CA I beseech you! (With poll)

[Polemists]

Well maybe, but I just don't think CA is going to add the MP campaign into the main game. They've stated multiple times it's a add on feature and still requires beta testing.

They've announced release date twice, (three times if some of us remeber) and despite all the back lash they still have it as a add on feature.

I think you'll get 3 of those 4, just not the fourth one.

[General SupaCrunk]

No, because i can't wait!

[Discoman]

At this point it seems unrealistic to be asking for this... but if they needed it I'd give them the two extra months. If there is one thing a customer wants its quality and if they're offering it then, and only them, am I going to take it.

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

If it's really needed, then sure. However, if something like naval combat is not buggy but simply finished as CA sees it, then release it. At worst, I'll just auto-resolve naval battles (or avoid purchasing the game if it's really inconvenient).

[pyradyn]

I do want a fully structured game, but do remember the best beta test to find bugs, glitches is none other than full release. With millions playing bugs will be found that they never did in beta. As for full multiplayer in the game on release since we are getting a small 1 v 1 beta. Understand as I am a programmer as are a lot of the moders on this forums. That would not be a month or two delay we are talking about 6 month delay to a year to rebuild everything for MP. It is a lot of just changing code here and there but when you get to go through hundreds if not thousands of pages of code to change the smallest thing it is not a quick processes I will vote no CA cannot afford to break date again. To release when no other games come out is a smart move, then people who have never heard of TW and are just looking for a game might buy TW. The more people that CA can get that has never heard means they will tell friends. After all we all know CA final goal is world domination!


Again just my two cents....I am going to be broke here soon

[Durango]

It is a lot of just changing code here and there but when you get to go through hundreds if not thousands of pages of code to change the smallest thing it is not a quick processes I will vote no CA cannot afford to break date again.

%¤#*@!

Well, I voted for additional time anyway, rather than have the game riddled with bugs that take a year just to sort out.

[Marius Dynamite]

I don't think a 1 or 2 month delay would do any good. Much of that time would have to be spent re-testing the entire game because of only slight changes, and if they end up making some bugs because of these changes we could be seeing some very long delays.

The problems with the Naval battles won't be sorted in a month or so either. It's a new thing and will not be perfect and will possibly be very boring, but it is a start and at least from now on it will be (or should be) a key part of total war games as much as land battles.

As for the multiplayer campaign, bringing it out as an update is perfectly reasonable. It will let them see better how the SP campaign is working out for people and let them design around that. Also, for those who are not interested in a MP campaign, they don't have to wait. It's not a core element of the game after all.

[Sir Beane]

One advantage to releasing the MP campaign later than the SP is that it allows CA to see which units and factions are overused or overpowered. Then they can make adjustements to the MP campaign accordingly to balance things up.

Think of the SP as one great big public beta for the MP campaign.

[neoiq5719]

Empire: Total War Finally Deploying on March 3

All grand strategy players in the world became a bit worried when, in December, Creative Assembly announced that it would delay the release of Empire: Total War to March, the game being expected to arrive in February. Games in the Total War series have a nasty history of shipping with bugs (although they are usually quickly fixed via patches) and a delay does not bode well for one of the few PC exclusives of 2009.

SEGA, as the publisher, and Creative Assembly, the developer, have released an official date of March 3 in North America and March 4 in the rest of the world for the game and promise that there will be no more delays. The publisher says that all copies of the game, whether they are bought in retail stores or downloaded, need to be activated through Steam. It also reveals that those players who buy the game through Steam will be able to pre-install it 48 hours before the release date, so they can then quickly activate it and get to play Empire: Total War.

The bad news for players is that the multiplayer mode for the campaign, which has been long requested by fans of the series, will not make it into the initial release. Still, Creative Assembly says that the mode is coming, but in a post launch patch. A beta is expected shortly after the release of the game and the developer believes that it will take note of the comments made by players.

The biggest innovation of Empire: Total War will be the introduction of naval warfare, which will be fully simulated. The game also moves into the XVIII and XIX centuries, allowing for more diplomatic options, a far expanded game map and a bigger importance for trade. Of course, as the name implies, the game continues to focus on warfare, with a new physics model and a better tactical AI.

Found in softpedia news( so issue closed or not?)

[Theodotos I]

I can't believe this is split 50-50. Of course they should take their time. Of course, it's easy for me to say that--I don't plan on buying the game till it hit's Gold Edition, anyway.

[ByzanKing]

I voted for taking more time if they need it. I can wait a couple more months for a more fully completed game. I just don't want to see something as big as the "shield bug" that completely ruined the game for me until the patch to fix it came out. I would rather not buy the game, then shelve it for a couple months until a patch comes out. Just my opinion, to each their own.