Cavedog Entertainment Prepares Total Annihilation: Kingdoms for Release in June.SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 7, 1999-- Epic Fantasy Real-Time Strategy A real-time strategy (RTS) video game is one that is distinctly not turn-based. The phrase real-time is used to distinguish such games within the broader genre of strategic wargames, which has a longer history both inside and outside of video gaming. Game Furthers Groundbreaking Standard Set by Award-Winning Total Annihilation Total Annihilation (abbr. TA) is a futuristic RTS (real-time strategy) PC game, created by Chris Taylor and Cavedog Entertainment and released on September 30, 1997<ref name="Gamespot Total Annihilation" /> by GT Interactive. (TM) Boneyards Boneyards was the massive online server created for the Total Annihilation series of computer games by Cavedog Entertainment, allowing thousands of players to compete in organised battle over the internet. (TM) Online Gaming See gaming. Support Out of the Box Cavedog Entertainment Cavedog Entertainment, or Cavedog, was a computer game developer based in Bothell, Washington. Cavedog released the real-time strategy games Total Annihilation; its two expansion packs ( and Battle Tactics); and , and its expansion pack , a wholly owned subsidiary Wholly Owned Subsidiary A subsidiary whose parent company owns 100% of its common stock. Notes: In other words, the parent company owns the company outright and there are no minority owners. of GT Interactive Software Corp. (Nasdaq:GTIS GTIS Government Telecommunications and Informatics Services (Canada) GTIS Global Trade Information Services GTIS GOES Tap Imaging System GTIS Government Technical Information Services (Canada) ), today announced the pending worldwide release of Total Annihilation: Kingdoms(TM) in June. The immense fantasy real-time strategy game promises to dramatically improve the real-time gaming experience while retaining all of the original Total Annihilation(TM) elements that have made the game an innovative leader in its genre. Unlike the original Total Annihilation, which centers on the war between Arm and Core for control of a galaxy, Total Annihilation: Kingdoms quickly involves players in a pitched battle pitched battle n. 1. An intense battle fought in close contact by troops arranged in a predetermined formation. 2. A fiercely waged battle or struggle between opposing forces. for dominion over the mythical world of Darien. Players find themselves controlling one of four unique races, each with dozens of units at its command, such as dragons Amicale Sportive Dragons is a Congolese football club based in Kinshasa. Their home games are played at Stade 24 Septembre. In the past, the club was also called Amicale Sportive Bilima. , knights, trolls and giants. As the immortal monarch of one of these races, each player builds armies, hones magic skills, and wages war in an effort to wrest wrest tr.v. wrest·ed, wrest·ing, wrests 1. To obtain by or as if by pulling with violent twisting movements: wrested the book out of his hands; wrested the islands from the settlers. supreme power from their enemies. "One of our first goals for Total Annihilation: Kingdoms was to give the game a soul, a sense of being real, a rich history -- and we've gone to great lengths to do just that," said Clayton Kauzlaric, designer and project lead. "Players will find themselves immersed in the story being told in the single-player game with dozens of cinematic cutscenes, control of specialized and unique characters, and an innovative twist in the campaign mode that has players changing sides throughout the story." "But don't get me wrong. If you like lots of chaos, mayhem and wanton Grossly careless or negligent; reckless; malicious. The term wanton implies a reckless disregard for the consequences of one's behavior. A wanton act is one done in heedless disregard for the life, limbs, health, safety, reputation, or property rights of destruction, we've certainly got more than our fair share of that as well," continued Kauzlaric. In what is quickly becoming a Cavedog Entertainment trademark, Total Annihilation: Kingdoms will be heavily supported both before and after the game lands on retail store shelves. Once again, owners of the game will be able to regularly download new, fully functional battle units from www.cavedog.com at no cost. These units will integrate seamlessly into the game and provide virtually unlimited variation to the strategic gameplay experience. Total Annihilation: Kingdoms will also be compatible with Cavedog Entertainment's new Boneyards(TM) online gaming community when it ships in June. Details about the cooperative multiplayer game See multiplayer gaming. that will accompany the final product will be announced at a later date. In addition to free downloadable battle units and support for the upcoming Boneyards online community, fans can obtain the latest information on Total Annihilation: Kingdoms now at www.cavedog.com. The site features Atlas of Darien, an interactive Web application that details the history of each of the four factions in the game and allows fans to learn about the various peoples, places and events that have shaped the game world and story. Bulletin boards, a chat room, animated screenshots and a regularly updated developer's journal can also be found on the site, all of which provide visitors the opportunity to learn and talk about Total Annihilation: Kingdoms before it arrives this summer. "As with the original Total Annihilation, our decision to regularly provide free downloadable units after Total Annihilation: Kingdoms comes out should keep the game new and interesting for a long time," said Ron Gilbert, co-founder and creative director of Cavedog Entertainment. "I'm also very excited about its compatibility with Boneyards, our new online community that takes the concept of providing players with better gaming experiences to an entirely new level." The Story of Total Annihilation: Kingdoms The game's story centers on family treachery. The mystical world of Darien, once ruled by a benevolent king, was divided among his two sons and two daughters. To each of the four children, the king bequeathed a sacred relic of great power that imparted immortality and signified an element -- earth, air, water or fire. The sibling monarchs coexisted peacefully for generations, but relations became strained when their father mysteriously disappeared. As the game begins several hundred years later, the siblings have begun fighting among themselves for control of Darien, aligning themselves along the moral lines of good and evil. The forces of good -- earth and water -- have allied themselves to combat the evil ways of air and fire. The Four Sides: -- Aramon (Earth): Ruled by the mage mage n. A magician or sorcerer. [From Middle English mages, magicians, variant of magi; see magus.] king Elsin, Aramon is a land of rolling hills, snowcapped mountains and vibrant cities. Players can expect Aramon to have the technological as well as moral edge over its opponents. Its units are the traditional land-based medieval fare, including knights, swordsmen, archers and catapults. -- Veruna (Water): Led by the sea mage Kirenna, Veruna is a land of travel, trading and exploration. Colorful coral mark its beaches, and intricate fossil formations grace its shores. Players are masters of the high seas high seas In maritime law, the waters lying outside the territorial waters of any and all states. In the Middle Ages, a number of maritime states asserted sovereignty over large portions of the high seas. , as Veruna features extensive and powerful seagoing sea·go·ing adj. Made or used for ocean voyages. seagoing Adjective built for travelling on the sea Adj. 1. armadas. Veruna's ability to assault enemy shores and send forth immense land-based armies is second to none. -- Zhon (Air): A forbidding lost continent held together by the huntress Thirsha, Zhon is the refuge of many wandering monsters, legendary creatures and outcasts from throughout Darien. Rugged coastlines, dense jungles and imposing mountains make it extremely difficult to exterminate Zhon forces. Rulers of the sky, fast raids and guerilla warfare are the names of Zhon's game. -- Taros (Fire): If there were Hell on Darien, Taros would certainly be it. The land is broken, cracked, and lifeless. The foliage has long since faded, the populace has fled, and once beautiful mountains now belch belch v. To expel stomach gas noisily through the mouth; burp. black smoke and lava. The dead have risen in droves, demons Demons See also devil; evil; ghosts; hell; spirits and spiritualism. ademonist one who denies the existence of the devil or demons. bogyism, bogeyism recognition of the existence of demons and goblins. visit often, and magicians work their powerful magic in this dark pit. The "undead un·dead adj. No longer living but supernaturally animated, as a zombie. " armies of Taros and their magic-using leaders make short work of all who oppose them. Highlights of Total Annihilation: Kingdoms In addition to creating the four unique sides to play, a fantasy setting, and a deeply involving story line, Cavedog Entertainment has also dramatically improved a number of gameplay elements, providing a full-fledged experience point system, which physically changes units as they grow in skill and experience; incredibly powerful patron gods that arrive to assist a player in need when certain conditions are met; a powerful new scripting language included in the Map and Mission Editor that allows players to greatly customize their gameplay experience; new units with the ability to heal or drain other units; fortifications This is a list of fortifications past and present, a fortification being a major physical defensive structure often composed of a more or less wall-connected series of forts. designed to halt early game rushes; greatly enhanced line-of-sight abilities; a new full-screen radar; streamlined unit build menus; and dramatic changes to the style of animation for individual units such as dragons and seagoing vessels, giving them a much more lifelike appearance. Cavedog Entertainment Cavedog Entertainment, based in the Seattle area, was created in 1995 by Ron Gilbert, Shelley Day, and a team of the game industry's best designers, programmers and artists to explore interactive gaming and create new standards of fun. Cavedog Entertainment, a wholly owned subsidiary of GT Interactive Software Corp. (Nasdaq: GTIS), can be found on the Internet at www.cavedog.com. GT Interactive Headquartered in New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of , with 1997 calendar year revenues of $531 million, GT Interactive Software Corp. (Nasdaq: GTIS) is a leading global interactive entertainment software company that develops, markets and distributes consumer software. The company has seven internal development studios: Humongous Entertainment, Cavedog Entertainment, SingleTrac, Oddworld Inhabitants, Bootprint Entertainment, Legend Entertainment and Reflections. The company also has five software labels: GT Interactive, Wizard Works, CompuWorks, MacSoft and Slash. GT Interactive's e-commerce system provides secure online transactions through each studio's Web site and www.gtstore.com. GT Interactive also owns the subsidiary OneZero Media that operates a specialized entertainment portal, www.getwild.com, which acts as the Entertainment Zone on AltaVista; and produces the nationally syndicated television program "Wild Wild Web." GT Interactive can be found on the Internet at www.gtinteractive.com. EDITOR'S NOTE: Artwork is available upon request. Cavedog Entertainment, Total Annihilation: Kingdoms, Total Annihilation, Boneyards and Galactic Wars are trademarks or registered trademarks of Humongous Entertainment, Inc. Other brand names and products may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. |
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