Microsoft has announced Rise of Nations, the upcoming real-time strategy game from Big Huge Games, the studio founded by Civilization II and Alpha Centauri designer Brian Reynolds. The new game will combine the epic scope of turn-based strategy games with the faster pace of real-time strategy games.

　　Players will begin the game by controlling a single village in the Stone Age. They can then quickly advance to modern times by expanding their economy, capturing territory, building a powerful military, and researching advanced technologies. The game will let players win through military conquest, economic dominance, or diplomatic skill.

　　"This is the game I've always wanted to do," Reynolds said. "I'm excited to be creating an RTS experience that covers the breadth of history without getting bogged down in the minutiae. Rise of Nations makes it easy for players to jump from the strategic to the tactical view while growing their empire. We expect this to be the start of a memorable new franchise."

　　In addition to the game's single-player mode, Rise of Nations will support multiplayer matches and let players negotiate with one another, build alliances, or wage a global war. The game will feature a diverse selection of units including elephants, slingshots, tanks, cannons, howitzers, zeppelins, and stealth bombers. Players will assume control of a number of different cultures such as Bantu, French, and Korean.

　　Rise of Nations is scheduled for release in spring 2003. For more information, visit the official Rise of Nations Web site and take a look at our in-depth preview of the game.