EA readies BFME2 for Xbox 360

by Alan Rose { Mar 28th 2006 at 1:20PM }

EA is hoping to solve the interface and control scheme problems for console-based strategy titles -- and milk the Lord of the Rings franchise a little longer. The Battle for Middle-earth 2 is due out on the Xbox 360 later this year, but this won't be a direct port of its PC counterpart.

The publishing giant has enlisted the talents of Louis Castle, a former co-founder of Westwood Studios and veteran of the Command and Conquer series. Castle has always wanted to implement a usable control interface for a console strategy game, and TeamXbox is pleased with what he and his team have come up with so far. Both analog sticks on the 360 controller will be used for panning and zooming across maps, but the key is a context sensitive reticule in the middle of the screen that brings up specific commands for whatever is currently highlighted. BFME2 will also feature many of the same gameplay modes as the PC version, as well as 4-player Xbox Live support.

If the game is well received, it might not be long before we see Civilization or Age of Empires on next gen consoles, or maybe even a true Starcraft sequel.

Tags: battle for middle-earth, electronic arts, xbox 360

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Paul @ Mar 28th 2006 1:36PM

Pardon me for bringing Nintendo into this, but it seems to me their little doohicky is the perfect console controller for Real tiem strategy(or turn based) games. It's basically a mouse pointer, and hell, A is click, B is right click, and you got more buttons there if you need em.

Jake @ Mar 28th 2006 1:48PM

Don't tease us with Starcraft ideas...

pete @ Mar 28th 2006 1:54PM

It could be interesting, hoefully the controls are actually good, not just good enough. I don't think rts games will be all to popular on consoles though, it's a kinda a pc thing. Of course if the controls are good and it has online play it could be pretty awesome.

Sense @ Mar 28th 2006 1:59PM

I actually got a big kick out of Starcraft for the N64. The controls were pretty complex, but there was a surprising amount of actions available, even having saved groups of units.

I'm curious to see how this plays out. I like RTS, but it's hard for me to see a true RTS working on console. I think there is room for hybrid games, like Kingdom Under Fire or Goblin Commander.

I don't think the super intricate games on PC will ever translate very well. Still, hopefully this will work well.

Zanch @ Mar 28th 2006 2:02PM

A true sequel to Starcraft is more than any of us could possibly hope for out of Blizzard, especially since it seems that (for some stupid reason) they're making Diablo 3 first. I mean, come on! Since the release of Broodwar, Blizzard has made Diablo 2 plus an expansion, Warcraft 3 and an expansion, WoW and an upcoming expansion, and now they want to do another Diablo game before they make Starcraft 2? BLASPHEMY!!

Jake @ Mar 28th 2006 2:07PM

Zanch,
Maybe it's because people like you and I hold Starcraft in such high regard. I think Blizzard has lost most - if not all - of the original Starcraft team, so perhaps they just don't want to risk screwing it up and turning away millions of fans.

bryan @ Mar 28th 2006 2:37PM

This game is awesome. Why would you want to ruin it with a controller? The mouse is really the best tool available for this type of game. (Like #1 Paul said)The Revolution will be the only hope for RTS on a TV. But then, why. I might be surprised. There was a time when I thought FPS were PC only. And while the best FPS action is on a PC, you cant plug in 4 friends and battle it out on one screen. Golden Eye proved it was possible. I don't see the benefits to porting a RTS.

Vagabond Artist @ Mar 28th 2006 2:39PM

did nobody play goblin commander?

I thought that game was awesome!!!!

salvage @ Mar 28th 2006 2:50PM

Great game but from Red Alert to (I'm sorry but I have to disagree) StarCraft RTS games are hobbled with a paddle control. And LotR is more complex than SC.

It can be done but I don't think it can ever be done well.

that one dude @ Mar 28th 2006 3:04PM

Jack you are right, the original Starcraft team is gone and probably isn't coming back.

They are coming out with a new game though, Starcraft Ghost which will be a FPS. One of my friends follows Blizzard very closely and he said that while they were doing it they brought in another company to help because the Starcraft team wasn't use to FPS games or couldn't do it all. When this company came in they axed all of the original team and drove them off pretty much.

Also, they probably aren't making a Diablo 3 either. The team that did Diablo 1,2, & LOD have left and several have formed their own companies. So if a new one comes out it won't be like the others.

Finally, the reason we're getting so many Warcraft games is because that team hasn't left. If I'm not mistaken the people who did the very first Warcraft are still at Blizzard.

I know it's sad and hard to believe but we probably won't see a Starcraft 2. We'll probably get Ghost which will be a let down and that'll be it.

jojo @ Mar 28th 2006 3:41PM

I dont think the original 'core' teams have left Blizzard, maybe some but not the core members. Whenever these new companies have come we always hear how they 'worked' on x blizzard game, not 'created x blizzard game' or 'mastermind of the project'. Its like i work at a company that tries to make an artificial pacreas( insulin pumps for diabetics) that means i can say, hey ive worked on insulin pumps. That doesnt specify if im the one who came up with the idea or am simply following what the upper management is telling me what to do, but if i m starting a rival company of course im gonna say the former, so that i can sound better.same thing here with those who are leaving blizzard. just some food for thought.

Kevin @ Mar 28th 2006 3:48PM

"Both analog sticks on the 360 controller will be used for panning and zooming across maps..."

Do we need to stress innovation any more ea? Putting a nice coat of wax and rotating the tires is not something that a lot of people want. We are looking for the new model, the "next generation" so to speak.