November 23^rd, 2005 (3:10pm) - Namco has announced that Real Time Conflict: Shogun Empires, an original real-time strategy game for the Nintendo DS, has shipped to retail outlets throughout North America. Set during the chaos of feudal Japan, the game lets players create their own army of unique units and lead them to battlefield victory using a unique and intuitive touch screen control scheme. Real Time Conflict: Shogun Empires carries a suggested retail price of $29.99 and is rated T for Teen by the ESRB.

A family is torn apart in Real Time Conflict: Shogun Empires, as two brothers embark on a deadly mission to seize the title of Shogun and wield ultimate power over feudal Japan. As their forces grow and more territories bow to their fearsome authority, the brothers march closer to their fated final battle, where they must spill the blood of their own family to fulfill their destiny.

As they battle across feudal Japan to become Shogun, players will use an intuitive touch screen control scheme to give orders to their soldiers and devise battlefield tactics to outsmart the enemy. Players can create their army from a number of different units, each with their own strengths, weaknesses and special abilities. As these units gain experience in battle, players can upgrade their abilities for an added edge in battle. In between skirmishes, players can use strategy and diplomacy to expand their influence over the country, and take part in a wide variety of touch screen mini games to attack castles, pursue enemy leaders and launch surprise attacks. Real Time Conflict: Shogun Empires utilizes the wireless multiplayer functionality of the Nintendo DS, letting two players go head-to-head to determine who is the Shogun and who is the peasant in battle strategy, troop management and terrain expertise.

"Real Time Conflict: Shogun Empires offers a control scheme and gameplay similar to PC real-time strategy games," said Jeff Lujan, business director at Namco Hometek Inc. "Fans of the genre will find a tremendous amount of content to enjoy with a familiar presentation and interface, while those unfamiliar with real-time strategy will be able to enjoy the planning, tactics and army building for the first time in the palm of their hands."