No further patches for M2TW or Kingdoms (update: Kingdoms patch announced)

**FactionHeir** · 10-14-2007, 20:25

I didn't expect anything else really. But then, I won't be getting ETW either because of the lack of proper support and bugfixing patches ever since RTW.
SecuROM and co don't help that either.

**alpaca** · 10-14-2007, 20:50

Yeah it kind of fits their current apparent company policy: make a game with kick-ass graphics and mediocre gameplay (compared to what they could do if they really went for it) and dish it out as soon as possible to as many customers as possible, then move on to the next add-on or game without bothering to pick up the pieces. Don't care too much about bugs on the way unless people complain extremely loudly about a certain thing.

Seriously, I expected it (although I had a few more "insider informations" than most of you guys did)

**Zajuts149** · 10-14-2007, 21:05

So, its abandonware already?

Seriously, this is a blow, and I will certainly not buy any new TW game, or other SEGA game for that matter..

**guyfawkes5** · 10-14-2007, 21:17

Post your thoughts in the linked thread, perhaps CA can be persuaded of their error by communal pressure. Even if you doubt the likelihood of this, it is worth the few seconds of post-writing even for the smallest chance.

Remember to maintain discipline, any unreasonable attacks on CA would result in our goal being damaged beyond compare.

**lancelot** · 10-14-2007, 21:54

Not surprised in the slightest...although we have to make some allowances for the qualifier 'not at the moment'. But even so this does indeed seem like a big FU to the fanbase.

I mean seriously...is this legit? Are CA trying to sabotage their own marketability? Or are they counting on a fresh crop of sychophantic newbies to start playing their games each year and really dont give two hoots???

I wont be getting ETW if this is what CA has become...

**uruk-hai** · 10-15-2007, 01:00

No plans for a patch for kingdoms?i sure hope that's not the case, and are working on a patch and just said that for some evil joke.some thing tells me its for real and not just some evil joke.I hope that we get one patch for kingdoms that does just fixes some or all of the bugs.like the stone forts bug in the crusades campaign.Now i am strating to rethink about if i should buy empire total war.

lets look at a game two games called stronghold 2 and stronghold legends.if i remember right stronghold 2 only had only 2 patchs for it by the time stronghold legends came out.stronghold legends did how some mp bugs like in a 1v1 or 2v2 games you were unable to talk sometimes,but a few patchs later and its fixed,with better mp.Now lets look at stronghold 2 , two more patchs come out for it,after stronghold legends out.

so if firefly can patch a game even after a new game of theres came out.i think ca and sage should be able to make at lest one patch for kingdoms.

**econ21** · 10-15-2007, 02:14

CA have always been parsimonious with their patches. I am not sure this marks a big change.

The decision not to make a significant 1.3 patch for M2TW was a bigger blow to me - it seemed clear then that it was considered too much work to bring the vanilla game up to the level of the expansion. That the passage of time has not changed this evaluation is not a surprise. I am not that bothered about Kingdoms - I am not aware of major bugs, but I don't read the bug list (I want to remain a happy gamer).

What I would like to see is a bit more tweaking of the AI.

The strategic AI is the most in need, IMO. I kept a log of the battles in a England VH/VH AAR and they were nearly always with the odds in my favour. Typically, the AI can't organise an offensive determined enough to catch me at a disadvantage. Nor can it avoid such offensives being organised by me. Now that does not sound so bad - given that I am a human and it a dumb AI. But because I like to wage war on a shoestring, the AI should be able to get me at a disadvantage - I know I can still win battles outgunned. However, the AI just does not get its act together. It dithers and divides.

Also, playing around with the game for a PBM in crazy ways (trying to make it harder, not easier), it is clear that there are still whacky failings of the strategic AI. For example, it will sometimes ignore empty enemy settlements, turn after turn - just walk right past them. You literally can't give the settlements away. And it seems to prefer full stacks to be led by captains and leaves generals with penny packets. You can use the consol to give a good army to a general and next turn the AI will hand it over to a captain.

The battlefield AI also has problems, although I still maintain that it can often give players a run for their money if the odds are 2:1 in its favour. However, it does still suffer from passivity in the face of fire and undue exposure of its general to risk (suicide generals). A few days ago, I fought a siege assault where the AI crippled itself by making its general one of the first units to - literally - walk into my schiltron. Today, I watched my son fight a 1:1 sally which was basically just a turkey shoot.