Discussion: The Fate of RTS's

[Shinobi-Iri (nick)]

Ok guys, I've got a topic for us to discuss first off, and feel free to feed off my opinions and give your own on this...that's what we're here for. I believe that the gaming industry now doesn't produce a lot of good-quality Real-time Strategy games. I think the last really good one was Warcraft 3, and that was released way back in 2003.

I've been really disappointed with the last few recent titles I've played, with one of the games in the Warhammer series standing out best in my mind. I still enjoy your classics like Age of Empires and Dungeon Keeper, but I'm having trouble with the newer ones that just don't excite me. Let's also not forget that there's not a huge amount of new ones being released anyway.

Let's discuss...

[madkill]

RTS games were dying out ages ago as soon as EA started stocking out the market etc..but however, they are improving very slowly and progressively which is something good out of it all.

But to be honest, there are lots of RTS games out there still that don't get or really advertise themselves much, Settlers is a good RTS.
Sins of a Solar Empire as well, but it seems a lot of RTS' are going Micro Management.

In all, I'd say EA made the right choice not to make a Dungeon Keeper III, they were thinking too far ahead of their current technology back then.

[Shinobi-Iri (nick)]

It really is a shame about DKIII though, I must say. As a fellow DK'er Madkill, you know how phenominal those games were. I do feel as though if they made it now, I wouldn't like it. It just wouldn't have that old school charm the former games had, it's just progressed too far.

As for their improvement, I'm not sure. I'll wait until I find a great game to play before I make that opinion valid. But pseaking of good RTS's, I did forget to mention Rise of Nations, that was sweet.

[madkill]

if they tried to make it back then it wouldn't of been good what with all the Bullfrog Dev's sacked when EA Bought them out.

I suggest Sins of a Solar Empire(which takes up a lot of time) or Settlers VI. (wont take up as much time)

[Shinobi-Iri (nick)]

A petition might work, I mean not a lot of people are familiar with the DK series but if we got one going it might raise some public interest. I'm sure we talked about this on KeeperKlan at some point, and I guess the industry doesn't just pump out games because a small group of people want it too. Still, it would be so good to play, I think you'll agree.

I think a good idea would be to get some of the gaming community involved in making a game, specifically an RTS. To incorporate all of the things that make an RTS great (i.e. replayability is a big thing, enveloping storyline, maybe a bit of real life stuff chucked in etc.) and get some wicked games made. I know they're capable of it, you know?

[madkill]

been, done...denied.
just wait, Dungeon Keeper III will come in due time ^^

[Shinobi-Iri (nick)]

That made me wonder whether or not you have some inside information, what do you know?

[Shinobi-Iri (nick)]

Ok, now that I know what you were talking about, I have to say I'm excited about the DKIII project. But at the same time I can't help but feel scared, I mean what if we end up butchering the whole series? The way I see it, this will go one of two ways;

A. the game is a complete success and revives mass interest in the franchise

or

B. disappointment to SOME degree...

I wish so bad that it was A., but I still don't know...

[Amazing]

RTS games aren't dying imo, they're just less popular these days because the older generation of gamers who grew up with loads of RTS games are moving on while the newer generation of gamers consists of more 'up-close' games such as FPS, arcade and sport games.

With the introduction of voice-chat gamers in other genres, such as FPS, had a chance to work as a team more as well as chat while playing the faster paced, 'right in the action' games. While voice-chat is still useful in RTS, it is no-where near as important because you have the aid of text, a mini-map and the games tend to move a lot slower.

Multi player wise, strategy games will always be at the top because they were, and still are, the best to watch! I mean come on, who wouldn't want to see two to whatever the number of players you can have now forming an army and laying siege onto another players fortress? RTS has always been more of a challenge then other games as well simply because YOU HAD TO THINK OF A STRATEGY IN ORDER TO WIN!

I would say more on this topic about how much I love RTS, but it'd just take to long

[Shinobi-Iri (nick)]

You bring up some good points, I do agree that RTS games are the best to watch multiplayer-wise. But there are worldwide tournaments for games such as Halo, whereas the only games being played and regularly talked about in the RTS side of things are games like Starcraft and Warcraft, and that's only because they're popular in places like Korea.

I guess my opinion on the whole issue pretty much coincides with yours, in that they're not dying per se, just losing their popularity. But soon enough, I think if another ground-breaking game is not produced, they're going to fizzle out.

[madkill]

agree with Amazing completely.
There are actually lots of RTS' around today, but you just have to look, a lot of which are quite interesting.

Heck...even some older ones are good.
I have a keen eye on something my friends lil'bro had but could never understand how to play.
(when I did figure it out myself what with being like 10 yrs old at the time, his bro started getting annoying while I was trying to have some fun...also showing him how to do this and that..damn he was such a git)