Want more info? A demo? Buy a TICKET! Go to REZZED! Too far from Birmingham? Tough luck mate.

[SughdianWarrior]

I really don't know at this moment in time, but we should have more idea closer to the event. Not to sound cheesy, but the best idea is to go along if you're interested.

It did sound cheesy. Why are your major information releases held back to be the exclusives for magazines and game shows? So that we buy the magazines and attend the shows? Why is Rome II demo set to be available only to those who attend Rezzed? A damn indie game show in Birmingham? Where you're going to have another presentation with "no footage allowed" preamble?
How about making at least a closed beta?
I just looked through what Relic are doing with their Company of Heroes 2, which, by the way, is also owned by Sega and will also be playable in Rezzed. They already have a closed beta going and heaps of gameplay footage and information to look at.
Where the hell is this silly policy of secrecy coming from? Which smartass decided to go ahead with it? I mean, only 3 months left before the release, and what we're told is "We strongly recommend to go to Rezzed! You can play the game there too!". "And by the way, you can pre-order the game now!"Really? Do you guys have deals with all these shows and magazines?
By now, I would expect more dev diaries, tutorials and heaps of other info to be out there. We don't even have any proper gameplay to look at, two scripted battles, one of which is almost a year old. And now, we're being told we should make an effing trip to bloody Birmingham, if we want to join the glorious privileged few, who get to demo the game. Since when has this been your policy???
Just because you guys find it appropriate to respond to the nonsensical rants about mods and DLCs, I hope you will find it appropriate to respond to this question too.

[torongill]

People who pay to enter get to play with the goods, mate. That's how it works. Nevertheless we will probably get some more info at Rezzed if we don't get it sooner(like tomorrow ). Why are you complaining? There's still three whole months before the game is released. Plenty of time to see new stuff, get more informations, etc. I really don't understand the "I want it all and I want it now!" mentality. Like I said in another thread, the latest CoD is half a year away, already in preorder, yet the only "information" is a lousy live teaser. How 'bout a reality check, huh?

Just to be clear, you have a problem with a British company supporting a British game show?

[SughdianWarrior]

I really don't understand the "I want it all and I want it now!" mentality.

I want it all I want it now? Do you realise it's been almost a year? During that year the general public got two scripted theatrical shows, months after being shown to the distinguished few, while the distinguished few is being offered a demo of the game. Doesn't sound like fair to me. My point is not just about Rezzed, it's about the whole air of "privilege" and "exclusivity", even for simples bits of information, that CA seem to be adopting.

People who pay to enter get to play with the goods, mate.

But I don't think demoing the game should be made exclusive to a show when the majority of the fans have almost zero knowledge about even how the game would play. If they had heaps of information already published for the public, I would probably understand making the demo exclusive. It would just be another step forward, for which you would have to pay if you wanted it early. But right now, what they're doing is feeding the public a carrot a month, and then offering a whole demo to those who can attend the show. To me, such a big incentive would seem like a deal between CA and the show organisers. It's understandable, but not quite fair to the rest of the players. All players pay for the game. It's not a demand, but would be nice if we were more enlightened about the game by this stage of the development.
Just compare the information feed of the CA with already mentioned Relic, you will see my point.

[torongill]

I want it all I want it now?

"Queen" reference

Do you realise it's been almost a year? During that year the general public got two scripted theatrical shows, months after being shown to the distinguished few, while the distinguished few is being offered a demo of the game. Doesn't sound like fair to me. My point is not just about Rezzed, it's about the whole air of "privilege" and "exclusivity", even for simples bits of information, that CA seem to be adopting.

Which is why I asked for a reality check. The privileged few are mostly "reporters" from game sites and sites dedicated to the TW series. These are the people who make the previews. These are people with clout. You might as well be complaining about movie companies giving test audiences and movie critics advanced copies to watch. And yes, I realise it's been almost a year. I also realise it's three months till release. I also realise that CA is doing a whole lot more than other developers.

But I don't think demoing the game should be made exclusive to a show when the majority of the fans have almost zero knowledge about even how the game would play. If they had heaps of information already published for the public, I would probably understand making the demo exclusive. It would just be another step forward, for which you would have to pay if you wanted it early. But right now, what they're doing is feeding the public a carrot a month, and then offering a whole demo to those who can attend the show. To me, such a big incentive would seem like a deal between CA and the show organisers. It's understandable, but not quite fair to the rest of the players. All players pay for the game. It's not a demand, but would be nice if we were more enlightened about the game by this stage of the development.
Just compare the information feed of the CA with already mentioned Relic, you will see my point.

I do see your point, but I wonder whether you see your point. Company of Heroes 2 is released next month! Are you ****ing kidding me? You compare a game that's a month out with another three months out and complain there's more information available for the early game? Like I said, you'd be well advised to take a handful of 1000 mg Reality Check pills with vitamin C and a glass of water.

P.S. A demonstration of the game is not a demo of the game. I also believe that if you had the opportunity to attend you would have created a thread about how awesome CA are. So you probably need some sugar to pass those sour grapes, mate.

[SughdianWarrior]

The privileged few are mostly "reporters" from game sites and sites dedicated to the TW series. These are the people who make the previews. These are people with clout. You might as well be complaining about movie companies giving test audiences and movie critics advanced copies to watch.

I understand that. What I don't understand is why everyone has to be restricted to reading the "impressions" of the "reporters" and posts of those who attended even months after the event. They hype is gone, just show it to public.

In terms of "having been consumed", movies and games are far apart. Their comparison is not valid.

I do see your point, but I wonder whether you see your point. Company of Heroes 2 is released next month! Are you ****ing kidding me?

Let's see then, if CA open the "flood-gates" and get the beta, the demo and all the tutorials running, it about a months time. Oh I really hope this is true.
All efforts by CA in terms of informing the public are appreciated. I did not mean that they are not. But the rally point info is meagre and the articles are mostly repetitive. There's still no gameplay footage. Kieran did a better job with Shogun 2, so comparisons with this titles are also not valid.

P.S. A demonstration of the game is not a demo of the game.

I can't see where I stated otherwise.

p.s. you can keep your pills, 'mate'.

[Clock]

This is ridiculous. What do you expect, them to personally come to your house and hand over a demo of the game for you to try? Of course gaming magazines and sites will get the first look. CA/SEGA need them for promotion and the large audiences they attract. One guy on a forum won't reach many people. And game/trade shows are the only real way, bar special community events, to get the game into the hands of the public/fans.

Every previous TW release has had a demo roughly a month prior to release. Hopefully Rome 2 will too.

[King_Porus]

Do you guys have deals with all these shows and magazines?

Obviously yes, why wouldn't they? I can't believe your actually mad about this, they'll probably be releasing info at the same time as the event, plus I'm assuming they'll also be at E3. Plus, who says there won't be an open demo at some point during the summer?

[King_Porus]

The Shogun 2 demo released less than a month before the full game released so we'll most likely see an open demo in August, patience is a virtue.

[Petroniu]

My only issue with their policy is their reluctance to show a stream broadcast of the session. I mean, seriously, it is very easy for British people to attend that show and even for mainland Europeans that are living close to UK - like northern France, Belgium, Holland or even Denmark but how the hell am I suppose to get there from Romania for example? And the wait for actual footage after the show is quite long and painful. Luckily there are great people here at TWC that can share their attendance with us and make things easier.
So, basically, I think their marketing campaign is great because it creates more hype but they could do with a stream broadcast for far away fans.

[Sir Sesshaku]

It did sound cheesy. Why are your major information releases held back to be the exclusives for magazines and game shows? So that we buy the magazines and attend the shows?

Yup, exactly, Im glad you were able to understand how media business works.

[SughdianWarrior]

Yup, exactly, Im glad you were able to understand how media business works.

That was, sort of, a rhetorical question. The point is that it never was to the extent that it is now.

[Anna_Gein]

My complain on CA communication is about their rally point. Seriously it looks like their main canal of informations and it completely ****** and worthless. Just check the stats on You Tube. At best a rally point gather around 70 000 views. A good number of rally points are limited to 25 000/30 000 views. In comparison the first Teutoburg trailer of 2 minutes (1 minutes of credits) gather 491 000 views. The second Teutoburg trailer 316 000 views. The first Carthage trailer 800 000 views and Carthage gameplay demo more than 1 347 000 views. Even a carthage trailer with Spanish subtitles do better than the best Rally Point with its 104 824 views.

What is even more ridiculous is how fan made videos like the one to discuss the factions reveal have around the same numbers of views than most CA rally point. In clear fans could achieve similar works of advertising for free.

Edit : I made a mistake. The post popular Rally Point gathered 91 000 views. It still less than the Carthage trailer in Spanish ...

[SughdianWarrior]

My complain on CA communication is about their rally point. Seriously it looks like their main canal of informations and it completely ****** and worthless. Just check the stats on You Tube. At best a rally point gather around 70 000 views. A good number of rally points are limited to 25 000/30 000 views. In comparison the first Teutoburg trailer of 2 minutes (1 minutes of credits) gather 491 000 views. The second Teutoburg trailer 316 000 views. The first Carthage trailer 800 000 views and Carthage gameplay demo more than 1 347 000 views.

What is even more ridiculous is how fan made videos like the one to discuss the factions reveal have around the same numbers of views than most CA rally point. In clear fans could do achieve similar works of advertising for free.

That is because, in most part, rally points are irrelevant to what interests the players right now - Rome 2. They do contain some info, sometimes exclusive, which I think is the only reason people watch them. Also, 1 month is too long a wait for a 5 minute rally point, 3 minutes of which you don't want to know about. Could have been longer and more relevant.

[Travisfv]

Do we know that Rome II is gonna be at E3? It just says Sega is in the online and mobile game area.

I have no idea how E3 works so maybe I'm just dumb and don't understand.

[torongill]

Or maybe we could've been kept in the dark altogether with info coming only through reviews and the occasional interview until time comes for the reviews. You know, the way lots of companies do.

I think Rally point is more for dedicated fans, since the casual players aren't so devoted. They don't follow and review frame by frame the available info. Plus Rally point features people talking instead of gameplay footage.
I agree that the info from Rally point is usually limited, but what do you want, Will and Craig(And Dave ) to spill the beans on all they know? You realise their bosses could get slightly disappointed(Gary Oldman in "The Fifth Element" style) with them for doing that prematurely.

[SughdianWarrior]

I think Rally point is more for dedicated fans, since the casual players aren't so devoted. They don't follow and review frame by frame the available info. Plus Rally point features people talking instead of gameplay footage.

Rally Point features more than just people talking, it does feature game footage.
Explanation of how rally point works wasn't really necessary, I watched and re-watched each episode.

I agree that the info from Rally point is usually limited, but what do you want, Will and Craig(And Dave ) to spill the beans on all they know? You realise their bosses could get slightly disappointed(Gary Oldman in "The Fifth Element" style) with them for doing that prematurely.

Why the two extremens when there's sweet middle?
I do realise that Will/Craig at CA are extremely busy and Rally Point is probably not their highest priority. Yet it doesn't change the fact that monthly episodes are too short and new information is scarce.
(Now I feel like I'm being ungrateful. Those people do have work to do but dedicate the little free time they have to Rally Point. Still, I can't lie about what I think about it)

[CraigTW]

We'll be releasing a load of info between now and launch in September, don't worry.

Rezzed is one of many events we'll be taking part in - expect info around E3, too. I've got a modding summit, community hands-on events and a load more consumer shows booked in for between now and launch.

Once the lid is off the campaign map stuff, expect info be quite free-flowing. Right now we're right into the busiest stage of making the game, so stuff is happening so, so quickly at the moment.

[SughdianWarrior]

We'll be releasing a load of info between now and launch in September, don't worry.

Rezzed is one of many events we'll be taking part in - expect info around E3, too. I've got a modding summit, community hands-on events and a load more consumer shows booked in for between now and launch.

Once the lid is off the campaign map stuff, expect info be quite free-flowing. Right now we're right into the busiest stage of making the game, so stuff is happening so, so quickly at the moment.

We'll wait for that lid to come off then! I hope it does pop out soon.

[The Glorious Moldovan]

We'll be releasing a load of info between now and launch in September, don't worry.

So basicly after you get as much as you wanted from the DLC hype,you'll release more info near the launch date.
Cool.

[CraigTW]

So basicly after you get as much as you wanted from the DLC hype,you'll release more info near the launch date.
Cool.

No, it's more that we haven't shown any campaign stuff yet because it's still being heavily worked on.