Since releasing Heroes of Annihilated Empires last November 16th, GSC Game World hasn't stopped improving the real-time strategy game.

As you guys surely know, game patches are released by game developers to fix bugs and glitches reported by users in the initial gameplay. And with this new patch, critical errors, as well as various additions, will be integrated into the game in the hopes of keeping the users loyal to the game. So, what's included in this patch?

v1.1 fixes:

• Introduced changes into the game balance.
• Corrected many critical errors of the single player game.
• Added two unique maps for online play.
• Many small corrections and changes.

Remember, user feedback is of the essence when it comes to PC games so if you encounter and bugs and errors, make sure you inform the devs through game forums so that your entire gameplay experience will be enhanced, and more importantly, prolonged. To get the patch, just click on the link below and you're good to go.

Download: [Heroes of Annihilated Empires v1.1 U.S. patch]

Ukrainian publisher GSC Game World has announced that they will distribute their PC strategy/role-playing title Heroes of Annihilated Empires through Valve's Steam, joining the ranks of companies who use the platform to distribute their software digitally. Steam's most well-known users include Activision and Take-Two, whose usage of the platform has fueled its rising popularity in recent months.

Valve claims that titles promoted through Steam are available to some ten million potential customers. Steam's initial success is attributed largely to the popularity of Half-Life 2 for which the service was one of the most reliable ways to get hold of the game during its very first day on sale. It has since become key to the launch of several episodic game series, including Valve's own Half-Life 2 episodes.

"We are very happy to start working with Valve to distribute our latest creation via this mighty online distribution platform," said GSC CEO Sergiy Grygorovych, adding that he hoped the relationship with Valve would be useful "both now and in the future".

Heroes of Annihilated Empires will be available on November 22 at a retail price of US$39.95.

The 10 million gamers connected to Steam will soon experience GSC Gameworld's latest game. Known for the PC game series Cossacks and the highly-anticipated S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyland, GSC Gameworld will now bring Chapter I of the Heroes of Annihilated Empires trilogy game series to Steam at the end of this month.

Heroes of Annihilated Empires is a little different to what you may be used to from games, fitting into not one but two genres. The game will be part RPG and part RTS, with elements from both genres featuring in Heroes of Annihilated Empires. The game features:

• Innovative opposing of two genres in one game - RTS vs RPG
• New 3D engine
• Detailed game world, including support of 5 novels from Europe-renowned writer Ilya Novak
• Mass-scale battles of thousands-strong armies
• Four unique races, individual skills, spells and artifacts
• 12 heroes, 12 neutral races, 100 units and 150 various buildings
• Excellently developed character types and impressive unit animation
• Over 150 magic items and over 100 spells
• Original and involving story of the campaign
• Classic multiplayer over LAN or the Internet, up to 7 players in a game. Mix of two genres in the game: RTS vs RPG with a possibility to blend or choose in between during the play.
• Original card system of magic spells, equally interesting to both hardcore gamers and newbies. Over 50 spell cards
• Involving process of character level-ups throughout the entire game
• Stunning intros and cut-scenes. Comics in-between missions to give a deeper story insight
  

You can even choose style part of the game you want to follow, with players being able to take either a strategy or RPG-like approach to the single and multiplayer game modes which include over 100 spells and commanding giant armies. Heroes of Annihilated Empires will be available via Steam on November 22, 2006 for U$ 39.95 to download.