Total War Battles: Shogun for handhelds announced

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.

It's all downhill from here.

Originally Posted by John F. Kennedy

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.

Originally Posted by CraigTW

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.

Originally Posted by John F. Kennedy

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.

Originally Posted by CraigTW

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.

Originally Posted by CraigTW

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?

It reminds me of something like Samurai Bloodshow from Sega:
http://emaki.sega.jp/en/pc/
It's actually very fun and I was hooked for hours. And it doesn't even have building/base deployment.
It may sound like advertising but it's not. I'm only saying the new tablet TW deserves a shot at least and I'm sure they won't blow this up.
Of course there is no need to worry if -as Craig says- they aren't taking away resources from the core series. Which is indeed great.

Originally Posted by CraigTW

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.

Well give those original 30 a pay rise, and let them loose on another true to the faith Total War game, please

Originally Posted by CraigTW

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.

It was better when you were 30...200 people and new total war games has the same model for 20 units

it's strange, don't you think?...i'm able to create model by myself and 200 people can't create decent rosters...

and now you are creating this mobile version: this means that total war games are not for hardcore gamers anymore...

Originally Posted by John F. Kennedy

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.

To let such a huge market go to waste would be idiotic to say the least. I believe that very simplified version of Total War can work and might even bring a lot of fun out of it. And what resources? A small team can pump out these kind of games, you do not need to sacrifice a huge amount of people that are making a pc game to put this game out on iOS and Android.

If anyone can remember the flash game Age of War, this was a game type that I really liked for the Ipad. Though of course those microtransactions are just horrendous.

Please spare me your naysaying and show your resentment by not buying this.

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

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

Originally Posted by ♘Top Hat Zebra

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.

Originally Posted by CraigTW

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.

Originally Posted by ♘Top Hat Zebra

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.

The only problem I have with that is what happened to me personally. Someone has to buy the game first, which means giving CA their money and thus their support, to play it. Once they do, it doesn't matter how absolutely horrid the game was, CA already got their money and they are not obligated to do anything to try and make things better.

So then they are free to use that money to make another game, possibly worse or possibly better than the last, but you won't know until you play it and for all you know all those promises of improvements were empty and you find yourself with an even worse time of it than before.

Even if someone other than you buys, plays, and then reviews the game, your own personal taste isn't necessarily the same and what may be "fun and exciting" for someone else is "utterly boring and bug-ridden" for another.

Mobile: Total War cannot possibly be anything like that real Total War, and I honestly don't see how it supports the PC platform in any way. Like I said, I'd rather they not waste their time with this project and focus more on making the real Total War the behemoth it should be, which at times it has been anything but.

Originally Posted by 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.

Fix Empire first and I'll try it, sound like a deal?

Originally Posted by daniu

Yeah because making money with spinoffs is pointless because it can't be used to fund other people fixing bugs and developing patches

You automatically assume it will make any kind of money to do more than support itself.

Originally Posted by John F. Kennedy

The only problem I have with that is what happened to me personally. Someone has to buy the game first, which means giving CA their money and thus their support, to play it. Once they do, it doesn't matter how absolutely horrid the game was, CA already got their money and they are not obligated to do anything to try and make things better.

So then they are free to use that money to make another game, possibly worse or possibly better than the last, but you won't know until you play it and for all you know all those promises of improvements were empty and you find yourself with an even worse time of it than before.

Even if someone other than you buys, plays, and then reviews the game, your own personal taste isn't necessarily the same and what may be "fun and exciting" for someone else is "utterly boring and bug-ridden" for another.

Mobile: Total War cannot possibly be anything like that real Total War, and I honestly don't see how it supports the PC platform in any way. Like I said, I'd rather they not waste their time with this project and focus more on making the real Total War the behemoth it should be, which at times it has been anything but.

If this were true, we would never see any improvement at all.

A lot of people on this forum seem to believe that CA is just some evil money grabbing vacuum.

Its a company. Sure, they're out to make money. But I'm one hundred percent positive that most of the people actually making the game are doing it because the love doing it. They love crafting a game for people, and then playing it themselves.


I view this as another game, for other people. Its not for us, its for casual gamers, and if it gets more people interested in TW, good. More fans= more money for CA. Which is a good thing.

Originally Posted by ♘Top Hat Zebra

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.

Exactly.

Not only that, but they are just trying to expand their field. They didn't do this while cutting away from their main source. Yes they diverted some potential resources, but if new venture is taken (and they should be taken sometimes, you know, part of the whole being creative) that's inevitable.

Also times are changing. Having knowledgeable mobile app devs is mandatory for big studios like CA. Working with such limited devices can really open up your creative mind and come up with very clever solutions in terms of resource management and user interface.

And like THZ said on more recent post, this could generate revenue that could be poured into the main PC franchise.

If you really feel sick/hurt/insulted... chill out, take a breath, and think over your priorities. Your favorite game series being supported less (that's the most reasonable extreme this event can be taken to) should annoy/irritate you at most.

Originally Posted by Gaizokubanou

And like THZ said on more recent post, this could generate revenue that could be poured into the main PC franchise.

Yes just poured right in. I knew something good was going to come of this.

Originally Posted by ♘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.

What a shame! It's sad where money can lead even the best developpers! How to ruin the best franchise ever.

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