Star Wars: Empire at War

tickdude

tickdude

CAGiversary!
Well, I did it. I have not bought a game at "full price" for about 6 years. Not only that, but I bought a collector's edition, which I have never done. But man, this is Star Wars: Empire at War!

Best Buy seemed to have the best deal on this - get a $10 gift card with the purchase of the regular or collector's editions.

I still haven't opened it...may wait for a few user and game mag reviews just to make sure it's worth paying the $$. Still, some people are raving it's the best sci-fi RTS since Starcraft.

Has anyone already started playing the retail version? Any thoughts?
 
Ooh, I loved the demo. I've been tempted to pick it up from BB as well. Getting a $5 RZ coupon in the inbox today doesn't help the temptation.
 
I picked it up a little bit ago and installed it. I'm waiting till the race is over (or at least start!) to play it so I can give my impressions a little later.

You should download the demo that's out there. Its a little short but its so fun that I played it 3 times through. That's what sold me!
 
well if you didn't get it in the mail the other day, this weekend is 10% off best buy :) Im gonna use that + trade ins to knock it down a bit...hopefully they will still have CE's avalible tomorrow :|
 
[quote name='ITDEFX']well if you didn't get it in the mail the other day, this weekend is 10% off best buy :) Im gonna use that + trade ins to knock it down a bit...hopefully they will still have CE's avalible tomorrow :|[/QUOTE]

Unless you get a friendly cashier willing to go throguh the override, the POS system will likely not let you combine the 10% off and $10 gift card.
 
Is it confirmed that the Collectors Edition is on regular CD's, and there is no DVD version made?

Boo-urns to that, I'll just wait for this game to get $30 in 1-2 months like every single hot PC game in the last 3 months has done.
 
[quote name='RedvsBlue']Unless you get a friendly cashier willing to go throguh the override, the POS system will likely not let you combine the 10% off and $10 gift card.[/QUOTE]


i've only had that happen to me once..when I bought a 250$ printer back in september, it was 10% off or 30 GC..not both. other times I could get through it no problems. Most cashiers are going to let things slide if there is a big line behind you.
 
[quote name='Roufuss']Is it confirmed that the Collectors Edition is on regular CD's, and there is no DVD version made?

Boo-urns to that, I'll just wait for this game to get $30 in 1-2 months like every single hot PC game in the last 3 months has done.[/QUOTE]

from the lucasarts.com EAW offical forums, it is confirmed. NO DVD on collectors edition. awwww :(
 
[quote name='ITDEFX']from the lucasarts.com EAW offical forums, it is confirmed. NO DVD on collectors edition. awwww :([/QUOTE]


The ironic part is that the instruction manual says to install insert either CD 1 or the DVD...

Sounds like there was a planned DVD version at one point.

That having been said, there's only 2 CDs so its not like we're talking about Half-Life 2 or F.E.A.R. and their 6 CDs to install.

Now on to the game itself.

A lot of the reviews are saying its too simplistic but from what I've played so far its just about right for my taste. I feel like if you have too many troops to command it gets to be a little overwhelming and you lose track of everything. The heroes system is awesome! Nothing like having Vader run into a group of soldiers and setting off his force push and just decimating everyone.

If you like Star Wars or even simple RTS that don't bother with the whole resource gathering garbage, this one is for you. Don't misunderstand me though, there is resource management but its more in the form of taking over a planet and having them generate money for you.

The space management stuff is really fun too. It almost plays out like a board game the way you can move your troops around and infiltrate enemy planets.
 
The game is perfect IMHO..the demo really shinned if you downloaded and installed a hack to let you play all the units. I like the fact that you can now pan and tilt and zoom closer to the battle and see the action up close and personal. The only thing I notice still present is the slow downs but it is to be expected with all those objects on screen shooting the crap out of each other. By this time tomorrow I will be playing the hell out of it :) I really can't wait...



[quote name='RedvsBlue']The ironic part is that the instruction manual says to install insert either CD 1 or the DVD...

Sounds like there was a planned DVD version at one point.

That having been said, there's only 2 CDs so its not like we're talking about Half-Life 2 or F.E.A.R. and their 6 CDs to install.

Now on to the game itself.

A lot of the reviews are saying its too simplistic but from what I've played so far its just about right for my taste. I feel like if you have too many troops to command it gets to be a little overwhelming and you lose track of everything. The heroes system is awesome! Nothing like having Vader run into a group of soldiers and setting off his force push and just decimating everyone.

If you like Star Wars or even simple RTS that don't bother with the whole resource gathering garbage, this one is for you. Don't misunderstand me though, there is resource management but its more in the form of taking over a planet and having them generate money for you.

The space management stuff is really fun too. It almost plays out like a board game the way you can move your troops around and infiltrate enemy planets.[/QUOTE]
 
[quote name='ITDEFX']The game is perfect IMHO..the demo really shinned if you downloaded and installed a hack to let you play all the units. I like the fact that you can now pan and tilt and zoom closer to the battle and see the action up close and personal. The only thing I notice still present is the slow downs but it is to be expected with all those objects on screen shooting the crap out of each other. By this time tomorrow I will be playing the hell out of it :) I really can't wait...[/QUOTE]


I dunno, I wouldn't call it perfect but it is pretty damn good. Its definetly one of those games who's scores don't reflect how fun it is.
 
Definitely a fun game IMO. But then again, I played SW: Rebellion for years even when there were other and possibly better RTS out there. Nothing beats the SW Universe!

Maybe we should start an EAW clan and whoop up online. Who's game?! :)

One thing I don't like, however, is no in-game pausing except the menu (I like pausing the game and issuing orders and setting up groups without having to scramble) or determining which ships come in during a space fight (this kinda pisses me off).

Can't wait for the mods!
 
[quote name='Ecofreak']Definitely a fun game IMO. But then again, I played SW: Rebellion for years even when there were other and possibly better RTS out there. Nothing beats the SW Universe!

Maybe we should start an EAW clan and whoop up online. Who's game?! :)

One thing I don't like, however, is no in-game pausing except the menu (I like pausing the game and issuing orders and setting up groups without having to scramble) or determining which ships come in during a space fight (this kinda pisses me off).

Can't wait for the mods![/QUOTE]

what they removed the pause from the final release?!?!? arghh...what i didn't like is that when enemy ships come for your system, the battle starts right within firing range. I liked it how i could pause as soon as that happen and start issuing targetting orders to certain ship..oh boy this is gonna get messy.

maybe its not perfect after all :|
 
[quote name='Ecofreak']Definitely a fun game IMO. But then again, I played SW: Rebellion for years even when there were other and possibly better RTS out there. Nothing beats the SW Universe![/QUOTE]

Haha, Rebellion is the reason that I went ahead and got EAW. I figured I enjoyed Rebellion even though the reviewers trashed it, so I should have fun with EAW too since the reviewers actually seemed to like it.

I got a 27 inch WS LCD tv with DVI that has just been dieing for me to get a new pc game to try outputting my pc to. I'll let you know how it goes.


EDIT: By the way, the Best Buy in Greensboro, NC has a whole display case full of regular editions (1 of which I purchased) and about 3 collector's editions as of 315pm.
 
I liked Rebellion as well. I think I'm going to wait to get EaW though. Maybe if it doesn't sell well then the price will drop quickly.
 
[quote name='Mr.Answer']Man why torture yourself, you have a brand new game in your hands and its not installed yet?[/QUOTE]

Alright, alright! I installed it last night and it just so much fun! I have been playing RTS's since Dune II and I like some of the neat things that have been done. I like the manner in which resources are collected (or not!). I am satisfied with the number of different structures and units, though some people are complaining on some forums (and the IGN review which I totally disagree with). I'm certain new units and structures will be introduced in the future, and if the way the demo was broken and mods were created in 2 days, we will see community mods very soon. I remember playing Total Annihilation with 10's of different units (both developer and user mmade) and that did not necessarily make a better RTS.

Finally...it's freakin' Star Wars.

"Remember...the Force will be with you, always."
 
[quote name='RedvsBlue']I dunno, I wouldn't call it perfect but it is pretty damn good. Its definetly one of those games who's scores don't reflect how fun it is.[/QUOTE]

How true. That's the thing...it's not overly complicated but it's fun, and isn't that what it is all about? And in a fun way, Vader kicks serious ass...he, he.
 
alright, convinced me, I will be picking that up tonight, my first pc game purchase since I was about 8 and playing games on the mac.
 
[quote name='ITDEFX']what they removed the pause from the final release?!?!? arghh...what i didn't like is that when enemy ships come for your system, the battle starts right within firing range. I liked it how i could pause as soon as that happen and start issuing targetting orders to certain ship..oh boy this is gonna get messy.

maybe its not perfect after all :|[/QUOTE]

NO NO! My bad!!!

The game DOES have a pause button - but it's not a hot key "p" like I'm used to. It's located beneath the R2-D2 while playing. Even though it's in the game, I don't know why they didn't include the hot key - seems like such a simple thing to impliment. :whistle2:(
 
OK i was really pissed off that I called the manassas, va store when they opened and they told me they had 3 instock (collectors edition). I told them to hold one collectors edition and they confirm they had it. When I got there they were holding the regular edition... I was really po'ed by this and there system now reported NEGITIVE 3 instock :( arghh. So I went to the EBX at the manassas mall (next to target) and they had it.. When I got home i notice the shrink wrap was missing and it looks like they put one of those round stickers on it to keep it shut. I can't find any trace of the concept art anywhere or the bonus maps. anyone who has the collectors edition can you please check your discs (got 2 cds, manual with code and tech tree fold out). What am I missing!??!
 
[quote name='ITDEFX']What am I missing!??![/QUOTE]

The thrid bonus disc. The CE has the same manual and game install discs as the non-CE, but has a third Bonus Disc which contains all the extras. You got hosed.
 
[quote name='Nogib']The thrid bonus disc. The CE has the same manual and game install discs as the non-CE, but has a third Bonus Disc which contains all the extras. You got hosed.[/QUOTE]

ouch
 
UPDATE: called the manager at eb, he "admitted" that i was sold a display copy and the chick who sold it to me put in the normal instead of the regular edition. what a bitch. in other words they probibly opened it, copied it, and put it back in the box.. whats the point of them opening up a PC game like that. I mean they could have just left the removible sleeve for the box out on display and thats it. They did find the 3rd disc so I went back to that store and returned it. what a bunch of fuckers. the game is now up and running.

bastards didn't want to even give me a discount for my trouble :( see this is what I don't go to them, they always pull this sell used as new shit yet they act like there is nothing wrong with them screwing you over. Maybe if they were smart enough they wouldn't be working at a place like that, but oh well....that chick was hott anyways :)
 
[quote name='ITDEFX']UPDATE: called the manager at eb, he "admitted" that i was sold a display copy and the chick who sold it to me put in the normal instead of the regular edition. what a bitch. in other words they probibly opened it, copied it, and put it back in the box.. whats the point of them opening up a PC game like that. I mean they could have just left the removible sleeve for the box out on display and thats it. They did find the 3rd disc so I went back to that store and returned it. what a bunch of fuckers. the game is now up and running.

bastards didn't want to even give me a discount for my trouble :( see this is what I don't go to them, they always pull this sell used as new shit yet they act like there is nothing wrong with them screwing you over. Maybe if they were smart enough they wouldn't be working at a place like that, but oh well....that chick was hott anyways :)[/QUOTE]

I would have returned it and gone to someplace like Target or Best Buy (who both ran sales on the game this week). There is absolutely zero reason to ever buy a high demand game at EB / Gamestop.

You should call up corporate and bitch, they might throw you a gift card for your trouble.
 
[quote name='Roufuss']I would have returned it and gone to someplace like Target or Best Buy (who both ran sales on the game this week). There is absolutely zero reason to ever buy a high demand game at EB / Gamestop.

You should call up corporate and bitch, they might throw you a gift card for your trouble.[/QUOTE]


ok..whats corporate's direct number so I can bitch, i doubt i will get them on a sunday and monday is an iffy if its a holiday. The manager acted like he did nothing wrong but i bet u the bastard copied it, and the key. I will contact lucasarts on monday to see if my key has been active prior to saturday. I wonder what LA can do to EB and the manager if he did do this?
 
Well, I ran into my first bug last night despite being updated to v 1.2. I was playing a galactic conquest game as the Rebels, and I managed to get to Coruscant. I skipped playing the campaigns, and thus I haven't really gotten a feel for the tactical battles, so I just auto-resolve all of them. So I auto-resolved the space battle, and won. I then landed all of my troops and auto-resolved that. It said that I won, and I managed to kill the emperor. I should have won after that, right? I didn't though, for some reason I didn't even have Coruscant occupied. So I tried invading the planet again, and this time it wouldn't let me auto-resolve it. So it took me to the land battle, and right away it said "We are Victorious!" and then nothing happened. I could look around the map at my guys fighting, and I could tell them what to do, but they couldn't hurt the Imperial troops and the Imperial troops couldn't hurt me. So, I was stuck with everyone invincible and the game telling me I had won. There was nothing I could do but to quit the game (It wouldn't even let me retreat.)

So yeah, I was just a tad bit bummed out about that.
 
you can laugh at that 20 some dollar tshirt they are selling in this wierd circular wrapping :O Yea next week you get it for free, but who the hell is going to pay 20 some bucks for a black tshirt saying EAW?
 
I got EAW yesterday and have played a few skirmsih battles and one galactic conquest game. I'm very bad at the galactic conquest mode, and I was barely able to beat the 8-planet mode, but I expected that, since I'm bad at Civilization type games.
The land battles are pretty boring, but the space battles are a ton of fun.
 
[quote name='Kaijufan']I got EAW yesterday and have played a few skirmsih battles and one galactic conquest game. I'm very bad at the galactic conquest mode, and I was barely able to beat the 8-planet mode, but I expected that, since I'm bad at Civilization type games.
The land battles are pretty boring, but the space battles are a ton of fun.[/QUOTE]


reminds me at my early days with SW: Rebellion... spent countless hours building and getting planets to join me, didn't have enough money, then the rebellion came with a can of whoop ass with my name on it and all those countless hours and saved, well the rebellion made a huge fleet and cleaned my clock real good :) didn't know what hit me. This game is a lot faster but see Petro/WW is doing it again.. gives the most of the resource locations to them to start with..they did it with the AI in the CNC series :| bad petro, bad bad bad!
 
[quote name='ITDEFX']reminds me at my early days with SW: Rebellion... spent countless hours building and getting planets to join me, didn't have enough money, then the rebellion came with a can of whoop ass with my name on it and all those countless hours and saved, well the rebellion made a huge fleet and cleaned my clock real good :) didn't know what hit me. This game is a lot faster but see Petro/WW is doing it again.. gives the most of the resource locations to them to start with..they did it with the AI in the CNC series :| bad petro, bad bad bad![/QUOTE]
I played Rebellion a few times. Every single time I played on easy, and every single time the AI beat me. It was sad really.
 
[quote name='Kaijufan']I played Rebellion a few times. Every single time I played on easy, and every single time the AI beat me. It was sad really.[/QUOTE]

yes even on easy the AI comes for you with a fleet and whoops your rear. dont blame yourself, nothing like playing for 13 hrs streight and building your stuff out , saving and saving the game to have the rebels come for you with everything they got. :|

the cutscenes were top notch!

i miss good star wars rendered cutscenes
 
UPDATE: Called EB Corp. Filed a complaint and they are going to resolve it and have the store manager call me within 2 days. I also called Lucasarts and informed them of the situation, and they are going to also investigate this as well (seeing if my key has been used online prior to saturday). What usually happens when the manager calls you?
 
[quote name='Swingman']They usually chew you out for telling on them. ;)[/QUOTE]


good because i am a good mood to cuss right back at them :)
 
[quote name='Ecofreak']Maybe we should start an EAW clan and whoop up online. Who's game?! :)[/QUOTE]

Great idea. I am up for a CAGEAW clan. How can we get this rolling?
 
[quote name='ITDEFX']UPDATE: Called EB Corp. Filed a complaint and they are going to resolve it and have the store manager call me within 2 days. I also called Lucasarts and informed them of the situation, and they are going to also investigate this as well (seeing if my key has been used online prior to saturday). What usually happens when the manager calls you?[/QUOTE]

Did they ever call you? My gf had a horrible experience at Gamestop today, called up a local GS to get the DM's #, and they said they weren't allowed to give it out anymore... they took my number and said they'd give it to him tommorrow and that he'd call me asap.

I'm just wondering if they called and if they did anything for you to compensate.
 
[quote name='Roufuss']Did they ever call you? My gf had a horrible experience at Gamestop today, called up a local GS to get the DM's #, and they said they weren't allowed to give it out anymore... they took my number and said they'd give it to him tommorrow and that he'd call me asap.

I'm just wondering if they called and if they did anything for you to compensate.[/QUOTE]

No, they did not call..they were suppose to call me yesterday but they didn't. So I called them today and the guy looked into my file. He stated it IS company policy to "GUTT" a copy of the game for the display. Even though I dislike gutting the display box, this game had a sleve in which it could be removed without actually opening up the box and be put on the shelf. This wasn't done. See it looks very suspisous that they have only one copy of the game, which was sold to me gutted, yet I get the standard version in the gutted box while they had the CE version discs (including the bonus disc) in there drawer of used games :( So technically they had TWO COPIES , the CE and the Standard.

The first time I filled the report, I was told the store manager was going to call me back..today that guy told me the district manager was suppose to call me. I am more than willing to bet that hes gonna call me when I am working tomorrow and of course I can't answer it during work so hes probibly going to leave me a voice mail telling me its company policy and there is nothing we can do shit.

what happened with your gf at GS?
 
[quote name='tickdude']Great idea. I am up for a CAGEAW clan. How can we get this rolling?[/QUOTE]


If they fix multiplayer then I will be in!

This is the first game in years that gives me trouble when I try playing online with. Windows wants to block it everytime I start a game online and dispite being on my execptions list, I can't start a game :|
 
[quote name='ITDEFX']If they fix multiplayer then I will be in! [/QUOTE]

I just read about the issues some folks are having with MP. I guess there was a developers chat at LucasArts.com tonight and the usual "as soon as it is ready" was provided when someone asked about a new patch.

Also...

- Mod tools will be released...when they are finished.
- They will be looking into balance issues....soon.
- New larger maps will be available...soon.


Here's the thread from tonight's chat (may have to be registered to gain access) :

http://forums.lucasarts.com/thread.jspa?threadID=104239&start=0
 
[quote name='tickdude']I just read about the issues some folks are having with MP. I guess there was a developers chat at LucasArts.com tonight and the usual "as soon as it is ready" was provided when someone asked about a new patch.[/QUOTE]

Given that they released two patches within 2 days of launch gives me hope that they're serious about supporting the game. I've also talked to a developer online and from the sounds of it they are indeed serious about getting things to work.
 
i would like them to add a filter or moderation to the rooms. That should be a priority as it gets pretty nasty in there :| I have stopped playing online because of that and the fact that I can never join a game without the game just sitting there for 10 mins at connection to others :| bigger maps are needed as they feel very small :(

I would love to mod this game
 
anyone figured out how to take out a planetary based ion cannon while in a space battle?!?!? good god, ive set 20 star destroyers to take down a system only to have 3/4 of them wiped out due to ion cannons being fired like every 2 mins :( argghhhhhhhhhhhh
 
Broke down yesterday at BB and picked up the regular edition for full price (they ran out of the t-shirts too). So far, it's an awesome game except for the land battles. Also runs nice and smooth considering my graphics card sucks ass.
 
well at least you don't get these very weird hickups that during a space battle, ships move, then stop, then move, then stop, then move all within 1 second intervals. :( this lasts for about a minute or two and gets very annoying . Its a great game, just gets a little repeative a times. I just devistated hoth :) all too easy. :( god I miss rebellion... you know someone out there is going to make a EAW to Rebellion mod :)
 
[quote name='ITDEFX']well at least you don't get these very weird hickups that during a space battle, ships move, then stop, then move, then stop, then move all within 1 second intervals. :( this lasts for about a minute or two and gets very annoying . Its a great game, just gets a little repeative a times. I just devistated hoth :) all too easy. :( god I miss rebellion... you know someone out there is going to make a EAW to Rebellion mod :)[/QUOTE]

There are some things that I really miss from Rebellion. Like, the Alliance is not supposed to depend on using the military to occupy planets, but there is no other way to get planets to side with you. I liked how Rebellion used heroes to start uprisings and get the planet's populace on your side. Also, I liked how doing things like blowing up half the galaxy with the Death Star, has an effect on how people view your rule.
It's dumb that you can conquer a planet whose populace is against you then remove all troops, and the people do not rebel!
I hope someone does introduce some of the concepts from Rebellion through a mod, but I feel like instituting some of these things would be extremely difficult.
 
[quote name='A7las']There are some things that I really miss from Rebellion. Like, the Alliance is not supposed to depend on using the military to occupy planets, but there is no other way to get planets to side with you. I liked how Rebellion used heroes to start uprisings and get the planet's populace on your side. Also, I liked how doing things like blowing up half the galaxy with the Death Star, has an effect on how people view your rule.
It's dumb that you can conquer a planet whose populace is against you then remove all troops, and the people do not rebel!
I hope someone does introduce some of the concepts from Rebellion through a mod, but I feel like instituting some of these things would be extremely difficult.[/QUOTE]

YES I forgot about that, deplomecy using the empire or rebellion to get a planet to join you, if not you fuck them with your ATATs and garrison the planet :p
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
bread's done
Back
Top