Leave Your Mark Here

So you've been playing through your Real-Time Strategy games and are starting to get bored with the same thing over and over. You want something bigger, better, more complex. Well, Gas Powered Games has given us Supreme Commander, an RTS of unprecedented scale. And I mean enormous; you don't make a base of a few buildings, you use dozens, and hundreds more in resources farms. You don't build a couple tanks and send them to wipe out the enemy. You build strategic missiles and long-range artillery to soften up the enemy, then move your army of 200 units into their base. Supreme Commander (popularly called SupCom) is unbelievably large, and sets a new standard for RTS.

The story takes place in 3844 A.D., after humans have colonized much of the galaxy. After several events, three factions emerge: the United Earth Federation, trying to restore order to the galaxy; the Cybran nation, a group of human-AI cyborgs trying to liberate their brethren; and the Aeon Illuminate, humans taught "The Way" by an alien race and trying to spread their beliefs throughout the rest of mankind. You start in any battle with an Armored Command Unit or ACU. This is the base unit, and allows you to begin construction of all other units and buildings.

The ACU is supported by engineers, who can build more buildings but at a slower pace. Air, land, and naval factories produce units, while mass extractors and power generators produce resources. Mass is used in the building process, and energy is used to run buildings and units. Resources are stockpiled in storage, but if you run out, you don't stop building. The more resources you use that you don't actually have, the slower you produce units and buildings. Factories can be upgraded from Tech 1 to Techs 2 and 3, allowing production of better units and better engineers, who can build higher level buildings.

Overall, each faction can produce around 30-40 different unit types and around the same number of different buildings. At a low level, each faction's units perform about the same, but at the higher levels they diversify. Each faction also gets three unique experimental units which can easily turn the tide of battle, but are very expensive to produce.

SupCom's single-player campaign gives each of the three factions six missions. While it doesn't seem like much, each mission expands several times, and can last several hours. In the first few, the player is confined to low level units, which can prove quite boring. The only way to defeat your enemy is to build large numbers of units and continually throw them at the enemy. In the last two missions, you gain access to Tech 3 units and buildings, allowing you to come up with your own strategies. The skirmish and multiplayer modes make up for this, with many maps and options to play with. The maps range in size from 5km x 5km to 81km x 81km. The largest maps are perhaps the biggest even seen in RTS, and can take many hours to complete. SupCom also has in all probability the most nuclear explosions per round in any game. To win, you must destroy the enemy's ACU, which explodes in a nuclear fashion. Nuclear missiles are also the best way to destroy the enemy's base. However, every attack has a defense, and nuclear missiles can be stopped.

So, if you are experienced with RTS's and are looking for something more, check out Supreme Commander. It does have a steep learning curve, so I would only recommend it for experienced players. The scale is enormous, and allows players to come up with multiple strategies so that no game ever plays the same way. For those tired of traditional RTS's, SupCom brings a whole new definition and level of play.

Scott is a student and avid strategy gamer. Please support him by visiting his blog http://greatstrategygames.blogspot.com for more reviews, info, and screenshots.

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The all new Nintendo Wii, introduced in the fall of 2006, has become a great success in the game box battle competing with Sony's Playstation 3 and Microsoft's Xbox 360. So what makes Wii so appealing, that they are sold out in stores within hours of being stocked. Compared to the other next generation game consoles the graphics are nothing to get exited about. What Wii has managed to do, is get people off the couch to have some fun. The new system is easy for all age groups to play from the 5 year old child to the grandmother. The other thing so appealing about the Wii is the price is about half that of the Playstation 3 or the Xbox 360. The size is also about half that of it's competitors, and with the ease of setting up it is much more portable. The popularity of the new system has caused sales to outpace supplies. The easiest way to buy a Wii is online. You can always find a vendor selling new units on Ebay.

The most innovative part of the system is the TV remote looking controller. Instead of the traditional two-handed device, the Wii's wireless controller is a rectangular device with an array of sensors, wireless transmitters, and receivers that communicate with the base station through a sensor bar. Game designers love finding new uses for the Wii Remote. In a tennis game, it becomes a racket you swing with your arm. In a driving game, it becomes a steering wheel. The possibilities are endless! The Wii Remote also packs a speaker, rumble feature, and external extension connector for other input devices, like the classic controller or the new Nunchuk with the same sensor technology.

What really makes a game system popular is the games exclusive to the system. The included game Wii Sports is an addictive tech demo that provides for tons of single and multi player fun. Tennis, golf, and baseball work just like one would expect, and when you plug in the Nunchuk the boxing mini game can really help you work up a sweat. For the more traditional hit games Nintendo has upgraded Super Mario Brothers with Super Mario Galaxy and the popular Legends of Zelda with the release of Twilight Princess. New games like Dance Dance Revolution Hottest Party and Guitar Hero III has revolutionized the way games are played. Nintendo has also come out with the new Wii Zapper to use with games like Crossbow Training and Medal of Honor: Heros 2. Just slide the remote into the barrel and the Nunchuk in the rear and you are ready for any shooter game.

The Wii would not be ranked with the next generation of gaming consoles without an online component. Wii comes standard with Wi-Fi capabilities, which makes it simple to connect to a home wireless network. Once online you start with the Wii channels which include Shop, Weather, News, Mii and more. The Mii channel is where you can create 3D avatars that can interact with other Miis all over the world. In specific games, such as the included Wii Sports, your created Mii can be the main character. Up to ten Miis can be stored on a controller, so you'll be able to bring your characters to a friend's house without needing any sort of memory card. The Channel interface is intuitive and shows how even the most basic tasks can be revitalized thanks to the Wiimote.

Nintendo made the Wii a great success by making it simple and fun for everyone at an affordable price. It is also more popular in other countries. It may be hard to get, but it is well worth the effort.

For more information visit popvideogames.com

RC Moore Content writer for popvideogames.com

AP - A Democratic official says Presidential-elect Barack Obama has selected a deputy mayor of Los Angeles to lead the White House Council on Environmental Quality.