BlackDots
Shared on Thu, 01/03/2008 - 19:37I demand answers. Answers to questions. Questions about EndWar.
Now that I have a 360, I am starting to read more about upcoming games for the system. I used to avoid such news, as it would only serve to remind me that I don’t have the console on which to play those games. Now that barrier has been lifted, and I can join in on games as they come out, a prospect which, every time it occurs to me, seems unreal.
So today I took the time to read up on EndWar and take a look at the trailer. It all sounds very promising. I’m a sucker for RTS. The first one I ever played was Warcraft 2, and I’ve been a disciple of the genre ever since. However, hardware limitations (specifically, not owning my own computer until 3 years ago) have kept me from playing as much as I’d like. Before, I had to play on a friend’s PC or at work, which really limited my options. Unfortunately, having a computer didn’t alleviate the problem, as my wife and I decided to get was Mac Mini. I have access to the Blizzard catalog, but not much else in the way of new games like World in Conflict.
I’ve never played an RTS on a console before, and to be honest, I’m skeptical I can pull it off without driving myself insane. The keyboard and mouse combo is a powerful combination to wean off of, and I had a hard time moving to a controller when I started playing Halo. It felt clumsy and imprecise. Instead of using my fingers, I was suddenly using my thumbs, something which felt unnatural at the time (if not downright unholy). To me, the transition might be even more difficult on an RTS, but obviously many others have managed to do it.
Back to EndWar.
There’s a lot I like about this from what I’ve read so far. Modern warfare in the near future, Russians as bad guys, varied units and settings, etc. The online play elements also sound interesting. One of the problems with playing RTS games online is that you really need to set aside a few hours to see a match to completion. If you’re amongst the “tech up and attack late in the game” crowd, you better pack a lunch, because you’re not going any where for awhile. Apparently, EndWar will focus on smaller, presumably shorter, battles within a larger ongoing conflict. Each time you log on, the strategic situation will have changed based on the battles fought during the interim. This makes the game a 24 hour affair much like a MMORPG, minus the mana and grinding. All of your units will gain experience over time (if they survive), and you cash in XP to customize your units. You can also form clans to consolidate your strategies and delegate battles. I’m not sure if the DS version will include these elements on their network, but I’ll probably be playing Panzer Tactics and Advance Wars: Days of Ruin too much to care.
I look forward to more news in the future. Right now, it looks like this is coming out in Q2. Hopefully April as opposed to June.
Now that I have a 360, I am starting to read more about upcoming games for the system. I used to avoid such news, as it would only serve to remind me that I don’t have the console on which to play those games. Now that barrier has been lifted, and I can join in on games as they come out, a prospect which, every time it occurs to me, seems unreal.
So today I took the time to read up on EndWar and take a look at the trailer. It all sounds very promising. I’m a sucker for RTS. The first one I ever played was Warcraft 2, and I’ve been a disciple of the genre ever since. However, hardware limitations (specifically, not owning my own computer until 3 years ago) have kept me from playing as much as I’d like. Before, I had to play on a friend’s PC or at work, which really limited my options. Unfortunately, having a computer didn’t alleviate the problem, as my wife and I decided to get was Mac Mini. I have access to the Blizzard catalog, but not much else in the way of new games like World in Conflict.
I’ve never played an RTS on a console before, and to be honest, I’m skeptical I can pull it off without driving myself insane. The keyboard and mouse combo is a powerful combination to wean off of, and I had a hard time moving to a controller when I started playing Halo. It felt clumsy and imprecise. Instead of using my fingers, I was suddenly using my thumbs, something which felt unnatural at the time (if not downright unholy). To me, the transition might be even more difficult on an RTS, but obviously many others have managed to do it.
Back to EndWar.
There’s a lot I like about this from what I’ve read so far. Modern warfare in the near future, Russians as bad guys, varied units and settings, etc. The online play elements also sound interesting. One of the problems with playing RTS games online is that you really need to set aside a few hours to see a match to completion. If you’re amongst the “tech up and attack late in the game” crowd, you better pack a lunch, because you’re not going any where for awhile. Apparently, EndWar will focus on smaller, presumably shorter, battles within a larger ongoing conflict. Each time you log on, the strategic situation will have changed based on the battles fought during the interim. This makes the game a 24 hour affair much like a MMORPG, minus the mana and grinding. All of your units will gain experience over time (if they survive), and you cash in XP to customize your units. You can also form clans to consolidate your strategies and delegate battles. I’m not sure if the DS version will include these elements on their network, but I’ll probably be playing Panzer Tactics and Advance Wars: Days of Ruin too much to care.
I look forward to more news in the future. Right now, it looks like this is coming out in Q2. Hopefully April as opposed to June.
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