No more Total War

[DracoPaladore 0]

That's right, no more Historical RTS games for the Total War series.

Can't find the article right now, but I read earlier that The Creative Assembly, responsible for Shogun,Medievil, and Rome Total War were bought by the company Namco.

There next project is dubbed "Spartan: Total Warrrior in which the player assumes the role of an elite spartan warrior. Heard it's design is suppose to be like that of Dynasty Warriors, whatever that means. Release is for Playstation 2.

But this sucks. I want to see my Napolean: Total War.

But I guess this means the end of the Total War franchise

[Bordoy 0]

Hopefully this doesn't happen.

You never heard of dynasty warriors? good game but don't really wanna see another one like them. Whats the point in copying.

I think that with mods like Rome: Total Realism, SPQR: Total War, and Napoleonic: Total War, will keep it alive for a while.

But, CA best make an expansion pack for RTW. I really would like to see a remake of Medieval Total War, using the Rome engine.

[DracoPaladore 0]

Nope, I was wrong. Creative Assembly was bought by SEGA.

http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/03/09/news_6120096.html

Quote[/b] ]Sega conquers The Creative Assembly

Console-centric Japanese publisher scoops up Rome: Total War developer The Creative Assembly; plans next-gen development.

At last year's E3, Sega stunned many by announcing it would copublish the massively multiplayer role-playing game the Matrix Online. As surprising as that was, today's news from the publisher positively floored the PC gaming world. This morning, the newly formed Sega Sammy Group filed papers sealing its acquisition of UK-based developer The Creative Assembly. The news arrived at the same time the two companies made public an agreement to develop and publish the new action game Spartan: Total Warrior.

While Sega's minimalist press release only had the bare-bones financial transaction information required by British law, its significance was large for PC gamers. The buyout means that the traditionally console-centric Sega is now owner of the creator of the Total War series, including GameSpot Game of the Year 2004 nominee Rome: Total War. Indeed, the revelation that Spartan: Total Warrior would be a current-generation console game shows that the Creative Assembly's energies are already being redirected away from the PC market.

So what was the reason behind the purchase? The filing laid bare Sega Sammy's plans for Creative Assembly. "By acquiring the shares of The Creative Assembly Ltd., Sega Sammy Group will be able to obtain competitive titles and a strong brand in the North American and European markets, in addition to expand product lines and increase sales volumes dramatically," it read. "Furthermore, we believe that we will be able to make good use of the development engines produced by The Creative Assembly Ltd. to expand future titles, as well as developing new ventures for next-generation platforms with the team."

The filing also contained portends of a possible developer acquisition spree by Sega Sammy. "The markets of the consumer business, which Sega Sammy Group regards as one of its core businesses, have expanded rapidly in North America and Europe, while the Japanese market has seen sluggish growth," it read. "Hence, for our business development in the future, the North American and European markets have been growing in importance. Under these circumstances, Sega Sammy Group is promoting the concentration of its management resources on growth areas in its consumer business, relocation of its development resources for better productivity and unification of its development and marketing strategies."

The news is especially shocking given the Creative Assembly's long-standing relationship with Activision. The Los Angeles-based company had published all the Total War games since 2002, including Medieval: Total War, its Viking Invasion expansion, and Rome: Total War. Given Activision's habit of acquiring the developers of its more successful games (like Infinity Ward), it was widely assumed that it would purchase The Creative Assembly if anyone did. Representatives for Activision had not returned requests for comment as of press time.

Quote[/b] ]Unlike the Total War games, in which players assume the role of a commander in charge of huge armies, Spartan: Total Warrior will see players assuming the role of a single warrior looking to turn the tide of epic battles between mighty armies, mythical beasts, and legendary monsters. Battlefields in the game will include arid wastelands, large cities, dungeons, rugged mountains, and the Imperial Colosseum in Rome. Players will be able to perform combo attacks and finishing moves using both melee and ranged weapons in Spartan: Total Warrior, and they'll also be able to block attacks, use evasive maneuvers, and shield-charge enemies.

[Bordoy 0]

Quote[/b] ]

Unlike the Total War games, in which players assume the role of a commander in charge of huge armies, Spartan: Total Warrior will see players assuming the role of a single warrior looking to turn the tide of epic battles between mighty armies, mythical beasts, and legendary monsters. Battlefields in the game will include arid wastelands, large cities, dungeons, rugged mountains, and the Imperial Colosseum in Rome. Players will be able to perform combo attacks and finishing moves using both melee and ranged weapons in Spartan: Total Warrior, and they'll also be able to block attacks, use evasive maneuvers, and shield-charge enemies.

WTF!!

[DracoPaladore 0]

As I said, the end of the Total War franchise.

[Akira 0]

Due to the gravity of the situation I'm going to break my own rules and use an internet acronym.

OMFG!!!!!1111!!!!

This blows. Like Sega doesn't suck enough by itself, they have to draw everything that is good and original down into their Circle Of Suckitude.

Total Warrior. Gimme a fuggin' break. Like thats never been done before. Christ. We should contact Sega and tell them to not make The Creative Assembly like them...ie Suck the big one.

[EiZei 0]

Jesus christ, how those games could sell better than total war?

*bangs head to wall*

[Extremeus Decimus 0]

Such a shame, the Total war series "were" the most unqiue and adventerous, and this new "Spartan : Total Warrior" well let's say it sounds like a complete copy of the usal "Slash n Attack" genre of game, which is very dissapointing.

[Tex -USMC- 0]

fuck.

[hellfish6 7]

That's the most depressing news since... well... three hours ago. But it still sucks. All that creative talent going to waste - just to make more games that have pretty much already been done.

Goddamnit.

[pajama 0]

Holy crap people calm down!!!

From the totalwar website

Quote[/b] ]The Total WarTM and Total WarriorTM brands are very different beasts and the Total War franchise will continue to push the genre forward whilst staying true to its impeccable heritage.

[DracoPaladore 0]

Quote[/b] ]The Total WarTM and Total WarriorTM brands are very different beasts and the Total War franchise will continue to push the genre forward whilst staying true to its impeccable heritage only if Sega allows us to.

There, fixed.

I'm sure they'd say that, but until I see another Total War game in the works either than Spartan, then I'll beleive them.

[sputnik monroe 102]

That does it. I'm not even going to bother shopping for computer games any more. Thought provoking PC games are dead. Computers had the best games before, Simulations and strategy titles that could never and will never work on a console. Those days are gone, all the computer market will get now are a million and one quake/doom/half life FPS and Warcraft/C&C RTS clones along with multi platform refuse.

   Sure they are keeping the "Total War Brand" separate from their new hack and slash lowest common denominator "Total Warrior Brand". That means nothing though, It'll still suck. Mark my words the next Total War game will be a completely dumbed down multi platform piece of shit.

    Flashpoint 2 better be a good traditional PC game or that is truely it. It's the last game I'm holding any hope out for, if it's a BF42 clone or any thing like it I'm through with computer gaming.

[Akira 0]

Mark my words the next Total War game will be a completely dumbed down multi platform piece of shit.

I'll have to agree with you. As soon as Taldren sold their Star Trek Command series, they came out with a completely dumbed down NextGen version. Star Fleet Command 1 and 2 are still the best Star Trek games ever made, and that legecy was killed (and so was Taldren) by the crapfest of Star Fleet Command 3.

[Benny Moore 0]

Rome: Total War was already considerably dumbed down for the masses. I agree about the sequel being worse.

[JdB 151]

Somehow I get the idea that computergames are made at console game standards now a days (easier, more accessible to a larger croud)

[Leveler 0]

Why are they doing that, didnt the last one sell well?

Greedy bastards

[LP4Life 0]

Quote[/b] ]Nope, I was wrong. Creative Assembly was bought by SEGA.

Wow SEGA is still around?!

[hellfish6 7]

Anyone with any RTW mod experience? Can someone PM me to let me know of a good RTW realism mod (with link?). Thanks.

[EiZei 0]

Quote[/b] ]Nope, I was wrong. Creative Assembly was bought by SEGA.

Wow SEGA is still around?!

Not that I am much of a fan of penny arcade but this sums today's sega up pretty well IMO:

http://www.penny-arcade.com/view.php3?date=2005-03-13&res=h

[Gadger 0]

I know different and my sources are close to home. RTW expansion pack is on the horizon already.  

Sega have published many a PC game, and for the most part offer much more support to the developers. Unfortunatley Activision would not fund CA for a much needed 1.3 patch for RTW hence the switch to Sega, I think the switch is the best for everyone involved.

Don't forget that the total war engine is used for academic and commercial purposes, not just for games, Sega are not foolish and do not through money away.

hellfish: check this, just what your looking for:

http://www.rometotalrealism.com

[Benny Moore 0]

Alternately, you could beta test my smaller but more thorough realism patch. It's mostly complete but I update it once in a while when I notice something wrong. If you are interested, private message me and we will discuss details.

[Guest]

Such a shame, the Total war series "were" the most unqiue and adventerous,

Well they were "Defender of The Crown (Commodore 64 game)" with 3D battles, but I know what you mean

[Bordoy 0]

R:TR is well good. No more screeching women or other silly units.

[MSpencer 0]

Well... the new RTR has become RTBS. Figure out the acronym.