Total PC Gaming Preview

[Csargo]

Sinan your sig is HUGE.

[Shahed]

Same as always, 400*150 <10Kb. Maybe looks larger because of the subject.

[Csargo]

Looks fine now. Wonder if it's because I'm on a different computer.

[HarunTaiwan]

Why worry about release dates? I did for RTW and was disappointed.

For MTW2, I ignored the hype and waited to about 9-12 months after release...then I could get an actual finished product with the 1.5 patches they begrudge us, plus the fan created mod that makes the game somewhat playable. (LTC)

Still like the series, but now I am wiser in when I purchase and thus avoid much of the disappointment.

[Puzz3D]

That prototype interface pictured gives you less tactical control of your ships than the interface in Privateer's Bounty.

[brandybarrel]

I checked out the naval interface and studied it for some time. Granted it is a prototype or pre-alpha, I would still like to pose some questions and make a few comments.

1. The black and gold icons are really intuitive. I really like them. For example, I can see that you can select your type of shot: ball, chain, and grape. I am assuming that the purpose of selecting ball is to sink the enemy ship, chain is to de-mast and still the ship for boarding and the grape is to clear the enemy deck of personnel. Is this correct? Will the relevant guns automatically fire (e.g. elevate) for each type of shot?

2. I have noticed that there are icons to fire port and starboard deck guns. Is this just to set them at fire-at-will as former missile units? I would like to know if there would be more options such as (a) firing a broadside volley and (b) if we could actually time the broadside?

3. Will there be different kinds of units (or officers) that can be added to the ship to enhance its performance (as in navigation, rate of fire, boarding) or will there be a standard ship with a standard compliment and the ship’s performance will improve with experience and go down as men get killed off? It appears the latter when looking at the interface.

4. Also, I was a little surprised by the amount of ships the naval interface represented. I was expecting naval engagements to be limited to a handful of ships and this portion of the UI to be more descriptive about the ship and its composition. A lot of people may prefer quantity but I’m hoping for a more tactical, controlled, naval engagement.

Although Empire: Total War will be mostly about land battles, I am looking forward to how navies will be implemented and contribute to our TW experience. I expect the gaming community is too so I hope this goes off with a loud bang.

[Viking]

Sweet graphics..

[S.Selim_1]

am i the only one who thinks that the water graphics from those screenshots don't look that good...i mean the sea looks like oil or liquid silver..the water just looks fake..it's better than any other other game..but not the best!

[Dutch_guy]

That prototype interface pictured gives you less tactical control of your ships than the interface in Privateer's Bounty.

What would be things you'd want to see in the interface ? It's still a prototype, meaning that they can still change pretty much everything (...). I'm sure any ideas and suggestions are of use to the developers, and perhaps a handful might even make it into the game itself.

[Puzz3D]

What would be things you'd want to see in the interface ? It's still a prototype, meaning that they can still change pretty much everything (...). I'm sure any ideas and suggestions are of use to the developers, and perhaps a handful might even make it into the game itself.

My suggestions would be aimed at increasing the tactical depth of the gameplay which is contrary to the developer's objective of streamlining the gameplay for a wider appeal. I'm sure the developer has already looked at Privateer's Bounty for ideas, and implimented a tactical depth which they feel is sufficient for the phantom majority.