News: Supreme Commander

Supreme Commander is a real-time strategy (RTS) computer game, developed by Chris Taylor's Gas Powered Games and currently slated for release in the first half of 2007. It was first announced in the August 2005 edition of PC Gamer magazine and is referred to as the spiritual successor to Taylor's 1997 RTS game Total Annihilation, which has been widely hailed as one of the great triumphs of the genre.

Developer(s): Gas Powered Games
Publisher(s): THQ
Designer(s): Chris Taylor
Release date(s): 1st Quarter 2007
Genre(s): Real-Time Strategy
Mode(s): Single player, Multiplayer
Rating(s): ESRB: E10+
Platform(s): Windows

Screenshots:








Story

In the Quantum Age of 2018, scientists from Earth began experimenting with "quantum tunneling", which allows transport of living matter through great distances. However, tunneling is prohibitively expensive since one tunnel requires the energy output of up to 25 fission reactors. The focus on conventional space travel has run into problems since the travel just isn't fast enough. In due time, scientists finally perfect the technology with the teleportation of a single atom of caesium in a lab, and the first off-world teleportation moved a milligram of iron onto Mars. They then slowly started working up the food chain from insects to mammals like mice and monkeys. The first humans are "tunneled" in 2062 when a group is sent to Neptune's moon Triton to further explore interstellar travel. The quantum tunnel transport takes .26 seconds.

The galaxy slowly begins to be colonized through a variety of tunnel networks, radiating from Earth like the spokes of a wheel. By 2284, 16 colonies have been created now known as the Prime Worlds and by 2316 each of these begin their own expansion. 210 years later, 110 colonies begin their expansion as well. Alien life at this point was yet to be discovered.

By 2663, there are now more than 400 self-replicating colonies and the empire is having trouble regulating them. Small scale wars develop between colonies and the Earth sends Colonial Command forces to stamp out the resistance. These pacification operations continue to grow. What the Earth doesn't realize is that some of these rebellions are being started by Colonial Command Commanders unhappy with current events and/or greed for power of their own. The Earth Empire is slowly losing its iron grip on its colonies.

Despite all the turmoil, expansion continues, with Earth claiming control of as many as 1,280 systems at its peak. The Colonial Command is stretched to its limits because of unrest along the frontier. Historians mark 2819 as the beginning of the Infinite War. The last loyal remnants of the Colonial Command have retreated back to the 16 Prime Worlds, abandoning the rest of the galaxy to anarchy. Much of the Quantum Gate network is destroyed by various factions pushing their own agendas. Many worlds that relied on the Empire are lost, as are the technology and science that may have been in development. It is during this time that 29th-century combat takes on a new face. A single man in a self-sufficient commander suit can arrive alone on a distant world and create a massive army of robots, tanks, ships and planes within hours of arrival, using only the native mass and energy of the planet. Whole worlds are laid to waste in battles between these commanders and robotic armies. It is believed the Infinite War is lasting as long as it is because of the inexhaustible nature of these "Supreme Commanders" and the fact that they were never envisioned on such a massive scale.

The Earth Empire finally crumbles and a new government comes in vowing to reach out to the worlds abandoned as the empire collapsed. This United Earth Federation offers stability to troubled worlds. Meanwhile, the Aeon Illuminate suggests that worlds accept "The Way" or destruction. And the Cybran Nation fights trying to free their brothers from the oppressive human way. Now the battle lines are drawn and the sides clearly defined. There is no room for compromise, no room for mercy. No room for anything but the complete eradication of anyone who oppose their conflicting and unwavering beliefs. Finally, it has reached a turning point. You are the Supreme Commander and only you have the power to bring the Infinite War to an end once and for all.

The fate of the galaxy is in your hands.

More detail:

http://www.supremecommander.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_Commander