Sega Talks on Total War MMO, 3D
Sega is considering both 3D and a Total War MMO.
Mike Hayes of Sega West recently spoke with CVG about the company's new strategy for hardcore and casual games, Sony's PlayStation Move, what's coming to E3 2010, and the future of the Total War strategy series.
Hayes admitted that many people have asked if the company has considered taking the Total War franchise into MMO territory, however he would not confirm that Sega is indeed heading in that direction.
"We're constantly looking at [taking Total War in that direction], but MMO is a very competitive market," he said. "We want to get the core games right before anything else." He also added that MMOs are "feast or famine" with publishers, noting the somewhat-profitable Football Manager Live which has a 35,000-user fanbase.
The core games Hayes refers to is Aliens vs. Predator, Aplpha Protocol, and Bayonetta. He said that Sega is hoping to extend those games into full-blown franchises, to "sequal-ize" these particular titles. With that said, a Total War MMO may be a ways off... if at all.
Hayes also offered his take on 3D gaming, emphasizing that it's important to provide the real enhanced experience rather than throw in the technology "for technology's sake." His comment echos James Cameron and Codemasters Studios VP Gavin Cheshire who both insist that 3D projects are to be constructed from the beginning, and not tacked on in later stages.
"The first few games to prove we can play in three dimensions will be amazing," he said. "But eventually it will go back to what the story is, what the emotional connection is. It will just become: 'Oh, it's 3D again...' For us, we're still some way off 3D games until we can make one that's commercially viable."
How about a first-person 3D Sonic title?
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Kevin Parrish has over a decade of experience as a writer, editor, and product tester. His work focused on computer hardware, networking equipment, smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, and other internet-connected devices. His work has appeared in Tom's Hardware, Tom's Guide, Maximum PC, Digital Trends, Android Authority, How-To Geek, Lifewire, and others.
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manitoublack SEGA did 3D on the master system 20+ years ago. Shutter glasses on a stock standard CRT TV. And after 20 years it's still a maybe?Reply -
mattfoo2324 I would love a Total War MMO (having played Medieval 1, Rome, Medieval 2, and Empire, and the expansions). I just have trouble believing it could be do-able, especially considering you need a beast to run the gamse on single player, let alone multiplayer. Creative Assembly needs to focus on making less buggy TW games, not MMOs.Reply -
Bluescreendeath True that. The Total War games have been declining in quality IMO...Reply
Btw, for the lovers of Rome:TW, Europa Barbarorum is the greatest mod ever created for RTW, possible the greatest RTS mod ever created. -
EXT64 Which is why the most exciting thing for me coming up in Total War is EBII on the Medieval II engine. And as to an MMO, NO! Quality is declining because they are trying to do too complex of things. Go back to the basics (melee) like a Rome II or Shogun II PLEASE.Reply -
aethm I would love to see a total war MMO. Although I'm not sure how it would work? Each player commanding their own army or unit? Or each unit working together as individual players.Reply -
Horhe EXT64Which is why the most exciting thing for me coming up in Total War is EBII on the Medieval II engine. And as to an MMO, NO! Quality is declining because they are trying to do too complex of things. Go back to the basics (melee) like a Rome II or Shogun II PLEASE.No, quality is declining because they rush games out, instead of releasing them when they are finished.Reply
And no, Europa Barbarorum isn't the best mod because it's so painfully slow. You hit end turn and then you have time to drink some beers until you can play again.
On topic: They barely made campaign map multiplayer, and now they think of MMO? I don't see this happening. -
fumanchu Opps, was meaning to say I enjoyed both MTW and MTW 2 and play both actively in my downtime. Good game series and would be interesting to see how it panned out if they took it towards the MMO direction.Reply