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?
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.
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.
Creative Assembly has released a new gameplay video for Total War: Rome II, showing off "history’s most astounding ambushes in The Battle of Teutoburg Forest." The 11 minute trailer shows off the battle depicting the Roman Army caught in a carefully calculated assault by the massed tribesmen of Germania.
SEGA has revealed that a ninth faction, Pontus, has been worked on by Creative Assembly and will be offered as free content "day one" to PC gamers. This faction remains one of the "strongest Hellenistic states". The shipped version features the official eight factions, but the studio had some spare time to create Pontus. An official Total War: Rome II release date is expected soon.
Ave, citizen of Rome. SEGA has announced September 3rd as the glorious moment those legions burst forth from Roma and march North, South, East and, well okay, West as well - but will you march in style? A Collector's Edition has been detailed, with each CE copy being "laser-etched" in Roman numerals. You also get a Tabula set, Tesserae Dice, Total War Cards and more.
SEGA has revealed a most pleasing statistic for Total War fans - proving the franchise is stronger than ever. Total War: Rome II is the "fastest" for pre-orders in the entire series history, easily besting Shogun 2. In fact Rome II tallied "six times" the pre-orders its first official week than Shogun 2 managed. SEGA also boast of good pre-order levels for the "exclusive and highly-limited" Collector's Edition.
Taking place June 22nd and 23rd at The NEC, Birmingham is the next Rezzed event featuring some of the hottest PC and indie games on the show floor. This year Total War: Rome II will be headlining. It will also be playable, as will Relic's Company of Heroes 2, which both represent the "pinnacle of PC strategy games," said events director David Lilley. Developer Sessions are also scheduled.
Sega has announced a new series of novels based on Creative Assembly's Total War: Rome II title, penned by David Gibbins. The first book in the series will be released alongside the game in September 2013.
Not a fan of Rome and its Senate would be Egypt's Cleopatra, who gets examined in this latest trailer for Total War: Rome 2. She's sounding rather ticked off at Rome's interference with the Pharoah bloodline. The new video gives a rather mouth-watering view of the Mediterranean as we sweep across to Egypt. Cleopatra talks of alliances of convenience and betrayal in dealing with the Romans.
What's it going to take to get those legions marching in Total War: Rome II this September? Developer Creative Assembly has released the PC system requirements for this new ambitious Rome. It will support Windows XP, and need at least a 2.6GHz single core processor. It will also take up 35 GB of HDD space, or SSD if you're fancy. All in all they're reasonable.
Titanfall ran away with six E3 wins from the Game Critics Awards, getting honors as Best Game of E3, Best Original Game, Best PC Game, Best Console Game, Best Action Game and Best Online Multiplayer. No game had ever won as many awards from the GCA before.