Blood in the Game and Prisoners

[MansaSakura]

This may have been covered before, but just in case, I hope CA puts blood in this game. The other TW games lacked that (at least Rome and Medieval, i've never played Shogun) and it kind of cheapened the experience in my opinion. I know blood and guts isn't the be-all end-all and never makes up for gameplay, but darn it- it would help! This kind of period-combat (1700s) was almost as bloody (maybe a bit more) than medieval combat. So I wanna see severed limbs, bloody uniforms and powder burns on my cannoneers. Who's with me?!?

A side note, it would be nice if you could take prisoners on the battlefield. This happened quite a bit as well. I know of very few engagements (in any period of warfare) where the loosing force was either completely annihilated or all survivors managed to escape. Furthermore, you should be able to bargain for prisoners in the diplomacy function. Just puttin that out there.

[Benandorf]

I strongly agree. Having some more blood than just turning your unit's models into tomatoes would be awesome. Seeing a little pool under a body after it's been speared would increase the TW experience quite a bit, in my opinion.

And I agree on the prisoners bit. Give the option to try and bargain for how much you want for prisoners (especially things like the king. I want to demand some colonies for his head!), or the option to turn them into some other unit that you toss out in front of your own units.

[Divinus Arma]

This is something that has been missing from the series in a major way. CA dabbled in it with M2TW, but nothing what the series really needs. Hell, Mortal Kombat came out more than 15 YEARS ago and was one of the first to offer decent blood and guts. And in a family-friendly arcade within the local mall no less!

Don't be squeamish CA. Convince your SEGA overlords and get some amputations and eviscerations in there for us!

[Husar]

Uh, in my usual party pooper fashion I have to say no thanks.

First off I don't think it's needed, I wouldn't mind more blood, I just think severed limbs etc is a step too far for a strategy game, it's not supposed to be a shocking game and apart from that this would add quite a bit to the hardware requirements I imagine as well as make the whole programming process harder(you know, you can't just write "computer, let that arm fall down"). Not to mention they'd have to take that out for Germany anyway or probably get a "ban" here.

Then I also see this game series as entertainment and IMO when I want to be reminded of cruelty, death and how brutal war really is I can watch an anti war movie. Also note that such delicacies would give even more arguments to people who see computer players as bloodthirsty maniacs.

All in all I just don't see why we'd need that.

[ELITEofWARMANGINGERYBREADMEN88]

Uh, in my usual party pooper fashion I have to say no thanks.

First off I don't think it's needed, I wouldn't mind more blood, I just think severed limbs etc is a step too far for a strategy game, it's not supposed to be a shocking game and apart from that this would add quite a bit to the hardware requirements I imagine as well as make the whole programming process harder(you know, you can't just write "computer, let that arm fall down"). Not to mention they'd have to take that out for Germany anyway or probably get a "ban" here.

Then I also see this game series as entertainment and IMO when I want to be reminded of cruelty, death and how brutal war really is I can watch an anti war movie. Also note that such delicacies would give even more arguments to people who see computer players as bloodthirsty maniacs.

All in all I just don't see why we'd need that.

Well, if you don't have those things, then why have the game? It's a part of History lol. Dude, the Name of the Series is Total War, what you expect?

[Husar]

Well, if you don't have those things, then why have the game? It's a part of History lol. Dude, the Name of the Series is Total War, what you expect?

If you're saying the game isn't worth buying without severed limbs and lots of blood then I guess you don't have a single Total War game yet.

[Boyar Son]

If you're saying the game isn't worth buying without severed limbs and lots of blood then I guess you don't have a single Total War game yet.

now thats from years of backroom training

actually, blood would make the game, well more action-y. Imagine war on total war series brought to a higher level.

[Bootsiuv]

I could go either way really....but hardly think it's that important.

It probably doesn't matter much anyways....CA will never let one of their TW games get a MA rating. It will cut out too much of their target audience. I'd imagine the 12-17 age group is a pretty big game demographic that CA won't quickly do away with...

[skuzzy]

They could add that "hidden" code that includes it only to be reverse engineered and then they get sued and have to pull all their shelved boxes like Rockstar. That's the way I would go with it :)

[Xehh II]

I think they should have gore slider bar.

[Daveybaby]

Well, if you don't have those things, then why have the game? It's a part of History lol. Dude, the Name of the Series is Total War, what you expect?

Historically there was quite a bit of rape and murder undertaken by victorious armies. Maybe we should show that in graphic detail too. Just for realism's sake though. (/sarcasm)

A bit of blood probably isnt going to bother anyone, but if it's dismemberment porn youre after there's probably better places to find it than a strategy game.

[Kekvit Irae]

As Bootsiuv noted, having a T rating on a game is a far better position for a game company to be in (read: sales). A lot of game retailers will restrict sales of M titles, and thus miss out on a lot of holiday figures because parents and grandparents will not buy an M-rated game for their kids. Therefor, I do hope that they do not include a good amount of blood in it, BUT I do hope it remains an option to include it using third-party modifications. It gives the company the best of both worlds... a T rating AND the option for blood and such for those who know where to look.

[ELITEofWARMANGINGERYBREADMEN88]

If you're saying the game isn't worth buying without severed limbs and lots of blood then I guess you don't have a single Total War game yet.

no I have them all expect for Kingdoms and played MP for 3 1/2 years on top of that

The reason why they proably won't be, from the last post, the stupid ESRB Rated M thing, and alot of paretns I guess don't want their kids doing aRated M game, yet they let them do a Rated T game....

[geala]

I would prefer a certain level of "blood and guts" in the game. It is a game about war and war is cruel. It's perhaps not bad to remember us that we decide the faith of "humans" in the battles.

[Kekvit Irae]

I would prefer a certain level of "blood and guts" in the game. It is a game about war and war is cruel. It's perhaps not bad to remember us that we decide the faith of "humans" in the battles.

The game may be about war, but publishing is about profits.

[MansaSakura]

Wow...didn't realize some folks were so afraid of a lil crimson, lol. I'm not saying the game should be a gorefest...but it needs some blood and guts to add to realism. The realistic elements of the total war games is what makes them fun IMO. i don't think anyone is looking for gore-porn or anything approaching that. but like someone said earlier, MK came out 15 years ago. Ppl need to grow up. Aren't we on our 4th SAW movie, lol?

Btw...what do u guys and gals think about prisoners especially prisoner swap. I think that would be awesome.

[Furious Mental]

I reckon there should be the option to press them into service in your own armies.

[Csargo]

Let's just see if they can get the diplomacy, AI, etc etc right first Game play is a more important issue than graphics for me.

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

Out of curiosity, how interested are the "add blood" people in other realistic features, such as an in-depth supply management system or historic units.

Or is this just "add blood cuz we liek blood".

[imnothere]

too many legal red tapes, plus it would consume too much CPU just to keep the bits of hands, intestines and legs around the battlefield. not practical. bit of blood spray will be realistic but.

[Zoring]

You kno what would be nice though, if when you run down routers instead of doing the 'falling over backwards' animation and you capturing them, you see them put their hands on there heads and get on their knees. Wouldent take up any more resources than having them just lying there dead since they wouldent move about anymore.

If you wanted to get fancy all the prisoners could gather together.

[MansaSakura]

Yo, Alexander, read the opening post. I said blood isn't as important as units and historical accuracy (i like ur supply idea). But it would make the game look a lot better. And, damn we don't need intestines flying everywhere y'all, lol. Just blood maybe some burnt bodies lying around. it don't have to be the opening from Saving Private Ryan.

And Zoring is spot on about the prisoner idea. Hope someone from CA is paying attention to him.

jeez, why r some of us here so hemophobic?

[geala]

Hehe, a similar question would be why some people are so afraid of everything that has to do with sex or eroticism. Some people don't like a (too) bloody depiction of violence - which is a lot easier to understand for me than the other alternative. Nevertheless, I vote for a bit blood and guts.

[Husar]

A bit of blood is not a problem here, your first post made me think you wanted body parts lying all over the place or something like that.

[Jeroen Hill]

I've got a PC Gameplay with a 6 page long interview with CA about E:TW. 1 of the features exclusively says that we will see limbs flying around as cannonball's bounce of the ground and slam into enemy lines.

[Bootsiuv]

I just read PC Gamer and it has a preview of Empire where it states men leave blood smears on the ground and cannonballs go through people, so it sounds like they will make it somewhat bloody...