Total War: Attila might be just over the horizon, but that doesn't mean that Creative Assembly has given up on Total War: Rome 2. The developer has just announced Wrath of Sparta, a new “epic campaign” that sets the clock way back to 432 BC at the outset of the Peloponnesian War.
The 12th piece of free content DLC is now out from developer Creative Assembly for Total War: Rome II. The Black Sea Colonies adds a "wealthy trading-state" with the Massilia on the North-Western coast of the Mediterranean. The Black Sea Colonies Culture Pack is also available from today, but that's going to cost you some denarii. It adds custom battles and three hybrid factions to the Grand Campaign.
There's a free update out for Total War: Rome 2, and yes, of course it's Halloween themed. It adds the Lemuria festival and a new seasonal challenge called Nightmare Mode. Lemuria was apparently an ancient feast during which restless spirits were ushered away by first offering them beans, and then banging cooking pans together. How effective this was is open to debate.
Stop sacking Rome for 5 minutes and pay attention. Today Creative Assembly will be announcing where the drums of Total War are going next in their live streamed EGX presentation today @ 4PM GMT+1. There's been much speculation on time periods, but rumours also speak of another IP universe as the setting? Some photos have leaked from EGX showing off some scale armour.
The next instalment to the grand series of Total War is Attilla, and with it we're thrown into the dawn of the Dark Ages. The Roman Empire is on its last legs and barbaric hordes revel in chaos. A terrifying force gathers behind one known as Attila the Hun. Creative offer us the chance to lead this 'herald of destruction' or to try and revive the ailing Roman Empire.
Sega has sent Strategy Informer the official final box art shot for Empire: Total War.
Empire: Total War looks gorgeous and with the addition of naval battles it's more than likely to explode the bar of standard for the series extremely high. SEGA and Valve have decided to dip the games pre-order in delicious honey by offering gamers Rome: Total War (Gold Edition) free for download now.
In a random turn of events, Total War creators Creative Assembly have released a free DLC pack for their latest title, Napoleon: Total War. The pack comes with new units, and the ability to play as the British during the battle of Waterloo.
You're looking for Shogun 2: Total War? Sorry that game doesn't exist - end of story. Perhaps you mean the more conventional Total War: Shogun 2? Sega and Creative Assembly from here on out will be putting Total War first, literally, as it helps identify the games "as one series", starting with Shogun 2.
The guys at NeoGAF have spotted gaming mag PC Powerplay teasing what appears to be the sequel to Total War: Rome, with an image of Roman-era combatants and a large Roman numeral "II" superimposed over it.
SEGA and The Creative Assembly today confirmed the development of Total War: Rome II, which will be released exclusively for the PC in 2013. Total War: Rome II takes players into the dangerous political machinations of Rome’s senate, while asking them to struggle with family dilemmas and question the loyalty of ‘friends’ and allies.
Creative Assembly is busy rebuilding the Republic in Total War: Rome II, due out in 2013, and they've talked a little about their plans to "really push both ends" of the spectrum. What spectrum would that be? The one where we get to see thousands of troops on a grand scale, but can then visit soldiers on a 'human level'. Creative want more "emotional interactions".
Developer Creative Assembly has announced that it's working on a game based on the Alien IP.
Creative Assembly are banding 'Saving Private Ryan' around their office as a phrase to keep the team focused on delivering some real moments of "horrific warfare" like the beach landings. The loss of troops on such a scale is "going to affect you more deeply" this time with Rome II, as they work to lessen emotional detachment. They're aiming for human drama on a "very macro-scale".
Does anyone have any food?
It's a close run thing this year...
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".
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.
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.