14 DAY TRIAL // The real-time strategy genre does not seem to have too many supporters among game developers lately. Apart from titles like Company of Heroes 2, Banished, and a few others, fans of the genre haven’t been blessed with too many games.
Luckily, the folks over at Focus Home Interactive noticed this lack of real-time strategy games and, in partnership with developer Tindalos Interactive, will release Etherium.
The game was announced a while ago, but it doesn’t have an exact release date yet. However, Etherium has been recently listed on Steam, so fans of real-time strategy games can now pre-order it for €26.99 ($26.99).
Etherium is not a historical real-time strategy game, as the story is set in a science-fiction universe. The campaign features three factions that fight against each other for a rare resource known as “etherium.”
The premise and settings of the game sound very much like those of the old Dune game, one of the masterpieces of the strategy games genre.
Etherium, just like Dune’s spice, is the rarest and most valuable resource in the known universe. A very small quantity can produce enough energy for a colony inhabited by several million people. It also allows for flying colonies to travel in space at the speed of light.
However, instead of Fremens, players in Etherium will battle other secondary factions and weather anomalies. Players can also try and rally these sub-factions, but taming them won’t come easy.
The Guardians, The Raiders and The Parasites are three of the sub-factions that players will do battle with or try and rally them to their cause. The main factions in Etherium are represented by The Consortium, The Awakened Intar and The Vectides.
A multiplayer mode for up to 4 players will be available too
Just like in any other real-time strategy game, Etherium will allow players to develop their bases and take command of tanks, aircrafts, infantry and gigantic colossi or war.
Technology research will be mandatory to enhance your troops’ military capabilities. Each of the three factions included in the game will have their own strengths and weaknesses, so depending on which one you choose, you will benefit from either climate control, planetary bombardment or map exposure command skills.
Etherium comes with a multiplayer mode as well, which will allow up to 4 players to clash in intense battles. Developer Tindalos also confirmed the game will have dynamic weather control system implemented which will impact each player’s strategy.
Tindalos’ real-time strategy game has been confirmed to arrive on Steam on January 2015, but those who pre-order the game will receive a 10% discount.
