HEART OF EMPIRE: ROME

BASINGSTOKE, England October 7th 2005) - International software publisher DEEP SILVER and renowned UK games developer DEEP RED go behind the scenes on their ground-breaking new PC title, HEART OF EMPIRE: ROME. Set for launch FEBRUARY 2006, the masters of 'world building' TYCOON games are using their combined creative talents to create, stone by stone, one of the greatest ancient cities of all time.

When asked to envisage what ancient Rome would have looked like, we instantly recall such memorable scenes, as seen in the classic movies 'Spartacus', 'Ben-Hur' and most recently 'Gladiator'. The grand architecture of the Imperial Palace, beautifully ornate gardens, bustling market places and the awe inspiring grandeur of the Coliseum, are all what makes ancient Rome so memorable.

Heart of Empire: Rome, allows players to recreate the ancient city, via a 'Tycoon' style of game play. In order to bring about the majesty of Rome, Deep Red's own proprietary graphics engine was used. Over 2 years in development, the Actuality Engine allows the team to recreate Rome's hilly topography, using a system of terraces. These create a realistic looking cityscape of buildings and roads, climbing through the hills and fora (market squares) filling the valleys below.

Hundreds of buildings are able to be created within the game world, across a variety of different types. Each building and construction is a highly detailed, hand-crafted and hand-textured 3D model, based on actual Roman structures; each fulfilling functions that were an authentic part of the Roman way of life. Players will be able to construct the most basic of structures, from simple living apartments and public toilets, to the instantly recognisable public baths and temples, all the way up to grand theatres and Basilica (ornate public halls for business and law).

The Actuality Engine truly demonstrates its immense graphics power, by giving the player a true sense of scale within the Roman capital. The fully 3D engine allows the player to look out upon a vast sea of terracotta roofs, high above amongst the clouds, from an almost God like perspective. Watch barges unload their cargoes at the warehouses alongside the Tiber, or view mighty Gladiators within the Coliseum. Then with one smooth movement, glide down to street level, mingling in the hustle and bustle of street life, as Roman citizens go about their daily lives. Join a Roman couple as they shop for 'bling' in the luxury market place (its not a new concept, the Roman's were very partial to their 'bling'), watch children play in the streets, or Roman Senators study scrolls in the library (often a phrase given to Senators wives, when in fact it was a trip to the brothel).

In creating the map and campaign structure for the game, the team divided the capital up into fourteen regions; a system instituted by the Emperor Augustus. These authentic sized and scaled parts, aided the historical flavour of each region and scenario. The Fifth Region was home to the Esquiline Hill, which was an up-market part of town, with beautiful parks and luxurious urban villas. The corresponding scenario reflects this by having the player create a park and build luxurious homes to attract the wealthiest class of citizen. The other scenarios within the game are similarly themed and flavoured by the historic reality of the ancient city.

Over the course of the project, the designer accumulated a huge amount of reference material and spent hundreds of hours researching the topography of ancient Rome along with its society and culture, all of which feeds into the general design of the game and the feel of the scenarios. An eerie parallel between ancient Roman culture and that of the Modern West became apparent through the research. Fast food, huge, high-rise concrete buildings, a love of violent entertainment, cosmopolitan, multiracial cities, a huge gap between rich and poor, money as the main factor in social status and a profound belief in the superiority of their culture were all part of the Roman way and the game reflects all of this.

NEXT - 'FOR WE WHO ARE ABOUT TO DIE' - Gladiator combat in the mighty Coliseum

Developed by DEEP RED and published by DEEP SILVER, HEART OF EMPIRE: ROME is exclusively distributed by KOCH MEDIA in UK, Germany and Italy, launching February 2006.

-ENDS-

MEDIA CONTACTS:

DAVID BLUNDELL,

HEAD OF PR

+44 8700 276 530

David.Blundell@kochmedia.co.uk

ABOUT DEEP SILVER:

Deep Silver is the recently established games publishing division of KOCH Media. The label launched in 2003 with a policy of recruiting passionate gamers to work closely with International developers and publishers to bring groundbreaking and creative projects to market. Recent launches include the award winning X2: The Threat along with the innovatively quirky; Singles: Flirt up your Life. For further information on DEEP SILVER and their upcoming products, visit www.deepsilver.net

ABOUT DEEP RED:

Founded in 1998 DEEP RED continues to prove itself as a world class developer within the very specialist genre of 'world building' games. With its proven management and development teams, proprietary graphics engine and tool chain, Deep Red continues to grow at all levels. To date the company has produced 6 highly regarded games that between them have sold nearly 3,000,000 units: Risk II, Monopoly Tycoon, Beach Life, Vegas, Sea World and Sea World II. For more information please visit www.deepred.co.uk