DESCRIPTION

Australian-based developer Ellipse Studios and North American publisher Strategy First Inc. have teamed up to release Submarine Titans, a futuristic real-time strategy game that dares to go where no RTS has gone before. Submarine Titans plunges players deep into an immense and fully realized 3D underwater world, where three future civilizations are locked in a battle for supremacy.

In the year 2047 a massive comet struck the Earth (the Clark Comet). The surface of the planet was devastated, and life as we know it was virtually wiped out. Taking to subterranean vaults and makeshift undersea installations, several thousand human survivors escaped the blight of the comet and the ensuing ravages of an out of control global weather system.

Over the following century, humankind slowly adapted to their oceanic habitat and two rival civilizations evolved from the chaos, the White Sharks and the Black Octopi. The White Sharks hunger for dominance over the entire underwater universe; and the technologically advanced and environmentally protective Black Octopi will go to any extreme necessary to remain in balance with the Earth. These two groups have been gathering resources and building their forces in preparation for an inevitable clash.

It is now the year 2115, and a new wrinkle has appeared to complicate matters. Deep in a resource-laden crater on the ocean floor an alien race has uncoiled itself and becomes part of the struggle. All three races erupt in an epic conflict that seems destined to destroy man's final bid for survival.

Submarine Titans allows you to command one of these three civilizations in a multitude of fully 3D environments and terrain. The world is divided into five depth levels in which you and your opponents can utilize for offensive and defensive maneuvering. According to the developer, you can opt to have a computer AI assist you by taking over mundane tasks, you can concentrate on the areas of the game you most enjoy. With the use of the scenario-editor, you will have the opportunity to create your own scenarios and maintain the same control over gameplay elements as the designers themselves.

With over 70 submarines, units and structures, Submarine Titans will allow you to develop your own style of play. Each unit and structure varies in function, mobility, firepower and armor. The large technology tree has over 40 upgrades for each civilization, plus you have the ability to steal technology from the enemy.

You can control individual units or entire groups, as well as simultaneously plan production and launch attacks against opponents. The game supports 3D sound and resolutions of up to 800x600 and 1280x1024 graphics.

Multi-player action is offered over LAN and Internet, and will allow up to 24 human players - including eight AI opponents and eight spectators - to watch and take part, as the action unfolds in this aquatic fantasy adventure. Head-to-Head, Deathmatch, Team and Co-Operative play are all featured, with support for up to eight teams of players in simultaneous play. The Spectator mode will allow players to watch a multi-player game rather than participating. In a form of "god mode", people will be able to connect to a multi-player game, view the entire map and watch the action as it unfolds.

Submarine Titans is distributed in North America by GT Interactive. ~ Tara Hernandez, All Game Guide