Based on my knowledge, "State of War" is not currently available for purchase or download on Steam. Here's a breakdown of what "State of War" refers to and why it's not on Steam:
- The Game: "State of War" (often abbreviated as SOW) is a real-time strategy (RTS) game developed by DreamCatcher Interactive and published by Monte Cristo. It was released in 2001.
- Gameplay: It featured traditional RTS elements like base building, resource gathering (primarily oil), unit production, and large-scale combat. It was known for its large unit counts and relatively fast-paced action.
- Sequel: A sequel, "State of War 2: Arid Lands", was released in 2003, focusing on desert warfare and adding new units and features.
- Age: Both games are over 20 years old. Steam didn't exist in its current form when they were released (Steam launched in 2003). Publishers didn't typically back-catalog older games onto platforms like Steam in the early days.
- Delisting: Games can be removed from Steam for various reasons, including licensing issues, publisher decisions, or technical incompatibility with modern systems. It's highly likely that the rights holders (Monte Cristo, later DreamCatcher) never secured the necessary rights or saw value in putting these older titles on Steam, or they may have been delisted at some point.
- No Modern Ports: There haven't been any official remasters or re-releases of either game specifically for Steam or modern platforms.
What you can do instead:
- Look for Physical Copies (Rare): You might occasionally find very old PC copies of the original game or its sequel on eBay or second-hand marketplaces, but compatibility with modern Windows versions is unlikely without using compatibility modes or virtual machines.
- Explore Alternatives on Steam: If you're interested in classic or modern RTS games similar to "State of War," Steam offers a huge selection:
- Classic RTS: Command & Conquer: Red Alert series, StarCraft series, Age of Empires series, Warcraft III, Total Annihilation, Dune 2000.
- Modern RTS: Company of Heroes series, StarCraft II, Supreme Commander series, Age of Empires IV, Northgard, Dawn of War series, Kerbal Space Program (more simulation, but has RTS elements).
- Focus on Scale/Action: Men of War series (more tactical/realistic), World in Conflict, R.U.S.E..
- Check GOG (Good Old Games): GOG specializes in older, classic PC games and often includes compatibility fixes. Search GOG for "State of War" – it's possible they have it available there, though it's not guaranteed. (As of my last update, neither title was listed on GOG either, but it's always worth checking).
In summary: While "State of War" was a notable RTS game in its time, it is not available on Steam. Your best bets are exploring similar RTS titles currently available on Steam or checking platforms like GOG for potential classic releases.
