How do you think CA is doing, right now?

**peacemaker** · 11-26-2009, 07:12

I think CA's under pressure now. They've finally learned that people are tired of the bad AI and they're stepping up. I personally won't be buying NTW due to lack of funds, but if they continue on the uphill slope in terms of CAI I will likely be buying their next game.

Now that they've learned that they can't get away with awful AI now, perhaps they WILL make the next release with fantastic AI. If so, I'll be first in line

**Yun Dog** · 11-26-2009, 09:23

Originally Posted by peacemaker

I think CA's under pressure now. They've finally learned that people are tired of the bad AI and they're stepping up. I personally won't be buying NTW due to lack of funds, but if they continue on the uphill slope in terms of CAI I will likely be buying their next game.

Now that they've learned that they can't get away with awful AI now, perhaps they WILL make the next release with fantastic AI. If so, I'll be first in line

NO!!!

dont buy the one after NTW - because that will be a lame duck like ETW

remember their cycle of turds, revolution/evolution or some rubbish

buy the one after that one (which will be the equiv of NTW/Kingdums etc)

which means you wont have to worry about laying out any dough till about 2012

Like Durallan Ive moved on to playing DAO - and havent looked back

I think were CA to fall at least it might leave a gap in the market where 'a different game company' could have a go.

I agree it will be a pity cause Ive never argued that the games dont look absolutley incredible, you could really feel you were there - its just a pity the gameplay just wasnt there - so once the novelty of looking at the graphic wore off - the games were very boring to actually play - primarily due to the AIs inability to put up a challenge either strategically or tactically - and for a war game thats a serious problem. Maybe it needs a fresh approach?!

I see it as a great pity that both empire and med2 sit on the shelf, after so short a time, when I played MTW, and STW for years. its time... someone sack the quaterback

**Trapped in Samsara** · 11-26-2009, 13:46

Hi

Lord Yunson wrote, "I think were CA to fall at least it might leave a gap in the market where 'a different game company' could have a go."

At last! Somebody is talking sensibly, and not ignoring the writing on the wall, or blanking the elephant in the room.

I can't believe how forgiving people have been, and continue to be, about the lies - not hype, LIES - CA told during their promotion of ETW. Then there's the dumbing down, the withholding of the promised modding tools, the patching fiasco culminating in a broken BAI which is not going to fixed... I could go on and on.

Rewarding mendacity and incompetence earns you more of the same. And deservedly so if you don't exercise your good sense and instead continue to fill CA-SEGA's coffers. Your loyalty will be abused not respected.

We have to move on.

Regards
Victor

**Philippus Flavius Homovallumus** · 11-26-2009, 15:21

I think AI problems in RTW were forgiveable, but MIITW didn't improve enough (it did improve tactically), MII also had many other problems (remember the shield bug?)

The game is probably quite playable now with Kingdoms, patched up and a time mod. However, my version of Kingdoms is still in it's plastic wrapper I think. I certainly never bothered to actuably install it.

**Braden** · 11-26-2009, 17:52

Firstly, I would not like CA to close down or for another house to take on the Total War franchise (that, historically doesn’t work).

The Total War “style” is fantastic…2nd to none, copied by many but never bested.

However…there is a CLEAR drive (I am not going to even guess or hint where its coming from) for greater and greater enhancements in the graphics which, since Rome, has seemed to be at the expense of general playability of the games.

To me, M:TW was the height of the franchise. 2D graphics sure but…an exceptional soundtrack (Sean Pertwee…I ask you!) and superb gameplay. Yes, there were problems but they were mainly bugs rather than a clear “cutting back” of the Ai’s ability.

Empire, to me, has excellent Graphics. Yes, computer technology has advanced even since February but…why must already decent graphics be further enhanced??

Clearly pandering to the “two braincells” people I think.

I say, use that extra processing power for GAMEPLAY and Ai enhancement!

Unfortunately, I foresee NTW being only of medium success and I am sorry to say that CA are very likely to stop being a factor soon afterwards.

Its sad but they’ve allowed outside influences to control them and have just pushed us too far…we are not going out in droves to by this “game”, it isn’t happening and SEGA will only interpret this as a failure in the franchise when it actually isn’t.

**peacemaker** · 11-26-2009, 19:15

NTW will probably be a medium success. I hope that it gets little to no sales, and CA will either quit making TW or start doing a good job. ETW 1.5 was "meh" because while the Campaign AI was doing OK (no rabid diplomacy on normal difficulty) and when it went to war, it usually made SOME attempts to fight. They've achieved maybe a fourth of what they could do, but they need to get over the shiny graphics.

**Elmar Bijlsma** · 11-26-2009, 21:58

The value of a software company is in its current project and in it's IP. If with the release of Nappy they are without a project then it'd be a good time to lay off everyone. Especially now that the IP has been devalued with ETW less then stellar reputation.
So I think the fate of CA is pretty much out of their hands. Even if NTW was awesomely well received and brings in a ton of money for SEGA, SEGA might still want to save itself the cost of developing the title after NTW. No programmers to pay looks better on this years books then a successful title in a year or two.