Aspyr announces plans to release 1701 A.D. Gold Edition in North America this summer, offering the strategy game 1701 A.D. along with 1701 A.D. – The Sunken Dragon, an expansion that was not released in North America:

AUSTIN, TX -- May 28, 2008 – Aspyr Media has teamed with Ubisoft to bring 1701 A.D. Gold Edition to the PC in North America this summer. 1701 A.D. Gold Edition includes the critically acclaimed empire building strategy game 1701 A.D. and introduces for the first time in North America the expansion 1701 A.D. – The Sunken Dragon. The Sunken Dragon adds to 1701 A.D.’s nearly limitless replayability with a new 11-mission, story-driven campaign and a new world editor that allows gamers to design and share maps for single-player or online play. New computer artificial intelligence profiles, buildings, subquests and an empire-shattering new natural disaster add even more depth to the robust 1701 A.D. experience.

“With the success and praise for 1701 A.D., we couldn’t resist bringing this vast new adventure to North American gamers,” said Ted Staloch, Executive Vice President, Publishing for Aspyr. “Beyond just the new missions, providing the full toolset to create and share player-designed maps adds incredible value and makes this compilation truly golden.”

Reviewers praised the original 1701 A.D. for its well-designed gameplay and graphics, and IGN.com recognized the critical darling for its excellence in economic simulation with a “Game of the Year” award.

1701 A.D. Gold Edition takes players to an 18th-century land under the Queen’s orders to develop settlements and grow a massive empire. Players must keep their citizenry happy by developing and acquiring goods to satisfy their ever-growing needs while working to gain the upper hand on opponents. Gamers will challenge wily AI antagonists, each with unique personalities and traits, or take on human opposition online and interact with them through diplomacy, trade, sabotage, espionage and even military might in order to reign supreme in the New World.

1701 A.D. Gold Edition is scheduled for release this summer for the SRP of $29.99