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Empire: Total War

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Template:Future game

Empire: Total War
Empire: Total War BoxArt
Developer(s)Creative Assembly
Publisher(s)Sega
Designer(s)Kevin McDowell
(Lead Artist)
James Russell
(Lead Designer)
SeriesTotal War
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows
Release

[1]
Genre(s)Real-time tactics
Turn-based strategy
Mode(s)Single-player, Multiplayer

Empire: Total War (commonly abbreviated as E:TW) is an upcoming 2009 real-time tactics and turn-based strategy in the Total War video game series that is being developed by Creative Assembly and published by Sega. Sega officially announced Empire: Total War on August 22, 2007[2]. Empire: Total War is scheduled for release on February 3, 2009 in United States, and February 6, 2009 in United Kingdom and Pal territories[3].

Gameplay

Empire: Total War is about exploration, conquest, founding of colonies and fighting wars away from home. The game's timeline spans from 1700 to the early 1800s[4], in which you direct your nation to dominate Europe, North Africa, the Americas, the Indies, and the Indian subcontinent.[5] The player will use both complex strategies on the campaign map as well as command battalions on the battlefield—both on land and sea. The game will feature gameplay correlating with that of the previous games in the Total War series, but with major additions to the campaign map and battlefield.

Campaign map

The previous title's diplomacy and military AI have been given major changes and have been completely refined. "Whereas the diplomatic and military AI in previous Total War games were separate entities, leading to some curious international actions, they have now been unified, which should result in more realistic diplomatic relations: more useful alliances and complex treaties"(Ferguson.J ,PC Gamer UK, June 2008)[6]. There are also new systems in place to draw armies out of cities, by the inclusion of barracks and mills outside the city walls to defend. The new animated campaign map features a huge cast of characters[verification needed], and shows every single building and upgrade, rather than just the cities, castles and docks of previous games. Players could cut off supply lines, trade, docks and industry without tackling the main city.[6]

The auto-management system is improved along with the advice system, and the game itself will feature better tutorials that make the game easier to learn. There will also be an added focus on managing unrest in the player's empire, and the degree to which the player expands or denies political freedom to the population.[5] Armies and fleets can now be constructed around the generals and admirals. Units that you want built will be constructed at the nearest possible place and move to join up with their leader.[6] It is also confirmed that changes in government may occur during the campaign as the rise of democracy becomes an issue in this time period. For instance, the United States may only come into existence if the rulers of that area are unable to maintain social order. Another example is the French Revolution that may occur if the people of France (or any Faction in the game) are no longer satisfied with their sovereign. Factions will also have a varying number of objectives such as establishing successful colonies, trade routes and dominance in certain regions as victory conditions.[6]

Factions

There will be around 50 factions in the game, with around 10 playable from the beginning. Currently 12 factions have been confirmed:

Features

Empire: Total War will feature a new game engine as well as 3D naval battles, a feature new to the series, as well as large land battles with musketeers, cavalry and artillery. Buildings and structures can be garrisoned, as well as being destructible, and there is a plethora of new formations and strategies to be mastered. Players can change the form of government of their empire from an absolute monarchy, constitutional monarchy, and republic.[6] The game will feature a full host of historical figures including Peter I of Russia, Duke of Marlborough and Charles XII of Sweden.[4]

The game will feature a tech tree for the first time in the series, that will allow players to research pure technologies as well as construct and upgrade buildings. Players can choose to focus on a whole host of different technologies that give units new abilities on the battlefield, allow your artillery to develop new types of ordnance, improve ships sailing and fighting performance. Other technologies will develop your economy and enable new buildings and infrastructure, and others will advance the educational level of your nation and speed up future research.[8]

The naval battles feature:

  • Realistic damage model for ships. Tear sails and destroy masts with chain shots, cannon balls can kill men, destroy guns, smash through different parts of a ship's hull and sink it.[8]
  • Realistic cannon fire.
  • Round shots, chain shots, and grapeshots.[9]
  • Boarding action.
  • Dynamic weather that has a major impact on naval battles.

The battles on land have been given a makeover too:

  • Music makes its way into the battlefield in the form of bagpipes, drums, flutes and trumpets[4].
  • Weapons may jam and misfire, cannons can explode.[4]
  • Generals shout orders at their troops as the regiment goes into combat or fires at enemies[4].
  • The battlefield becomes strewn with dead, dying and dismembered bodies.[4]
  • A new cover mechanic. Units can take cover inside buildings and behind walls.[6]
  • When fighting in hand to hand combat characters will evade, parry and block attacks

Press

  • At the 2007 Leipzig Games Convention, GameSpot released some of the earliest information on Empire: Total War as it was announced.[10]
  • The November 2007 issue of Total PC Gaming Magazine (UK edition) published an exclusive Empire: Total War preview. It included an interview with lead designer James Russell and some never before seen screenshots.[11]
  • The June 2008 issue of PC Gamer UK had an exclusive preview of Empire: Total War. It had more information about the game's campaign and first time premiere of land battle screenshots.[6]
  • The Total War website periodically releases information about the upcoming game.
  • It was also discussed at the 2008 E3 in L.A. With a demo of a naval engagement shown to journalists.

References

  1. ^ Empire: Total War for 2008 release
  2. ^ "Sega announces Empire: Total War". GameSpot. August 22, 2007. p. 1. Retrieved 2008-07-21. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ O'Connell, Mark (July 14, 2008). "Empire: Total War release date announced". Total War official forum. p. 1. Retrieved 2008-07-21. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Empire Total War Official Page".
  5. ^ a b Butts, Steve (2007-08-23). "GC 2007: Empire: Total War". IGN. Retrieved 2007-08-24.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Atherton, Ross (2008-05-09). "Empire: Total War Declaring war on our RTS expectations". PCGamer UK. Retrieved 2008-05-14. Cite error: The named reference "GamesRadar" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  7. ^ O’Connell, Mark. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help); Text "http://blogs.sega.com/totalwar/2007/11/27/empiretotal-war-faq-2/" ignored (help)
  8. ^ a b Butts, Steve (2008-04-18). "Empire: Total War Interview". IGN. Retrieved 2008-05-14.
  9. ^ "Empire: Total War Development Diary 4". videogamer.com. 2008-03-03. Retrieved 2008-05-14.
  10. ^ GameSpot - GC '07: Empire: Total War First Look
  11. ^ Total War - News and Press
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