A self-produced Stronghold 2 Q&A has been sent out, and we have a copy here on the Shack. Lead designer Simon Bradbury talks about the game's new features, the educational aspect of the game, the move to 3D, research, character types, the honor system, combat and more. Firefly's castle sim/strategy game sequel is currently scheduled for a late March release.

In most RTS style games, a castle is used as just another obstacle. There is no life to it and usually no building in it. Stronghold 2 is all about building, living in, defending and sieging castles. With that aim, the first thing we needed was a very in-depth and flexible castle building system. We have created what we believe to be the ultimate castle construction set. This includes castles structures such as; gatehouses, moats, horded towers, arrow slits, multiple keeps and keeps sizes, wooden walls, various thicknesses of walls, secret gates, etc... On the sim side of the game, examples are pig farming, jousting, feasting, church services, crime and torture devices, rats and disease, the lords bed chamber, eel farming and all of the standard resource chains you would expect. [...]

There's a Stronghold 2 Q&A on FileFront today, asking lead designer Simon Bradbury about feedback from the previous Stronghold games, the storyline, diseases and rat problems, siege mechanics, the new 3D engine, and AI.

A large batch of Stronghold 2 screenshots has been released, showing imagery from inside and outside of the castles. You can find the latest preview of the castle sim/strategy game sequel on IGN.

Global Star Software also sends along this info on the game's Kingmaker mode, which is described as an extension of the Skirmish mode found in in Stronghold: Crusader.

GameSpot has a new Stronghold 2 preview today, checking out the game's honor system, as well as the new siege system. Ninteen new screenshots are included.

GameSpy has a new Stronghold 2 diary posted, the third one. Firefly lead designer Simon Bradbury writes about the improved castle sieges in the game.

There's a Stronghold 2 Q&A on Gamesplanet today, talking to lead designer Simon Bradbury about this castle sim sequel. There are questions about the storyline, management, the 3D engine, unit changes and map/mod support.

As a bit of a holiday gift, Firefly Studios sends along the mini-game Castle Attack 2. This free download gives you a small glimpse at the world of Stronghold 2.

The Adrenaline Vault has a Stronghold 2 Q&A, asking the game's lead designer Simon Bradbury about the new FireFly Studios game. Topics include lessons learned from the original Stronghold and Crusaders expansion, the game's setting, the amount of missions, hero units, the 3D engine, multiplayer features and plans to release the editor.

Global Star sends along some new Stronghold 2 media showing off the Firefly strategy game sequel. There are six screenshots and we have four gameplay movies on FileShack.

The Wargamer is the latest site with a Stronghold 2 preview, offering another set of impressions of the Firefly Studios strategy game.

There's a Stronghold 2 Q&A on GameSpy, asking Firefly's Simon Bradbury about this strategy game which they also preview. Additionally development diary one and two are up.

UGO is the latest site with a Stronghold 2 preview, offering their own impressions of the castle sim / strategy game sequel.

GameSpot has a Stronghold 2 preview, taking a hands-on look at the Firefly Studios strategy game. The GameSpot media page for the game also has a developer interview video with lead designer Simon Bradbury.

Though dated 11/24, the two movies on IGN's Stronghold 2 media page are new, showing more footage from this castle sim / strategy game sequel in development at Firefly Studios.

Over at IGN you can find a preview of Stronghold 2, the FireFly Studios castle sim / strategy game sequel. There are impressions and new screenshots.

We received a few new shots from Stronghold 2, showing more from the castle sim / strategy game sequel in development at Firefly Studios.

New on HomeLAN Fed today is this Q&A with Simon Bradbury of Firefly Studios about Stronghold 2. Topics include improving the castle sim elements, RTS combat, the single player campaign, multiplayer modes, the graphics engine and the release of mod/map tools.

New on GameSpot this afternoon is a Stronghold 2 Q&A with the game's lead designer Simon Bradbury. Questions are about the game engine, feedback from the previous games being used to improve Stronghold 2, the setting of the game, siege mechanics and more. Five new screenshots are included as well.

Global Star Software sends along this Stronghold 2 trailer, showing two minutes of cinematic footage from the castle-sim / siege-warfare RTS sequel in development at Firefly Studios. The game's due out early next year.

We received this press release from Global Star Software, announcing the development of Stronghold 2. Due out on PC early 2005, the siege-warfare strategy game sequel will be in full 3D. The press release promises the game will offer "enhanced multiplayer capability and a new, innovative and exciting single player campaign" with more details coming in the next few months. Stronghold and Stronghold: Crusader developer Firefly Studios will also create the sequel. You can find two screenshots right here.