Empire at War

[abcdow]

Has anyone played this yet, it looks pretty good but I haven't heard any rumblings?

Thanks, abcdow

[Commander Obi-Wan]

Yes, I have played it. It's great. There's a forum here at about it. EaW Forum and the site here. Click. It's a great game IMO.

[Jeff]

I still don't have the game But I have played the demo and it rules. To the EaW forums you must go!

[Kensai]

Well it most certainly beats Galactic Battlegrounds, make of that what you will...

[YertyL]

EAW rulz the universe

Seriously, I bought it on Friday and almost haven't stopped playing since - it's FUN

[The Source]

Has anyone played this yet, it looks pretty good but I haven't heard any rumblings?

Thanks, abcdow

I am actually someone who doesn't like the game. I think Gallactic Battlegrounds was extremely better. I won't get into details, for you may have a different experience than I did. My interpretation of the screenshots was utterly wrong. There is not much to the game.

 

If it is possible, I would obtain a copy from a friend. I would decide to buy it after trying it out first. It is not for everyone.

[Bob Lion54]

I like it. Its not as in depth as some RTS games, but for a Star Wars game, its great.

 

My favourite thing is that its extremely moddable. Petroglyph is going to be releasing a few tools for it, too. So thats a plus.

 

Try the demo, it will give you a pretty good idea about the game play.

[CountVerilucus]

Rome total war would be good if you want a more complicated RTS game. Its the best RTS game so far in my mind

[Kensai]

Without lightsabers, maybe, and even then I like the good old Shogun more.

 

The only real issue with EAW is the real time "Galaxy" I think this should be turn based and then the battles or conflicts real time, not the whole game, although it does add a degree of desperation.

[Prime]

My interpretation of the screenshots was utterly wrong.

Can you elaborate?

[stingerhs]

i've found this game to be quite addictive. its probably not as addictive as other strategy games i've played in the past (Civ IV & R:TW), but its still a heck of a good time. i just wish i could swarm my fleets towards the end of the Galactic Conquest whenever i have about 40-50 ISD's, 55-60 VSD's, and countless Tartans and Broadsides. now that would be just awe inspiring.

 

that and i do miss the idea of managing the planets you control. about the most depth you get is upgrading your tech tree and that's it. you don't have to worry about population loyalty or happiness which really should've played some kind of a role. especially with the loyalty concept as it would've been possible to attempt to undermine the loyalty of key planets and have the local population start riots and even attempt to overthrow the goverment. oh imagine the possibilities, especially for the Rebels...

[The Source]

Can you elaborate?

Sure. I don't have links to the screens, so I will do my best in interpreting.

 

In some screenshots, there are close up views of the characters you have in action. Extreme close up views. I thought the player could scroll in very close to the action. You know player controlled action at close up. But, that is not the case. In order to see tha action up close, you have to hit a movie button, which is all automated, and you can't control your characters while the movie is running.

 

In another instance, there are images where you can pan underneath the various starships and vessles. However, that is also untrue. From the screens, I thought a player could swivle around and see space battles from various angles. Again this is all automated, and you have to watch it in a movie. You have no conttrol over your fleet at close up.

 

In another instance, the images gave me the scense of resource and base building. Similar to the style of Gallactic Battlegrounds. If you have played the game, you have to build up resources and various equipment. Instead, your resources flow in automatic through credits, and you don't see the effects from changing Tech states in EAW.

 

After reading articles and seeing screens, I thought that the time perdiod they chose still dealt with various species. However, you are only limited to the Empire and Republic.

 

I also thought, after seeing screens, that there would be a variety of characters and units. However, that is also not the case. You are limited to very few items, equipment, etc...

 

Another sense I got fromt the screens is that you could build your bases any way you want them. Other words, you had the same freedom in base building like you had in Gallactic Battlegrounds. I also got the impression from the same pics that you could build up a massive army, and wage an intense war across planet. But you can't. Your base building is all preset in EAW. Just point an click where the game tells you to. Acutally, there is no base building involved. However, the creens gave the impression that you could do so.

[stingerhs]

In some screenshots, there are close up views of the characters you have in action. Extreme close up views. I thought the player could scroll in very close to the action. You know player controlled action at close up. But, that is not the case. In order to see tha action up close, you have to hit a movie button, which is all automated, and you can't control your characters while the movie is running.

what's the point of getting in ultra-close to begin with?? if you're only looking to control a single character, you might want to go with a different genre of gaming

In another instance, there are images where you can pan underneath the various starships and vessles. However, that is also untrue. From the screens, I thought a player could swivle around and see space battles from various angles. Again this is all automated, and you have to watch it in a movie. You have no conttrol over your fleet at close up.

perhaps you're missing the point that a screenshot can be taken from any point in the gameplay. that includes scripted moments as well as moments shot while using the Cinematic Camera. last time i checked, screenshots were a great way of seeing how the graphics are shaping up for a game, not the gameplay itself.

In another instance, the images gave me the scense of resource and base building. Similar to the style of Gallactic Battlegrounds. If you have played the game, you have to build up resources and various equipment. Instead, your resources flow in automatic through credits, and you don't see the effects from changing Tech states in EAW.

yes, and if Petro had decided to include such a system, only the hardcore RTS fans would've bothered to get into the game. lets not forget that Petro's goal was to develop a game that could be picked up and played by just about everybody and not a couple of hardcore fans. incredible amounts of micromanagment is not something everybody likes.

After reading articles and seeing screens, I thought that the time perdiod they chose still dealt with various species. However, you are only limited to the Empire and Republic.

then perhaps you didn't read enough articles. multiple articles, including Official Press Releases, clearly stated that the only playable factions would be the Empire and the Rebellion. what you probably got confused with was the indigenous species that inhabit most of the planets and can provide additional support or additional targets depending on which faction you're playing as.

I also thought, after seeing screens, that there would be a variety of characters and units. However, that is also not the case. You are limited to very few items, equipment, etc...

if the game had any more units than it has, you would have a lot of redundant units that do the same things as several other units. again, this is something that would appeal more to the hardcore fans over everybody else.

[Rogue15]

awww so it's not like in force commander? that sucks. *holds onto money for a bit*

[The Source]

@ stingerhs -

Your comments are why I didn't want to answer the question in the first place. I thought Prime was curious about my interpretation of the screen shots. When I buy games, I don't care who they are from. I don't care about Petro's history. They could be Microsoft, which in my opinion is the greatest OS company in the world. If Microsoft published this game, and I miss interpreted their advertising, they must not have done a great job in being clear. I don't travel around online searching for game information. If there was no internet, I would have to rely on the box's screens and information. I would also have to recall my experiences with Star Wars RTS. I miss interpreted the screens and box. As a result of this, I lost some cash. I don't blame anyone for my missunderstanding, but the publisher could have advertised EAW better.

 

IMHO - I deeply feel that EAW is an insult to the intellegance of Star Wars fans. Regardless about what age they are.

 

I am not going to be persuade to change my opinion, and I am not trying to change anyone elses. I am just telling it the way I see it. It is up to everyone else to draw their own conclusion. If you are going to buy this game, I would try it out first. Ask a friend. Get a copy some how.

 

This game is not for everyone.

[Prime]

I thought Prime was curious about my interpretation of the screen shots.

I was, so thank you for responding. I agree with you on some points. I enjoyed the demo and will probably pick it up when it drops in price. There were things, especially regarding the camera, that I thought could be done better. And the battle appear to be repetative, especially on such small maps.

[The Source]

I was, so thank you for responding. I agree with you on some points. I enjoyed the demo and will probably pick it up when it drops in price. There were things, especially regarding the camera, that I thought could be done better. And the battle appear to be repetative, especially on such small maps.

What I found was really anoying is that you can't move or build any of your turrents or bases on the maps. I can see this game as a $15 dollar purchase, but it is so offensive to the game player's intelect. What type of challange do you get from preset or predetermined base structure. It is a little weird, but I got the sense that Lucas Arts went backwards.

 

I originally thought this game was going to be an upgrade to the RTS that Gallactic Battleground was build upon. For example, you would visit the planets and contruct your bases to how you desire their layout and such. Inspace you would manipulate and build your bases and defenses. In between the building stages, you get attacked and such. When it comes to base building, you will have the freedom found in Gallactic Battlegrounds. Other words, you gather resources, build bases, walls, and a massive land and air army. You get to see Technology stage changes occur before your eyes. From the screenshots, I thought they enhanced the game play by adding in the ability to get close to the action, and you could swivle around your base and battles in a 360 degree pivital angle. Otherwords, you would swivle the camera to play the game from underneath in space, or you could get extremely up close to the action.

 

At the end, that is not what EAW was about.

 

EAW tells the game player where to build turrents, and it preselects where your buildings are built on the map. There is extremely limited control over game play, and certain fates are also predetermined. Ground battles get very boring, and become very repetitive. If you have the Death Star, every planet you attack defaults to you as a win. All the game player needs to do is wait out the credits, by equipment, and build a limited army. I rather be building than waiting for credits to roll in. When you play Gallactic Battlegrounds, while you wait for resources, you still have something to do on the map.

 

From my experience with this game, and my own opinion, this is an inferior game to all the RTSGs that came before it. Intelectually this game would be great for a game console, for the game buttons will be bigger, so a seven year old child could play it. Children like preset stuff.

[†Saint_Killa†]

I agree about space building. In a large space map you could actually create your planetary space blockade instead of a single tiny space station. But the game would be exhausting creating huge bases on 40 planets (or less).

[JediMaster12]

I was thinking of buying it for my collection which consists of what, *looks around*, 2 games? I saw the advertisement and I thought it cool. I think I'll get it as a treat like the research competition I have to be at today. I should go now.

 

*Going to meditate before event*

[The Source]

I agree about space building. In a large space map you could actually create your planetary space blockade instead of a single tiny space station. But the game would be exhausting creating huge bases on 40 planets (or less).

At least there would be some thinking going on. EAW is more like 'Put the square block in the square hole.'

[†Saint_Killa†]

At least there would be some thinking going on. EAW is more like 'Put the square block in the square hole.'

 

Good point, but as i suggested earlier I think that would add more strategy in the game rather than blocking trade routes\routes on each planet.

[Darth InSidious]

I am actually someone who doesn't like the game. I think Gallactic Battlegrounds was extremely better. I won't get into details, for you may have a different experience than I did.

 

Battlegrounds was nothing more than a TC of Age of Empires II which was then commercially marketed. It wasn't even that fun, IMO. EAW, on the other hand, offers you massive control over armies...It seems to me that it is much more in the R:TW style than the AOE style of RTS. I haven't played it yet, but IMO it looks awesome. It also takes up comparatively little HD space, approx. 2GB, IIRC.