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Sega hints at Total War: MMO

Published on 19th March 2010 by Joe Martin

Sega has hinted that it may look to expand the Total War, AVP and Bayonetta series' in new directions.

Sega West boss Mike Hayes has commented that the company may look to expand some of it's recent titles into new franchises or other genres, making explicit reference to to Aliens vs Predator, Bayonetta and Alpha Protocol as games that company wants to expand on.

Hayes also hinted in a discussion with CVG that Sega hopes to take the Total War series in a "new direction" - possibly an MMO.

"People often ask if we'd take Total War in that [MMO] direction and we're constantly looking at it, but MMO is a very competitive market," Hayes said. "...We want to get the core games right before anything else."

"We've got our shooter with AVP and our RPG with Alpha Protocol - we really want to make that into a franchise. That's the area where we need some success, to sequel-ise that. If you think about it, we can sequel-ise Bayonetta, AVP, Alpha Protocol - if we can make a hit of something like Vanquish - then you add that to Football Manager and Virtua Tennis - we actually have a broad portfolio."

It's interesting to note how successful some of these series have been too - AVP didn't do that well with critics, but went on to sell very well, says Eurogamer. Bayonetta did the opposite though, scoring well with reviewers and failing to hit big at the shops.

Alpha Protocol, the spy RPG being made by Obsidian, isn't out yet but already has us very excited indeed - if only because it's being designed by Chris 'Planescape and Fallout' Avellone.

Let us know your thoughts in the forums.

19 Comments

Discuss in the forums Reply

cjoyce1980 19th March 2010, 12:14

why does every succesfully gaming series lead to a MMO of some sort. what happened to just having a nice contain product???

NethLyn 19th March 2010, 12:20

If AvP stays cheap, then I won't mind a sequel given how short and MP-biased it is, as long as the marine can run a bit faster :)

[PUNK] crompers 19th March 2010, 12:29

just goes to show what a recognisable ip can do for a game, given bayonetta is at least twice the game avp turned out to be

neonplanet40 19th March 2010, 12:35

If they get rid of the auto aim etc in the new avp then ill buy it. Because this one is a waste of money.

matt.bungle 19th March 2010, 13:43

I'm a big fan of Total war and bought every one released from shogan to the latest games.
This is a waste of time as I'm not a big fan of paying a monthly fee to carry on playing a game I have already paid £30 or so for. Keep to what's good or you will end up killing the total war series.

'If it ain't broke'

Chocobollz 19th March 2010, 14:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt.bungle
'If it ain't broke'

Mod it! ;-)

Domestic_ginger 19th March 2010, 15:26

Not exactly TW imo.

I agree; they should stick to what they do well at the moment. I think they may be running out of genres to make total war games for however.

paisa666 19th March 2010, 15:55

Can someone pls explain to me why every RTS company thinks the next step for the franchise its a MMO?

ITs like if they believe that every gamer who loves RTS happens to love MMo too, i dont see how they relate in any way.

Dont kill he Franchise Pls :(

Blizzard did it with Warcraft, pls not you

Unknownsock 19th March 2010, 16:02

AVP is a terrible game...Why, oh why

thehippoz 19th March 2010, 16:08

how would that work as a mmo.. everyone fighting to be the commander rofl

then you have that one kid who levels 24/7 and he's rambo on the battlefield 1v10000choobie

Elton 20th March 2010, 04:08

They should do WW1 Total War.

Or a remake of Shogun, that would sell like hot/cold/freezing/blazing cakes.

GravitySmacked 20th March 2010, 07:13

Total War MMO, hmmm interesting.....

Yslen 20th March 2010, 13:29

The next step in the total war series, in my opinion, is to go in the direction ironclad did with sins of a solar empire - make it real time on such a scale that decisions can still be made in much the same way they are in a turn-based game. A real-time total war, where you zoom from an overview map down to a single unit on the battlefield would be absolutely awesome. It would mean multiplayer came naturally, and previously bodged mechanics like reinforcements would work much more smoothly. There would also be a major advantage to splitting your forces, to divide your opponents attention, rather than the current situation where one massive army is the easiest way to sweep across the map.

Of course, it wouldn't be easy, but I think this is what they should ultimately be aiming for, even if they don't get there for another five years.

Star*Dagger 21st March 2010, 02:15

Total War MMO? sign me up for a lifetime sub!!

Grape Flavor 22nd March 2010, 07:29

Get Alpha Protocol out FIRST, Sega, then start thinking about the sequel. I hope the suits at Sega didn't screw the game up when they delayed it to make "changes". Must every Obsidian game be fouled up by the publisher?

impar 22nd March 2010, 09:39

Greetings!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elton
They should do WW1 Total War.

Boring.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yslen
The next step in the total war series, in my opinion, is to go in the direction ironclad did with sins of a solar empire - make it real time on such a scale that decisions can still be made in much the same way they are in a turn-based game.

That wouldnt be a TW game.

As for TW as a MMO:

Am expecting a Penisnsular War DLC and would like a Vitorian age TW next, with some elements of steampunk.

ApostleUk 22nd March 2010, 16:36

[QUOTE=paisa666

Blizzard did it with Warcraft, pls not you[/QUOTE]

And that is a bad thing?
WoW has become a real casual MMO but it's making them millions.
Other companies are bound to follow that route, if there IP is doing well it's not just RTS games either.
Not a blizz fan boy, by no means they had enough of my life as it is.

impar 22nd March 2010, 17:22

Greetings!

Quote: