Developer Fireglow Games just set release dates for the next installment of its famed World War II inspired real time strategy series. Sudden Strike 3: Arms for Victory will be available in localized versions as early as November 23^rd in French speaking territories. German-speaking lands will follow on November 30^th, with UK and Ireland on ready for invasion on December 5th. Sudden Strike always followed the line of historical accuracy, to the point where campaigns became long battles of attrition with no definite winner in sight. You can expect nothing less from Sudden Strike: Arms for Victory, real time tactics at its finest.

The most notable update is the reworked graphical engine. You can launch coordinated land, sea and air attacks with a more realistic feel due to the massive eye candy improvements and new war sounds. As seen in the screenshots, the dynamic lighting implemented in this third installment really does the job well. Sudden Strike releases are mind blowing in terms of historical accuracy but 2007 quality graphics only add to the overall authenticity. Fireglow developers are true to the legacy. There’s no problem in blowing everything in between your combat lines and the enemy’s, as tanks, fortified positions, trees and many hostile troops litter the battleground like misfortunate debris.

You will be given the choice of playing as British, Soviet, American, German or Japanese forces, each with hundreds of tanks, ships, planes, artillery and soldiers true to its World War II counterparts. Up to seven armies can fight it out on the long kilometers of the front lines, in online battles. The wait is almost over but if you’re too anxious, you can take a look at the multiplayer test version while waiting for the final release.

I don’t know about you, but for me Starcraft was one of just very few games that really rocked my world.

I remember like I just played it yesterday and not almost 10 years ago. All those hours spent hunting down my friends on the battle map with my trusty Protoss zealots…ah those were the days. Everyone smart enough to have played the game even once knows it revolutionized the genre in so many ways.

That’s why I never understood why Blizzard never even announced a sequel…until World of Warcraft came out…then it hit me like a brick in the head, IT’S ALL ABOUT THE MONEY!

But hey, let’s not get into that, let’s just rejoice that another Blizzard classic is about to be born. There were always rumors running about Starcraft II, but they were all launched by fans like me, who wanted it so much they never stopped believing in it. So when I saw the official announcement you cam imagine my joy.

Seeing the presentation trailer, with that cigar smoking Terran marine, even though it really didn’t show much, made my heart pound a little harder than usual. Then I saw some gameplay screensavers, and I recognized some of the old elements of the game, like familiar buildings and units, but also really new ones which I’m dying to take to battle. It all looks so colorful and appealing drawing you in like a siren’s song. I know I might sound a bit delusional, it’s this damned game. And I just know I’m not going to be able to get over this state until I get my hands on it…And here’s the problem: we’re talking about Blizzard and these guys take their time, I mean really take their time so I’m guessing I’ll be 40 by the time they release it. I’m kidding but it’s sure going to be a while since they declared “it will ship when it’s ready”.

But let’s look on the bright side it will come out eventually and that’s all that matters. Now if you’ll excuse I have to go kick my Terran friend’s ass in Brood War.

<-250x250 Square - left->The original Company of Heroes was a true breath of fresh air for all RTS enthusiasts, it truly was one of the best games of the genre, introducing new concepts that proved strategy games could be so much more than what had been done in the past.

Now the guys at Relic Entertainment are releasing Opposing Forces, a stand-alone follow up to the original game that is set to top it’s predecessor and claim supremacy over the all other RTS games.

In Company of Heroes: Opposing Forces players will have to choose between two unique armies, the British 2nd Army during the liberation of Caen, France, or the German Panzer Elite in their struggle to repel the might of Operation Market Garden, the largest airborne operation in human history.

As far as the multiplayer is concerned, players are in for some pleasant surprises as they’ll be able to battle online in all new multiplayer modes, with this new armies, or the armies from the original Company of Heroes because they are fully compatible.

Powered by an upgraded version of Relic’s Essence Engine, featuring full Microsoft DirectX 10 support, improved vehicle AI and weather conditions that will directly affect the battlefield, Company of Heroes: Opposing Forces is definitely one of this year’s most anticipated games.