Troy and Rob are over the moon about Longbow’s Hegemony: Wars of Ancient Greece, and invite programmer and writer Rick Yorgason to the show so they can ask that timeless question: “How awesome is your game?” The three go into detail on the game’s simplicity, its superb camera controls and artwork, its integrated and effective tutorial, and the compromises and adjustments Longbow made to the design along the way. Then Rick says there are two copies of the game available to loyal 3MA listeners, and Troy promises to award them randomly to two people who leave comments on this episode. Deadline for comments is Wednesday, July 20th.
Hey Shaun, sorry you missed the sale. Both Troy and I tweeted about the sale, I think, and that’s probably the best place to get stuff like that from us. The show is rarely timely enough, and I probably won’t take the time to post about something like that. So tweets it is.
But really, you should stop by GamersGate once a week. There is usually a sale going on, and it has a deep enough strategy library that it’s worth keeping tabs on if you’re a 3MA listener.
May have to look into this. Some of the looting and town revolt aspects mentioned sound very cool. I love the period and will definitely have to keep an eye out for a sale. Great show and it was nice to hear the convention scene touched on briefly and how that can help a small developer.
Wow, I think I’ve been waiting forever for a game like this. The raiding, supply lines, and other indirect combat sound really interesting, a cool alternative to just conquering everything in sight. I’m so annoyed that I missed the Steam sale! I will check out the demo, and if I decide to buy, I am definitely doing it direct.
Wow, I didn’t even know that the way comments worked on Troy’s site involved pages. Wow.
Well, I’m glad you guys covered this game as it’s been sitting in my pile since the Christmas Steam sale. I’ve seen Rob talking about the Gold edition, but I haven’t picked it up yet. You all made it really hard not to run out and buy it this instant even if I don’t have time to play it.
Great episode, it was nice to hear you guys all fired up about this. Good energy.
I wish 3MA would do an episode dedicated purely to COLONIZATION 1. The topic was touched upon in other episodes, but the great game deserves a full treatment :)
Good show, as usual.
Naturally those with guests from development studios are even more interesting because of the insight and thought processes revealed.
Keep it up!
Having played through the demo of Hegemony Gold: Wars of Ancient Greece, but not yet the full game, I can only thank Longbow Games for enabling a historical strategy game covering the time period and for Three Moves Ahead for setting up an interview with one of its creators to hear comments and thoughts from those here. Flash of Steel was where I’d first heard of the game, and I know I can count on Troy’s fascination with classical and ancient history to point me in the right direction when I’m looking for games set in a genre that doesn’t usually capture the mass market.
And as another blog user pointed out in the Greek National Character thread, one thing Hegemony does quite well is include special locations connected with ancient mythology that were quite real for those living at the time in a manner much like a good reading of Pausanias would later refer to in the second century ACE.
Well done, and I hope to see more!
I’ve been looking for a game that focuses on Greece for a long time. The mechanics certainly sound interesting, from what has been said, but I do like me some relevant theme at times. So, as good as the innovations are and the game is on its own, does it do the theme justice? If so, I should probably consider taking a much closer look.
I’m not so sure if it’s just going to be a Knizian Folly.
Someone let me know, please?
Game sounds very interesting, I’ll have to check it out. Great episode btw, they’ve been very good lately.
Another great podcast. Love hearing about historical strategy game. Especially periods that don’t get enough exposures.
Thanks
According to my save file, I have 50+ hours invested into my campaign to unite Greece. I wrote my thoughts about the game over at QT3, http://www.quartertothree.com/game-talk/showthread.php?t=64587
Jorune
Played this game quite a bit when it came out. It is a very punishing game though and I gave up after being hit from all sides, my multitasking abilities was lacking. However after hearing this episode I am considering to fire up the game again and try out a new more modest strategy of conquest consolidation new conquest, instead of just straight out conquest.