Gamers can emerge from their trenches and prepare for battle, as Microsoft Game Studios today announced that Rise of Nations is appearing on store shelves throughout North America. Gamers can now get their hands on one of the most innovative and detailed real-time strategy (RTS) games for an estimated retail price of $49.95 (U.S.). Rise of Nations combines the epic scope of traditional turn-based strategy (TBS) games with the fast-paced action of RTS games. The game allows players to create new cities, improve their city infrastructure and expand national borders. Players have the option to win through military might using everything from slingshots to cannons to stealth bombers, corner the market on key commodities, and wheel and deal with a wide variety of Nations. Unlike other historical RTS games, Rise of Nations allows gamers to quickly play through eight historical epochs of time from the Ancient Age to the Information age, covering 6,000 years of history. Gamers can play a quick battle on any map as one of 18 nations, or play Conquer the World, the unique blending of TBS and RTS gameplay. This latest title from Big Huge Games Inc. founder Brian Reynolds (designer of Civilization 2 and Alpha Centauri) is now available at retailers in North American. For more information about Rise of Nations, visit the official site at http://www.riseofnations.com.