October 1, 2007
A huge rumour is floating around that Halo developer Bungie may be seperating from its owner Microsoft. However it is based on a email someone claims to have recieved from \”A friend of mine who has someone close that works at Bungie\”. According to the email Microsoft is letting Bungie split as a thank you for the billion $ Halo franchise, with ms keeping the rights to it. This rumour seems way too crazy to be true, as the loss for ms would be huge.
October 1, 2007
Grand strategy games that model centuries of history across multiple continents can often be complex and intimidating, but the Europa Universalis series has always attempted to bridge the gap between hardcore, high-level strategy, and accessible, dynamic real-time gameplay. The series is now turning its sights to the ancient Roman Empire, with a brand-new setting, new armies, and many more new features. Producer Johan Andersson explains.
The next Europa Universalis game will take place in ancient Rome.
If Its Games: Give us an overview of Europa Universalis: Rome.
Johan Andersson: A detailed strategy game with great scope. The entire game is centered on the characters featured in the game, and diplomacy is completely character-driven. People have learnt to expect a game rich in warfare from us, and they will not be disappointed this time around either. Religion also plays a big part, as [religion was] much more [important] back then.
GS: After creating games that modeled world history from the classical and revolutionary eras, why did you decide to turn to the times of the Roman Empire?
JA: The Roman era depicts some of the greatest cultural and military civilizations that have ever existed. We felt there was so much more of this era to explore, and that the time period lends itself perfectly to the type of deep and challenging strategy we have specialized in. In addition, we are all fans of the era, which helps immensely, since we will be well familiar with every inch of it after finalizing this project.
GS: We understand that the game will encompass the years 280 BC through 27 BC. What sorts of real-world historical events will we see unfold in the game, and how will they affect it?
JA: There are no historical events as such, but players will be able to experience the creation of empires and the rise of Rome. Players will be able to start at any date, and at the beginning of each game, [conditions] will closely replicate history, but once the game evolves, characters develop and the game will develop with them.
GS: Tell us about the nations that will be available for play in the new game. How will they differ from each other? What will be the greatest strengths available to a nation in a Europa Universalis game set in ancient times?
JA: There will be more than 50 playable nations ranging from Rome itself to smaller Gallic tribes. Of course, we have nations like Carthage, Egypt, and Macedonia as well. We chose 280 BC as our starting point because there was a type of balance between several major nations at that time, and essentially any of those major nations could have created an empire similar to that of Rome. Players will have different resources, geographical locations, characters, and governments at their disposal, which will define their strengths and the capabilities of the nations.
GS: How will players be able to customize their nations’ abilities and strengths to their liking?
JA: Players can set up trade routes to get access to other resources, appoint characters to various positions in their nation, elect different national ideas depending on their government type…and [they’ll have] many more options. The outcome of Europa Universalis: Rome will completely depend on players’ strategic and tactical choices.
GS: Obviously, the new game’s time period won’t allow for cannons or musketeers, as previous games did. Tell us about the sort of forces players will command in the game.
JA: There are six different units available in the game: militia (standard peasant levy); heavy infantry (such as the legionary); archers (missile troops, such as slingers); cavalry; horse archers (Parthians); and elephant cavalry.
GS: Tell us about the game’s fully 3D map and terrain. How will they figure into the gameplay? Will we see Hannibal crossing the Alps, for instance?
You’ll conquer the ancient world, one province at a time.
JA: The 3D map and improved terrain adds substantially to the look and feel of the game, and in some instances it will play into [certain] strategies. It’s more difficult to open trade routes if your nations are separated by mountains, or to wage war over sea, unless you have a strong fleet. What will be visible to players will depend greatly on the strategies applied.
GS: What specific lessons have you taken away from previous games in the series that you’re applying to the development of the new game?
JA: We’ve found what we believe is the perfect balance between a game with great strategic depth and scope, as well as a certain degree of complexity type, and a game that is easier for players to get into. We’ve also seen the importance of an intuitive interface, as that means gameplay can be kept intelligent and challenging at the same time as it can be welcoming to new players.
GS: Finally, is there anything else you’d like to add about Europa Universalis: Rome?
JA: “Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.”
GS: Yes. Thank you for that.
-If Its Games
October 1, 2007
Kaufman Bros. analyst Todd Mitchell thinks that Sony faces “a worse case scenario” for the holidays because the PS3 is “too expensive and lacks compelling content.” He goes on to say that Sony will have to lower the price of the PS3 “to stay in the game.” He has revaluated his estimate on Sony Playstation 3 units to 10.3 million from 13.5 million. He also indicates that microsoft will recieve a \”boost\” due to the success of Halo 3 but only increases his estimate from from 16.5 million to 17.1 million. He also increased his estimate on Wii sales to 19.8 million, from 16.3 million.
October 1, 2007
As the Beta period for the incredibly fun Team Fortress 2 winds down, the website Rock, Paper, Shotgun offers up several pieces on the title. If you played the original TF and want to know how things have changed, they’ve got an in-depth series of posts on the nine classes. If you’re more interested in the evolution of TF2 as a concept, the first of a two-part interview with game designers Robin Walker and Charlie Brown highlights the long road between there and here: “The arc of TF2 is something that’s probably familiar to a lot of amateur developers or designers. When we got here the first thing we built was overly complex, very hard core, almost impenetrable to anyone who wasn’t familiar with FPSs in general. And as we found as we played it, wasn’t more fun because of it. I think one of the things we’ve learned as designers over the time we’ve been here is to better preserve our ideas while still making them more understandable … If I looked back at various designs in the different versions of TF2, then I think that’s the thing that moved the most. We were always doing interesting classes, interesting weapons, but I think the thing we succeeded at the most, that we were failing at the most, was that nugget of acceptability relative to depth.” As for the best class, I tend to agree with Jerry..
October 1, 2007
1up is hosting content from the most recent edition of Games For Windows magazine. The front page of that august publication features the grimacing face of Arthas, poster boy for the upcoming Wrath of the Lich King expansion to World of Warcraft. The article inside has a bunch of new details on the game update, as well as a lengthy discussion with Blizzard’s Chris Metzen on the first WoW expansion, Burning Crusade. Some of Metzen’s comments along those lines are a bit surprising: “‘It had a lot of high-concept ideas, high-concept environments,’ he says, calling to mind the psychedelic mushrooms of Zangarmarsh, the tragic majesty of Tempest Keep, ‘but other than some really nice moments, there was nothing really personal about it.’”.
October 1, 2007
Nintendo have released two games on VC that have not be released outside of Japan. The two games that appear on the new \”Import\” genre on the wii shop are Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels and Sin & Punishment. However these import titles will set you back a little more, 600 points for Mario and 1,200 for Sin & Punishment.