SpellForce
SpellForce series | |
---|---|
Developer(s) | Phenomic[1] (2003-2007) Trine Games (2012-2014) Grimlore Games[2] (2014-present) |
Publisher(s) | JoWooD Entertainment (2003-2011) Nordic Games GmbH (2011-present) [4][5] |
Creator(s) | Phenomic |
Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows |
First release | SpellForce: The Order of Dawn November 28, 2003 |
Latest release | SpellForce 2: Demons of the Past [6] January 16, 2014 |
SpellForce is a real-time strategy and role-playing series created by Phenomic.[7] The first release was published by JoWooD Productions and Encore Software in 2003 and the latest by Nordic Games, the current owner of the JoWooD publishing label, in 2014. The latest release was developed by Trine Games. The upcoming sequel, SpellForce 3 is being developed by Grimlore Games.[2][7]
Gameplay
The role-playing game aspects of SpellForce games parallel games such as Diablo, Diablo II, and Sacred in character development, skill trees, equipment customization, and top-down isometric viewing. However, the capacity to control multiple heroes often makes the gameplay comparable to that in the Baldur's Gate or Neverwinter Nights video games.
The real time strategy aspects of SpellForce games mirror the Warcraft fantasy real time strategy games. These include the ability to control several separate factions such as "The Realm" (humans, elves and dwarves), "The Pact" (dark elves, gargoyles and shadows), and "The Clans" (orcs, trolls and barbarians). Each faction has its own individual troop and building types.
SpellForce games have several game modes, including campaign mode (expositional), skirmish mode (real time strategy based), and free play (similar to campaign mode but without an overarching plot). SpellForce can also be played cooperatively or competitively in multiplayer mode.
Games
SpellForce: The Order of Dawn
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![SpellForce - The Order of Dawn box cover](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/6e/Spellforce_-_The_Order_of_Dawn_Coverart.jpg/120px-Spellforce_-_The_Order_of_Dawn_Coverart.jpg)
SpellForce: The Order of Dawn is the first game of the franchise, developed by Phenomic. It was first published by JoWooD in Europe on November 28, 2003 and by Encore Software in North America on February 11, 2004.[8]
SpellForce: The Breath of Winter
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On March 1, 2004, JoWooD announced the first SpellForce expansion pack named SpellForce: The Breath of Winter.[9] The expansion pack features over 40 hours of new single player campaign gameplay.
SpellForce: Shadow of the Phoenix
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Shadow of the Phoenix was released on November 12, 2004. The expansion pack continues the storyline from The Breath of Winter and enables the player to continue playing with a previous game character by raising the character's level limit to 50.[10] The pack also includes upgrades for the game's Titan units.
SpellForce 2: Shadow Wars
![SpellForce 2 - Shadow Wars cover art](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/fc/Spellforce_2_-_Shadow_Wars_Coverart.jpg/120px-Spellforce_2_-_Shadow_Wars_Coverart.jpg)
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SpellForce 2: Dragon Storm
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SpellForce 2: Faith in Destiny
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SpellForce 2: Demons of the Past
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SpellForce Ultimate Edition
On October 15, 2007, the Ultimate Edition was released[11] by JoWooD's subsidiary DreamCatcher Interactive. The edition contains earlier released SpellForce games,[12] including:
- SpellForce: The Order of Dawn
- SpellForce: Breath of Winter
- SpellForce: Shadow of the Phoenix
- SpellForce 2: Shadow Wars
- SpellForce 2: Dragon Storm
SpellForce Complete Collection
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Nordic Games, the current owner of the JoWooD label, released the SpellForce Complete Collection on October 2, 2012.[5] The collection includes all previously released SpellForce games.
SpellForce 3
SpellForce 3 is the working title of an upcoming SpellForce sequel which is being developed by Grimlore Games.[2][7] During Gamescom 2014 in Germany, Nordic Games showed gameplay of the game behind closed doors, as reported by German online magazine PCGames.de.[13]
See also
- Phenomic - original developers of SpellForce
- Nordic Games - current publisher of the SpellForce series
External links
References
- ^ "SpellForce: The Order of Dawn - EA PHENOMIC". Phenomic. Archived from the original on 8 February 2012. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ a b c "Grimlore Games to develop SpellForce 3". Nordic Games. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
- ^ "Corporate Information - Encore". Encore, Inc. Archived from the original on 2 July 2004. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Forsans, Emmanuel. "Nordic games holding AB Group acquires Jowood". afjv. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
- ^ a b "SpellForce Complete Collection". Nordic Games. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
- ^ "SpellForce 2: Demons of the Past on Steam". Steam. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
- ^ a b c "PROJECTS - Grimlore Games". Grimlore Games. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
- ^ "SpellForce: The Order of Dawn Release Information". GameFAQs. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
- ^ "News archive - SpellForce". JoWooD. Archived from the original on 3 August 2004. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
SpellForce - The Breath of Winter Official Add-On announced
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "New strategic opportunities; New Video presents the spectacular final chapter in the SpellForce trilogy". JoWooD. 15 October 2004. Archived from the original on 29 August 2005. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
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suggested) (help); horizontal tab character in|title=
at position 30 (help) - ^ "Spellforce Universe Release Information for PC". GameFAQs. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
- ^ "Game Highlights - SpellForce Universe Edition". IGN. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
- ^ "Spellforce 3 - Gameplay-Video von der Gamescom" [Spellforce 3 - Gameplay video from Gamescom] (in German). PCGames.de. 15 August 2014. Retrieved 5 June 2015.