Reality television and real-time strategy come together in Nexagon: The Pit, which is being readied in Strategy First's Montreal studios for release later this year. The futuristic combat simulation blends elements of Survivor, Starcraft, and bloody gladiatorial contests into a potent mix that's both vaguely derivative and completely unlike anything we've ever seen before.

The events depicted take place far in the future, when a powerful broadcast network is staging battles for the entertainment of the masses. You are one of the contenders, a warrior who's been frozen away for centuries, waiting to amuse those controlling the show. But even though you're little more than a brain in a box, you've gained the ability to fight by purchasing thralls to do the physical dirty work. Said dirty work involves battling other freeze-dried warriors and their own thralls and gaining access to the enemy base of operations. Conquer this area, called a sanctum, and you'll emerge victorious--not to mention one step closer to the final battle in the Nexagon, where you can win your freedom.

When you're this small, you stick to the shadows.

This attention to detail is also seen in your sanctum, which can be customized with aesthetic items purchased with money won from the network for successful fights. Part of the objective here is to please the audience, as getting your approval rating up is crucial as the game goes on. Aside from the warm fuzzies you'll get from knowing that you're popular, your ratings will improve and the network will hand over more cash.

Stardom aside, combat is the most important aspect of Nexagon: The Pit. At the beginning of the game, you choose one of four hordes to represent you on the field of battle. These groupings represent distinct eras of human development over the course of four millennia. The fantasy-derived tehkan use magic, while the strunar are roughly equivalent to World War II troops wielding guns. Rounding out the list are the android ghandrosi, which bring robotics and high-tech to the table, and the alien olfrum, which are composed of biomechanical elements and are extremely fast. As you proceed through the "weight classes" en route to the final showdown in the Nexagon, you'll face contenders using all these races. Thankfully, each has its own strengths and weaknesses, allowing even the rough and ready strunar to enter the pit on even terms with the highly advanced olfrum. You will, of course, have to adapt your tactics to the talents of your horde.

Strunar troops mount an attack.

Additional information on Nexagon: The Pit was provided when producer Paul Thibault and lead programmer Guy English sat down with us recently and answered a few questions. Read on for their further insights on what will replace Survivor on CBS in 2,000 years.