Gas Powered Games' New RTS: Kings and Castles

News
By Marcus Yam
published

From the maker of Total Annihilation and Supreme Commander comes Kings and Castles.

Are you a fan of RTS games? Then you'll know a lot about the classic Total Annihilation and Supreme Commander. One of the minds behind those two RTS games, Chris Taylor, is leaving the futuristic theme behind and is going old-school fantasy.

Gas Powered Games announced yesterday that work has started on Kings and Castles, an epic real-time strategy game for the PC and next-generation consoles. The game will let players take on the role of one of three powerful kings who are vying for control of an all-new, original fantasy world.

"We’re doing something different this time around," said Chris Taylor, Creative Director of Gas Powered Games. "We want to take our fans on a great adventure with us. They’ll get to go behind-the-scenes and watch the game come to life from start to finish."

Using the game’s website and social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter (follow DeathBot9, Chris Taylor’s personal account), GPG will give its fans a (mostly) unfiltered look inside the development process of Kings and Castles. "Synergy will be leveraged, and paradigms will be established," said Taylor. "More importantly, buzzwords will be utilized."

GPG will be posting regular updates about Kings and Castles on its website. The first video blog went live today. It contains graphic scenes of wood chopping, chickens, and the obligatory horse biting.

"We also promise to gouge evil from its shell at least once, or maybe twice,” said Taylor. “But not three times. That would be weird."

Marcus Yam
Marcus Yam
Marcus Yam served as Tom's Hardware News Director during 2008-2014. He entered tech media in the late 90s and fondly remembers the days when an overclocked Celeron 300A and Voodoo2 SLI comprised a gaming rig with the ultimate street cred.
14 Comments Comment from the forums
  • one-shot
    So I'm assuming next generation consoles will be the next Playstation and X-Box? I assume because four year old hardware isn't next gen. Unless, of course, you lived five years ago. I'm buying this game!
    Reply
  • choz
    "Synergy will be leveraged, and paradigms will be established," said Taylor. "More importantly, buzzwords will be utilized."

    We also promise to gouge evil from its shell at least once, or maybe twice,” said Taylor. “But not three times. That would be weird."
    You gotta love this guy, not only for his work but the sense of humour.
    Reply
  • Blessedman
    Didn't chris taylor do the same mistake last time around? After TA they switched gears and did Kingdoms (if i am not mistaken on the name) and it was a HUGE failure. I really love the games this guy does, but this all seems oddly familiar.
    Reply
  • barmaley
    Me personally, I'll start caring when I see some gameplay footage and announced release date within next 3 months... Besides, Starcraft 2 is gonna be here in several months, so I'm really not gonna pay attention to any other RTS until I play the heck out of SC2.
    Reply
  • Annisman
    I hate to say this, but just because it is announced as a PC game, doesn't mean they won't or can't cancel it at any time, even if it is an RTS.

    The piracy rate for PC is astronomical compared to consoles, and if they have to cut cost somewhere, the PC version will most likeley go first.

    I am very excited about this announcement, but I am just reminding everyone that until people who pirate wise up, games like these may stop being announced for PC altogether. If anyone has any doubt to these claims I encourage you to look here: http://www.tweakguides.com/Piracy_1.html
    Reply
  • JohnnyLucky
    Just a couple of games. Nothing more, nothing less.
    Reply
  • biaachmonkie
    @Blessedman actually he left Cavedog after TA and was not involved in TA: Kingdoms. TA is still my favorite RTS gave ever, tons of days burned playing that and all the mods.
    Reply
  • Hupiscratch
    On hold waiting for Supreme Commander 2 (joint work with Square Enix).
    Reply
  • giovanni86
    I look forward to any exclusive PC game, i know for a fact its going to be ported to the 360 but who in there life plays RTS on a console, its just not possible without a mouse and keyboard. As for piracy, easy fix, screw DRM and just make us sign in from the get go. Though it can get cracked, the true fans of RTS if any good will buy it. I cannot wait for Supreme Commander 2 =D.
    Reply
  • trinix
    aren't all rts games just pc exclusive. I mean the thing they'll release on the console won't be worth half as much as the pc version, with better control. Don't get me wrong, I love how console players pay for my games too, and they'll probably have to pay more to pay M$ or Sony.

    I really don't mind sharing my pc games, as long as it's a pc game and not a console port. We have at least 101 keys, remember that and don't map 10 functions under 1 key.

    And piracy, blegh, like that ever put a dent into sales. Make good games and pirates will buy them. Make bad games and consumers will pirate them.
    Reply