Spartan, or Age of Empire Online

[CeeKay]

from ex-Age of Empire developers comes a new RTS called Spartan.  not much details available since it's apparently NDA breakers letting the cat out of the bag, but if they could re-create the Age of Empires then it will be good.

[Blackjack]

Perhaps SC2 will spark another RTS Age, where the PC game shelves are full of games by desperate developers trying to get on the RTS Gravy Train (ala much of the late 1990s). I swear back in around 1999, I couldn't turn in any direction in a PC games section without some anonymous new RTS sticking in my face.

I still don't know why Relic's RTSs like Company of Heroes and Warhammer don't sell in anything like RTS heyday numbers. WWII and Warhammer exhaustion? Too-high system requirements? Not appealing enough to the Korean RTS competitive-fanatic market?  

Robot has a staff page (Bruce Shelly isn't part of it fwiw -- Wiki indicates he's consulting with UbiSoft on a new Settlers game):
http://www.robotentertainment.com/studio

[drifter]

Its in Alpha testing right now, not saying how I know that 

[raydude]

Perhaps I'm just typing into the wind but for the love of jeebus, whoever is alpha testing, don't let them drop frakkin formations.

They promised me frakkin formations in Age of Empires III, and I saw an early dev build where riflemen would stay in line formation and such. It was going to make combat much more tactical. In the final product units still formed a loose gaggle and it was all about whose blob was bigger (or beating the "rock" blob with the "paper" blob).

Seems to me Spartan and the time period it is set in would have rely even more on formations. Wasn't staying in a phalanx the secret to Spartan successes in battle? If it becomes another blobfest then there is nothing to set it apart from the rest of the RTS crowd and I will just skip it.

[baelthazar]

on't let them drop frakkin formations.

I'm a big fan of "frakkin" formations. The wife also loves them. They are particularly necessary in groups of 3 or more. 

This looks intriguing, but a little cartoony from the early stuff. Hopefully this will be as serious as the previous "Ages of..."

[kronovan]

Wow...that's awesome news and quite a surprise that MS will produce it. My only regret, and I brace myself to be flamed, is that they're not also bringing it to 360 with the quality they delivered in Halo Wars. 

[CeeKay]

Wow...that's awesome news and quite a surprise that MS will produce it. My only regret, and I brace myself to be flamed, is that they're not also bringing it to 360 with the quality they delivered in Halo Wars. 

don't worry, we won't flame you Kronovan.



_{omeonesay easeplay ameflay onovankray.}

[baelthazar]

Wow...that's awesome news and quite a surprise that MS will produce it. My only regret, and I brace myself to be flamed, is that they're not also bringing it to 360 with the quality they delivered in Halo Wars. 

LTP n00b, QQ more why don't you!

 

[CeeKay]

Wow...that's awesome news and quite a surprise that MS will produce it. My only regret, and I brace myself to be flamed, is that they're not also bringing it to 360 with the quality they delivered in Halo Wars. 

LTP n00b, QQ more why don't you!

 

that's the best you can do?  sorry, you're not going to Hollywood.

[kronovan]

Wow...that's awesome news and quite a surprise that MS will produce it. My only regret, and I brace myself to be flamed, is that they're not also bringing it to 360 with the quality they delivered in Halo Wars. 

LTP n00b, QQ more why don't you!

 

that's the best you can do?  sorry, you're not going to Hollywood.

OK I know what LTP n00b is, but what is 'QQ'? On 2nd thought, maybe I don't want to know.
 

[CeeKay]

Wow...that's awesome news and quite a surprise that MS will produce it. My only regret, and I brace myself to be flamed, is that they're not also bringing it to 360 with the quality they delivered in Halo Wars. 

LTP n00b, QQ more why don't you!

 

that's the best you can do?  sorry, you're not going to Hollywood.

OK I know what LTP n00b is, but what is 'QQ'? On 2nd thought, maybe I don't want to know.
 

QQ 

[WalkingFumble]

Closed beta signups have started.

http://www.ageofempiresonline.com/

[drifter]

This is a big week for us. Watch for us at gamescom as we show the world the game you've been experiencing for the past few months. Come check out our new website, ageofempiresonline.com. And let your friends know—encourage anyone who's interested to sign up for the Closed Beta today.

Hey go sign up

[WalkingFumble]

This is a big week for us. Watch for us at gamescom as we show the world the game you've been experiencing for the past few months. Come check out our new website, ageofempiresonline.com. And let your friends know—encourage anyone who's interested to sign up for the Closed Beta today.

Hey go sign up

Looks like someone might have possibly been in the alpha..   

[drifter]

Who What Where? 

[CeeKay]

it's official, it's Greeks vs Egyptians.

[CeeKay]

last chance to get in the beta for this: https://twitter.com/#!/ageofempires/status/66034615541972992

sounds like anyone who signs up gets in.