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Next Total War in development at The Creative Assembly
Total War developer The Creative Assembly is hard at work on the next installment of the strategy franchise. Eurogamer confirmed with Studio Director Tim Heaton that work began on the next installment while the studio was finishing Total War: Shogun 2. "Absolutely, we're on the next," said Heaton. Sega recently announced that Total War: Shogun 2 sold 600,000 copies. Creative Assembly's Mike Simpson said the series has a "long tail" and that the original Shogun sold "more copies in the second three years of its existence than it did in its first three years." Of course, that wasn't at full price. There's no word yet which period of history (or future) the next game will be set in.
Another Alien title in the works, this time at The Creative Assembly
Many studios have tried and failed to make games with the iconic film series Alien at the center. The Creative Assembly, it seems, are the next to step up to the plate, announcing today that the UK-based RTS studio is working on an "action" Alien game. But unlike TCA's popular Total War series, the game is headed to consoles as well. A message posted on the studio's website cursorily details the project, only saying, "New team. New console project. Alien IP." Rock, Paper, Shotgun happened to be at The Creative Assembly's offices when the game was announced (how fortuitous!), and learned that the title will be developed by the same crew who worked on Viking: Battle for Asgard. Additionally, TCA will be growing the team dramatically, opening a "new 10,000 square foot studio" to accommodate as many as 200 workers. Update: Sega provided Joystiq with this statement regarding the project: "We can confirm work is underway at Creative Assembly on an unannounced title in the Alien(s) universe and the Creative Assembly are looking for highly talented staff worldwide to help in the development process."
Multiplayer war in Total War: Shogun 2 encapsulates nearly everything
Sega has released a multiplayer trailer for Total War: Shogun 2. The war does appear large, though we're not so sure it's total. There are clearly some empty spots on the battlefield, and they're not even filled with corpses! Then again, we suppose "Substantial War" doesn't have the same ring to it.
Shogun 2: Total War trailer assembles for battle
There's totally a war going down between the old and new shogun, and this latest CGI trailer for Shogun 2: Total War from The Creative Assembly and Sega really demonstrates that. Thankfully for us, it's a virtual war based on events that took place long ago. Whew!
Shogun 2: Total War gameplay demonstration is longer than most actual wars
You can't get much more bang for your buck than this gameplay demo video for Shogun 2: Total War. Well, actually, all the trailers we post are free, so there's no "buck" required. Regardless, at sixteen minutes and change, this one's guaranteed to take a good chunk out of your day.
Shogun 2: Total War deploys to retail on March 15, 2011
On March 15, 2011, Shogun 2: Total War will wage war for your dollars (and maybe a few cents, too) when the next installment in The Creative Assembly's strategy series launches on March 15, 2011. The sequel will not only boast a new AI system "inspired" by Sun Tsu's Art of War, but also a host of graphical upgrades including deferred lighting and tweaked fire and explosive damage. There will also be some new mo-cap combat animations to see. Along with the announcement, Sega sent along some new screens. Assault our gallery below and conquer them with your eyeballs. %Gallery-107235%
European developers rally to help ex-Realtime Worlds employees
It's when things seem at their darkest when the true light and goodness of humanity can really shine through ... or something like that. Following APB developer Realtime Worlds' decision to go into administration -- and the 75 percent staff cut the studio was forced to undergo -- fellow game developers Codemasters, The Creative Assembly, Blitz Games Studios, Activision and Sony Europe have announced recruitment events in the coming weeks to help the displaced staff get back on its feet. There should be plenty of openings to go around for the 185 unemployed artists, writers and programmers -- Codemasters alone is reportedly looking for 150 new hires to fill its UK studios and The Creative Assembly is staffing up to work on an "unannounced AAA title" for Sega. Not to be outdone, Activision's also making a huge hiring push -- though these unfortunate souls will be relegated to the dance cages located in the foyer of Bobby Kotick's Miami-based "party palace." (Fine, we made that last part up. Please don't sue us.)
Shogun 2: Total War confirmed, will have hero units and siege battles
So much for secrecy -- the cat is out of the bag early, as Sega has revealed that, yes, Shogun 2: Total War is the next game in the historical war simulation series from The Creative Assembly. The game is a direct sequel to the first game in the Total War series (released 10 years ago, if you can believe that) and will have players fighting as competing warlords in 16th century Japan, working to reunite the country under one unified ruler. The game promises the "ultimate refinement of the original formula," combining a new AI and technical polish with the gameplay that made the first title so popular. IGN has an early preview, and says that hero units will make an appearance in the series for the first time, fighting alongside about 40 units that will all be upgradeable. Siege and naval battles will mix up the gameplay and Creative Assembly hints at more features, including a set of agents that "that uses a rock-paper-scissors mechanic," and some new ideas for multiplayer, including eight-player battles and personal avatars. Sounds strategically interesting. We're scheduled to see the game in action at E3, so we'll let you know more then.
Rumor: Shogun 2: Total War to be shown at E3
A Turkish site named Oyungezer has reportedly leaked news of a direct sequel to the very first game in the critically acclaimed historical combat Total War series. The site mentioned in a deleted post that Shogun 2: Total War would be on display at E3 in a few weeks. Soon after, Voodoo Extreme posted a leaked fact sheet for the game, which will reportedly be developed by The Creative Assembly and published by Sega. According to the fact sheet, it will contain character progression across nine different Japanese clans, as well as improved war simulation gameplay on both land and sea. The fact sheet sets the release date in 2011. Joystiq contacted Sega to ask about the rumor, and we were told that it "can't comment on news about the next Total War game," so it looks like Sega's lips are sealed, at least until E3. [Via Big Download]
Napoleon: Total War whipping out The Peninsular Campaign this summer
Click to enlarge ... the picture. What are you, 10? Stop giggling -- this is a serious expansion to the critically acclaimed historical strategy game about the fight between Napoleon and various European powers over the Iberian Peninsula in the early 1800s. The Peninsular Campaign (seriously, stop) adds a new campaign map to Napoleon: Total War featuring Britain, Spain and Portugal countering Napoleon's French forces, as well as three new agent types (priest, provocateur and the Guerrillero) and new features for multiplayer. Extra content and new challenges will make the game longer and harder (really?) than ever before. For those interested, the add-on pack will be available exclusively through Steam later on this summer. The rest of you, get your minds out of the gutter. %Gallery-93678%
Total War games 66% off on Steam this week
Strategic war game buffs, take note: All of the Total War titles on Steam are receiving a massive discount this week, to the tune of a whopping 66 percent off. In fact, you can pick up the Total War Mega Pack, which includes Medieval II: Total War, Rome: Total War -- including the Alexander and Kingdoms expansions -- and Empire: Total War for $20.39. Additionally, the Empire: Total War Downloadable Content Pack, containing all the Empire content released thus far, is available for 10 percent off at $16.19. Incidentally -- but probably not coincidentally -- the latest game in the series, Napoleon: Total War, releases February 23.
Grab a friend and watch this Napoleon: Total War trailer
The latest trailer showcasing Napoleon: Total War takes us for a decidedly multiplayer spin. Whether it's playing through the three multiplayer campaigns (Italy, Egypt and Europe) or one of the historic battle recreations for up to eight players, it's apparent that the quest for RTS enjoyment isn't one you'll have to face alone. There's even drop-in support for the main campaign, allowing one of your friends to take over for any of your ill-fated CPU opponents in a given match. %Gallery-70477%
'Imperial Edition' of Napoleon: Total War not short on goodies
The "Imperial Edition" of Napoleon Total War includes DLC that may give it a boost over the standard edition. The special edition steps up the presentation with a wall chart displaying the history of the French general's conquests and includes codes for 10 exclusive units. It also comes with the five units found in the Elite Regiment bundle, but that's already included in the standard edition's box set. Actually, thinking about it, the Imperial Edition can get off its high horse, it's not all that fantastic. Availability and pricing for the special edition in the States has yet to be announced. [Via Big Download] %Gallery-70477%
Stormrise only supports DirectX 10, is Vista-exclusive
It's now confirmed that The Creative Assembly's upcoming RTS title, Stormrise, will only support DirectX 10 on the PC, thus making it exclusive to Windows Vista by default.In an interview with PC Games Hardware, Stormrise lead designer Artem Kulakov confirms the title's DX10 support, making it the first (and possibly only) Vista-exclusive game (Update: Uh, except for all those other ones). According to Kulakov, the reason for only supporting DX10 is to make it easier to port to console platforms and to give the developer an "opportunity to increase performance and improve visual quality."While we aren't experts in the field of how to launch a new franchise, we suspect that limiting the potential user base to only those with Vista (and without some hacking skillz) seems counterproductive to the goal of making a profit. [Via Big Download]
Avert your eyes! Stormrise box art revealed, hideous
Stormrise is an upcoming console RTS from The Creative Assembly, developer of the Total War series. Among the standard promise of intuitive console controls, Creative Assembly is introducing "verticality" to console RTS players. Units can be deployed in the air, on rooftops, at ground level, or below the planet's surface. Okay. So far, so good ... Uh-oh, wait a minute. Stormrise's box art looks like the class project of a paint-by-numbers after school program. Sure, it's the game inside that matters -- and we're excited for it -- but imagine if, instead of saying Stormrise on the cover, the box read RoboCop vs. Zombies. This art would still totally work, and probably be twice as rad.
First video of Stormrise, Sega's 2009 RTS
When a trailer for a video game trailer begins with the phrase "The following trailer has been rendered using the game engine," an implicit statement has been made. That statement reads thusly: "The graphics in this game are so good, you won't believe it isn't pre-rendered." That is not the case with Stormrise, an upcoming real time strategy game from Creative Assembly (Viking) and Sega (lots of games). It doesn't look bad by any stretch, but we found the disclaimer a little unnecessary. Anywho, what we get to see is a bunch of soldiers facing off with Predator-like monsters, enemy soldiers, and what look like miniature Brumaks (sort of). The video concludes by saying "A change is coming" for console RTS games in 2009. Seems like everyone is trying to reshape the console RTS genre these days.Given Creative Assembly's experience with the Total War RTS series, we're eager to see what's in store. And to see some real gameplay, of course.
Joystiq E3 eyes-on: Stormrise
Real Time Strategies have never been a good fit for consoles, thanks to their over-reliance on a mouse and keyboard. The Creative Assembly are hoping to change that with Stormrise by creating a fully intuitive, pad-based control system. Unfortunately, we didn't get a chance to try the controls out for ourselves, but from what we saw it has some potential. Selecting units is as simple as flicking the right analogue stick. Holding it in any direction will bring up a radar screen, showing your troops throughout the level relative to your currently selected unit. Rotating the right stick will let you highlight your units and, letting go of the stick, select them. Quickly "whipping" the right stick in any given direction will select the nearest unit in that direction, allowing you to switch between units swiftly. Once selected, the game's viewpoint switches to above and behind the unit, allowing you to see what they see. They can then be moved to any visible ground using a 3D cursor. This seemed to work well, but there are also other methods of controlling units that seemed to work even better, depending on your play style.
Sega announces console-specific RTS in Stormrise
Okay class, it's time to take out your notebooks and no. 2 pencils. Today we're going to be learning a new word -- verticality. The word traces its origins back to the Total War chaps at Sega-owned The Creative Assembly, who coined the term to describe the studio's latest project, Stormrise, a new real-time strategy game "built from the ground up" specifically for the Xbox 360 and PS3.Who here can tell the class what verticality means? Billy, put your hand down. No one? Verticality, according to Sega, is a means of allowing players to control multiple layers of units, from the sky to beneath Stormrise's "bleak and barren" earth. Currently gathering resources for a 2009 release, the game represents The Creative Assembly's first attempt at creating a RTS for consoles, so if they fall on their face we must do our best to keep any criticisms constructive. Class dismissed.[Via PS3 Fanboy]
Viking: Battle for Asgard still looks incredible
Sure, we've played games with basically the same premise, location and enemies as Viking: Battle for Asgard, but one thing's for certain, we haven't grown tired of them yet. Battle for Asgard is shaping up to be a must-buy, and with The Creative Assembly, which is responsible for the excellent Total War series, at the helm, we're confident that it will deliver the goods. The game has a spring 2008 release date, which is great, because we should finally be finished with our immense backlog of games to devote our attention to it.
