Empire at War Demo

Jacob Jansen · Post by **Jacob Jansen** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 4:35 pm

EH also hosted..

http://media.ehtiecorps.org/files/games ... ardemo.exe

MCHuskie · Post by **MCHuskie** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 11:43 pm

Well, I approve.

One issue that I hope will be sorted out - the cine-camera has a tendency to hide behind scenery, neatly obscuring the view of the battle. Normal camera seems fine, though I haven't quite got the feel for the zoom yet.

Control interface seems to be quite well-balanced - out of force of habit, I switched to the left mouse button doing all the work. I seemed to be moving the mouse around more than other RTS's I've played - don't know why, and it's not really a problem (until I get RSI!).

Mildly disappointing that space combat is on a 2D map (well, 2.5D), and I still get the itching to want to be in one of the fighters rather than directing the action... still getting used to this whole SCS thing... On the whole they're well implemented, though it can be a little tricky managing six squads of X-Ws, four Y-Ws, and several cap ships spread over a fairly sizable piece of space - ah, all part of the challenge of the game! Ordering your units to attack moving enemies needs a knack - otherwise it's "Click! Oh, they moved... Click! Oh, they moved again!"

The leaving out of the resource management thing (and stupid imaginary things like "nova crystals") is a good thing. "Credits will do fine." The galactic map looks slightly dubious, though I suppose they've had to deviate from the accepted map for gameplay and perspective. At least most systems are loosely the right direction from Coruscant!

It's like giant, galaxy-wide Risk in real-time, and rather than throwing dice you actually have to fight the battles! It's certainly going to be the first new game I'm buying since... actually, have I ever bought a game when it's first come out before? Well, I will do this time!

steel · Post by **steel** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 12:37 am

I hope the multiplayer side of it will get well developed.

Reservist Foley · Post by **Reservist Foley** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 2:04 am

YES!!! It's finally working!!!

Wedge · Post by **Wedge** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 9:20 am

I seem to be having a slight problem with it. Has anyone else been having trouble getting the sound to work?

Post by **Vortagh** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 12:40 pm

Nope. But we all know your problems with your soundcard. :P

COL Longstreet · Post by **COL Longstreet** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 5:10 am

Still downloading ...

And Wedge, wasnÂ´t it in the book (think it wasnÂ´t in the movie) "papillon" ?

Post by **Vortagh** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 5:56 am

Professor Farnsworth springs to mind.

Wedge · Post by **Wedge** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 10:46 am

Vort: My soundcard has worked fine since I downloaded the latest driver for it. Seems the upgrad has bumped it from PITA to Useful. I think it's some problem similar to that which you get with Rise of Empires in that you have to turn of hardware acceleration, but none of the other settings work either.

Longstreet: I have officially declared it a mystery. If someone comes up with a decent explination I'll just amend my views to it and declare them the winner.

AD Polanski · Post by **AD Polanski** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 9:28 pm

I finally got the download after having to use a multi download manager to get good speeds, but I'm very excited about the whole thing. The graphics look pretty crisp, and the gameplay is quite smooth. Pity about cameras on ground and in space, but it serves the purpose.

Pre-ordered, I have.

Expect the Empire to support EaW within days of release!

In other things, 700MB for a demo download is obscene, considering the tutorial takes longer than the demo part of the game! (and an install of 1.5GB? just how much of the game do you have:P)

Wedge · Post by **Wedge** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 11:23 pm

Probably a fair sized chunk.

I've also pre-ordered, in a way. I've left instructions with one of my store's suppliers to immediately forward a copy of this game to me when they receive their first shipment, so I should have it soon as well.

Munro Burton · Post by **Munro Burton** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 11:08 am

They released the demo with the tutorial levels so that we hardcore SW gamers can learn how to play before the game comes out. Since tutorials are boring while giving you a pretty big window to glimpse what the game is like, the EAW demo is a perfect marketing tool.

As for the SP, I wonder why they made you the Rebels. After all, the overwhelming majority of SW gamers seem to be Empire-affiliated. Thank the Force for that mod

LC La Forge · Post by **LC La Forge** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 4:34 pm

Expect the Empire to support EaW within days of release!

I believe this will be a first in the history of the Empire's gaming platforms.

Mr. Burton: There's a mod already?

Do post a URL...

MCHuskie · Post by **MCHuskie** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 6:26 pm

Haven't tried any yet but try http://www.petroden.com/game_mods_demo.shtml - looks like there's a lot there... and the guys at Petroglyph are actively encouraging these mods, too.

Kenseu · Post by **Kenseu** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 7:07 pm

Well, I'm feeling a little salty*, so here's my opinion:

I didn't like the demo. I haven't at time to really play the campaign, but from what the tutorial showed me, I'm not impressed. I was hoping for something a little more Total War than Age of Empires. I thought that the ground battles were a little too campy feeling, but I was prepared to let it slide for the sapce battles. Unfortunately, the space battles were even worse. I didn't like the 2-d movement plane, and I thought that the space "terrain" was really lame. Rebellion had better space combat.

The galactic map might have some potential, but I'm always a little irked by the nature of the Rebel vs. Imperial conflict. The Empire is always paltry and the Rebellion is always way to strong; it's not very "realistic". I know that a one-sided game wouldn't be fun, but there has to be some way to fudge it. Plus, I wonder what about other factions, which it doesn't look like EAW will have. No Hutts, no CSA, no... er... those weird people from the H-planet. From that one book. Man, it's been too long. But anyway.

Basically, I thought it was overly campy.

*This is one of my first attempts at this Mid-Westism, so forgive any misuse.