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Slitherine preps second wave of DS and PSP strategy games

Reinforcements are on the way

Slitherine preps second wave of DS and PSP strategy games
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DS + PSP
| Commander: Europe at War

Last week we were gathering intel about strategy game publisher Slitherine's plans for its WII title, Commander: Europe at War, which it's bringing to DS and PSP. However, thanks to some sneaky code decryption, we've since discovered that the company has plenty more DS and PSP action scheduled throughout 2009.

Following Commander: Europe at War, will be Horrible Histories: Ruthless Romans. Due out in May, it's based on the million-selling series of children books - "History with the nasty bits left in" - and will take a much more adventure game approach to the time of the Romans.

Next up - in the autumn - will be HISTORY(TM) Egypt: Engineering an Empire: an empire building game set in ancient Egyptian times.

"Players control city development, diplomacy, move armies around the beautiful campaign map and fight simple battles. It's a bit like Advance Wars, but with a real free form campaign layer rather than a linear storyline, and with a historical setting," reckons development director, Iain McNeil.

Following that will be BBC Battlefield Academy, which will extend the Battlefield Academy Flash game that was created as part of the broadcaster’s British History series.

Set during World War II, McNeil says the gameplay is reminiscent of Laser Squad, with turn-based, tile-based movement while your actions can be interrupted by enemy units firing from ambush.

"It's a simpler game than Commander and focuses on the low level fights where the player controls individual tanks such as the Sherman or Tiger," he explains. "Players can call in airstrikes, artillery bombardments and much more. This is really one to watch out for."

And filling out Slitherine's 2009 schedule will be Commander: Napoleon at War. A sequel to Europe at War in terms of mechanics and gameplay depth, it's set during the Napoleonic Wars, encompassing the differences in weapons, formations and tactics that conflict entailed.

All games are planned for release on DS and PSP, so there's plenty to look forward for those with a strategy bent.

First into the battlefield is Commander: Europe at War out on Friday 20 March.

Jon Jordan
Jon Jordan
A Pocket Gamer co-founder, Jon can turn his hand to anything except hand turning. He is editor-at-large at PG.biz which means he can arrive anywhere in the world, acting like a slightly confused uncle looking for the way out. He likes letters, cameras, imaginary numbers and legumes.