It’s Elemental, Watson

If I was forced to choose one game from 2010 that I simply cannot wait to get my hands on, it would be – without a doubt – Elemental: War of Magic from Stardock. Quite simply, I believe Elemental will prove to be the definitive turn-based, medieval strategy game of all time. Remember, this is Stardock, the gaming geniuses behind Galactic Civilizations, as well as the publisher of Sins of a Solar Empire. These guys know gaming perhaps like no one else.

Originally, Elemental had a February street date, but clearly that was never going to happen with a community-oriented beta process that is expected to go through five betas and one gamma before release. Just when the game was going to be released was not at all clear, but it looks like we finally have a hard street date: September 1, 2010.

Brad Wardell, CEO & President of Stardock, commented:

“We're feeling pretty confident about the date.

The thing to understand is that the *game play* hookup in Elemental is a relatively minor part of the development. Nearly all of the work goes into the engine which isn't even part of the beta until Beta 3.

Ultimately, the users will be deciding when Beta 3 is.”

Of course, I want it now (now!!!) but I’ll contentedly wait with baited breath. Let those Stardock boys work their, er…magic.