In our interview with Creative Assembly's James Russell we've got more dirt on the upcoming Total War: Rome II, where the studio hopes to put more of a "human face" on the series' conflicts. They'd like players to use the tactical map less, although it will remain the "dominant mode in gameplay." The battles are "more real" thanks to the humanising. Creative to hold a "modding summit".
Sony has announced that they will be including a demo of God of War: Ascension on all Blu-Ray discs of the remake of Total Recall.
For Total War's return to Rome, developer Creative Assembly want to better leverage the intrigue and scandal of the Roman period. To that end dilemmas will tend to run on to one another. They won't be as closed and isolated as in previous Total War campaigns. The plan is to capture the "machinations of the Senate, all that cool Roman stuff" almost in a story-telling way.
Valve announces that the Steam Workshop launched this time last year, meaning the community content swap meet is a year old. It began life with Team Fortress 2, adding Skyrim a few months later. Today over 10k "items, mods, quests," and new worlds are hosted for Bethesda's Skyrim. Then came Portal 2, DOTA 2, Civilization V, Total War: Shogun 2 and a bunch of indie games.
Can Creative Assembly finally do video game justice to Games Workshop's fantasy universe?
SEGA and Creative Assembly have updated the Total War Wiki with Carthage as a playable faction for the 2013 bound Total War: Rome II. Earlier they blew our minds by revealing the Roman faction. This North African neighbour to Rome is an "expansionist trading state" with war elephants on the march. They plan to update the wiki with each faction's strengths and weaknesses.
The latest developer diary from Creative Assembly for Total War: Rome II takes us behind-the-scenes as the studio talks about "recreating the famous Battle of Carthage." It's a balancing act, always. They also disclose letting us control up to 40 units at a time, a tactical overview map for 'battle orientation' and where they're focusing next. I wouldn't have the Gaul to spoil it for you.
The latest faction to join the fray in Creative Assembly's Total War: Rome II is Macedon. Despite being locked into "pre-Alexandrian borders", the Macedon state is ready to give empire another crack. The studio teasingly asks: "Can the Macedonian Empire rise again under a new Alexander?" This is the third faction revealed by Creative, joining Rome and Carthage. Who could be next?
A complete bundle of all Total War: Shogun 2 is coming to retail this March 5th as publisher SEGA announces the Gold Edition, which includes Rise of The Samurai and Fall of The Samurai expansions. Interestingly the North American Gold Edition seems to only include the three titles, whereas Europe and Australia get all the released DLC as well, excluding the Blood pack.
SEGA and Creative Assembly have revealed the "Iron Age tribe of southern Britain," the Iceni, as the latest confirmed playable faction in Total War: Rome II. These ASBO louts love their war paint. Want to make those early day Brits happy? Declare war. They'll have plenty of opportunity to pursue that happiness as they neighbour the Celtic Gaul and Iberia just across the shore.
The Arverni (Gaul) are rampaging in Total War: Rome II, and are arguably the most well-known barbarian horde there is when it comes to Rome. However they're more than just "looters and raiders". These people have a "complex and sophisticated culture" in their stronghold of Nemossos. Kings and tribal chieftains, taking counsel from Druids, are the leading force in the Arverni.
Creative Assembly have published the latest episode of Rally Point and we're given two fresh in-game screens to feast on. They tease the Battle of Teutoburg Forest, where Rome suffered terrible defeat. In the spirit of the Germanic hordes victory over the Roman legions of Varus, this latest Rally Point is also provided in German for fans. "...feel free to laugh..." How silly; Germans don't laugh - ever.
There's more Germanic blood to be split in Total War: Rome II as Creative Assembly unveil the Suebi faction, nestled to the North East of Gaul across the Rhine. They'll have centurions trembling. These Suebi are masters of "forest warfare and plunder," much like the other Germanic hordes. They wear their disdain of outsiders openly, making it harder to 'tame' those they conquer.
Creative Assembly has released a new Total War: Rome II trailer showing off the 9AD The Battle of the Teutoburg Forest between 15,000 Roman troops led by Varus and the German troops led by Arminius.
SEGA and Creative Assembly band together another bunch of tribes who go by the name of Parthia, an eastern empire that was "one of the few who came close to matching" Rome in power and wealth. They blend "Persian, Hellenistic" and local cultures; they also venerate Greek and Iranian god figures. Their greater tolerance of foreign culture eases their paths of conquest; so no travel visas.
Creative Assembly has revealed that a leading Roman soldier sieging Carthage in their debut trailer for Total War: Rome 2 is in fact digitally modelled after a 24-year-old fan of the RTS series. James visited Creative last summer and was shown the game and given time with it. He also interviewed key staff and gave his own suggestions. Shortly after his visit he passed away.
The eighth and by no means final faction revealed by Creative Assembly for Total War: Rome II is Egypt. You couldn't really have a Roman Empire without those pyramid loving Egyptians. The official wiki for Total War: Rome II only had spaces for eight faction symbols but has since gained a ninth, teasing yet more nations ready to nip at the heels of Rome, Carthage and now Egypt.
Creative Assembly lead designer James Russell has announced that the UK studio is developing a Total War-branded free-to-play MOBA, Total War: Arena.
On Friday, Creative Assembly announced Total War: Arena, which was generally described as a 10 on 10 multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA). However, the developer refutes the idea it's exactly ike DOTA or League of Legends.
When THQ was dissolved and its assets auctioned off, Sega snagged Relic, along with the Company of Heroes franchise. While the publisher has given Company of Heroes 2 a release date, there's still more work to be done with the developer.