When will the game be available?

The first half of 2009.

What platforms does Empires of Steel run on?

It runs on Windows.  At this point, there are no plans to release it on other platforms.

Is there a “play by email” option?

No.  Multiplayer games can only be played while connected (internet, LAN, or home network) to the other players’ computers.

Do I have to wait while other players take their turn?

No, all players input their turns simultaneously and then the game resolves any conflicts. The intention is to avoid having players sit around while another player does their turn.

Can I buy it in stores?

Those details are being worked out.  At the very least, you’ll be able to download the game from this website or have a CD shipped after ordering the game online.

How can I find other players to play against?

This website will host a service for players to find each other via chat and/or message board.

What are the system requirements for the game?

Those details are still being worked out.  The game is not that intensive on a system, but it does use OpenGL to do rendering and requires a low-level graphics card (e.g. a GeForce 2 works perfectly fine). The game may not play well with older video cards or systems without video cards. Fortunately there will be a free demo version, which will give potential buyers a chance to test the ability of their computer to handle the game.

How is the demo version different than the full version?

The demo version will be restricted in a few ways. The current plan is that the demo version will not contain multiplayer support, but you can play a game against a single A.I. opponent on a small map.  The demo version may be limited to a certain number of turns - for example, 100 turns.  One consequence of limiting the number of turns is that players will not be able to play advanced technologies which appear later in the game. The demo version will be free and players will be able to legally give copies to anyone they want.