Thoughts on Broken Crescent from actual Easterners?

**Kennylz** · April 25, 2008, 09:44 PM

I don't know why, but I am utterly intrigued by how cultures and ethnicities respond to portrayals of themselves from others. I've seen how happy many Muslims on TWcenter have been from the fairness and historical accuracy in the mod, but I was wondering if you've gotten any praise from those outside of this tight community?

Turkish sites/magazines? Anything in the Middle East? I'd imagine if I were living somewhere that wasn't currently in the midst of a violent war and had the time to actually indulge in a computer game modification I'd be rather flattered.

This is also referring to any Easterners living in the West who have stumbled accross the mod also.

No real purpose, I'm just a curious animal by nature. If there hasn't been praise like this, there should be!

**~~Miraj~~** · April 25, 2008, 09:50 PM

Surprisingly I've seen very little enthusiasm for BC from "Muslims", or at least not as much as I would have imagined. Most of BC's fanbase are simply western kids like myself (albeit I'm from eastern background) who are simply wanting to play a decent game based around a fresh yet overlooked historical setting.

I know Total War Turkiye were quite interested in BC (especially considering a majority of our factions are either turkic ruled or heavily turkic militarily).

I think interest in BC's 'easterness' really boils down to an individual's personal historical interests. Its similar to alot of the "Hellenophiles" who tend to be non-greeks who are simply enthusiastic about greek culture and history. Likewise many of BC lovers are simply non-easterners who are sort of like "saracenophiles" - ie people who are simply enthusiastic about this period of Islamic, Byzantine, Persian, Turkic and Indian culture/civilization.

**Kennylz** · April 25, 2008, 09:57 PM

True! On one hand you would think that Broken Crescent would be exposed to a pretty small group of individuals, but considering the popularity of Total War altogether, along with how popular TW mods get compared to mods for other games, I wouldn't doubt that it has been played and enjoyed by many more people than that have registered here to chat on the forums. Heck, I've been huge fans of things that I never spoke up about.

Oh well, maybe by 2.0 we will see some more light being shed on BC. There aren't exactly many 'anything' out there like this that give digital praise to a period of history that has been neglected, but did so much to shape our modern world.

**Ahiga** · April 25, 2008, 10:04 PM

Sher Khan once found a topic about Broken Crescent on a Japanese site/forum.

But yeah, I'm thoroughly Western but am a complete "saracenophiles", or Durkaboo. On another site I've been told me bringing up the Arabs is like a Godwin's law....even if I was bringing up the Ottomans.

**~~Miraj~~** · April 25, 2008, 10:08 PM

Originally Posted by Ahiga

Durkaboo.

**roy34543** · April 25, 2008, 10:03 PM

I really liked it. had a lot of polish and was really difficult for me at times.
Couldnt really get into it though.

**Shadibadoo** · April 26, 2008, 08:57 AM

My dad (62 year old Syrian) told me to buy 10 copies of BC because "the government will never allow a game like this, that depicts the Muslims as they were. You must give this game to as many people as possible." hahah.
He was shocked when I told him it was free
So take it from a 60 year old Syrian man that's spent half of his life in the U.S :
BC ROCKS.

**viskarenvisla** · April 27, 2008, 02:47 AM

That's really cool! Props to you man.

**Erwin Rommel** · April 26, 2008, 09:13 AM

I am not a Hellenophile coz it will always mean the hoplites, i am a Byzantinophile

and of course a ancient sinophile

figure that out

**B. Ward** · April 26, 2008, 09:42 AM

i just think it's a great game.....

**rhue** · April 26, 2008, 10:20 AM

Well Im living in Toronto but originally from Pakistan studying some Middle Eastern History at University of Toronto. I think this is the best mod up on TW yet!

A reason why a lot of easterners might not be posting is lack of exposure or awareness of this mod. I know in Pakistan, India, Iran etc. a lot people would not know that mods can be added to TW!

So how did I hear of this? lol From my TA at an Islamic history course

He got me hooked and we got our professor interested into it as well. The level of detail and attempts at accuracy are quite astounding to say the least! Ofcourse nothing is perfect but it is an excellent first attempt.

P.S I just finished my exam two days ago on NMC273 (Early Islam till the Mongols) and the game helped me Ace the Map questions! haha I knew the map by heart after finishing the game twice

So there you have it, playing BC helps you score higher in exams!

**Faris ad Din** · April 26, 2008, 11:37 AM

<- Admitted Saracenophile since I could remember ever learning about history. And if anybody was wondering from my avatar I'm full second-generation Korean American. I just take little interest in learning the history of my area (I avoid the current China-craze as well as anything J-culture or J-anime related like the plague, excuse me if you happen to be a hardcore samurai/anime fanatic

) and hewed to this region with a passion.

I visited many of the links Yingyangzhao provided and though I can't read any Chinese it seems that among the general computer-game-crazed fanbase of hundreds of millions in China (or Taiwan) there seems to be some group with a fair interest in BC. The unit guide is on a Chinese website and there are some active forums devoted to BC.

I did a search and there is some following of Broken Crescent in Korea as well.

http://betagam.gameshot.net/zboard/v...sc=asc&no=2593

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

My awful translation goes:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

**PurpleScotch** · April 26, 2008, 10:50 AM

I'm an Arab AND a Muslim, and I think BC rocks! When you play the mod, you know someone from the Middle-East created it, or at least helped create it. The way BC plays out is perfect and portrays Muslims the way they should have been in M2TW (sadly, vanilla M2TW's Islamic factions sucked with spear militia and peasant archers as their main army composition

).

I like how the Hijaz is done in the campaign map. It is made in a way so that you can conquer all the western coast of Arabia without controlling the rest of Arabia (like in other mods). This is very realistic, and when looking at Ayyubid maps you notice that they controlled the exact parts of the Hijaz that you can in BC..

Well that's just an example of how realistic BC is. Miraj and the rest of the team deserve the best. *claps*

EDIT: Oh, almost forgot! The only thing BC needs right now, is a darker more epic feeling to the game. KoH had a dark feeling, so did MTW.

**Imperator of Rome** · April 26, 2008, 11:16 AM

Originally Posted by killerxguy

I'm an Arab AND a Muslim, and I think BC rocks! When you play the mod, you know someone from the Middle-East created it, or at least helped create it. The way BC plays out is perfect and portrays Muslims the way they should have been in M2TW (sadly, vanilla M2TW's Islamic factions sucked with spear militia and peasant archers as their main army composition

).

I like how the Hijaz is done in the campaign map. It is made in a way so that you can conquer all the western coast of Arabia without controlling the rest of Arabia (like in other mods). This is very realistic, and when looking at Ayyubid maps you notice that they controlled the exact parts of the Hijaz that you can in BC..

Well that's just an example of how realistic BC is. Miraj and the rest of the team deserve the best. *claps*

EDIT: Oh, almost forgot! The only thing BC needs right now, is a darker more epic feeling to the game. KoH had a dark feeling, so did MTW.

Knights of honor had an dark feeling?With all that orchestral music?Anyway I loved the reworking of the Eastern empire and the Armenians+Georgians.Also even though I'am wasn't really interested in the other factions,after playing this game and reading up on history,it was kinda cool to fight against these factions in the game.

**PurpleScotch** · April 26, 2008, 12:03 PM

Originally Posted by Imperator of rome

Knights of honor had an dark feeling?With all that orchestral music?Anyway I loved the reworking of the Eastern empire and the Armenians+Georgians.Also even though I'am wasn't really interested in the other factions,after playing this game and reading up on history,it was kinda cool to fight against these factions in the game.