At E3, Resnick was on hand to give us a private demo of a pre-alpha version of Dark Reign 2. Many changes have been implemented since the original. The real-time strategy game is now fully 3D with a simplified interface, more options, and a few features donated as ideas by fans for the next game. Resnick says that most of the comments he received from fans had to do with the features players liked in the first game and what he could do to improve the game as it turns two.

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"We wanted something fresh and innovative," says Resnick. Along those lines, Dark Reign 2 allows more movement for players looking to get new views and angles without losing gameplay. Players can move the camera around to see over and under objects, like canopies, to discover hidden enemy units and such.

Dark Reign 2 will also allow for time-of-day lighting. In fact, some of the game's 30 new units might not work in the dark - or at least, they can't complete certain tasks.

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Some units will notify the user of their nighttime capabilities by popping up laser sights or turning on lights. These and other simple, yet realistic features should help Dark Reign II stand out from the next wave of real-time strategy games this winter.

The game will be released with a powerful mission editor and a special screenshot capture option that can be used to stop the action, spin the camera around, and take a shot from any angle. Beyond that, players can also move the action forward frame by frame. And if that weren't enough, gameplay can be saved in .AVI format, so players can see what they may have done wrong or send a movie to a friend.

Developer: Pandemic
Publisher: Activision

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