StrongHold announced

FireFly Studios and Gathering of Developers Announce Stronghold Core Members From the Team that Developed the Acclaimed Caesar and Lords of the Realm Series Break New Ground with Original Sim/Real-Time Strategy Title Dallas, TX, November 16, 2000 -- Game developer FireFly Studios and developer-driven computer and video game publisher Gathering of Developers today announced Stronghold, a unique PC game that combines city building and community management with intense real-time strategy (RTS) combat. Challenging players to design and defend their own castles, Stronghold delivers a medieval European experience drenched with absorbing gameplay and meticulous graphic detail. FireFly Studios is a newly formed, London-based, development house founded by Simon Bradbury, Eric Ouellette and David Lester, core members from the team that developed the acclaimed Caesar and Lords of the Realm computer game series. Stronghold will include a multi-player mode allowing players to form alliances and compete for control of the kingdom over local networks or the Internet. Stronghold will be published by Gathering of Developers and distributed by Take Two Interactive in the fall of 2001. "Only the expert minds of Simon Bradbury, Eric Ouellette and David Lester could design an ingenious and original title like Stronghold," said Mike Wilson, CEO of Gathering of Developers. "This game allows players to reach back in time to recreate and experience medieval life." Set in the Dark Ages, Stronghold players establish settlements, and construct and manage castles while engaging in siege warfare. Over 30 types of walls, towers and anti-siege equipment, 50 different structures, and a legion of troop classes are available for creating significant citadel and village detail. The game's simulation element offers players the opportunity to design and run a castle and fortress complete with lords, court jesters, village peasants and town drunkards. Decisions, such as the types of materials produced by various tradesmen throughout the village, and the class of army troops that will be trained and assembled, are all determined by how players build their castles. Stronghold's combat element focuses on castle defense and the raiding of opponents' fortifications. Guiding troops through more than 20 missions, players balance village resources, economy, the building and repair of castle defenses, and the strategy and placement of siege and anti-siege parties. Players are challenged to better their castle efficiency in order to both properly defend it and advance the efforts of their own troops. "We are very pleased to have Gathering of Developers as Stronghold's publisher," said Simon Bradbury, lead programmer and co-founder of FireFly Studios. "Just as Stronghold goes beyond a typical sim game by adding real-time strategy elements into the mix, Gathering of Developers goes beyond the traditional role of publisher with its commitment to and support for the independent developer."