April 9th, 2007
The movie 300 has sparked a lot of interest in the Spartans and in the whole genre of the Roman era including Gladiators. Eidos has put out a video game for the PSP called 300: March to Glory and there are some other games for the PS2 and XBox in this same genre. Here is an overview of some of these games.
300: March To Glory In 300: March to Glory you’ll live the adventure of the hit film “300.” Players take on the role of King Leonidas, who led 300 Spartans against Xerxes and the Persian army. As you control him, Leonidas will uses their sword, spear and shield in individual combat. He’ll also use the power of the soldiers in a battle to determine the very fate of western civilization. 300: March to Glory will be a visceral experience focused on action and combat, allowing the player to fight both solo and in a phalanx alongside his fellow Spartans.
Spartan: Total Warrior
- Lead epic and cinematic battles as a fighter known only as The Spartan
- Presents more than 160 detailed warriors simultaneously engaged in pitched combat
- Players can acquire new, more powerful weapons and armor, and earn favor and powers from the gods
Shadow of Rome
Agrippa and Octavius each face different quests — use Agrippa’s fighting skills and Octavius’ stealth abilities to absolve Uesnius
Face numerous Roman-era challenges, from chariot races and gladiator matches to tournaments and death duels
Learn to fight and kill with ancient Roman weapons, from spears and swords to slings
Explore the venerable city of Rome, completely reconstructed in full 3D — from the bustling marketplace to the gigantic Coliseum
Colorful cast of characters — interact with real historical figures from the era
Colosseum Road to Freedom
Develop your warrior skills and pick a weapon to master, as you prepare for the deadliest hand-to-hand combat
Choose your battles wisely - Team battles where one group of gladiators must wipe out another group, battle royals, hunting games, survival bouts, duels and more
Tactical thinking is key here - Figure out which weapons to use, which opponents to face first and which to face last
Avoid fearsome arena death traps - spinning blades, spike-covered poles and more
Thrill the crowd by showing off your killing skills — face down opponents and gain victory to earn admiration and extra silver
Gladiator: Sword of Vengeance
It is 106 AD and Emperor Arruntius has bled the people of Rome, leaving its people in poverty while he & his elites enjoy untold excesses. He creates the bloodiest gladiator battle ever staged — which you will use against him as a revolutionary leader.
In this epic cinematic adventure, you’ll fight your way through the streets of Rome using an advanced ‘in-context’ fighting system
Battle against single or multiple opponents, and watch as your Blood Meter fills — when it’s full you’ll produce powers granted by the Olympian Gods
Specialized authentic weaponry is available — use it to create spectacular combos that produce bloody deaths. The gorier the kill, the more popular you get
Play to the crowd while fighting guardsmen and monsters, to become the people’s hero!
Gladius
Following a great war, combat is relegated to the gladiator arenas. Schools from around the world compete for the title of Imperial Champions. Guide two young warriors, Ursula and Valens, as they gather warriors to earn that title in the arena!
This amazing combination of combat and role-playing will allow you to choose from 16 character types and 100 different classes — then put them to the test as they battle for glory & survival
Battle with hundreds of unique weapons taken straight from the gladiator arenas of old — and draw from the powers of magic to enhance your prowess on the field of honor
Learn vital combat tactics and apply them on the battlefield — and manage your pupils as they improve their skills
Prepare to face the deadliest foe you can imagine as you prove yourself worthy of being Imperial Champion!
There really is a nice selection of gladiator and Spartan type video games but if you are more a hands-on kind of person you may be the type to actually have some of this stuff. Itnerested in seeing some real swords that are replicas of the swords in video games? Check out the page I have written about this. It includes pictures and links. Video Game Swords
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March 28th, 2007
As a fan of all things medieval I have always been interested in the art of blacksmithing. You probably have given it some thought too. I haven’t done any blacksmithing yet but I plan to.
Anyway, I have a friend who did take a class on blacksmithing and we talked extensively about what he learned. He has loaned me an object he made and he told me some interesting things about the process.
I have written a full explanation of what he learned and have taken lots of pictures of the fire poker he made. (Thats the picture shown here in this post).
If you want to learn what he learned about shaping metal, the anvil, the temperature and more check out my webpage here: Blacksmithing
If you are really interested in the subject of Medieval Blacksmithing and Swordmaking I have put together, In association with Amazon.com The Blacksmith’s Bookstore
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March 2nd, 2007
Swordmaking and blacksmithing are skills that go back for thousands of years and there are many different ways that a sword can be made. Here is an outline of the standard way a sword is made today, using old time techniques.
Before the blacksmith or swordsmith actually starts hammering or heating the metal for a sword there is a lot of work to be done. The sword size, shape, properties, and metal composition all have to be decided upon. These factors determine the amount of metal, the temperatures of heating and the specific steps in the process that have to be completed. This article doesn’t cover the complete art of swordmaking. It will only discuss and outline the process of smithing the blade of a sword.
There are many different methods for making a sword and the art has changed over the centuries as technologies, tools and the science of metallurgy has changed. But for the past five hundred years there has been one method that still stands as the most common. This is the six step method. of taking a bar of the desired metal to a completed sword.
Step One: Forging
A bar of the desired metal or combination of metals is heated in a forge and then it is hammered into shape.(The shape of a sword) This hammering process can take a long time and it is called drawing out the sword. The sword is worked on in sections (usually around 6 inches in length) and repeatedly hammered and heated until it comes into the desired shape .This process is repeated many times and the sword is often heated then allowed to cool without hammering. This is required by the metal to keep the desired properties of strength and flexibility. Once this step is completed the sword is in the proper shape but the properties of the metal make it very brittle and something has to be done to give flexibility to it.
Step Two: Annealing
Annealing softens the sword and makes it easy to grind into shape. The sword is now heated and then allowed to cool very slowly. Often it is wrapped in an insulating material to slow down this cooling. It can take as long as 24 hours and this annealing process makes the sword soft and easy to grind.
Step Three: Grinding
Now the blacksmith uses a grinder to work out the edge and point of the sword. This would also be when any engraving is added. This is not a completed sword yet. It is still much too soft so it must be hardened.
Step Four: Hardening
Now the sword is heated to a very high temperature and then placed into a quenching tank. (This is what we always see in the movies). This quenching allows it to cool quickly and evenly which will harden the metal. After this hardening the sword is brittle and something must be done to make it strong yet flexible.
Step Five: Tempering
Again the blade is heated and quenched. But now the heating is at a much lower temperature than was used at the hardening. This heating/quenching cycle may be repeated several times. This tempering allows the blade to be strong but not brittle. This is one stage where the skill and experience of the swordsmith is invaluable. It takes a trained hand and eye to understand the properties of the meta. It will have a certain amount of flexibility yet still retain its sharp edge. Now the sword is ready for completion.
Step Six: Completion
The sword blade itself is now complete. Now the additional parts will be added such as the pommel the guard and the hilt.
For the past five hundred years the only way to learn the art of swordmaking was to find a skilled blacksmith or swordsmith that was willing to take you on as an apprentice. Because of the specialized skills and tools, and the skill that is required this tradition remains the best way to do it today.
Before you invest lots of time in money in equipment and materials you should find a master that is willing to teach you the basics of the art. You won’t have to devote your life to endless hours of hammering against an anvil and with a little perseverance, a little patience and some practice you will be able to make some decent swords that you can be proud of.
I have a website devoted to Medieval Swords. If you are interested in swords learn more about them, how to buy them, the history of them and more: Medieval Swords
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