Rome - Total War

[Matt89]

Alright, I'll admit up front it's not normal for a 30-something to be hooked on a video game...but here I am building an empire and stomping A-- on the Gauls. I can't get enough of it right now.

Any of you guys play this strategy game?

It's great because it's both 'turn-based' (so you can make strategic decisions - taxes, buildings, recruitment - without time pressure) and 'real-time strategy' (fight battles in real time). Your faction has an actual family tree, people with strengths and weaknesses. The Senate is always on your back to get stuff done. If you ride the people too hard they revolt on you...

I've always been interested in the aincent world. Rome Total War is very cool, you get to explore the great cultures of the 270 BC world - accurate buildings, military units, geography - as you absorb them into your empire! From Great Britain in the North to the coast of Africa and the Middle East.

I highly recommend it!

The graphics are amazing...you can zoom in on a battle as it's going on and your guys are fighting with the tactics they would have used back in the day. Just make sure you have a decent machine!

 

[Shannow]

quote:

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Originally posted by Matt89:
it's not normal for a 30-something to be hooked on a video game...

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It's not...

Hmmmm, exactly, I only use the X-Box to play documentary DVDs...nothing else.

Oh, unless the 2 year old wants to watch The Wiggles, High 5, or Rob Zombie.

Never games, and never to 2AM...ever.

 

[Pablo]

At 46+ I'm not so hookable to that stuff anymore, but that sounds kinda neato. What format? PC?

We have a game cube - oldest D plays Lordo'Rings (she's good), little one plays "Animal Crossing" - it's actually a hoot - she has a mortgage to pay down, needs to work a bit, fishing, donating to the museum....she's 6!!!

 

[Shannow]

Pablo,
Is "Harvest Moon" available on "teh cube" ?

I've got it on PS1, and it's great, preparing the soil, planting seed, harvesting, chopping lumber to build an extension to get married.

I really enjoyed the game, and will try to find similar when my kids are holographically interacting with a rural simulacra, while complaining that mowing the grass is childhood slavery.

 

[Matt89]

Shannow - watching the Wiggles

My daughter is totally hooked on those guys! Every day it's like "Daddy can we watch the Wiggles?". Truth be told I think they are pretty talented and they've definitely got a foothold on their 'market'.

Pablo - Rome Total War is a PC based game. One thing I should add is that this is the third in a series of Total War games, but what makes it so much better than its predecessors is that the "campaign map" - the world if you will - has the actual features (mountains, rivers etc) and they have an impact on how your armies/fleets can move etc. Previous versions of the game had a "Risk" style campaign map where you just moved from territory to territory. When a battle starts, it zooms into a 'battle map' that has the actual topography of the area, and it has an impact on the tactical picture. Cities actually have a layout so once you breach the walls you've got some urban combat to deal with.

Another great aspect is that each territory has a 'settlement' or city that you have to manage...or you can have the computer watch the store by setting parameters for taxation, building construction etc. I'm making it sound a lot harder than it is though, everything is pretty well laid out and there are these 'advisors' that pop up to give you advice if you want it.

It's pretty awesome how the Roman troops at your command attack. Just like a couple of thousand years ago, they fling their spears and then charge in for the kill. When a group of Gaul Swordsmen charged my unit they flattened the first row...very realistic to watch!

I've been extra good about doing cleanups / watching our daughter lately so my wife isn't upset (yet) about my empire building...

 

[Shannow]

Matt, the Wiggles started out as a Rock band "the Cockroaches"... weren't half bad, but make buckets more dough now.

As you say, they know their market well... romp ropmachomp

It's tempered with wanting to listen to Rob Zombie at bed time, and pestering baby sitters to listen to Iron Maiden if she's restless.

 

[Alan]

I just picked up Resident Evil 4,totally awesome!
Swithing between this and Metroid Echoes

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Gamecube rules!

 

[andrews]

Not hooked on the civilization type games, but I am rather obsessed with the first person shooter "Blackhawk Down". I play online against people from all over the world. Kind of a kick to know that the people you play with are scattered around the globe. Plus all the neat battle maps are really fascinating.

 

[Matt89]

quote:

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Originally posted by andrews:
Not hooked on the civilization type games, but I am rather obsessed with the first person shooter "Blackhawk Down". I play online against people from all over the world. Kind of a kick to know that the people you play with are scattered around the globe. Plus all the neat battle maps are really fascinating.

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Yeah, I went through a "Ghost Recon" phase. Too bad I've always had POS dialup so no online play

 

[seotaji]

I'm not a big fan of games like simcity, etc... BUT I'll play the crap out of them if they are fun, like Rome - Total War.

You get a feeling of satisfaction when beating down the enemy.

Black Hawk Down is also a fun game. Too bad the broadband around here isn't fast enough.

 

[Not the Autorx Frank]

Thats funny cause I play Command and Conquer Generals alot online. (My handel is Capt. Insano). I love woopin on my oponent!

 

[Matt89]

quote:

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You get a feeling of satisfaction when beating down the enemy.

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Amen...I won my first "short campaign" last night (wife out of town so I was up late) and when the 'victory' screen popped up I caught myself standing with hands in the air.

The good thing about winning the campaign is that it unlocks your ability to play any faction you want. I'm thinking either Greeks or Egyptians next time...