Gamasutra’s "The Future of the Real-Time Strategy Game" makes some interesting comments on the state of RTS games. He asserts (correctly in my opinion) that the games labeled as real-time strategy are actually more accurately described as real-time tactics games.

He makes the point that in the end the only real strategy available in such games is that of enacting a war of attrition (though I would disagree with him in saying that’s the only strategy one can pursue. However there is definitely a limited selection that one can choose to follow) and that games then devolve into who can get the right set of tactics in line.

Warcraft 3 is an excellent example of how Blizzard decided to add tactical choices instead of strategy ones. Many games have followed suit in this. He also notes how many of the new games coming out are leaving the realm of strategy altogether and are focusing primarily on tactics. One will completely loose the ability to build and select which units to build but will merely manage a set number of units predefined for him. Not that that sort of gaming is bad but it does warrant its own genre definition of its own.

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  • Posted by Trebonte at 11:08 am. Category: Uncategorized. No Comments.

    • “Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron’s cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.” – C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity (0)

    No Repeats! - Threadless, Best T-shirts Ever

    This would be a good shirt. I rather like the concept behind it.

    The unfortunate thing about Threadless shirts however is that the shirts are in limited quantity only and they’ll only do re-releases after a certain number of votes have been cast for a shirt. Which means it could be shelved for eternity and beyond.

  • Posted by Trebonte at 12:07 am. Category: Uncategorized. No Comments.

  • Posted by Trebonte at 1:00 pm. Category: Uncategorized. 3 Comments.

    • “Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn’t mean politics won’t take an interest in you.” – Pericles (430 BC). Ouch… (0)

    Unfortunately we regret to inform you that the blog author known as Trebonte has died in a knitting accident. In an attempt to diversify his skill set, he tried his hand at the archaic art of knitting. Unfortunately he was unable to find a teacher and, having greatly underestimated the level of danger involved with knitting, sought to teach himself.

    He was found two hours later wrapped in yarn. Apparently he had strangled himself with the yarn and died to asphyxiation. Needless to say, his online postings will be more infrequent then standard.

    Survived by five siblings, he’ll be remembered as a warning to all.

  • Posted by Trebonte at 8:41 pm. Category: Life. 1 Comment.

    • Remember seeing the video clips of the playdoh running around and constantly getting better? They were mostly represented by bunnies. Anyways, here’s a video sequence of behind the scenes showing how how they went through the entire ordeal. And it was most definitely an ordeal. That… took a lot of work to put it mildly. (0)