CrushProject

Sweet, thats really close to my thoughts as well. An xp system would definetly further set this game apart, and once that was in place the jedi training system would be better applied, and add a more custom feel to the game. You could almost do a create-a-character system like the new bfme which would be sick. I wish that multiplayer had a galactic map tho. Even if i had to wait for my turn to do something, it would still be superior to the single map scenario (in theory and imo). This is probly the biggest thing on my wishlist. And id rather have later timeline ships than earlier timeline ships. Still pretty similiar to your thoughts all in all tho. EDIT: what about a few more playable races? the forced imp vs reb idea means only so many combinations before boredom sets in.

wow, all you guys that say realism over balance are crazy (or just havent really given this much thought) How long are you going to play a game where one side is overly OP? Now i will say realism is a huge factor, but its absolutly NOTHING without the balance to back it up. You will almost never enjoy an unbalanced game unless you are on the more powerful side, no matter how realistic the game is. Altho realism is up there in the list, this isnt even an argument. There is no game without some sort of attempted balance, but you can have a game without realism (altho they tend to suck) generally speaking. And yes, normally i can never get enough realism myself, but you cant compare it to balance. Altho the sign of a quality game is both....

Reducing unit types, and confining spaces may make every move more critical yes, its perhaps easier to balance and makes for quicker games, but adding additional stratadgy by reducing unit types or confining space simply not true. What im wondering about is how they are going to attempt to make multiplayer unlinear or enjoyable. That was one of the biggest claims this game had been making earlier on (that the game would focus on its unlinear gameplay), but it looks like only 1v1s are going to be unlinear or interesting to play. With no xp system, small numbers of units to choose from per side, only imperial vs rebel games, with only either space or ground to choose from, thats sounds like its going to be really difficult not to play a very small, or linear game for mulitplayer with more than 2 people. And you might not even be able to build you own buildings? Oh well at least it will be less info gamespy has to process. lol and perhaps some of the skirmish modes may be interesting, but im still skeptical for multiplayer. The campaign might make this game worth it in its own right tho. This game strikes me as being a rts Civ hybrid which is very appealing to me, but like all the civs ive played: multiplayer kinda sucks and is not worth playing (imo) as well as time consuming. With the addition of modders on the schene and the ability to manipulate the ai, or adding of units, the single player experience seems like it has alot to offer in replay value. Altho mods arent always known for balance. edit: and wc3 made very good use of all those units. Every unit counters another unit, and it still managed unlinear gameplay, because of the creeps, xp system, and neutral units. WC3 is still arguably the best rts on the market today, altho im still really burned out on it now-a-days.

in response to omega: altho im still excited to see this game, the new SW movies are for children. Episode 3 was trying its hardest to catch up, but all the new star wars movies were a joke none-the-less. Your entitled to your opinion, and i dont mean to infringe on that, but didnt it strike you as odd that in episode one the child anakin destroyed a major droid ship that had the main reactor right next to the hanger bay? Who designed that thing? What happens if theres an accident/sabotage in the hanger bay? The whole ship goes up? Im surprised the droids even made it to the planet to invade it to begin with, with a design like that. Should i go on? Did you notice that not ONE person in Episode One got killed by the entire droid army once it hit the ground? The reason im still amped about this game in specific is because its star wars in (almost) its golden years, petro has decent rts experiance, and star wars has been hurting for good games, so petro has got to be at least pressured to turn out a quality product. EDIT: and KOTOR was a good time, but it was a little easy. Great story tho. Oh, and i dont think a quality rts has come out since WC3, but thats just me.

accourding to http://www.empireatwar.pexgames.com/?show=news&news=4277&lang=en eaw is going to use gamespy for multiplayer? Wow this by far is the worst thing ive heard about this game by far. Gamespy has sucked BAD everytime ive ever seen them. Even for a newer games like Dawn of War, theyve been absolutely terrible. Does this shake anyone elses faith in this game? I realize alot of people dont care about multiplayer, but what about those of us that ONLY care about multiplayer? Is this game not for us? Gamespy is a clear indicator of cutting corners on cost. Is this a sign of other things to come? I really dont mean to make a 'we're doomed' thread, ive been more excited about this game than any other game ive EVER heard of, but is there anyone else out there that is thinking about avoiding this game now due of this choice of using gamespy? I cant say enough bad things about gamespy... EAW looks sweet, and perhaps ill still get it just for LAN play, but im really upset with this choice. Anyone else? Gayspy suxxx. bad... ive told myself more than once never to get another game that uses gamespy....

Prototype? I thought the tie advanced was well beyond that phase at that point. I remember that there were only limited supplies of tie advanced (due to them being stolen by the warlord), but never-the-less would you really call it a prototype ship? I always thought of them as more in limited supply, then an actual prototype.... EDIT: tomato, tomAto really, just curious....

he must be in the game? I never saw him fight anyone after episode 3. Like dude said, he only trained luke (which didnt require alot of excersion on his behalf). its a techincality whether or not he was physically alive at this point in the timeline. He was too old for open battle.

i mean each world would be its own independant faction, unaligned with either team at the onset. Like a creep from wc3 for example, not a complete ai controlled faction. Just a defender of the world if you will. And i cant really see the empire using diplomacy for 'all' its planatery acquisitions, they are a dictatorship after all, with a rebellion already in full swing. Not the happiest circumstances to invite planets to join you. plus they have already stated that alot of alien unit types are going to be in the game, so i would assume that suggests unacquired planets will have defenses of their own that must be dealt with before the planet can be used. Perhaps those units might become available as well once conquered (more unlinearness), but balance issues would be a nightmare in that case. I dont believe that choosing where on a larger map you get to attack could be described as unlinear. In order to have unlinear gameplay there has to be some other way of advancing your forces/power other than direct conflict with the other player. Otherwise its still linear. More strategic perhaps, but still very linear imo. edit: empiresatwar.net also has a 'nonfaction' section thats waiting to be finished to confirm what im saying about neutral units as well.

Well either way, we are probly going to have to find a medium early in the game. From what it looks like (imo) you are going to need military strength just to take over neutral worlds. And bigger worlds will probly be more difficult to acquire. This is all conjecture, but how else would this game be nonlinear (as the makers have claimed)? They almost 'have' to add independent 3rd party factions to accomplish this right?

Just remember, you cant use defenses to attack, or even move to help other sensitive areas that need aid. The only time a fixed defense works, is where theres a bottle neck he cant get around otherwise. 'fixed fortifications are a monument to the stupidity of man' Patton EDIT: and what happens if he doesnt attack you right away, or in that region? your investment into the early defenses are wasted. Since everyone was discussing ww2, an example would be the magnot line.

is the total number of space units seen thus far not 27? edit: thats what the other page said, and i mean different unit types, not population numbers...

ill harrass really early and tech if possible in multiplayer. If they dont kill the micro factor ill try use a small initial force to hold off any threat, and tech to proper counters for whatever army he chose. The harrass also serves as recon, letting you know where your opponent would be spending his resources. I hope they leave micro as a big factor in this game. I was kinda disappointed by other games that have used squads or groups of units as singular entities. Without the individual control, alot of control is lost making it a game of counters and macro, not unit control and micro. The current amount of space units (13 per side) isnt an increadable amount either. We'll have to see. Dieing to play the demo and find out!