A Blast from the Past 8-Bit Armies is a classic, C&C-style Real-Time Strategy PC game. It's our most fast-paced, friendly, and accessible RTS game to date. Featuring offline single-player missions, co-op mode, skirmish, and PvP multiplayer modes running on dedicated servers.
Initial release includes: 25 offline campaign missions 10 co-op missions to play with your friends 10 multiplayer/skirmish maps that support up to 8 players online AI with multiple difficulty options to play with cooperatively or fight against Classic Base-Building mechanics let you construct the ultimate HQ from which to launch attacks against your foes Destructible environments on maps ranging from small to very large Easy to understand modern military units and structures lets RTS beginners jump right in From the same team that brought you RTS classics such as Star Wars: Empire at War, Universe at War, and Grey Goo
8-Bit Armies is for anyone that enjoys RTS games, or felt overwhelmed by more serious games. With hours of solo and co-op gameplay included, there's something here for everyone!
I am sure Jimmy will come soon and tell me how this one will fail as well but before that check out this gameplay preview trailer:
Personally I am excited :D This looks simple and fast enough to be as fun as good old C&C games.
Seems like some quick fun game. Think they made this title due to economic trouble after Grey Goo, might be wrong though.
Something I am interested in that I couldn't see was if you could dodge the shots, since they have animations they might hit things not the target? No friendly fire on the nuke is kind of sad as well.
On March 14 2016 19:24 Yurie wrote: Seems like some quick fun game. Think they made this title due to economic trouble after Grey Goo, might be wrong though.
Something I am interested in that I couldn't see was if you could dodge the shots, since they have animations they might hit things not the target? No friendly fire on the nuke is kind of sad as well.
I don't think any RTS had that, why expect it from this one.
As for Nuke, if you look at it again, it was only dropped on enemy units. You can see clearly a circle that shows area of effect and no friendly units were inside it.
On March 14 2016 19:24 Yurie wrote: Seems like some quick fun game. Think they made this title due to economic trouble after Grey Goo, might be wrong though.
Something I am interested in that I couldn't see was if you could dodge the shots, since they have animations they might hit things not the target? No friendly fire on the nuke is kind of sad as well.
I don't think any RTS had that, why expect it from this one.
As for Nuke, if you look at it again, it was only dropped on enemy units. You can see clearly a circle that shows area of effect and no friendly units were inside it.
I know Supreme Commander has it. Think Total Annihilation had it as well but was too long since I played it.
On March 14 2016 20:55 -Archangel- wrote: If it did that would be most hilarious since those games need least micro to win battles.
I would say that is based on the macro mechanics that allows you to create more and stronger units. There are few special abilities which might make the micro seem easier but when watching good players they micro the units a lot. One of their tanks can kill two of a lesser players tanks.
On March 14 2016 19:24 Yurie wrote: Seems like some quick fun game. Think they made this title due to economic trouble after Grey Goo, might be wrong though.
Something I am interested in that I couldn't see was if you could dodge the shots, since they have animations they might hit things not the target? No friendly fire on the nuke is kind of sad as well.
Doubt this is because of financial problems, its mostly about RTS just not being popular enough to warrant expend what petroglyph did in Grey goo if your name isnt Blizzard (and those games sells because they are called Starcrat and Warcraft)
On March 14 2016 19:24 Yurie wrote: Seems like some quick fun game. Think they made this title due to economic trouble after Grey Goo, might be wrong though.
Something I am interested in that I couldn't see was if you could dodge the shots, since they have animations they might hit things not the target? No friendly fire on the nuke is kind of sad as well.
I don't think any RTS had that, why expect it from this one.
As for Nuke, if you look at it again, it was only dropped on enemy units. You can see clearly a circle that shows area of effect and no friendly units were inside it.
On March 14 2016 19:24 Yurie wrote: Seems like some quick fun game. Think they made this title due to economic trouble after Grey Goo, might be wrong though.
Something I am interested in that I couldn't see was if you could dodge the shots, since they have animations they might hit things not the target? No friendly fire on the nuke is kind of sad as well.
I don't think any RTS had that, why expect it from this one.
As for Nuke, if you look at it again, it was only dropped on enemy units. You can see clearly a circle that shows area of effect and no friendly units were inside it.
Age of Empires?
Every ranged unit in AoE had that? Archers and spear throwers?
On March 14 2016 19:24 Yurie wrote: Seems like some quick fun game. Think they made this title due to economic trouble after Grey Goo, might be wrong though.
Something I am interested in that I couldn't see was if you could dodge the shots, since they have animations they might hit things not the target? No friendly fire on the nuke is kind of sad as well.
I don't think any RTS had that, why expect it from this one.
As for Nuke, if you look at it again, it was only dropped on enemy units. You can see clearly a circle that shows area of effect and no friendly units were inside it.
On March 14 2016 19:24 Yurie wrote: Seems like some quick fun game. Think they made this title due to economic trouble after Grey Goo, might be wrong though.
Something I am interested in that I couldn't see was if you could dodge the shots, since they have animations they might hit things not the target? No friendly fire on the nuke is kind of sad as well.
I don't think any RTS had that, why expect it from this one.
As for Nuke, if you look at it again, it was only dropped on enemy units. You can see clearly a circle that shows area of effect and no friendly units were inside it.
Age of Empires?
Every ranged unit in AoE had that? Archers and spear throwers?
yes, you need to research Ballistics to hit moving targets and also some other upgrade for archers too get 100% hit on stationary
looks like a reskin of C&C generals which is pretty awesome. Btw a bit off topic but I really feel that Generals is a greatly underappreciated game. in my opinion it is one of the finest rts games on the market and the graphics still hold up after 10+ years yet it is rarely mentioned
Unit/building rosters look like a standardized version of what you'd find in early C&C games, and the UI looks like it has most of the solid improvements that came with Red Alert 2. The old C&C games were pretty fun, and this looks to be fun too considering its a faithful copy of that gameplay. There's not much to complain about here, especially since the C&C franchise is dead or at least on extended hiatus.
Check out Open RA if you want more old school C&C gameplay with a few modern updates. That also has Tiberian Dawn, Dune 2000, Tiberian Sun, and soon Red Alert 2 mods for more variety.
On March 15 2016 04:10 SlammerIV wrote: looks like a reskin of C&C generals which is pretty awesome. Btw a bit off topic but I really feel that Generals is a greatly underappreciated game. in my opinion it is one of the finest rts games on the market and the graphics still hold up after 10+ years yet it is rarely mentioned
agreed, zero hour had real potential, shame ea left it at the horrendous balance of 1.04...i was part of the community 1.06 patch efforts
On March 14 2016 19:24 Yurie wrote: Seems like some quick fun game. Think they made this title due to economic trouble after Grey Goo, might be wrong though.
Something I am interested in that I couldn't see was if you could dodge the shots, since they have animations they might hit things not the target? No friendly fire on the nuke is kind of sad as well.
I don't think any RTS had that, why expect it from this one.
As for Nuke, if you look at it again, it was only dropped on enemy units. You can see clearly a circle that shows area of effect and no friendly units were inside it.
RA95 (Red Alert 1) you could dodge tank shots via Q micro. Probably the game with the highest mechanical ceiling of any RTS (not strategical depth though).
On March 17 2016 07:07 Laserist wrote: Considering how big of a fail GG is, this must the best they can achieve
Jokes aside, I don't really understand why they still bank on C&C style which phased out more than a decade ago. 0/10 wouldn't buy.
i think there is a group of hardcore C&C fans that want a fast-fluid experience with minimal economy management. its a style of RTS i enjoy.. i like RA3; just enough economy management to make it an RTS. I find it odd that 12 minutes into a SC1 or SC2 game that half my units are workers.
anyhow i think this is why they keep bringing up C&C. it has micro like SC but a lot less in-base housekeeping-chores.
In moving from SC1 to SC2 Browder did a nice job with the MULE, Queen, and Chronoboost to make in-base tasks have some meaningful choices.
On March 15 2016 04:10 SlammerIV wrote: looks like a reskin of C&C generals which is pretty awesome. Btw a bit off topic but I really feel that Generals is a greatly underappreciated game. in my opinion it is one of the finest rts games on the market and the graphics still hold up after 10+ years yet it is rarely mentioned
Yeah, I still watch CnC Generals casts. Mechanically its the best CnC they ever made. Tib Wars is not bad either though the super units do make things completely weird at times.
Also what's funny is that 15 years after the War on Terror started, that game with its cheesy story in Zero Hour basically called how everything turned out. Which is the biggest/saddest realization if you go back to that game.
On April 26 2016 01:04 Antisocialmunky wrote: Also what's funny is that 15 years after the War on Terror started, that game with its cheesy story in Zero Hour basically called how everything turned out. Which is the biggest/saddest realization if you go back to that game.
Sperry is a visionary in more than just game design.
Had a play. Got my steam refund after about 40 minutes.
We don't make RTS games like this anymore for a reason. If you're going to remake an old game then make sure it's a good one first. Unfortunately the only 90's RTS that's worth remaking that doesn't get remade is Netstorm, and I don't think anyone's remaking that (or at least not properly)
What, this is an remake? Thought it was a new C&C game. And C&C or not, has nothing to do with low fluid economy.
Meaning, you can have tons of different RTS games with low fluid economy which isnt anything like C&C. I dont know why i bother to respond to something raynor said though.
Generals was so much fun, although the original Zero Hour was unbalanced as heck. Air Force general or Infantry general usually dominated and vanilla Generals had that Scud Storm hack/exploit. Still, great game and also very easy to mod since everything was basically zipped INI files. Had a lot fun making the Shockwave mod with friends and playtesting various new stuff.
On April 29 2016 01:47 Foxxan wrote: What, this is an remake? Thought it was a new C&C game. And C&C or not, has nothing to do with low fluid economy.
Meaning, you can have tons of different RTS games with low fluid economy which isnt anything like C&C. I dont know why i bother to respond to something raynor said though.
It's not a remake, but it is very C&C 95. IThe 'campaign' (basically skirmish maps with light backstory and challenge objectives) especially is C&C reference after C&C reference.
Petro is active on Steam / gog forums. Second patch was released not too long ago and addressed a lot of feedback.
i read that they said they will be adding a ELO rank with 1v1, 2v2, etc... soon, they are trying to get the core game fully completed with patches and what not before going for that
Game is basically an Early Access game sold as full release. 15$ is the price but it is not worth more. And it is not even C&C 95 because that one had better missions, cinematics between missions and better multiplayers with 2 factions that had interesting units.
Anyone interested in this can also play Open RA for free and that is better than this in every way.
Petro must be very broke when they decided to make this... this game might be worth it in 6 months when they added meaningful content to the game.
On April 29 2016 17:09 -Archangel- wrote: Game is basically an Early Access game sold as full release. 15$ is the price but it is not worth more. And it is not even C&C 95 because that one had better missions, cinematics between missions and better multiplayers with 2 factions that had interesting units.
Anyone interested in this can also play Open RA for free and that is better than this in every way.
Petro must be very broke when they decided to make this... this game might be worth it in 6 months when they added meaningful content to the game.
The developers claim to be planning 6 more factions for the game, with accompanying campaigns. I hope the graphical style of the game lets them iterate this content faster, and I hope that the development can last that long. Otherwise, I feel like this game is worth $5 to $8 in its current form.
As for bashing the game now when you promoted it, nothing wrong with that, infact i would say its a good thing. You never knew how the game would end up like, now you give an honest opinion which is appreciated even.
As for the game, It for sure is lacking. And i was only interested in the multiplayer. Anyway, as for the gameplay it feels a bit bad. Cant even make a refinery close to the cash, i tried two maps. Micro feels very clunky. Iam not sure they will really improve the core gameplay but maybe iam wrong.
The graphic though, its nothing wrong at it infact i kinda like that its not any fancy graphics because what really matters is the gameplay and if the gameplay was great i would be in love.
I also don't mind the graphics except everything looks plain (which it didn't in C&C 95: Mammoth tanks and Orca were noticeable and so were many NOD units like flame tanks or stealth tanks) and I don't like many of the sounds. They went a bit overboard with whole 8 bit and made units sounds a bit too primitive (but music seems good).
The way you make buildings is I think cool, you need to snake your way to other refineries which makes your base vulnerable to attacks and harassment which is cool.
As for unit micro, there is the tanks and harvesters squish infantry so you need to micro both those and your infantry to avoid it.
Except for that, there is not much other micro that means anything. Units build superfast and are spammable and you don't really need to make sure everyone lives by pulling them back.
The UI is good and game has ingame tutorial with videos and a tech tree (Act of Aggression lacks something like this badly).
On April 29 2016 06:21 Thezzy wrote: Generals was so much fun, although the original Zero Hour was unbalanced as heck. Air Force general or Infantry general usually dominated and vanilla Generals had that Scud Storm hack/exploit. Still, great game and also very easy to mod since everything was basically zipped INI files. Had a lot fun making the Shockwave mod with friends and playtesting various new stuff.
Dota is by far the worst example you could give of a free game, right up there with League. 8-bit seems like a $15 game that made by a small studio and its quality is on par with that. Not the multi-billion dollar company that is Valve.
On April 29 2016 17:36 -Archangel- wrote: Campaign is just a bunch of skirmish maps with stupid additional goals. I would not even call it a campaign.
For people wanting to play SP, better to buy Grey Goo (their previous game) than this one.
And for MP, Act of Aggression Reboot edition is a far superior game than 8 bit.
And for MP Co-op, sc2 Co-op is free to play for anyone and it is also way superior.
EDIT: Also I understand I am now bashing a game I promoted here but they didn't deliver in my opinion. At least not in the current version.
You realize you are comparing 3 titles that cost at least 4x times than this one right ?
You want a $15 dollar game to be comparable with a $60 one ?
Not defending the game in any way, but your comparisson its kinda awful, compare it to games that cost the same amount of money.
Grey Goo is 30$ AoA can be bought on sale for 30$ (when it is on sale) Sc2 Co-op is free.
Also 15$ means nothing when there is nothing to play here. It might cost 5$ and it would change nothing. You are wasting your time playing this game when each of its aspects are done better by 3 other new games. And if we look at older games even C&C 95 has a better campaign and better MP (although its MP is dead now but look up Open RA) than 8 bit (but no Co-op). Open RA is free to play, it has 3 similar games as 8 bit, all done better than 8 bit. RA2 is cheap on EA store and better than 8 bit in campaign or MP.
I can't speak for this game as I haven't tried it yet, but about Grey Goo...
tl;dr: Good intentions and good design principles alone do not translate into a good product. Petroglyph had good intentions, and their design principles were a breath of fresh air compared to Dayvie's idiotic ramblings on Battle.net, but a lack of optimization and game balance, combined with game design that failed to meet their game design principles resulted in a huge money pit.
1. Technical Issues - The game's performance was terrible. Early on, it ran horribly even on good rigs because it limited its resource usage unnecessarily. Even today, it runs horribly. One problem with the game was that workers are essentially free, but they still exist as uncontrollable units in the game world. Imagine Starcraft if workers didn't take up supply. Deathballs would be even bigger, and the game would buckle under the vastly increased unit count To make matters worse, all units used projectile weapons; there were no hitscan weapons like the Marine and the Immortal's weapons in SC2. All those projectiles and free workers took up a lot of computer resources, which, when combined with the game's terrible performance, resulted in a horrible gaming experience.
2. Unresponsive Controls - Controls had a lot of lag, and I'm not talking about the "lag" that LoL players feel when they play DotA. Not only did the units have turn rates and other things that slowed down their response time, but the actual UI itself was laggy and sluggish. It took time for your commands to register, unlike other games where your commands registered right away, even if your units don't obey them instantly.
3. Too much money spent on graphics. The CGI was pretty but the characters weren't memorable enough to warrant it. Also, the units are all pretty but that isn't worth much in an RTS where you're supposed to be zoomed out all the way. In fact, the game's graphics look terrible compared to Starcraft 2 because they seem have to been made to be looked at from the ground level, and not from the commander's top down view.
4. The gameplay was clunky and unintuitive. Starcraft 2 actually has smooth and intuitive gameplay that's hidden behind a massive APM wall. Grey Goo's gameplay was clunky and unintuitive and visible to everyone due to the low skill floor. For example, constructing an Alpha was a convoluted process that involved constructing a large factory and four attachments, then teleporting the factory to one of the attachments and then teleporting the other three attachments to the factory that was connected to the first attachment. This violates the game's simple to learn but hard to master principle, and the fact that it has stayed in the game means that good intentions can't carry a game that's badly designed.
On April 29 2016 06:21 Thezzy wrote: Generals was so much fun, although the original Zero Hour was unbalanced as heck. Air Force general or Infantry general usually dominated and vanilla Generals had that Scud Storm hack/exploit. Still, great game and also very easy to mod since everything was basically zipped INI files. Had a lot fun making the Shockwave mod with friends and playtesting various new stuff.
u made the shockwave mod? nice
The Hunter (also a dutch person) started the mod with a few friends and I joined in soon after. I made several models for the mod (Ironside's missile silo, the coal plant for the Chinese general, the tesla tank and a few others) and we play tested on evenings with the new units. Good times.
On April 30 2016 05:32 -Archangel- wrote: You kind of missed the ball completely. I was saying Grey Goo has better campaign than 8 bit.
Haven't tried this game yet, but the message I was trying to convey was that I have little faith in Petroglyph's ability as a game developer. This game might be good, but I'm going to wait and see.
this game doesnt even attract me watching the gameplay. Its hardcore red alert 1 ripoff, with minecraft graphics and sc2 gameplay and map layout, pure unoriginality. Shallow and uninspiring from first glance. It might be a fun way to kill some time with friends, but not worth a buy in my oppinion, i just dont see it making me stick to it more than 10 hours.