"My Gaming" review

**Lucius Septimius Bassianus** · April 02, 2009, 07:01 PM

"Empire: Total War is easily one of the most annoying PC games I have ever played. Although grand in its ambition, its poor implementation ultimately makes for a buggy and badly optimized mess of a game".

I have to agree with the guy who wrote this review, considering that many people are having so many issues even after the 3rd patch.

For example, my biggest issue so far beside the random ctd is the constant random freezing when I am in the battle map, I will move armies, click on a group to position it on the map or move somewhere with the mouse and suddenly the screen freeze and the only thing that I can move is the cursor and I can't even do ctrl alt delete but have to manually reset my computer every single time.

http://www.mygaming.co.za/news/Revie...Total-War.html

**Epic** · April 02, 2009, 07:03 PM

Interesting review, basically sums up all the problems the game has.

**Laoch** · April 02, 2009, 07:11 PM

Could have put a bit more life into the review. Just listed the good and bad points and since it has been out a while we all aware of these points so you need to offer more to keep the reader interested.

Also, while his points are completely valid he could have come up with some of his own theories for improvement beside saying fix this.

Just my two cents.

**Kinjo** · April 02, 2009, 07:35 PM

I think CA is at a critical point in time were something big has to be done, these are the type of reviews that can damage a game's reputation and the rate which these type of reviews are coming out is increasing.

**Mikelus Trento** · April 03, 2009, 01:36 PM

Originally Posted by Reiksmarshal

these are the type of reviews that can damage a game's reputation and the rate which these type of reviews are coming out is increasing.

CAN damage?

I believe the harm has been done. A TW game was obviously released in a much buggier, some would say (rightfully) unplayable state, than any previous release. The fact ETW has so many new and great features made new problems inevitable...BUT.....that does not excuse it being released in this untested state.

The fact they had a whole stable of loyal fans ready to test for them amkes the omission even more foolish.

A reputation is a powerful thing. They have sullied theirs. Having their fans now wait months (if ever) to get what they in good faith coughed up their dollars for, will only deepen the harm. Many of their loyal fans will have moved into new areas of gaming interest by then.

One thing they could do that would demonstrate they sincerely want our good faith and not just dollars is to refund the cost of the game as we bought it. Call it the beta release that it really was.

And then whenever the game is actually finished present it to the marketplace to decide their fate.

The deceptive way of getting my money has ended. No more will sincere sounding words and flashy trailers do it.

I suspect rather than paying premium rates for "special editions" and such of future TW releases , I will wait to find it in the bargain bin....when it might actually be a finished game.

So very sad what they have done to a fine franchise.

**Humble Warrior** · April 03, 2009, 01:41 PM

Originally Posted by Mikelus Trento

CAN damage?

One thing they could do that would demonstrate they sincerely want our good faith and not just dollars is to refund the cost of the game as we bought it.

.

If only.

Won`t happen, they`d sooner declare themselves bankrupt which is the ultimate opt-out clause for a lot of shifty companies these days. But I do agree. At least a £10 ($20) `sorry` rebate would be nice.

**PlacidDragon** · April 03, 2009, 01:53 PM

Originally Posted by Mikelus Trento

CAN damage?

I believe the harm has been done. A TW game was obviously released in a much buggier, some would say (rightfully) unplayable state, than any previous release. The fact ETW has so many new and great features made new problems inevitable...BUT.....that does not excuse it being released in this untested state.

Have to agree here. As i see it, this release, which more or less has been worse than all the other TW's combined, has seriosuly damaged their reputation.

For me personally, i held CA UK in the highest regard as i never had any problems with STW, loved MTW, absolutely worshipped RTW, and have enjoyed that game probably more than any other in term of playtime (playing it well past M2TW's release). Well... now their rep has taken a nosedive of unimaginable proportions, especially combined with their statements prior to the release (needed to keep up the charade and have us fork over our cash i guess).

**Kinjo** · April 03, 2009, 02:14 PM

Originally Posted by Mikelus Trento

CAN damage?

I believe the harm has been done. A TW game was obviously released in a much buggier, some would say (rightfully) unplayable state, than any previous release. The fact ETW has so many new and great features made new problems inevitable...BUT.....that does not excuse it being released in this untested state.

The fact they had a whole stable of loyal fans ready to test for them amkes the omission even more foolish.

A reputation is a powerful thing. They have sullied theirs. Having their fans now wait months (if ever) to get what they in good faith coughed up their dollars for, will only deepen the harm. Many of their loyal fans will have moved into new areas of gaming interest by then.

One thing they could do that would demonstrate they sincerely want our good faith and not just dollars is to refund the cost of the game as we bought it. Call it the beta release that it really was.

And then whenever the game is actually finished present it to the marketplace to decide their fate.

The deceptive way of getting my money has ended. No more will sincere sounding words and flashy trailers do it.

I suspect rather than paying premium rates for "special editions" and such of future TW releases , I will wait to find it in the bargain bin....when it might actually be a finished game.

So very sad what they have done to a fine franchise.

What I said I stand by, when a casual gamer is interested in buying a game the first thing they most likely do is check out the reviews. This will impact sales in a much larger way then complaints on the forums. I like many am not happy with the state of the game and hope the new beta group can help get the dev team on the right track. For the most part all of the total war games didn't reach their prime until after the first expansion.

**SigniferOne** · April 02, 2009, 07:30 PM

We can’t shake the feeling that another year of studio tweaking would have delivered a masterpiece. Unfortunately, as it stands right now, Empire: total War is a poorly executed and incomplete mush of good ideas.

I told them. I already wrote the same thing in February of 2008, begging CA to hold the game back.

**Gaius Baltar** · April 02, 2009, 08:11 PM

To bad an honest review wasnt published BEFORE the game release. I had a bad feeling about this one when the demo was so bad and their was no PCGamer review. Kinda like a movie released without a critics review, you know its going to be bad.

**upsettingshorts** · April 02, 2009, 08:15 PM

Shouldn't SEGA be blamed for early release and not CA?

**Hunter Makoy** · April 02, 2009, 08:21 PM

I blame both, I refuse to believe that a publisher would hold a gun to the developers head and say "I don't care if its crap, RELEASE IT!" SEGA may set the date, but CA doesn't completely have its hands tied.

**upsettingshorts** · April 02, 2009, 08:23 PM

Originally Posted by Hunter Makoy

I blame both, I refuse to believe that a publisher would hold a gun to the developers head and say "I don't care if its crap, RELEASE IT!" SEGA may set the date, but CA doesn't completely have its hands tied.

Didn't SEGA lose $TEXAS dollars this FY? I wouldn't put it past them...

**ohnoesaz** · April 02, 2009, 09:24 PM

I think we'll be seeing many more honest reviews soon enough as more and more sites get wind of the mess

**Paul Stud** · April 02, 2009, 09:40 PM

i thought hitlers reivew on youtube was about the most accurate... you'll have to search it out on yer own though... i tried to post it before, but someone locked it. didn't think comedy hitler was offensive??????

**Berdiche Knyaz** · April 02, 2009, 09:41 PM

CA wasted there life on making that Stormrise, or should I say Storm"crap" game, they were developing two games at one time, and both of them sucked.
So heres my answer:
ETW sucks, CA is alright but sucks, Sega sucks, end of story
*Shoots himself with a gun*

**l33tl4m3r** · April 02, 2009, 09:45 PM

Originally Posted by Berdiche Knyaz

CA wasted there life on making that Stormrise, or should I say Storm"crap" game, they were developing two games at one time, and both of them sucked.
So heres my answer:
ETW sucks, CA is alright but sucks, Sega sucks, end of story
*Shoots himself with a gun*

HAHAHA!

*falls out of his chair*

See folks, THAT'S how you make a statement.

**cherryfunk** · April 02, 2009, 09:45 PM

I see the CTDs as a feature, not a bug. They're like an alarm clock that says 'Hey, time to stop playing and get to real life!'

**ohnoesaz** · April 02, 2009, 09:56 PM

Originally Posted by cherryfunk

I see the CTDs as a feature, not a bug. They're like an alarm clock that says 'Hey, time to stop playing and get to real life!'

Hopefully they're like an alarm clock for CA also that says "Hey, stop expanding old technology until it breaks and actually develop something new that works!"

**eddy_purpus** · April 02, 2009, 10:39 PM

Originally Posted by cherryfunk

I see the CTDs as a feature, not a bug. They're like an alarm clock that says 'Hey, time to stop playing and get to real life!'

Originally Posted by ohnoesaz

Hopefully they're like an alarm clock for CA also that says "Hey, stop expanding old technology until it breaks and actually develop something new that works!"

LMAO hahahahahaha