Marco Minoli, head of marketing for Black Bean, says: "Legion Arena is an idea before being game. It brings strategy to a level where entertainment and fun are directly linked to the gamer's capacity to plan the battles and to succeed as a commander. There is no boring time at all during the gameplay, because even in the most strategic part, there is always a chance a single move can be wrong and cause defeat. What we liked in Legion Arena is all here: to combine a mind breaking experience with a stunning real time action engine. Slitherine are delivering a huge and entertaining experience this time around".

Confirming their choice of Black Bean and enthusiasm for this new title Iain McNeil, Lead Designer of Slitherine Strategies, adds: "Black Bean are growing publisher. We were impressed their professionalism and the direction the company is taking. You can expect great things from them in the future and we're really pleased to be working with them."

"Legion Arena" is a role playing strategy game created on a massive scale, providing gamers with more than just the pure taste of battle. Set during the period of the Roman Republic, players take command of a band of simple peasant warriors and train them into a formidable fighting force. With each victorious battle, gamers can reap the rewards of fame, money and experience along with the opportunity to 'level up' their units. Troops will learn hundreds of new talents through their field experience, and will progressively upgrade their skills with each new combat they face. Gamers can play as the Roman Empire and Celtic Clans through over a hundred scenarios and must use calculated strategies in an attempt to crush their Roman enemies on the front line-Fighting for the pride and glory of the battlefield!

Features:

• Gamers recruit and train their troops.
• Buy equipment and choose their skills. Over 100 skills to choose from!
• Personalize the appearance of each squad by selecting their textures.
• Command vast armies in epic 3-D battles.
• Earn experience and denari for every victory.
• Choice of two campaign paths—play as Romans or Gauls. Get drawn into the story of the rise of Rome.
• Over 100 scenarios.
• Over 20 unique unit types including Legionnaires, Praetorians, Elephants, and Naked Fanatics.
• Special effects including water, particles, lighting & night battles, weather and grass.
• Detailed combat model design by twice world wargaming champion, Iain McNeil.
• Deploy troops and issue orders before battle.
• Real time control in battle using Slitherine's innovative order time system.
• Every unit has strengths and weaknesses. Gamers learn how to use their strengths and exploit their enemies' weaknesses.
• Real terrain effects—cavalry are weaker in woods, light infantry are weaker in the open.
• Sandbox mode to allow the design of scenarios for gamer and other players to challenge.
• Easy to learn, hard to master.
• Two-Player head-to-head mode over LAN & Internet.

Legion Arena will release in Autumn 2005 on PC. This confirms Black Bean's position as a rising star in the strategy game genre.

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