Hamburg  - July is often a slow month for computer games, but a few of this year's offerings might still make some people skip the beach and while away a few hours in front of their computers.

Highlights include Overlord II, the sequel to the first smash hit, the role-playing Divinity II, and Call of Juarez, a wild Western action game. There's also Free Realms, a new online role-playing game.

Overlord turned a lot of gaming conventions on its head when it was introduced in 2007. Instead of playing a benevolent king trying to help his people or the good guy in his mission to beat evil, this game asked players to take on the role of the horrible Overlord.

As such, gamers were asked to destroy their online world accompanied by a horde of seemingly insane small people who occasionally used pumpkins as helmets. It worked because the point of Overlord wasn't pure evil, but evil concocted in an entertaining fashion. Being bad for chuckles, so to speak.

Overlord II continues the tradition. According to the publisher, Codemasters, the Overlord is once again running amuck in his world with his army of slightly stupid helpers.

Gamers are treated to rich action and a fair helping of dark humour. The back story was written by Rhianna Pratchett, daughter of famous author Terry Pratchett. Scheduled for release at the start of July, Overlord II is expected to sell for about 50 euros (70 dollars).

On the other extreme, hardly any humour went into the design of Divinity II: Ego Draconis. This is more about a tried and true approach to role-playing. Players take on the role of the hero and fight their way to their goal.

But since that would be a little too simple, the designers have come up with a few new twists. For example, during the game, the hero picks up the ability to turn into a dragon.

Still, there are plenty of generic tasks to fulfil. There are monsters to beat and opportunities to increase your character's abilities. Publisher dtp plans to bring the game to market by July 24, priced at 50 euros.

Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) from San Diego, on the other hand, is trying entirely new things with its online role-playing game Free Realms.

For starters, playing the game doesn't require a long and boring installation of software onto your computer. That's accomplished during the time spent setting up your character.

There's also a lot of freedom within the game. Players can opt to spend their time teaching animals tricks, decorating a house or playing a seemingly endless selection of games. Traditionalists can also opt to fight monsters and the like. But it is a matter of choice: monsters are not on every corner.

Additionally, Free Realms is free. Two million people had registered with the game in the United States within a month of its release in April.

However, since there is a profit motive, buyers can opt for a premium account that costs about 5 euros a month. Doing so gives you the option of creating extra game characters. More information is available at www. freerealms. com.

But some people just want good, old-fashioned action. At the same time, the world wars and fights in modern metropolises have become thick on the ground.

That's why Ubisoft has come up with an alternative with Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood. The Wild West game lets players operate as the McCall brothers, a pair of pistol-packing heroes. While some of their feats might hearken back to the destructiveness of Overlord, there is definitely little humour in the game.

The game is set for release sometime in July. The price is expected to be about 50 euros. (dpa)