EA vs CA? - New Tolkien Game challenges RTW!!!

[CeltiberoSkullXIII]

Well this exclusive PREVIEW of another "Rome Totalwar-Like" Game, bring us to the lands of Tolkien, the middle Earth

This game can be a hard oponent for Rome Totalwar, lot of similitudes

check ur self

http://www.gamespy.com/previews/september03/lotrbfmepc

This awesome photage can be looked HERE (http://www.gamespy.com/previews/september03/lotrbfmepc/screenshots.shtml) too

http://www.gamespy.com/previews/september03/lotrbfmepc/11s.jpghttp://www.gamespy.com/previews/september03/lotrbfmepc/04s.jpg

[Sir Robin]

A new era is dawning for all mankind.

Total War: Clone Wars http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/tongue.gif

[Sir Robin]

Finished reading the preview.

It looks like it will be interesting but more "linear" than MTW or STW.

Hah

Its realease date is not expected until Q4 2004, RTW is Q3 2004. Nyah, nyah http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/tongue.gif

[some_totalwar_dude]

let's look at the plus and cons oposed of Totalwar http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/tongue.gif

+ better colours thats the way Rome should be
+ It's Lord of the rings

- totalwar has (probably) better gameplay
- units in rome look like they have a little higer poly count http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/tongue.gif
- plus I havent heard of motion capturing http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/tongue.gif
- no turnbased empire building
- totalwar has more units, the claim thousends with LoTR and TW claims tens of thousends http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/tongue.gif

I'll go for rome, but keep an eye on LoTR thingy game (what was it called again http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/rolleyes.gif )

[Spino]

Looks like Rome Total War is going to beat that Tolkien Total War clone to market by several months. I have little doubt that the hoopla created by RTW, the release of the Return of the King this December and the ancient era movie epics scheduled to be released next year will set a huge table for this title when it eventually hits the shelves.

Considering it's only been in development since March I'm surprised a title like this took so long to get into development. Had they started working on it sometime after the first LOTR movie was released there is a good chance it could have been released at the same time Return of the King hits the theaters.

[Sir Robin]

I think they were focused on the console "adventure games" instead of mass mayhem.

It seems perfect to us that a mass-combat/strategy game would be a perfect complement to the LOTR movies. However it probably never occured to EA until they saw someone playing MTW.

Still, I hope they avoid the base-building/resource-gathering of C&C.

I wonder if it will be available on the PC or be console only.

[Catiline]

Bearing in mind they published STW you'd htink they'd cotton on a bit quicker than htat.

[Togakure]

Yippee Thanks for the heads up http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif Celtibero SkullXIII.

I've been hoping for an LOTR strategy game for some time now, given my obsession with all of Tolkien's work for the last, oh, 32 years or so. Regardless of how it compares to any of the TW games, I will be glad to have the opportunity to explore and battle in a virtual Middle Earth.

Let's hope the creators at EA put in even half as much forethought and attention to detail into this game as did the folks who made the movies--if they do, the game will surely be a success.

[Jacque Schtrapp]

That lookslike it could be fun. I'm still wwaaaayyyyyy more interested in RTW though. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[JANOSIK007]

I can't believe that a loyal TW fan would ever consider LOTR as a competitor.

Legionaires or Elves?
Though decision (NOT).

C'mon You would really substitute a genuine history game for a good-night tale for little kids?

NO WAY.

[Oaty]

Woohoo a Totalwar like game coming out that has a better chance of being playable on the next upgrade of windows. Lets see my biggest problem when I upgrade windows...... it is some of my activision games become obsolete http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif

[Beelzebub]

The funny part is he didn't even mention how similar it was to total war. Either he's ignorant of the total war games or he's just kissing EA's ass (they have a cozy relationship with gamespy).

It looks cool, but not too impressive. For one they only have a LOTR movie license which means they pretty much have to follow the plot of it, which means a linear campaign. Also the article made no mention of a strategic map, so I'll assume it doesn't exist otherwise they would've been trumpeting it. This means it would just be like a typical RTS, with battles and cut scenes in between, unlike total war's dual strategy and battle mode which really makes it unique. No building up provinces, no diplomacy, trade, etc.

If CA could get a real LOTR universe license (not just a crappy movie license) so they have more creative room, and had a full strategy mode with nations of humans, dwarves, elves, orcs, etc. Then we're talking

[Balamir]

What i see this is as EA buying CA very very soon and they will tell em to release a new series for tolkien total war. There is no way ttw is gonna get better than rtw but it is a bare fact that it will have many many more fans than rtw with a nice advertisement strategy.

[Rocket_Boy]

Hey if they're both good, I'll certainly be getting both.

[Cebei]

I've heard that LOtR has a bad gameplay. Yes the graphics seem to kick ass but they say it cant give half the frenzy TW series give.

[A.Saturnus]

Quote[/b] (Balamir @ Sep. 23 2003,08:42)]What i see this is as EA buying CA very very soon and they will tell em to release a new series for tolkien total war. There is no way ttw is gonna get better than rtw but it is a bare fact that it will have many many more fans than rtw with a nice advertisement strategy.
They will buy CA and stop RTW so it isn`t a danger to their own game. How duya like that? http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

LoTR looks good, but it takes more than good looks to challenge TW. If this means the times of 20-guys-armies like in Warcraft are over, I can only welcome it.

[The_Emperor]

Quote[/b] (Balamir @ Sep. 23 2003,07:42)]What i see this is as EA buying CA very very soon and they will tell em to release a new series for tolkien total war.
Yeah well EA would Ruin the Total War series and CA if they did buy them out... You only have to look at what happened to Westwood Studios and the decline of the C&C Series, when EA consumed them the C&C Series was drained to oblivion.

[econ21]

The game looks graphically gorgeous, but I'll not be holding my breath. Unfortunately it is easier to produce a bad game with good graphics than a good game with bad graphics.

CA's trick has been to deliver both great looking graphics and amazing gameplay. (I can't think of an uglier game of this type that plays better).

By the way, any Homm3 owners interested in a good strategy game of LOTR - I recommend the "Middle Earth" Homm3 scenario made by a fan and available on the web. Very full of character and detail, but also about the best Homm3 scenario I've played.

[hoom]

It'll have to get a heck of a lot better if they want me to buy it.

There are a few things that are promising but many that look like its gonna suck ass big time.
Not least that its being developed by C&C people http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/dizzy.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/mecry.gif

A well done mod of R:TW will completely leave that game looking like the rear end of a horse whose legs have been removed by a rather vicious little bearded bugger.

[Balamir]

Quote[/b] (A.Saturnus @ Sep. 23 2003,08:10)]They will buy CA and stop RTW so it isn`t a danger to their own game. How duya like that? http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
that would certainly call for a bombing attack on EA headquarters thats what id say http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[rory_20_uk]

Good - the threat might make RTW's makers more compliant to the fact that if it isn't measuring up, then there is a decent alternative.

http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smokin.gif

[Spino]

I can definitely see EA twisting the developer's arm to make LOTR more like Warcraft III than any of the Total War games. The guys and gals in marketing always know what's best, don't they? eh... http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/rolleyes.gif

There is one overhead shot of troops fighting in front of a castle gate that could easily pass for just about any 3D RTS game out on the market right now. The castle gates look very cartoonish and are so far removed from reality that any comparison to the TW series seems unfounded.

[Lehesu]

If you read even further, the preview says that combat is basically sending cannon fodder units to fight and that the only real strategy is that of the manipulation of key heroes or key units. From what I gather, that hints at click-drag on your units and than just clicking on the enemy, rather than a real cohesive battle strategy where even the most outnumbered forces can win with supreme tactics. O well, EA is doing it. They will find a way to make it suck eventually.

[Beelzebub]

Also in the article they said they're gonna steal that dumb warcraft thing where if you click on a unit repeatedly it says annoying stuff.

I have really no belief EA to make a good game. Like Lehusu and Spino said it will be centred around heroes (probably leveling them up and gaining powers), be cartoony. Also given EA's track record they'll rush it out before it's done and then release a few crappy patches that just add more bugs and not fix anything important. If it's sucessful they'll release crappy expansions every 4-6 months that just add a few new battles and units (one thing CA does well is release quality expansions).

Incase you can't tell I have a lot of experience with EA, they are by far the greediest and worst gaming company out there. Even worse than sony. I'm extremely angry with them over the way they exploit their sucessful franchises, like BF1942 (which I play, awesome game, so much potential squandered by EA for a quick buck), the sims, EA sports, etc.

Heh sorry for ranting. I really hate EA though http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif and I'd love to see CA kick their asses.

[jeffreyLebowski]

what's with everything in gaming turning into a rivalry these days? why can't people enjoy more than one game in a genre without badmouthing another. i'll be in my local best buy on the release date for both of these games, and i'll most likely play the hell out of both of them. they're clearly two very different styles of games, despite visual similarities:

rtw: for the hard core strategy/history enthusiast. interested in accurately recreating historic clashes.

lotr:bfme: a somewhat deep strategic comabt simulator focused on allowing users to relive massive cinematic battles from a wonderful film.

i fail to see why one competes with the other... they both sound like great games heading in two totally different gameplay directions. i mean, i for one have always found the total war games to be lacking that cinematic quality... there's no personal attachment to characters, because there's no hero units, there's no overriding sense of urgency because there's no real plot... these are things that LOTR will most likely bring to the table for those who enjoy them. don't get me wrong, i love stw/mtw, but i'd like to see my armies run at full speed, crash into each other, intermingle and go at it like a scene from braveheart with a great musical score booming from the speakers... rtw instead gives you one line of men fighting while the other 180 stand around watching... realistic? maybe... just plain cool? no.

also, different play styles are enjoyed by different people. not every strategy game must be 100% to your specifications for it to be enjoyed. sometimes i want mindless fps action, sometimes i want deep strategy, sometimes i want flashy graphics, sometimes i want multiplayer madness... it's all about personal taste and what you're in the mood to play. just because a game is something that you don't enjoy doesn't mean that millions of other gamers won't... and let's be honest here, EA's marketing machine combined with a very strong license will ensure that this game sells a ridiculous number of units... no doubt considerably more than rtw.

honestly, EA is no worse than most other software publishers around today. they've had some real screw-ups, and made some really great products also. let's not forget who published shogun total war in the US.

[Mithrandir]

Moved to Tavern.