1UP Previews BattleForge

1UP writes: "A real-time strategy game in a fantasy setting — that’s not so new. But what’s different here is that it’s built around card decks, a mechanic usually seen in turn-based games. And while there is a single-player mode, BattleForge is a server-side game, which EA Games hopes will encourage online play and the buying up of virtual booster packs when they’re available.

What We Played:Not everything in BattleForge was in place when we saw it, so our hands-on session was in what the developers called the "sandbox," a simple map with just a few groups of enemies nearby. We got the impression that the sandbox will be available to all players who want to practice, but regardless, there is at least a separate tutorial map for learning the basics in just a few minutes. Playing BattleForge felt as natural as any other RTS on PC, even with the addition of drawing cards. You can view and organize your deck via a menu in the top-left corner of the screen, or you can play from a hand that runs along the bottom. It’s not too different from looking at the usual RTS build-order in the corner".