E3 2001 Preshow Report: Sigma: The Adventures of Rex Chance

The next project from the designer of 1999's impressive deep-space real-time strategy game, Homeworld, bears little noticeable similarity to the sci-fi-themed game from two years ago. Instead, Sigma: The Adventures of Rex Chance has a whimsical theme--instead of putting you in command of a fleet of starships, it lets you control herds of genetically engineered animal hybrids. We had a chance to try out Sigma back in March during Microsoft's Gamestock event (see our 2696105hands-on report ), and the game has come along since then. Microsoft will be showing the latest version at E3 and has revealed some new screenshots of the game in action, as well as some new details on the game's single-player campaign.

Microsoft announced that Sigma's single-player campaign will comprise 15 different missions, during which you'll have control of the titular character, Rex Chance, who must stop a 1930s-era supervillain named Captain Whitey Hooten. The battle will take place on 14 different islands. As with your persistent fleet in Homeworld's campaign, you can transfer the survivors of your custom-made animal army from mission to mission. You'll even be able to carry your armies from the game's single-player mode to its multiplayer mode.

The game's randomly generated, fully 3D terrain--complete with weather effects, day-and-night cycles, and other realistic features--along with its customizable units, which reportedly translate into thousands of possible combinations, should give Sigma a lot of variety. Will Sigma have as great of an impact as Homeworld did? You won't find out the answer to that till early next year. Until then, check out these new screens from the game and stay tuned for further information.