• New Horizons on Maelstrom
    Maelstrom New Horizons


    Visit our website www.piratehorizons.com to quickly find download links for the newest versions of our New Horizons mods Beyond New Horizons and Maelstrom New Horizons!

AMAZING! EMPIRE TOTAL WAR

I played the demo right now and what should I say? I'm speechless. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/bow.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":bow" border="0" alt="bow.gif" />
The naval battles looks really amazing. Fantastic water animation with excellent reflections.
You can zoom in to ships deck to see the sailors and the cannon crews work on their stations. The ships where designed very detailed and look great. Only the rigging looks quite simple but that isn't really disturbing.
Only when you fight with a whole fleet the game get a little bit slow. But with turning down some details it run very smooth again.
When its come to a boarding situation you can see how your boarding crews throw grappling hooks to bulwark and rigging. Unfortunately you can't command your boarding parties like the land battles but you can look how they fight on deck.

The melee fight animations (on land as well as on sea) are the best I have ever seen in a computer game. If you have the time just zoom in and have a close look at those fightings. But don't forget to give orders to your troops. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" />


I think Empire: Total War will be a "Must Have" for me.

Btw. Did anybody see sharks in the water when the crew jumps overboard? The Dev Team say there will be a chance that sometimes sharks appear to finish any survivors off but I didn't see any of that beasts.
 
<!--quoteo(post=302689:date=Feb 21 2009, 09:26 PM:name=Deep One)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Deep One @ Feb 21 2009, 09:26 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=302689"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Steam? <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/piratesing.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":shock" border="0" alt="piratesing.gif" /> But I wanna get it's demo from elsewhere! <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="xD:" border="0" alt="laugh.gif" /> I bet it'll run just fine on this new rig. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_mrgreen1.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":cheeky" border="0" alt="icon_mrgreen1.gif" /><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I know what ya mean Deep One, I am not a big fan of Steam either. they are also going to release the full game there, I guess that's cheaper than going the regular route. I haven't had a chance to play it yet, but I definitely will soon!
 
Damn! <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="xD:" border="0" alt="laugh.gif" />
 
Ugh, something else on Steam. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rolleyes.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":rolleyes:" border="0" alt="rolleyes.gif" /> That blasted program has kept me from so many great games, like Buccaneer, which I've never been able to get working since it was Steamed. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/no.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":no" border="0" alt="no.gif" />
 
Aye.. the damn steam steams out yer nerves.. had utter ****h with trying to install Half-Life 1.. all because of I had forgotten my password, made a new account and STILL had problems, I was not able to install Half-life 2 again.. so back to my old acount. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/mybad.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":facepalm" border="0" alt="mybad.gif" /> Give me a break.. that's bullshit! What a drivel.. hey I bought those games with cds and all and I need to be online to PLAY them!!?? <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/8q.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":8q" border="0" alt="8q.gif" /> Seriously give me a break.. I didn't bought a fricken' mmorpg.. If I want to install the game I install the game but offline.. I don't need to put up with this steamed out shit that's trying to take over the customer's games. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/boom.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":boom" border="0" alt="boom.gif" /> Besides not allways I had connection and sometimes this steam just didn't start even when I had connection, when it did start and I didn't had connection sometimes it wanted me riggy to be connected with the internet... all I wanted was to play a <!--coloro:#FF0000--><span style="color:#FF0000"><!--/coloro-->OFF<!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc-->line game.. SHEESH. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/dry.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="<_<" border="0" alt="dry.gif" />
Those Steamtocky Steamed Nincompoops! <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/whippa.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":whipa" border="0" alt="whippa.gif" /> <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/dry.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="<_<" border="0" alt="dry.gif" />
 
I ordered my copy of Empire: Total War today <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/buds.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":drunk" border="0" alt="buds.gif" />

This is gonna be great. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="xD:" border="0" alt="laugh.gif" />

However i think the should make a Caribbean expansion for it, with all the Caribbean major powers and pirates. That would be fun in my oppinion.
 
I had read on the Empire board that some people in the US had pre-ordered the game from Best Buy. I do not know if Best Buy supports download-able software. I don't think so.

I have played the demo. Steam be not my friend either, but it at least appears to work. Actually enjoyed the land battle much more than the sea battle. I had never played any of the Empire games. Learning the interface definitely is bit of an uphill battle. The ships kept stopping and raising their sails. Seemed like the controls were more suited to land based force which tire if continually moving them.

still biased to EIC.
Greg.
 
I cant even download steam! Its sooo annoying i hope it comes out on fileplanet or something else im not gonan be able to try the demo. Not that that matters cos im gonna get the 'Special Forces' edition from Creative assembly cos ive helped then with local advertising. (local work experiance thing) so i wont be losing any monies if shi* goes down with my computer spitting it out. But boy do they take pride in the work!? Apparently One guy actuallty took a year on the water alone, and anoother developing the grass!! As if rome or Medieval 2 wasn't good enough!?!I havnt actually been to where the magic actually takes place but you just have to go to the website to realise that these guys really love what they do. I am rather peed i cant download the demo version tho! <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":(" border="0" alt="sad.gif" />

Skye
 
Well, maybe they'll think of doing what the Mount & Blade devs did: the boxed copy and the copy you can download off their site are non-Steam, but there's also a totally separate Steam version for those who decide to go that route. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/yes.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":yes" border="0" alt="yes.gif" />
 
Will it be on gamersgate? They do a straight own full download with no strings attached.
 
Been following their board for awhile. Supposedly there are suppose to be a couple methods of registration with the preferred being . . (cough)(low volume) steam (ducks head so as not to be hit by flying objects). I guess the game has been shipped but no-one is suppose to be able to activate via steam until March 4.

living the dream.
Greg.
 
Here is link for IGN Video review of game. Also there is already a GAme file unpacker and mods already in the works. Most notable, there is not a pirate faction so spesk, but there is a pirate base and pirate ships in-game and they do attack you, possibility of adding pirate faction is there. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/par-ty.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":cheers" border="0" alt="par-ty.gif" />

<a href="http://pc.ign.com/dor/objects/958390/empire-total-war/videos/emprie_vdr_022709.html" target="_blank">http://pc.ign.com/dor/objects/958390/empir...vdr_022709.html</a>
 
I bought it, Your better off waiting theres a bunch of bugs and the whole steam thing is ridiculous. I'm hoping you can eventually buy it without steam >.<
 
That whole steam thing IS ridiculous.. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="xD:" border="0" alt="laugh.gif" /> that's why I didn't buy Half-Life 2 Episode 1,2,3,4.. only way I'm going to play Half-Life 2 is offline and in me rig not in steam where everything smells like warm shit. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_mrgreen1.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":cheeky" border="0" alt="icon_mrgreen1.gif" />
 
I just ran across this at Eurogamer :

<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Empire multiplayer campaign details News

News by Tom Bramwell

4 March, 2009

Creative Assembly has revealed more details of the upcoming campaign multiplayer patch for Empire: Total War.

"The campaign mode allows two friends (or mortal enemies) to play against one another and the AI through the Grand Campaign mode," communications manager Kieran Brigden told Eurogamer readers in yesterday's live interview.

"Players will be given the option of fighting every battle as the enemy, meaning whoever your friend fights wherever in the world it will always be the two of involved in a deathmatch.

"It's an awesome new feature and one we've been keen to do for a while. The basic code is there, now we're getting the rest sorted!"

Brigden wasn't able to say exactly when the patch would be released, but said that a beta would begin "shortly after the game's come out". The game, as you probably know, is available today worldwide.

"There will be a beta phase for the multi campaign," he elaborated. "We're still finalising for logistical reasons whether it will be public or invited, and it will be done when the feature is ready for roll out. Which is, as soon as it's ready."

Elsewhere in the live interview, Brigden addressed numerous other topics put forward by Eurogamer readers, including:

* Load times in the demo version. "Since the demo build (which is incidentally very dated now) we've knocked a large amount off the loading times at the start, and to and from, battles. This is the basic process of optimisation, it takes time and is often done very close to release."
* Mod tools for the community. "Empire is moddable without tools. [...] Our own dev tool-set isn't for public release as its not UI friendly and is internal software, so the answer there is 'soon' but the game is moddable without tools, although there are some functions for which users may want to write their own tools in the short term."
* Possible routes for expansion. "We're not ready to announce our expansion plans yet but I will say that if the Road to Independence style 'mini campaigns' are of interest to players and are successful we'd like to do more such things, perhaps as an expansion. But for now, it's just conjecture."
* The absence of Africa from the campaign map. "You won't feel a loss not having that area necessarily, and who knows? It's certainly an area into which we could expand..."
* And whether CA hopes to do Total War on console. "Primarily it's about control. Most RTS games on console fail because they're ports. You have to design for console from the ground up, and if we ever crack the magic nut of control then of course we'd love to bring TW to a console audience."

Empire: Total War is released today on Steam and in shops, and you can read our review elsewhere on Eurogamer. Be sure to check out the full Empire: Total War live interview for more of your questions answered.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Original story here :
<a href="http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/empire-multiplayer-campaign-details" target="_blank">http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/empire-m...ampaign-details</a>
 
I noticed the last evening there is an udate available - through steam - for ETW. I have not purchased the game so I do not know what the update fixes.

From reading other boards is sounds as though the wind has a much greater impact on sailing ships in the release version. The sealords site had a how-to posted that explains how to control the ships so as to give the impression they be sailing.

I have uninstalled the demo. Personally I got tired of seeing ships floating about with holes at the waterline big enough to walk through, having the gun ports open and completely submerged and the sails behind the mast.

I know give it a break it is just a game. POTC has ships with the decks awash, but those are only in the mods, not the original release.

Cheers.
Greg.
 
The game is quite fun, lots of mods are comming out for it and the tools haven't even been released! I find myself trying to mod some skins more than I actually play the game.
 
Empire: Total War Update 3 Patch Released

<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Empire: Total War Update 3 Patch Notes

Empire: Total War's long-awaited 'Update 3' patch will go live on Steam later today. In the meantime, chew on the extensive patch notes:

Crash Fixes:

# Fixed crash when disbanding generals unit.
# Fix for crash on trying to merge ships from port into ships next to port.
# Fixed rare crash relating to boarding.
# Fixed crash to do with reinforcing armies.
# Fixed crash on revolution video attempting to play.
# Fixed crash for double clicking on sinking ship on campaign map.
# Fix for crash on merging units but moving into fort before army arrives.
# Fixed several crashes related to rakes.
# Fixed crashes relating to battles when running Czech or German versions of the game.
# Fixed crash on moving army into region of faction player has military access and then cancelling military access.
# Fixed crash on trying to exchange ships between 2 fleets.
# Fixed crash on spamming move orders to puckle guns locked in melee combat.
# Fixed hard lock on inviting host to their own MP game.
# Fix to prevent loading of mod causing crash post patch.
# Various end turn crash bugs fixed.
# Fixes to crash bugs relating to completion of revolutions.
# Some fixes relating to merging and disbanding.
# Fix for several crashes in land battles.
# Several crashes relating to attacking cities fixed.
# Several load save game crashes fixed.

Campaign:

# Armies now placed correctly on battlefields in relation to campaign.
# Fix for nearby ships sometimes not being included as reinforcements for battles.
# Fix for incorrect numbers sometimes showing on trade routes.
# Units with limits on how many can be recruited now show how many are available.
# Various fixes relating to rakes and infiltrating.
# Fixes relating to problems moving armies/merging into army's right next to settlements.
# Various trade bug fixes.
# Fix for moving agent from settlement moving army instead of agent.
# Fix for several bugs relating to military access and armies being in regions.
# Fix for tattered flags appearing on fleet/armies even when at full strength/fully repaired.
# Fix for sallying out armies breaking siege at times even when losing the battle.
# Fix for bugs relating to capturing ships on returning to campaign map from naval battle.

Land Battle:

# Improvements to path finding have been made.
# Some fixes to units not garrisoning buildings.
# Fort gate ownership made clearer with faction flags appearing at the gatehouse.
# Fix for problem relating to artillery unlimbering after being ordered to limber.
# Fix for puckle guns moving on their own in some circumstances.
# Fix for big slowdown in unit movement on some battle maps in the Road to Independence episodes.
# Fix for missile cavalry not reloading when out of combat.
# Jaegers now have muskets instead of incorrect rifles, Prussian Jaegers keep rifles.
# Quebec episodic land battle fixed ground type in deployment area
# Fix for unrealistic numbers when ending a land battle by quitting on the battle results screen.

Naval Battle:

# Several fixes for ships clipping into each other.
# Improvements to boarding have been made. Crew is more fluid in attack and more resolute in defence. Men survive long fall and officers join in the boarding attack.
# Crew uniforms improved to make identification of the crew type and faction easier.
# Defending ship is not allowed to fire cannons anymore during boarding procedure.
# Improved naval grouping UI and group movement made.
# Improvements made to ship collisions to reduce chance of ships getting stuck.
# Fix for sail damage not being shown when volumetric effects turned on.

Multiplayer:

# Various fixes for joining games/game lobby issues.
# Fixes for problems relating to spectators being kicked/locking up on other players joining games in certain instances.
# Long riflemen and winged hussars removed from early era battles.
# Fix for insufficient funds always showing on unit cards even when enough money is available.
# Player name is now displayed on unit tooltips.
# Team chat is now displayed in a different colour.

AI:

# Basic fix for AI being unable to move army by fleet.
# Aggression of factions in campaign improved, as well as tweaks to diplomacy.
# Improvements to campaign AI relating to its waging of wars, recruitment and movement of armies.
# Improvements made to battle AI to make it more reactive, use buildings better as well as squares and rakes.
# Siege battle AI improvements made.
# Improvements to naval AI to make it bunch up less, its use of galleys and long range units such as bomb ketches.

Miscellaneous:

# Delete save game button added to save game list.
# View replays button added to single player Play Battle menu.
# Various sound fixes and improvements.
# Various incorrect text messages fixed.
# Fixes to various graphical glitches with display of walls.
# Fixes made for stuttering videos.
# Fix for several game option settings not being saved correctly, including settings such as floating flags.
# Fix for unit voices/attack confirmation being heard for all units in an alliance instead of just for the player's army.
# Armour and shield values are now added into melee defence value shown on unit cards.
# Lots of other small and minor bug fixes.

Balancing:

# Land unit recruitment cost in campaign has been increased, with higher cost on higher difficulty level.
# Ship recruitment and upkeep costs have been increased in campaign.
# Various balancing and cost adjustments to improve multiplayer land battle balance.
# Ship costing improvements made for both campaign and multiplayer.
# Economic tweaks have been made to campaign to reduce amount of money made in later part of campaign.

Extra Note:

# We are aware of an issue with community created maps that results in a crash when someone without the map tries to join the game. This crash will be fixed in the next patch.
# Further work is being done on improving AI Naval invasion behaviour and this will be included in the next upgrade patch.
# Please also note that this update is save game compatible but you should start a new game to see all of the benefits.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Original article here:
<a href="http://ve3d.ign.com/articles/news/46612/Empire-Total-War-Update-3-Patch-Notes" target="_blank">http://ve3d.ign.com/articles/news/46612/Em...e-3-Patch-Notes</a>
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top