R.U.S.E. Multiplayer VIP Beta begins Nov. 30

On Nov. 30, the R.U.S.E. extended multiplayer VIP beta for PC will be made available worldwide, says Ubisoft. The VIP beta content will initially include two factions (US and Germany), three maps and a chance for players to experience some multiplayer features. After which, says Ubisoft, it will be updated on an ongoing basis with new content including four additional factions (USSR, France, Italy and UK), more maps and more game modes.

R.U.S.E. is a grand real-time strategy game developed by Eugen Systems that allows players to bluff their enemies to lead their nation to victory. It is tentatively scheduled for release during Q1 2010 on PC and consoles.

For further details on the game, visit www.rusegame.com.

Matrix Games signs Armada 2525

Matrix Games and Ntronium Games have inked a publishing deal for the real-time / turn-based space strategy game, Armada 2526. Ntronium Games, and founder R.T. Smith have been creating strategy games for more than 20 years, including the original 4x space classic Armada 2525. Most Smith was the project director and lead designer for Medieval 2: Total War. Prior to that he served as designer and programmer on the previous Total War games.

Matrix Games hopes that Armada 2526 will continue the great tradition of space opera games offering players exploration, empire building, research, diplomacy and trade, colonization, fleet control and command, and - of course - epic space battles. Armada 2526 promises a streamlined play system, and emphasizes battle and strategy over economic micro-management.

A release date is to be determined.

World of Battles beta gets an upgrade

Frogwares’ free MMO real-time strategy game, World of Battles, is offering some handy dandy new in the latest beta version of the game - 0.9.14. The new beta release fixes and fine-tunes several parts of the game and brings a lot of new features. A list of fixes and changes can be found below. Find out more by visiting www.worldofbattles.com. The neta version of the game is open to the public.

- Get invited to Quests by your Race Advisor, help your side to win battles (Good or Evil) and benefit from special rewards and bonuses on the online shop

- Create your own battlefields and challenge armies of your opponents

- Participate to different events like the XP & Gold events, and make your armies evolve faster

- Plunge into an immersive atmosphere thanks to new 3D sounds and music themes

- Get Gems (in-game currency) for free and buy all the items and equipment you need

- Climb fairly the world rankings thanks to a Reliability Rating during the battles

CCP sends in ground troops with DUST 514

CCP today finally revealed the super secret project that has been rumored for quite some time: DUST 514. The game is described as a console-based hybrid MMO/FPS set within the EVE universe. The announcement, which included a video featuring gameplay footage, was made during a keynote address by CCP CEO Hilmar Veigar Petursson at the Game Developers Conference in Cologne, Germany.

DUST 514 will offer first-person shooter and real-time strategy-style gameplay, and will interact directly with EVE Online, CCP’s flagship MMO. This interplay between the two games opens the EVE universe to console gamers and gives them a chance to become part of EVE Online universe.

The main focus of DUST 514 is brutal ground combat that takes place on the surface of the planets from EVE Online, where battlefield reflexes and strategic planning are equally important. Commanders and ground infantry will have all the tools they need to get thew job done including real-time configurable weapons and modular vehicles to deal with dynamic battlefield conditions.

CCP says that the game has been in development for three years at its Shanghai studio, which includes veteran designers of EVE Online and experienced talent from various sectors of the video game industry. Further details will be revealed at CCP’s annual Fanfest event October 1-3, 2009 in Reykjavik, Iceland.

Demigod demo released

Stardock announced that a playable demo for Gas Powered Games’ fantasy themed real-time strategy game, Demigod, is now available for download. The demo features online Internet multiplayer games, the Cataract map and four playable Demigods (Regulus, Rook, Sedna and Lord Erebus.) All of the gameplay modes (Conquest, Dominate, Fortress and Slaughter) in Demigod are available to play in the demo. The demo is available for download at www.fileplanet.com.

Demigod is available worldwide digitally via Impulse for $39.95.

BattleForge Renegade Edition in August

EA’s Phenomic studio will be expanding its online focused real-time strategy game, BattleForge with the BattleForge Renegade Edition card set beginning August 25th. Players will have access to new units and buildings from the Southern Wastes region of Nyn using over 60 additional cards that will be available through a Renegade Booster Packs in the in-game store. In case you didn’t know, BattleForge is a free to play game that combines strategy, fantasy, trading cards and magical spells in an online environment.

Two new playable factions will be part of that expansion: the Bandits and Stonekin, along with a host of new legendary creatures. BattleForge will also get dual orb cards and special affinities. The new BattleForge Renegade Booster Packs are available at the in-game store and can be purchased for 250 BattleForge points or $2.50. To download the free version of BattleForge, players can visit www.battleforge.com and click on “Play4Free.”

My Life as Darklord released

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as Darklord is now available on WiiWare. This game is the follow-up to Square Enix’s popular kingdom management game, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as King.

The new game invites players to switch teams and play a bad guy in charge of the dungeons and other dark regions that trap do-gooders and heroes. My Life as a Darklord is a real-time strategy game that offers an all-new tower-style stage structure. As the newly appointed Darklord on a mission to take over the world, players must strategically place monsters and traps in their tower to ward off invading adventurers. The game offers build-or-be-destroyed gameplay coupled with accessible controls for gamers of all ages.

While gamers can enjoy My Life as Darklord for 1,000 Wii Points, Square Enix has released two add-ons for the new game that will extend the play a slight bit. The first is Darklord Armory (400 points), which gives gamers five items each usable once per battle, including four spells (Shockwave, Blast Arrow, Fira and Quake) that deal moderate elemental damage to adventurers on all floors and one (Cura) that restores moderate HP to all monsters and Artifacts. The second item, Vile Ribbon (200 points), Raises your NP by 50 at the start of battle. The effect is permanent with a single purchase. The more accessories you equip, the more NP you’ll start with (and the prettier Mira will be). This ribbon was cherished by a world-famous actress who disappeared without a trace one day. Anyone who wears it is said to invite destruction upon herself. More add-on content will become available at a later time.

Learn more at www.mylifeasadarklord.com