Total War (series)

"Total War" is a strategy game series developed by the Creative Assembly. Its games combine turn-based strategy and resource management, with real-time tactical control of battles. The series was the first to feature control of very large armies without serious performance issues.Fact|date=August 2008 On 30 June 2006 a box set of the first three "Total War" titles and their expansion packs was released called "Total War: Eras". This box set also included several extra features and the "Rome: Total War" expansion "Alexander", previously only available via download.

Games

"Shogun: Total War"

' (2000, Electronic Arts) is set in feudal Japan. The expansion pack, called "Mongol Invasion", was released with the original in the Warlord Edition"'. It is different from the more familiar Western settings of the other "Total War" games. In the multiplayer world, the role-playing done by the clans and players of "Shogun" was unrivalled by any other games in the series. The original "Shogun" was not quite a mainstream product, which attracted a dedicated fan base.

"Medieval: Total War"

' (2002, Activision) is set in medieval Europe. The expansion pack is "Viking Invasion", and the combined edition is called the Battle Collection"'. In the multiplayer world, "Viking Invasion" was probably the most balanced and complete version of "Total War" throughout the whole series. Shogun was faster and arguably more taxing on the individual playing skill, while "MTW/VI" added new exciting elements to online battles.

"Rome: Total War"

' (22 September 2004, Activision) is set in the Roman Republic. The expansion, "Barbarian Invasion", was released on 27 September 2005. "Rome: Total War Gold Edition", which combined the original "Rome: Total War", "Barbarian Invasion", and all the game patches into one DVD (instead of the original game's three CD-ROMs) was released on 14 February 2006, though a CD-ROM version (four CDs total) was also produced for those without DVD drives. A second, downloadable expansion pack, "Rome: Total War Alexander""', was announced on 10 May 10 2006. It was released on 19 June 2006 as a download and afterwards as retail.

"Medieval II: Total War"

"Medieval II: Total War" (5 May 2006, Sega) a sequel to "Medieval: Total War", was released in the third quarter of 2006. The game was released on 10 November in Europe and on 14 November in North America. This game includes much more detailed characters and features the Age of Discovery (and colonization of the Americas) and the Mongol and Timurid invasions. A first expansion pack, "" was announced on 30 March 2007. [cite news |first=iTZKooPA |url=http://tgnforums.stardock.com/?forumid=141&aid=148978 |title='Total War' Expanding |publisher=Totalgaming.net |date=2007-04-02 |accessdate=2007-04-04] It was released on 28 August 2007.

"Empire: Total War"

"Empire: Total War", was announced on 22 August 2007 by Sega. [cite web |url=http://www.totalwar.com/index.html?page=/en/newsandpress/index.html&nav=/en/5/ |date=2007-08-22 |title=Total War Sets Sail! |accessdate=2008-02-26] It had been secretly in development since the release of Barbarian Invasion [cite web|url=http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3162223|title=Empire: Total announcement secretly developed for a year|last=Kollar|first=Philip |date=August 22, 2007|publisher=1UP|pages=1|accessdate=2008-07-18] [cite web|url=http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=19328|title=Interview: Creative Assembly's Sutherns Talks Total War Franchise|last=Sheffield|first=Brandon |date=July 29, 2008|publisher=GamaSutra|accessdate=2008-09-23] . It is set in the 18th century to early 19th century, and includes features such as the Industrial Revolution and America's struggle for independence. For the first time in a "Total War" game, players will have the ability to play real-time 3D naval battles. Empire: Total War is expected to be released on 3 February 2009. [ [http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=146984 SEGA: Sonic Unleashed out in November News - Page 1 // None /// Eurogamer - Games Reviews, News and More ] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.totalwar.com/ Official "Total War" site]
* [http://www.totalwarblog.com/ Official "Total War" blog]
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