Gaming for the easily distracted

Choice is a funny thing, turning the most dedicated fan into a fickle dabbler.

Up until last weekend I was burning through the single player missions in Operation Flashpoint 2.

Before going any further. this game has been the victim of an unfair online bashing, although hindsight should have seen it coming. Game developers really can't expect to produce a 'tactical' first person shooter with the detailed heritage of Operation Flashpoint and forget to include a robust multiplayer component. Codemasters did and consequently mulitplayer fans (who by their very nature spend a lot of time online) took the protests to the forums blogs and quite frankly anyone else who would publish their complaints.

Sadly, the game is quite a good first person shooter. When played in hardcore mode its like Ghost Recon Advanced Warrior but with a huge and open sandbox. Admittedly, the lack of save points throughout the entire mission in hardcore has had me playing through the campaign longer than I would have if there was an opportunity to save wherever I pleased or even with preset autosaves. At least the experience hasn't been as painful as say, Mass Effect whose savepoints can make you sit through the same cut-scene over and over.

Back to the point
So, making my way through OF: DR when I see the pre-order offer for Napoleon: Total War on Steam which not only throws in some elite units but also Medievel War 2: Total War. Call me impulsive, but I bought it. While I was waiting for to download I loaded up Empire: Total War.

Well, 22 gaming hours later Sweden is a bustling nation breaking out and spilling over its nieghbor's borders whether invited or not.

As of this moment and according to Steam (which doesn't track all of the games for playing time) I have given my fickle gaming love to ETW first and and foremost lately with 22 current hours and 120 total, OF:DR a not so close second with 5 recent hours and 65 total and bringing up third is my experiment of playing the original Mass Effect with 1.2 recent hours and 9 total.

As mentioned before, the Mass Effect is to see if I like genre and title enough to invest money and time into the upcoming follow up and new release.

The diagnosis doesn't look promising.

Sega going Napoleon on February 26th

The game that brings together real time and turn based strategy fans is going Napoleon when the creators behind the Total War series releases the latest edition on February 26th.

Both the standard edition and the super-special Imperial Edition versions of the Napoleon: Total War will be released on the same day.

The Imperial Edition will include some exclusive game content, such as Elite Regiments. That includes the French 5e Regiment de Hussards, the Russian Pavlograd Hussars, the Prussian 8th Life Regiment, the Austrian 47th (Czech) Regiment and the British 88th Foot "Connaught Rangers".

The Imperial Edition will also include The Heroes of the Napoleonic Wars content, which gives an extra unit for certain nations - the 7th Lancers (France), Brandeburg Uhlans (Prussia), 1st Hussars (Austria), 15th Hussars (Great Britain), 1st East Prussian Grenadier Battalion (Prussia), 6th Regiment d’Infanterie Légère (France), 17th Jäger Regiment (Russia), 1st Regiment Emperor's Own (Austria), 18th Regiment d’Infanterie de Ligne “The Brave” (France) and Moscow Musketeers (Russia).

Empire Total War is on the regular roster to play in the few hours I get to squeeze in. While managing an empire is somewhat challenging to this particular PC player, reliving war strategies from a military age gone by is an experience impossible to find in any other title.

I recently stumbled across the Prince of Macedon' You Tube page which not only features walkthroughs/replays of his online E:TW battles, but also includes self-made mini documentaries about early and mid century battles. Obviously setting up the camera on a stand, the videos are full of interesting information, facts and figures.

Whether new players are looking for a reason to get into Empire: Total War, or those who are already playing are looking for tips and hints, this is definitely YouTube channel to subscribe to.

Right now, I'm heading over to Steam and giving some serious thought to the pre-order offer of Napoleon: Total War Imperial Edition. It comes with Medievel II: Total War for only $10 more than the vanilla version, a bargain at half the price!