Total War Battles: Shogun for handhelds announced

[CraigTW]

Hi guys,

We've announced the name of our new handheld title that's been under top secret development here at CA for the past year or so. Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce you to Total War Battles: Shogun.

For those of you wondering, it's not a direct port of Total War to handhelds. We wanted to make a Total War experience that best suited the devices we've aimed for, so have created something new but that still conveys the Total War feel.

You'll build a base, gather resources and tactically advance on the enemy while trying to defend your own lines. As you go, you'll unlock further maps to play in a ten-hour campaign.

There's a multiplayer feature too, where two players can go head-to-head locally for supremacy on a top-down map. It's hilariously fun trying to anticipate your opponent's moves, and has resulted in at least one flipped iPad in the office. No names.

There are a few screenshots on Eurogamer, too, so be sure to check it out. We'd love to hear what you think.

The Creative Assembly.

[John F. Kennedy]

It's all downhill from here.

[♘Top Hat Zebra]

I'm.... just gonna pretend I never saw this.

I'm sure some people might like this, but its not for me.

[CraigTW]

It's all downhill from here.

We have a dedicated team working on the title - we've hired in seasoned mobile game developers to concoct something new and interesting.

[CraigTW]

I'm sure some people might like this, but its not for me.

It's good fun. The building placement and upgrades, tactical advancing etc. all have a very traditional strategy feel while bringing something new to the table at the same time. Easy to pick up, difficult to master and pretty strategic.

[John F. Kennedy]

We have a dedicated team working on the title.

Exactly, I can't believe you guys even considered this horrible idea. You're wasting time and resources on a game few will even look at. Barely anyone plays games on their freaking phones unless it's simple stuff like Temple Run or Angry Birds. What you've created seems no more than a glorified Samurai version of evony.

That dedicated team of yours would be better off dedicated to, I don't know, your main line. The actual Total War series. Maybe then you wouldn't have releases like Empire if you had that kinda force behind things instead of trying to pass off horrible gimmicks and spin offs.

[The_Nord]

looks like fun to fiddle with on the bus or other places where I'm just waiting.

[Abe86]

This probably wont appeal to most people on this forum, I think. I hope it finds an audience though, if only to better fund future PC Total War games.
Personally I dont indulge in mobile gaming, when I'm on the go and bored I like to read.

[Lazarus]

I dont know. I'm not a fan of mobile gaming but I guess... maybe it'll be good to take my TW with me (well... fun. Good would be giving my eyes a rest from all those blasted cathode rays and radio waves.)

Edit: Just looking at the pictures I already see the appeal - I'll finally be able to play TW (at least in some form) with my girlfriend, my non-PC gamer friends, and even my parents. I suppose simplicity isn't always terrible - as long as it's bug free. For every bug present in that game, I'm swinging by the CA office and each of you will owe me a finger...

[CraigTW]

That dedicated team of yours would be better off dedicated to, I don't know, your main line. The actual Total War series. Maybe then you wouldn't have releases like Empire if you had that kinda force behind things instead of trying to pass off horrible gimmicks and spin offs.

Just to put things in perspective, we have 200 people at the studio now, with about half of that number completely dedicated to Total War. Looking back down the line, 30 or so worked on Rome: Total War. We have massively increased resource on core Total War development and we're continuing to hire and expand the team.

The handheld team consists of 8, all specialists in mobile games development. We're trying new things, because that's what successful cutting-edge developers do, but we're not watering down or impacting the core series.

[AveiMil]

Great new source of revenue for CA, terrible news for Total War for PC fans though as it will simply divert resources away from patching currently released titles and development of new titles. I'm sorry CA, you cannot support a online multiplayer base with just a couple modest patches. Not good enough.

This handheld game is not going to be a good game, it's just going to be something to fiddle with which capitalizes on the brand that Total War games have created. It's a pure and simple a money grab. Not impressed.

[The Holy Pilgrim]

It looks interesting, but please, do NOT make the PC versions like this.

I love Total War the way it is - strategic, turn-based campaign and tactical, real-time battles. Improvements are most definitely welcome in my book (heck, they're encouraged!), but please do not make future PC titles in this format.

I admire the enthusiasm being put into this project, and it does look fun, but please keep that to the mobile devices. That is all I ask.

[John F. Kennedy]

Just to put things in perspective, we have 200 people at the studio now, with about half of that number completely dedicated to Total War. Looking back down the line, 30 or so worked on Rome: Total War. We have massively increased resource on core Total War development and we're continuing to hire and expand the team.

The handheld team consists of 8, all specialists in mobile games development. We're trying new things, because that's what successful cutting-edge developers do, but we're not watering down or impacting the core series.

So eight less people that could have been dedicated to fixing bugs and arranging patches for games like Shogun II, instead you hire "mobile specialists".

Just a question, how many "successful cutting-edge developers" have gotten famous or any recognition at all from a mobile game? Is EA praised for their mobile version of the Sims? Is Activision/Treyarch getting any attention or success from mobile CoD? No, they're not. I bet some people here didn't even know there were mobile versions of CoD out there.

[Robin de Bodemloze]

Meh. The GI screenshots make it look like a simpler version of one of the earlier Nobunaga-no-Yabou games.

Not sure how this will benefit Total War as we know if given if it's successful the profits will be used to developed more of these mobile games, and if it flops then CA has less resources to work with on proper Total War.

TWC really isn't the crowd for this kind of game - although I wonder what the mobile gaming audience (think Angry Birds) would make of this unless it's so simple it's really not Total War any more.

[AveiMil]

The handheld team consists of 8, all specialists in mobile games development. We're trying new things, because that's what successful cutting-edge developers do, but we're not watering down or impacting the core series.

Could we have 4 specialists that can head up a team dedicated to fixing issues and improving the Shogun 2 multiplayer functionality and balance by releasing patches every other month or so?

[daniu]

Sure, those mobile games specialists will be a resource sorely missed in PC development

Game looks a bit too cute for me, and I had hoped the battles allowed more flexibility than hexagon-based...
Is there a campaign and a battle mode? Hard to tell from the screenshots, looks like it might take place on the same map?

[John F. Kennedy]

Sure, those mobile games specialists will be a resource sorely missed in PC development

The money being used to fund them could have gone to, as another user said, a team dedicated to fixing bugs and developing patches. Not creating pointless spin-offs.

[♘Top Hat Zebra]

It's good fun. The building placement and upgrades, tactical advancing etc. all have a very traditional strategy feel while bringing something new to the table at the same time. Easy to pick up, difficult to master and pretty strategic.

You know what? You're right. I'm judging this while knowing little to nothing about it. I'm not supposed to do that anymore.

I might give it a try.

Perhaps we should all hold our criticisms until one of us has actually player it.

[CraigTW]

When we made the original Shogun, we had the spirit of trying to do something new in mind. We still have that desire and drive and this is a really exciting opportunity for us. Play it, try it, see what you think. As a strategy fan myself I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

[Akaie]

I won't rush to judgement, although that's rather pointless as I don't get caught up in all these handheld devices... minus the trusty mp3 player. At the very least, the gameplay isn't like Civilization, is it? An exclamation mark commonly appears above my head whenever I see a hexagon pattern overlay what ever form of game map.