2008 Seems to be a good year for the Real Time Stratergy [RTS] genre even computer gaming in general since the horizon is packed with amazing titles that make the newest consoles look like last gen technology.

We have two awesome RTS games hitting our shelves this year (Hopefully) that should put RTS back on the front pages of gaming mags. First off would be Red Alert 3 (RA3) i so can't wait for this game to release hopefully this should be released this year since i know they have already built a beta for it and filming for the Campaign begins in April this year so im guessing this will either be released near xmas or early 2009. RA3 still has that colorful feel to it that makes the RA series stand apart from its close cousin the "C&C Universe" which is known to have more of a dark gritty and serious theme to it then the RA series, But what really has me on the tip of my toes is the inclusion of a proper third faction to play (The Japanese Empire) which resembles more of a technological faction then anything with there inclusion of tanks that transform. Another thing ive heard also is that this time around there is far more of a heavier focus on naval warfare this time around since almost your entire base can be built at sea another cool thing is this time the buildings use a physics engine to "realisticly" destroy the buildings unlike in previous versions where all building damage was a predefined animation. I've also heard that the soviets have tradded in there attack dog for an amoured bear that can be paradropped anywhere on the battlefield which is a real nice change since an amoured bear just fits in so well with the whole soviet look and tesla boats seem to top it off. Also from my knoweldge there doing a major overhall on the economic system to try and stop unit rushing as most people who've played RA extensively online know you can almost win with any unit so long as you build TONs of them, Ha i even remember whiping an entire base out with a quadzillion riflemen many years ago using the sell/desell gaurdhouse exploit which kept giving you free riflemen.

Secoundly i can't wait until Starcraft 2 is released but its a shame i dont know much info on this title apart from most of the units have been overhauled to include new abilitys and the inclusion of a few new units and a new gaming engine. I've also heard that tactics will mean a hell of alot more in deciding who will win the battle in the final onslaught once the smoke clears, So that means no more single unit rushing.

I have noticed that there is one thing that these two titles have in similar apart from being awesome is that both games are trying to combat the age old trick of tank rushes or simply put winning the game by mass producing a single unit then sending them all in. RA3's approach is overhauling the economic system so its no longer viable to just build one type of unit and rush them in and hope to win, While SC2's approach is to give the units new skills and abilitys that make "tank rushes" a thing of the past since it puts alot more preasure on playing tactical. But in saying that i dont really think the inclusion of these new methods will stop people building 100x of the most powerful unit and storming the enemy base although i could be wrong since these days the gaming industry has been performing miracles *Cough* Crysis *Cough*.

Any futher input or knoweledge on both of these games is welcomed.