FX Interactive reported today that the Imperivm franchise has sold over 1 million copies in Spain, Italy, and Latin America alone.

The game's best players from Spain and Italy fought at a tournament organized to celebrate the event. Congratulations to Atticus from Spain who won the tournament and got a 42" plasma television set. Each of the top 100 online players received an iPod.

Watch a video report from the event in Italian.

We are proud to announce the release of patch version 1.02 for our award winning game Punic Wars (also known as Imperivm II/Nemesis of the Roman Empire). Click here to download the patch or here to see the patch changes.

Additional patch versions:

German version

Spanish version

Italian version

The long lasting update of the site is now live. You can check out the new community section dedicated to fan sites here and of course don't miss the new section dedicated to Punic Wars clans here.

It has been a while since we have updated the gallery of Celtic Kings: The Punic Wars. Development is going smoothly and sometimes we happen to be a bit too focused on our work.

Anyway, the gallery has been updated with some new shots from the game. This time the update adds 5 (the ones at the top are new) nice in-game screenshots from TPW. One of them shows the strongest unit in the Carthaginian army - the war elephant. Another shows the ghoul that appears after the death of a Carthaginian shaman. Yet another captures a lightning striking a Camel rider who had just killed a Roman priest!

Grab your things and head to the screenshots' section for the action!

Nemesis of the Roman Empire received recognition from critics like GameSpy, GameSpot and GameZone. You can read their detailed reviews here.

Here are two Nemesis of the Roman Empire previews on major gaming sites:

"... the real-time strategy in the game differs from most games of this sort."

GameSpot Preview

"Nemesis is the sequel to Celtic Kings: Rage of War, an innovative title that blended role-play elements with military strategy."

IGN Preview

GameSpot DLX will distribute a demo version of Nemesis of the Roman Empire (a.k.a. Celtic Kings: The Punic Wars). The demo is a 150MB download and will be available starting February 20.

Read the GameSpot story here.

We're happy to announce that Enlight Interactive will publish and distribute Celtic Kings: The Punic Wars in North America. The game will be distributed under the name Nemesis of the Roman Empire and will hit the market in March 2004. Expect more news as the release date of Nemesis of the Roman Empire comes closer.

Read the full press release here.

Sequel To Haemimont Game's Award-Winning Title Invades Retail This March

PARKVILLE, Md. - Enlight, a leading entertainment software developer and publisher, announced today they have acquired the North American rights to release Nemesis of the Roman Empire. Continuing on the traditions of the award-winning original Celtic Kings: Rage of War from Haemimont Games, Nemesis of the Roman Empire will explore the three Punic wars between Rome and Carthage between 264-146 B.C and will include the famous campaigns of Hannibal and Scipio Africanus.

For centuries, Italy was renowned as the center of civilization with its core thriving in the glory of Rome. The influence of the "eternal city" extended well beyond its borders and ultimately encompassed the known world. Eventually, two nations the Carthaginians and Iberians joined together to retaliate against Rome and reclaim their lands in what came to be known as The Punic Wars.

Nemesis of the Roman Empire, inspired by the history of The Punic Wars, allows players to experience the brutal warfare between the Romans and Gauls -- Carthaginians and Iberians during this turning point in the demise of Rome. The two new nations in this next installment are accompanied with their own units and historical buildings. In addition, this title will contain two unique single-player campaigns, new terrain types, custom maps and special enhancements to the Celtic Kings engine. While remaining true to the game's original concept, Nemesis of the Roman Empire incorporates real-time strategy and role-playing elements, offering players a distinctive experience in discovering a conflict that occurred over 2000 years ago.

"We are focused on identifying the best international developers and establishing long-term strategic partnerships with them," said Trevor Chan, chief executive officer of Enlight. "Haemimont Games is a talented development team and has created a unique brand with the original Celtic Kings title. We are excited to work with them on bringing this next installment to the North American market."

Nemesis of the Roman Empire is being published by Enlight Interactive and will be available at $29.99 for the PC this March. For additional information on features for this title as well as future updates, please visit the game's official website www.enlight.com/nemesis.

About Enlight
Enlight is one of the world's leading developers of entertainment software. The company was founded in 1993, with a goal of creating games that are not only entertaining, but of equal importance, enlightening. Into 2003, Enlight is making an entry into the publishing business, establishing Enlight Interactive Inc., the U.S. publishing arm of the Enlight group as well as consolidating strategic partnerships with distributors all over the world. For more information, visit the company's website at http://www.enlight.com/.

About Haemimont Games
Haemimont Games was founded in 1998 as a division of Haemimont-Smartcom AD, a privately held Bulgarian technology group. For its 6 years of operation Haemimont Games has successfully designed and produced award winning RTS titles such as "Tzar: the Burden of the Crown"(2000) and "Celtic Kings: Rage of War"(2002). Since April 2003 Haemimont Games AD operates as an independent company focused on the production of high quality RTS and RPG games for the PC and video games market.

Haemimont Games contact
Gabriel Dobrev, CEO
www.haemimontgames.com

One might think that silence on our end means something. It really doesn't mean anything - we're all too busy coordinating work with different localization teams around the globe that help us to deliver Celtic Kings: The Punic Wars to stores near you. Who knows, maybe it's already available in your location - when did you visit the games' store last? It might be a good start for '04 to do that today…

Anyway, there are still thoughts and ideas of ours that can be of interest for RTS lovers and the fans of our CK series in particular. To feed the informational hunger that gamers have, we have answered some questions asked by our friends from GameGuru Mania. If you follow this link, you will find something new about our upcoming game plus some exclusive screens - what could be better!? And, yes, the guy behind the answers is our one and only CEO and Producer of the CK series - Gabriel Dobrev.

Have a question? Want to learn more? Frustrated? Lost? Lonely? Our forum will help!

As the important part of every game, the artificial intelligence needs a lot of attention from the developers' side. And when we talk about an RTS title, AI plays a very important role in the genre - yes, there is an MP mode in each and every RTS game shipping these days, but one needs to practice before going out on the Net to find some partners for Player vs Player battles.

This is why, the lead programmer of Haemimont Games Ivan-Assen Ivanov wrote a detailed article about the creation of AI for Celtic Kings: The Punic Wars, which has been posted at The Adrenaline Vault today.

If you take a closer look at the material, you will learn about the three aspects in making the AI not only a killing machine but also a thing with human-like behavior. Several exclusive shots from the game are also included.

Got any comments or feedback? Launch to the official forum of CK: TPW as we would love to hear your thoughts and ideas!

Music plays a great role in the creation of a proper atmosphere in the game, the world without its own music and sounds won't look finished and the experience that players have won't be absolute.

Thus, Haemimont Games has unveiled two music pieces from our upcoming game - Celtic Kings: The Punic Wars. These two tracks will be featured in the final version of the game and, hopefully, be those important parts of the game that build the core experience for it.

After entering the Downloads section of TPW official web-site, you will be able to find two tracks from OST of CK: TPW. "The battle at Zama" (8.3 Mb compressed file with 192 kbps bit rate) and 'The destruction of Carthage' (6.8 Mb compressed file with 192 kbps bit rate) will give you a chance to feel the times of Punic Wars not with your eyes, but with your ears this time!

It is a known fact that Germans just love strategy games and gamers there just can't live without several minutes of an RTS game each day. We don't want to say that other gamers don't care about solid RTS titles, but it would be strange to miss Germans…

Ok, you must be holding a dictionary in your hand, it should be German-Your-Native-Language dictionary, as today we're talking with nice guys of 4Players.de about an upcoming follow-up to our CK title… yes, you've guessed it - Celtic Kings: The Punic Wars. New screens and information can be easily found in the material where our one and only Gabriel Dobrev answers questions shedding light on various aspects of the game.

Please, follow us!

Haemimont Games likes the RTS/RPG genre and the track record of the studio shows it well. RTS games have those vast battles that are so loved by the developers of Celtic Kings: The Punic Wars. We've said that the skirmishes are furious and fast, that numerous units die in front of our eyes. And now, now we're ready to prove our words with some in-game images.

Yet another group of five new screenshots form the game is up in the Gallery. This time we're showing some screens with huge battles - if you look and imagine the atmosphere of the skirmish, you can here screams from the battlefield. You just don't want to miss such action - that's for sure!

While 99% of staff from Haemimont Games are working 24/7 on polishing and tuning of Celtic Kings: The Punic Wars, we're offering a planned update to the Gallery.

Once again, the new in-game images will give you a glimpse into a world of Celtic Kings. From these screens you will learn that: it's possible to create an ambush and prepare a surprise for your enemy; you will learn the true power of the Slingers from the Balearic Islands; what does it mean to loose one defense tower sometimes; and much more!

You can find five new screenshots with descriptions by heading to the Screenshots section of the Gallery (top 5 images are new). If there is something that you would like to share with us after checking out the images, don't hesitate to visit our forum.

This time, we're happy to present the first ever movie from the game, which will show that the battles in CK: TPW are really huge and fierce. You will also see that formations do work and archers are not melee units. The times of the Punic Wars unfold in front of the eyes of the player and there is only one questioned left unanswered - are you ready to become a commander?..

Please, move to the Downloads section for several minutes from the life of Carthaginians and Iberians. The file is 31 MBs large and uses Bink compression for maximum experience.

The movie can be also found on the following web-sites:
HappyPuppy (free registration required)
Loadedinc.com (free registration also required).

It is known that Iberians carried a potion of poison ready to take it when it is decided - to be captured or die like a warrior. But don't get the picture wrong - Iberians was a very peaceful nation dedicated to grazing and farming and war was the last thing they thought of.

There were lots of facts revealed about Iberians in the recent developer's diary at Gamer's Hell together with some nice-looking sketches. But this time we're offering a new gallery update. Five new screenshots form Celtic Kings: The Punic Wars, showing the buildings of Iberian nation can be found there, as well at the description for the captured moments.

Don't miss it!

The excursion to the world of Celtic Kings: The Punic Wars continues with the second installment of the developer's diary written by the designer of the game - Gabriel Dobrev. In the first part Gaby shared some insider information about the Carthaginians. This time the diary focuses on the second new nation - the Iberians.

Please, head to Gamer's Hell where the article could be found together with some exclusive pictures and sketches. We really hope that this material will help you feel the time of The Punic Wars and get the idea of the game better. If there is something that you would like to comment on, we're looking for your feedback in our forum.

We continue to share more and more information about the follow-up to the Celtic Kings: Rage of War – Celtic Kings: The Punic Wars. And this time, our one and only Gabriel Dobrev is sharing some scoop on the races in the upcoming game. Do check the developer’s diary part I at Gamer’s Hell to find out more about people of Carthage. Lots of exclusive sketches can be also found in the text, so, don’t miss the article!

Well, it’s time for another update in the Gallery. We all hope that you would be thrilled when you see some of the new units in Celtic Kings: The Punic Wars. Take a look at the 5 new shots from the current build of the game and join our excitement of the vast Carthaginian armies preparing for vitally important battles.

You can find new screenshots (with descriptions, as always) here - five at the bottom are new. The images are available in both low (640x480) and hi (1024x768) resolutions.

And don’t forget to tell us what you think.

A news section of TPW web site is up. This time we're happy to present RTS/RPG lovers some nice wallpapers created by artists at Haemimont Games to illustrate the depth of The Punic Wars.

Please, launch to the Wallpapers section to see a retrospective view on the city of Kartagenea, showing the commanders (the one easily recognizing is, of course, Hannibal) planning a siege and the ruins of Carthage. All the wallpapers have the resolution of 1024x768 - they will fit your desktops nicely.

By the way, do you remember where our forum was? We're there, looking and reading and, of course, answering!

WorthPlaying.com has been updated with an interview with the lead programmer of Celtic Kings: The Punic Wars Ivan-Assen Ivanov where Mr. Ivanov sheds some light on the historical aspect of the game. It's known that TPW takes place in the period of the Three Great Wars during 264BC - 146BC. How historically true the follow-up to the award winning Celtic Kings game will be? Is it an animated and well-programmed book of history or just a game with a historical flavor?

Here is what Ivan-Assen thinks about this:

"We do a lot of historical research, and just as with the Gauls and Romans in the original Celtic Kings: Rage of War, we have tried to capture the spirit of the two new nations. For example, the Carthaginians used almost exclusively mercenaries for their military campaigns - and you'll see this in the game. They were cunning merchants, and managed to turn out profit both from victory and defeats - and you'll see this in the game."

Please, follow this link to find out more!

There is another update in the Gallery of The Punic Wars web-site. This time you can find four new screenshots, which demonstrate the peaceful life of the Carthaginians - one of the new races featured in CK: TPW. Please, don't waste your time and head to Screenshots' section to find out more!

You may like visiting our forum too - talk till midnight - it's ok with us!

HomeLAN is the place to visit if you want to learn some more about the features of The Punic Wars and its development. Today they published an interview with our CEO Gabriel Dobrev. Here is a short quote to give you an idea of the topics discussed:

"Gabriel Dobrev - My absolute favorite Carthaginian unit is the War Elephant. It is a strong unit that wreaks havoc in the enemy lines not so much with its attack as much as with its trample damage ability. But the best thing about it is how it gracefully moves towards the enemy."

Read the interview here.

Haemimont Games is happy to show the first screens from the current build of the upcoming RTS/RPG title - Celtic Kings: The Punic Wars - http://www.haemimontgames.com/punicwars/

Please, follow this link: http://www.haemimontgames.com/punicwars/screenshots.html and check out the screenshots and the capabilities of the enhanced engine used in the original Celtic Kings game.

We would be glad to see them in your galleries!

If you have any questions or would like to know more, please, don't hesitate to contact us.

Haemimont Games contact
Gabriel Dobrev, CEO
www.haemimontgames.com

 

Today we've put online the first screenshots from Celtic Kings: The Punic Wars! You can see the new outposts and terrains as well as the new nice layout of the villages.

Check out the screenshots section and post your comments in the forum. Read the full text of the press release here.

We are proud to announce our next project – Celtic Kings: The Punic Wars. The Punic Wars will continue to evolve the brand of the award winning Celtic Kings: Rage of War by introducing new nations, units, upgrades and strategies while preserving the fresh and unique gameplay of the original.

In the coming days we'll be releasing bits of information about the new stuff in Celtic Kings: The Punic Wars in a new dedicated section of our website.

Read the full press release here. Discuss this news item in the forums or drop us an email with your comments.

Haemimont Games is happy to announce its next project - Celtic Kings: The Punic Wars. The Punic Wars will continue to evolve the brand of the award winning RTS/RPG title Celtic Kings: Rage of War by offering gamers around the globe bits of fresh gaming experience in the well-known genres.

The new game will be exploring the three wars between Rome and Carthage in the period 264BC - 146BC which includes the famous campaigns of Hannibal and Scipio Africanus offering gamers a unique feel of those times.

To find out more, please, check the attached files where you will find a description for the upcoming title by Haemimont Games as well as several illustrative materials which show the feel and look of the upcoming product.

If you have any questions or would like to know more, please, don't hesitate to contact us.

Haemimont Games contact
Gabriel Dobrev, CEO
info@haemimontgames.com
www.haemimontgames.com