View Full Version : Creative Assembly Alexander release date and price
The Blind King of Bohemia
05-20-2006, 10:22
June 1st, $19 (£10)
Link (http://www.wargamer.com/news/news.asp?nid=3398)
25 new units? What happened to over 60 or however many it was we were initially promised?
PseRamesses
05-20-2006, 11:03
This is just a ripoff that won´t get my money. Nothing new, terrible map and a "conquer all provinces" style that doesn´t apeal to me. Isn´t it amazing how CA makes one of the greatest conquests in human history into a triva like this?!
ShellShock
05-20-2006, 19:09
This is just a ripoff that won´t get my money. Nothing new, terrible map and a "conquer all provinces" style that doesn´t apeal to me. Isn´t it amazing how CA makes one of the greatest conquests in human history into a triva like this?!
I couldn't disagree more.
$19/£10 is peanuts.
I will at least reserve my judgement until it has actually been released. I will be downloading it on the day it comes out.
Mount Suribachi
05-20-2006, 19:32
A tenner isn't an unreasonable amount - hopefully there will be new gameplay features that modders can take advantage of, maybe even a patch.
kburkert
05-20-2006, 21:08
im going to get it so i have all the RTW collection.
Garvanko
05-20-2006, 23:30
Yeah, I'll get it as well. Always handy to have a 'new' game to play.
I think it's the only sensible price - any less and it's not really worth CA getting out of bed for; any more and it's close to full game price (at least for older games).
I'll definitely get it, if only to see the direction CA is taking. RTW was disappointing after MTW, but BI was a big step back in the right direction, IMO. I'd like to see if Alexander continues that or is a let down.
The phalanx AI will be critical to that judgement. If cataphracts continue to plough through phalanxes, I'll be disappointed. If AI Macedonians fight worthy of Alexander, I'll be well pleased.
Also important will be the level of chrome and detail in the main campaign - after mods like EB, it will be hard to accept a "bare bones" effort. I'd like some special traits, ancillaries, events etc. so it does not feel generic.
BHCWarman88
05-21-2006, 02:24
I may get it one day....
I think it looks pathetic but I'll wait and see what the reviews are like before I make my decision.
Or if any good mod project/s spring up.
http://www.wargamer.com/files/news/f3398_alex_04.jpg
Image from wargamer.com (http://www.wargamer.com/news/news.asp?nid=3398)
Lorenzo_H
05-21-2006, 16:25
I don't think it looks pathetic! I'm going to get it!
Barbarossa82
05-21-2006, 19:08
The campaign map detailing looks appalling, if that screenshot's anything to go by. However, some of the units look pretty good (dayglo colour schemes excepted). The companion cavalry look pretty cool for one. I think I'll be getting this since it's only a tenner.
I know some people have speculated that Alexander might come with a patch or update for RTW and/or BI. I can't see why it would, but that would make it a definate.
The campaign map detailing looks appalling, if that screenshot's anything to go by. However, some of the units look pretty good (dayglo colour schemes excepted). The companion cavalry look pretty cool for one. I think I'll be getting this since it's only a tenner.
I know some people have speculated that Alexander might come with a patch or update for RTW and/or BI. I can't see why it would, but that would make it a definate.
I agree entirely, though I am not so sure whether I will buy it. However, if it upgrades R:TW you can count me in.
Lorenzo_H
05-21-2006, 20:40
Why appalling?
Kralizec
05-21-2006, 22:21
nevermind...
Lorenzo_H
05-22-2006, 08:00
Look at it..
I already am. Now I want someone to point out why it is appalling?
ShellShock
05-22-2006, 08:44
I already am. Now I want someone to point out why it is appalling?
I want to know too. It is no better or worse than the vanilla RTW map, as far as I can see. Do you mean the mini-map? It is a bit lurid. The colours can be changed by editing the right file, so I do not see this as a reason not to buy the game.
It looks smaller while actually being on a smaller scale. Compare the region you´re seeing to the same one in RTW, it´s far less detailed.
Anyways, it might be worth getting if CA includes a patch and it gives us new features for modding.
Barbarossa82
05-22-2006, 14:45
I already am. Now I want someone to point out why it is appalling?
Well it's a matter of personal taste to some extent how much value you choose to attach to detailing. But look at the details of Greece, particularly the Peloponnese, and the western coast of Asia minor. It's just so fuzzy, smooth and blobby. In fact the Peloponnese is basically just a rectangle, with scarcely a hint of the three distinctive peninsulas which should be jutting out to the south.
What on earth happened to the many peninsulas, islands and bays on the western shores of Asia Minor?
Why does the Crimean peninsula look so weird?
And what on EARTH happened to Cyprus? Cyprus is one of the most distinctively and recognisably shaped islands in the world. Now go and have a look at the campaign map screenshot, and tell me you would recognise that blob as Cyprus if it wasn't in the position where you know Cyprus has to be.
Like I said I'm still probably going to buy the expansion because some of the units look cool and ultimately I am still a Total War fan. Just disappointed how the map looks.
Lorenzo_H
05-22-2006, 16:03
Now that you mention it, I do see that Peloponeasia should have a city there. But apart from that, I think its fine. They have to have the map on a certain scale to
a) Give Alexander ample time to conquer the whole map before he is 30 y/o
b) Include the far eastern Civilization whom Alexander conquered.
Zenicetus
05-22-2006, 19:55
It looks smaller while actually being on a smaller scale. Compare the region you´re seeing to the same one in RTW, it´s far less detailed.
How is it less detailed? Look at the closeup of the campaign map as it scrolls underneath the Alexander title in the video (campaign page on the Alexander promo totalwar site). It looks just as detailed as RTW in terms of cities, resources, mountains, etc. As for overall scale, they've shifted the map over far enough to include India, which naturally means we're not seeing Western Europe any more. That's not needed for an Alexander campaign.
June 1st, $19 (£10)
Link (http://www.wargamer.com/news/news.asp?nid=3398)
25 new units? What happened to over 60 or however many it was we were initially promised?
If I cast my mind back I seem to recall some blurb where the game/expansion was said to 'feature' 60 (or whatever) new units. Some of these I took to be 'enemy' units that you'd never get to use or would have to get at with a mod. I didn't think it would be as many as half of them, mind, but there you go.
Still, I think £10 is a reasonable price. No-one's forcing anyone to buy the game, and this really is an 'extra' expansion anyway. Blobby looking map aside (maybe the graphics options on whatever machine that pic was taken from have been turned right down???), there's probably enough gameplay in there to keep folk interested for a while.
As I mentioned somewhere else a little while ago this to me has all the hallmarks of a lunchtime project that got picked up by the bosses, so I'm not expecting anything different from BI in terms of AI behaviour or game engine updates, and I'd be amazed if there's a patch for RTW/BI as part of the download. TBH unless there's a major game-killer bug in Alexander this will be the last support for RTW that we see.
Cheers,
Rob.
ZombieFriedNuts
05-23-2006, 20:01
I must say the map looks a bit small but at £10 I might just buy it, I’ll see what people say when it comes out.
cunobelinus
05-23-2006, 20:20
I think it looks a good game but just needs some modding with extended map and maybe if we can add a few more factions.The units all look nicely skinned but i think that some extra units could be good.On the offical site it still says 60 units so lets hope it is 60 units not just 30 or 40
Well i wont be getting it(unless it goes below a fiver). The New map is hideous, there are only 4 factions(and they didnt even bother to do the Indians decently) and important cities are missed out like Athens, i think this tells us how much CA really care about history in the exp.
Kralizec
05-24-2006, 00:14
I might be getting it. I'm a curious person. But it will mainly depend on how much time I'll have on my hands when it comes out.
BHCWarman88
05-24-2006, 03:33
No Money and it not woth my Time,wtf is 4 Factions??
Troy Lawton
05-24-2006, 06:28
Does anyone know how big this download will be?
Zalmoxis
05-24-2006, 06:31
I'm not gonna bother getting this.
Lorenzo_H
05-24-2006, 12:07
Does anyone know how big this download will be?
I would imagine it wouldn't be more than 1.5GB
I would imagine it wouldn't be more than 1.5GB
BI was 1 Gb.
Captain Fishpants
05-24-2006, 12:39
Just FYI, an announcement has been made as to the actual price point over at the .com forums http://p223.ezboard.com/fshoguntotalwarfrm7.showMessage?topicID=35441.topic.
As you'll notice, some of the speculation here has been a little premature.
Barbarossa82
05-24-2006, 13:32
Sounds good, Captain Fishpants. I'll certainly be picking it up at that price.
Is there any chance you could comment on what, if anything, Alexander will do to the RTW .exe? Somebody on the forums over at the .com stated that Alexander will "upgrade RTW to the latest patch", but it wasn't clear (a) whether this was true, and (b) whether "the latest patch" means 1.5 or something else. Thanks!
Lorenzo_H
05-24-2006, 19:08
BI was 1 Gb.
Well there you go then...I would imagine Alexander will be the same size.
Barbarossa82
05-24-2006, 20:16
I would have thought probably a little less - fewer factions, fewer units, and I don't think it uses a new .exe like BI did. I'm going to guess around the 500-600 MB mark.
Ok, I officially hate CA. There I am about to ramble on about how rubbish the map looks, when boom, The Shogun official forums reinforces initial newsletter article about "new multiplayer options" (though with four factions, I suppose they had to make it SP only or do something different). So yeah, I'll be waiting to see what they do with sp, because tbh, that campaign map isn't very interesting.
Lorenzo_H
05-24-2006, 21:02
Ok, I officially hate CA. There I am about to ramble on about how rubbish the map looks, when boom, The Shogun official forums reinforces initial newsletter article about "new multiplayer options" (though with four factions, I suppose they had to make it SP only or do something different). So yeah, I'll be waiting to see what they do with sp, because tbh, that campaign map isn't very interesting.
How can you say that when CA are quite possibly among the best entertainment company the world has ever known? How can you hate CA??? They are the last game designers you should hate. I think your expectations have grown far too high. Try playing a game not made by CA, a Total War clone - there are plenty lying about. Cossacks 2? Was historically fun but lacked the depth, graphics and generally didn't provivide as much. Imperial Glory? Nice try but :no:. Not nearly as good!
I mean jeez, the game hasn't even been released! I think we should be eternally greatful to CA for providing so many hours of fun for us (looks like you been playing quite a lot of Barbarian Invasion recently hmmm?). We should also be grateful that they don't employ dodgy marketing ploys (think EA - bloodthirsty vampires!).
If anyone from CA happens to stroll in here sometime - thanks for making such brilliant games!
How can you say that when CA are quite possibly among the best entertainment company the world has ever known? How can you hate CA??? They are the last game designers you should hate. I think your expectations have grown far too high. Try playing a game not made by CA, a Total War clone - there are plenty lying about. Cossacks 2? Was historically fun but lacked the depth, graphics and generally didn't provivide as much. Imperial Glory? Nice try but :no:. Not nearly as good!
I mean jeez, the game hasn't even been released! I think we should be eternally greatful to CA for providing so many hours of fun for us (looks like you been playing quite a lot of Barbarian Invasion recently hmmm?). We should also be grateful that they don't employ dodgy marketing ploys (think EA - bloodthirsty vampires!).
If anyone from CA happens to stroll in here sometime - thanks for making such brilliant games!
He has his opinions, you have yours.
He has his opinions...
Indeed, but it is not quite clear from his post what they are. I certainly can't work out what's the intended ratio of irony to truth in the "I hate CA" phrase. On reflection, I suspect both you and diablodelmar are taking that phrase a little more literally than Monarch intended.
Lorenzo_H
05-24-2006, 21:50
Indeed, but it is not quite clear from his post what they are. I certainly can't work out what's the intended ratio of irony to truth in the "I hate CA" phrase. On reflection, I suspect both you and diablodelmar are taking that phrase a little more literally than Monarch intended.
That is a sound statement right there.
The Spartan (Returns)
05-25-2006, 03:00
CA rules. btw i like the unit cards at least. and i dont know why but something is telling me that the gameplay will be better and i might be consider buying it not 100% sure. CA please put it in stores; im not downloadin it! (stinkin dial-up!!!)
Lorenzo_H
05-25-2006, 09:59
Downloading is the safest way for them - it doesn't cost anything to distribute it!
Indeed, but it is not quite clear from his post what they are. I certainly can't work out what's the intended ratio of irony to truth in the "I hate CA" phrase. On reflection, I suspect both you and diablodelmar are taking that phrase a little more literally than Monarch intended.
True. That reply of mine was a little bit hasted.
Grumfoss
05-25-2006, 16:54
I will be buying it, at the price of £8.50 it is a bargin. I have everything else that has been officially brought out for the Totalwar series. ( I've enjoyed every expansion from Mongol Invasion to BI - I really hope this will be as good. & it's got Brian Blessed that's worth £8.50 on its own :laugh4: )
Please lets play it first and then if it stinks then slag it off!
Patricius
05-25-2006, 22:02
The price is nothing. And if someone wants a bigger map it is not vastly difficult to transfer it all to a new map. Well I hope some modder does it for me:laugh4: . What really interests me is what improvements for RTW overall there will be. The units are excellent, in my opinion, yet I wish the map had more to it. It might lose something of its epic quality on a smaller map.
The SS does look disapointing, there's no Athens. Well I'll see what everyone else thinks about it before I buy it.
Lorenzo_H
05-26-2006, 09:18
The SS does look disapointing, there's no Athens. Well I'll see what everyone else thinks about it before I buy it.
That might not be final...
edyzmedieval
05-26-2006, 11:53
The price is reasonable, and I am definitely buying it. ~:)
Divine Wind
05-26-2006, 16:49
CA rules. btw i like the unit cards at least. and i dont know why but something is telling me that the gameplay will be better and i might be consider buying it not 100% sure. CA please put it in stores; im not downloadin it! (stinkin dial-up!!!)
Im sure it will be available on CD, but you will probably have to order it directly from CA rather than buy it in your local stores. The price would be a little higher too i suspect for shipping etc.
When a game is good, cost isn't really relevant.
But honestly, the horribly crappy map doesn't speak very well for this add-on. The shape of the land is atrocious, and it seems to be ridiculously simplistic and straightforward for something which is based on an epic adventure.
So I'll certainly take time to test it before buying it, because I have to say that I'm not really confident in its quality.
Indeed, but it is not quite clear from his post what they are. I certainly can't work out what's the intended ratio of irony to truth in the "I hate CA" phrase. On reflection, I suspect both you and diablodelmar are taking that phrase a little more literally than Monarch intended.
Lol yeah. Glad somebody sorta got the point of my post.
It wasn't a literal comment lol. Guess I'll spell out what I'm trying to say in future.
Celt Centurion
05-29-2006, 00:29
I couldn't disagree more.
$19/£10 is peanuts.
I will at least reserve my judgement until it has actually been released. I will be downloading it on the day it comes out.
Downloading it? You mean we cannot go buy it at the electronics shop?
I agree, $19.00 is peanuts. $50 for the original RTW was somewhat costly.
Strength and Honor
Celt Centurion
To be honest I can see a viable market for it…
….once the Mod community have tidied it up!
As it stands I wouldn’t pay anything for it, look at some of the Mods available right now. See the difference in quality right away – RTR Platinum for example is purely sumptuous to look at and makes this Mod…..for that’s all it is really…look amateur in my opinion.
Like I said though, I am sure I will buy it eventually…..once someone Mods it to look nicer and have more game options.
Harsh words perhaps but this is another example of the slide in quality we are seeing from CA.
Barbarossa82
06-01-2006, 11:21
Sega website now says 15th June. And I was up early all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed to download it today. ~:mecry:
BalkanTourist
06-01-2006, 11:50
Maybe they have decided to fix the horrible map:eyebrows:
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