Shogun 2: Total War Announced: Hero Units, Siege Battles Included

So much for secrecy — the cat is out of the bag early, as Sega has revealed that, yes, Shogun 2: Total War is the next game in the historical war simulation series from The Creative Assembly. The game is a direct sequel to the first game in the Total War series (released 10 years ago, if you can believe that) and will have players fighting as competing warlords in 16th century Japan, working to reunite the country under one unified ruler. The game promises the “ultimate refinement of the original formula,” combining a new AI and technical polish with the gameplay that made the first title so popular.

IGN has an early preview, and says that hero units will make an appearance in the series for the first time, fighting alongside about 40 units that will all be upgradeable. Siege and naval battles will mix up the gameplay and Creative Assembly hints at more features, including a set of agents that “that uses a rock-paper-scissors mechanic,” and some new ideas for multiplayer, including eight-player battles and personal avatars.

Sounds strategically interesting. We’re scheduled to see the game in action at E3, so we’ll let you know more then. Read more

Napoleon: Total War – The Peninsular Campaign Coming Soon

Releasing Sometime in June 2010, The Peninsular Campaign Downloadable Content is a new and independent campaign for Napoleon: Total War based on the conflict in the Spanish Peninsula between 1811 and 1814. It was during this era that the Spanish resistance gave their style of fighting its name: Guerrilla, or the “little war”.

It is 1811 and the war in the Spanish Peninsula has been raging for over two years, with mixed fortunes and heavy casualties for both sides. Following the withdrawal from the Madrid area of the combined armies of Great Britain, Portugal and Spain after the Battle of Talavera in July 1809, Viscount Wellington retreated into Portugal and consolidated his forces. Now Napoleon´s Armée d’Espagne, has invaded Portugal once again but thus far the network of entrenchments has proved impossible for the French to successfully assail. Wellington has planned a fresh offensive to drive the invaders out of Portugal and eventually out of the Peninsula altogether. Although forced back to the edges of their Peninsula by France and the traitors who helped them, Spain is not yet out of the fight. The Supreme Central Junta and its successor the Supreme Regency authorised the forming of local bands to fight guerrilla – the “little war” – against the invaders. Choose one of the three nations involved – France, Great Britain or Spain – and experience one the most intense conflict of the Napoleonic era.

Key Features:

A new and independent Iberian Peninsula campaign map featuring 32 controllable regions. Three playable nations: the brand new Spanish nation and the existing but revamped France and Great Britain, each with its own unique set of Objectives and Missions.

A new, non-playable Portuguese nation, controlling some of the regions.

Play the campaign from three different perspectives, each with a unique feel:
•The French fight to keep resistance at bay while converting regions to their political alignment.
•The British are very limited for regions at the start, but receive enough income from Northern Europe and North America that they can afford to liberate regions back to the Spanish in return for Guerrilla aid.
•The Spanish also have a limited starting position, but have permanent access to Guerrillas for effective battlefield use against the French.

5 new Guerrilla unit types, recruitable by all nations, adept at battlefield stealth and with the added ability to deploy outside of their faction’s deployment zones: Tiradores (Skirmisher Infantry), Cazadores, Lanceros (Lancer Cavalry), Husares (Light Cavalry), Leader (General).

28 new units in total, spread across the three playable nations including the British 95th Rifles, the French Vistula Uhlans and the Spanish Coraceros Espanoles.

Two new agents to enforce political conversion:
•Provocateurs (French and British nations only) have the ability to promote anti-opposition sentiment in regions, incite unrest, decreases turn time for research and passively spy.
•Priests (Spanish and Portuguese nations only) have the ability to promote anti-opposition sentiment in regions and incite unrest.

A new Guerrillero agent for the Spanish nation: similar to a Spy but with the new ability to Harass enemy armies – lock them in place for a turn and cause them attrition.

Political Alignment system which sees the French battle to increase pro-French sentiment throughout the peninsula.

Requires a copy of Napoleon: Total War installed on your PC to play.

To get the Peninsular Campaign content, you need to be connected to the internet. Launch the STEAM client and log in with the account details you used to install Napoleon: Total War. Once you’ve purchased the content, you will unlock the Peninsular Campaign in the game Main Menu. You can check the download progress by clicking on the “My Games” tab and look at the “Status” column.

Source

Napoleon: Total War – Imperial Guard Pack DLC

I had a nice surprise on my computer this morning when I jumped into Napoleon: Total War….some free goodies…The Imperial Guard Pack which includes an alternate Waterloo Battle from the British side.

The Imperial Guard Pack features 6 brand new units and contain an alternative version of the Battle of Waterloo, fought from the British perspective.

The Battle of Waterloo (18 June, 1815) Alternative version

Napoleon had the feeling he had won the war as he advanced towards the Anglo-Dutch army at Waterloo. The Prussians were retreating, pursued by a French corps, and only Wellington remained. French armies would be victorious once again, and the Empire would be reborn in fire. But the history book on the shelf would not be repeating itself…

This alternative version includes:
• Britain as the playable faction.
• Two of the new unit from the Imperial Guard Pack are included in the battle
• The French have more troops meaning that the battle is balanced differently.

Read more

Empire: Total War Available For Pre-Purchase On Steam

Empire: Total War is now available for pre-purchase through Steam. Pre-Purchase Empire: Total War and get Rome: Total War Gold Edition For Free. Head on over to Steam and Check It Out.

Release date: February 3rd, 2009

ABOUT THE GAME
Dominate the 18th century on land and sea. Command the seas, control the land, forge a new nation, and conquer the globe. Empire: Total War takes the Total War franchise to the eighteenth century Age of Enlightenment — a time of political upheaval, military advancements, and radical thought, captured in stunning detail in Empire: Total War.

Empire: Total War introduces a host of revolutionary new features, including true 3D naval combat. For the first time in the Total War series, you will be able to intuitively command single ships or vast fleets upon seascapes rich with extraordinary water and weather effects that play a huge role in your eventual glorious success or ignominious defeat. After pummelling your enemy with cannon fire, close in to grapple their ship and prepare to board, taking control of your men as they fight hand-to-hand on the decks of these wooden behemoths.

In addition, Empire: Total War will see further enhancements to the Total War series’ signature 3D battles and turn-based campaign map. Real-time battles will pose new challenges with the addition of cannon and musket, challenging players to master new formations and tactics as a result of the increasing role of gunpowder within warfare. And the Campaign Map — for many, the heart of Total War — introduces a variety of new and upgraded elements, including new systems for Trade, Diplomacy and Espionage with agents; a refined and streamlined UI; improved Advisors; and a vastly extended scope, taking in the riches of India, the turbulence of Europe and, for the first time, the untapped potential of the United States of America.

* Take command on the high seas. New real-time 3D naval warfare takes Total War’s unparalleled battle action to the high seas, with players commanding single ships or vast fleets.
* Become a founding father. Starting in 1700 — The era of warfare across oceans, revolution and the founding of the United States.
* All new graphics engine and technology features staggering real-time seascapes, new advanced landscape and flora systems, and dynamic weather. Read more

Empire: Total War – Special Forces Edition Announced

LONDON (28th October, 2008) – SEGA Europe Ltd. today announce that Empire: Total War™ will incorporate Steamworks™, a complete suite of publishing and development tools that offers PC game developers and publishers access to the game features and services available through Steam.

Steamworks will support both the retail and electronic versions of the Empire: Total War game giving players game updates, downloadable content, friend-list support and achievements. To play single-player Empire: Total War, players need only to connect to the internet once via the Steam client after installing the game.

Steamworks will serve as Empire: Total War’s multiplayer backend, providing server browsing and match-making functionality, bolstering Total War’s new level of commitment to multiplayer game modes and features. Further details on multiplayer will be announced soon.

SEGA is also pleased to announce the Special Forces Edition of Empire: Total War. This premium-packaged edition of the title offers true aficionados of the series the chance to build their empire with the help of a range of exclusive elite units and plot their next move on a detailed print of the globe-spanning Campaign Map.

”We are delighted to be working with an infrastructure as effective as Steam” said Mike Simpson, Studio Director at the Creative Assembly. “Having their matchmaking and support systems on board for Empire; Total War makes a huge difference both for players and for the development team. It not only helps make multiplayer slick and sizzling, it also frees up a huge chunk of the team’s time which helps make the whole game better.” Read more

Empire: Total War Land Battle Video

I am continually impressed by each incarnation of the Total War franchise. This new title of theirs looks to be no exception. Awesome stuff!

Empire: Total War is an upcoming 2009 real-time tactics and turn-based strategy in the Total War video game series that is being developed by Creative Assembly and published by Sega. Sega officially announced Empire: Total War on 22 August 2007. Empire: Total War is scheduled for release on 3 February 2009 in United States, and 6 February 2009 in United Kingdom and PAL territories. Read more