Activision's Call of Duty franchise may have shifted towards more modern skirmishes, but if you can't get enough of World War II action, The History Channel: Battle for the Pacific (PC, Sony PS3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii) may be just the thing for you. Together with Cauldron, Activision is seeking to bring shooting game fanatics some of the most realistic battles showcasing the carnage on WWII's eastern front. Want to know more? You got it. We've got the latest details just for you.

See the full details o The History Channel: Battle For the Pacific after the jump!

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Buy: [ The History Channel: Battle for the Pacific (PC) ]

World in Conflict for the PC has finally passed its final stages and is ready to hit the stands on September 18 in the US and September 20 in Australia and New Zealand!

 

Both the standard and collector's edition of WIC will be available with a not-so-final-as-the-game price of US$ 49.99 and US$ 59.99, respectively. If you remember, the collector's edition will include not only great bonus stuff like behind-the-scenes videos and a documentary from The History Channel, but also an authentic piece of the Berlin Wall. Not bad for an extra ten bucks.

No word yet on the final release date for the Xbox 360 version.

For history buffs who own a PSP, PS2, or a PC, The History Channel: Great Battles of Rome is like manna from heaven. Developed by Slitherine Software, this title should appeal to an audience that has far too often gone unnoticed by other developers.

Gamespot was lucky enough to score an interview with the development director of the game Iain McNeil. In the interview, he discussed quite a few points that should catch the attention of those who haven't picked this game up. One of the more important details that McNeil discussed is the game's focus. He maintains that this is a "real blend of action and strategy."

Before a battle starts, you have the chance to create a battle plan, which is where the strategy comes in, and your men will carry out this plan in battle.

Some players may choose to wing it and skip this section and jump straight into the battles. Once in the battles, it's fast-paced action all the way. In the larger battles, there are thousands of men giving the game a truly epic feel, which has not been seen on consoles before.

In addition to that, this game was also built to be historically accurate considering they did secure a History Channel License for the game. McNeil gave two major reasons why they decided to obtain the license and how it benefits the game overall.

Firstly, they have thousands of hours of high-quality footage, which we were able to search through and use to create the movies you see in the game. These really add to the atmosphere when combined with the superb music and voice-over, allowing the player to become fully immersed in the period.

Secondly, having a well-known license like the History Channel brings the game to the attention of people who might otherwise have missed it. It has also allowed us to do a lot of TV advertising, which has not been possible in the past. The History Channel has been really supportive and it has been great to work with them.

So there you have it. This is a history game for the most discerning war gamers out there. If you want to read the full interview, feel free to click on our read link. The game has already been released so there's no reason not to check it out to see if it's for you. More updates on The History Channel: Great Battles of Rome as it happens.

 

Previously, we reported on the special pre-order program for upcoming World in Conflict and today we got another piece of good news for you guys. Sierra Entertainment has announced the Collector's Edition for the action strategy title.

So what's in bundled with World in Conflict Collector's Edition? Well, behind the scenes videos, a documentary from The History Channel ("Modern Marvels: The Berlin Wall"), special packaging, and - get this - an authentic piece of the wall itself. Hmm, we're pretty certain die-hard fans would want to get that. On top of that, you can also get additional goodies if you pre-order the game. The pre-order bonus applies to both standard and collector's editions.

Here's what Al Simone, senior vice president of global marketing at Sierra had to say:

The World in Conflict Collector's Edition offers gamers the chance to grab a piece of history – an authentic piece of the Berlin Wall, a monument that once divided the Cold War superpowers right through the heart of Europe. In World in Conflict, the Berlin Wall isn't dismantled in the name of global peace, it is obliterated by the collateral damage of the opening salvos of World War III. We are excited to offer gamers this exclusive opportunity to get the amazing added content in the Collector's Edition version.

Sound good? There isn't any info regarding pricing as of yet but we'll let you know once the info becomes available. You can expect World in Conflict to conquer the shelves come September.

 

Those who pre-order Massive Entertainment's upcoming RTS video game from GAME stores will get a sure treat. Sierra Entertainment (a division of Vivendi) has just announced a bonus pre-order program for World in Conflict that starts on June 22.

So what's the bonus? Those who pre-order the title from a GAME store will get the following: a "Declassified: The Rise and Fall of The Wall" DVD by The History Channel, access to the World in Conflict beta this July, bonus multiplayer maps for the beta event and demo, and account privileges in Massgate (Massive Entertainment's multiplayer software). Nice perks, eh? The "account privileges" means you can secure your in-game handle even before World in Conflict gets released.

If you're located elsewhere, fear not, as the pre-order bonus will also be available to you (we've only confirmed that in Vivendi's online store and Amazon). Anyway, World in Conflict will blast into the shelves come September this year. Stay tuned for more news and updates right here.

Koch Media has announced that it has signed a distribution deal with Black Bean games for the upcoming strategy title The History Channel: Great Battles of Rome for the PC, PS2, and PSP. "I am delighted that Black Bean have once again chosen to work with us," commented Craig McNicol, Managing Director to Koch Media UK, "This is an excellent license and truly underpins the quality of the game."

"This game has given us the opportunity to bring a great television brand to life in the interactive entertainment arena. The blending of dramatic video footage from The History Channel with fast paced gameplay delivers a unique and authentic experience that will have mass appeal," added Chris Mehers, Managing Director of Black Bean Games UK.

Combining compelling gameplay, dramatic video footage and battle simulation, The History Channel: Great Battles of Rome allows players to fully immerse themselves into the battles and campaigns that created the world's greatest Empire. Too bad we still don't have any concrete info as to how the gameplay goes. You can check out this trailer for a bit of a look at the game, though.

We also have a few comparison shots from each of the game's three platform versions below as well as the packshots for the PSP and PC versions above. From left to right, the screenshots below are, from left to right, from the PSP, PC, and for comparison's sake, the PS2.

The History Channel: Great Battles of Rome will hit the PC, PS2, and PSP in May 2007.

Before you head off to war, always make sure you know what you're up against. Now, in case many of the guys here found information for The History Channel: Great Battles of Rome game lacking, we are happy to announce that Black Bean Games has just set up the game's website.

Among the interesting details mentioned over there was the Great Battles of Rome's release date: expect the empire to come marching into retail this May for the PlayStation 2, the PlayStation Portable (PSP), and the PC.

Moving on to the rest of the site's features, we have extra game media in the guise of a gameplay trailer, wallpapers, and screenshots. The site also carries a brief historical into the game's three main heroes: Julius Caesar, Scipio, and Trajan (the third guy was one of the five emperors that ruled during Rome's Pax Romana period).

The site further makes mention of extra game details, such as an extra 10 Celtic campaigns and 35 battles in the Cult of Mithras, which should provide for a more rounded out perspective of the sort of factions that existed during this time period. We advise historical fans and dudes who are getting tired of the Spartan hype as of late to try out the game come launch, or read up for extra details.

The subject matter of The History Channel's latest gaming project tempts a cliche: "Arma virumque cano... genus unde Latinum, Albanique patres, atque altae moenia Romae." The History Channel: Great Battles of Rome, being developed for the PSP, PS2, and PC by SBK07 devBlack Bean Games, with Slitherine Software and the History Channel, relives over 100 battles between the Roman legionnaires and the barbaric tribes up north, including the Punic Wars, and Julius Caesar's campaign all the way to the shores of modern-day Britain.

If you have no idea what this writer just said, right up to the Latin, try visiting a local library.

The game features a mix of strategy and action, the press release says, featuring customizable army setups and a choice of whether to draw up the order of battle or leave it to the AI and take nothing but the action. We suspect an AI-squad action game in the veins of Bladestorm, Dynasty Warriors, or 300, but no further clues can be inferred from the screenshots (presumably from the PC or the PS2 version) below.

Hey, it's not a video game that'll rock the world, but you know what they said about being ignorant of history. Which is why a trip to the library every now and then isn't so bad.

It probably won't be 100% historically accurate, but a free first-person shooter backed by The History Channel still sounds pretty cool. Working with The History Channel, Kuma Reality Games has released the latest episode in their Shootout! series of games.

This episode, called Tet Offensive: The Embassy, has players reliving a moment of America's time in the Vietnam War. As their press release describes it,

The latest Shootout!: Tet Offensive chapter captures the essence of the Vietnam war in 1968 at the start of the Lunar New Year Celebrations, transporting players 20 miles northwest of Saigon where an American platoon has been battered and bloodied and is in dire need of back-up after a surprise offensive by Vietnamese forces. Gamers serve as members of the reinforcement troops of the Bravo Company who swoop through, quickly tracking the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese troops. The action escalates as their stealthy pursuit soon leads to a harrowing shootout through the jungles surrounding An My.

That sounds like a lot of searching and destroying right there.

The History Channel will also be sponsoring a Tet Offensive multiplayer event, with a map based on the US Embassy grounds at Saigon in 1968. The event will be happening on Saturday, December 26, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern). Winning pairs get to pick a DVD of the Tet Offensive episode as covered by The History Channel's "Shootout!" or "Declassified." Just check out the link for more info on signing up.