A computer game announced by Microsoft features the island of Malta as a battlefield, with players using the Knights of Malta to fight the invasion of the Ottoman Turks.

The game, called the Age of Empires III, takes players into the colonial era where they play as one of eight civilisations – ranging from the Ottoman Turks to the Spanish and the British – and while situated primarily in the New World, the game also features a host of other exotic locales such as Havana, Cuba.

The first campaign begins on the island of Malta, where the local inhabitants – appropriately called the Knights of Malta – are fighting off an invasion from the Ottoman Turks. The player enters in the role of Morgan, who must lead his troops against the Turkish commander, Sahin. The story progresses from Malta to the Caribbean and finally to the Americas, where groups like the Spanish and even pirates are introduced and fought against.

According to a review of the game published on website www.ugo.com, the game is set for release in the second half of this year and is the latest in a series that has so far sold over 16 million copies. The website said the game is set where Age of Empires II: Age of Kings left off – it places gamers in the position of a European power determined to explore, colonise and conquer the New World.