008, has been pushed to Q1 2009. Lighthouse says that this delay is “in the best interest of fans and the game.” East India Company is described as a dynamic real-time strategy war game for Windows, based on the exploits and adventures of the infamous 18th century East India Companies. Playing as one of eight nations spanning Europe to the Far East, players are challenged to build the World’s most powerful trading empire as they engage in open sea battles in both single player and multiplayer modes and trade.

“Allowing more development time further ensures that Nitro Games will deliver the best gaming experience possible,” says Raymond Snippe, Senior Development Manager of Lighthouse Interactive. “We want to wow strategy fans with EIC’s technically advanced proprietary game engine and incredible cinematic game environments. We are confident that gamers will agree it’s worth the wait.”

We shall see.

AGEOD’s American Civil War Gold

What’’s blue and gray and gold all over? cdv’’s American Civil War-themed strategy game, AGEOD’’s American Civil War: 1861-1865 — The Blue and The Gray, of course. cdv announced that the Civil War strategy title has gone gold and will be released in North America on Jan. 28.

Developed by France-based AGEOD, this Civil War-era strategy game promises to focus on the key battles of the bloodiest conflict in American history. As the commander of either the United States or the Confederate States of America armies, gamers must play a number of roles to succeed, including diplomat and strategist. A full accounting of all the game’’s features can be found at http://civilwar.cdvusa.com. Look for it later this month.