Total War: Rome II - After 9 years of waiting... - PAX 2013

The interview focuses on why the Rome Total War project was revived as Total War: Rome II and what the development team at Creative Assembly brings to the table with modern technology. The developers emphasize that the nine-year gap since the original Rome Total War allowed them to leverage new engine capabilities, higher fidelity visuals, and improved audio to recreate the ancient world with greater atmosphere and detail. They discuss how the battlefield mechanics, while not broken in the original, can be expanded through better technology to deliver more immersive environments, including varied lighting, weather, and elevation to create a stronger sense of place. A major point is the new diplomacy UI, which exposes AI decision making by presenting factions’ past actions and their impact on trust and cooperation, making diplomatic interactions feel more natural and trackable. They also highlight the integration of an expanded soundtrack recorded with a full symphony orchestra and authentic ethnic instruments to convey Rome’s melting pot of cultures. The video closes with demonstrations of two playable battles, the Nile battle showing combined land and sea warfare and the Battle of Teutberg Forest illustrating a challenging historic engagement, underscoring the scale, fidelity, and strategic depth that Rome II aims to deliver. Overall, the interview frames Rome II as a significant leap forward driven by technology, talent, and a responsive design ethos intended to satisfy long-time fans while inviting new players into a more immersive total war experience.

Topics · video games · strategy games · game development · technology