When Empire: Total War ships in early February, it will include a new type of mode for the series--the Road to Independence, a story-driven campaign centered entirely around the American Revolutionary War.

At a recent event, I got the chance to speak with developer Creative Assembly's communications manager Kieran Brigden. We went over the new mode, and of course talked about the game at large. The interview also covers how Creative Assembly approaches these projects--and where the studio might go in the future.

Kieran Brigden: I would like to say, on record, that we never "sell out." We never just go, "Oh, we're going to churn out another one, and we're going to make it so broad-brush that it's for everyone, and nevermind our real fans." We've got people that still write to us or email us that have been with us since Shogun, and they're always a key factor in what we do. Read more..

Sega has announced that like so many games these days, Creative Assembly's Empire: Total War (PC) will receive a special edition in addition to its regular release.

Titled the Special Forces Edition, the premium package will come with exclusive "elite" units as well as a detailed print of the Campaign Map. No pricing or additional details were announced. Sega did announce that the game will use Valve's Steamworks publishing and development suite, allowing for auto updates, downloadable content, friendlist support and achievements.

Additionally Steamworks will provide server browsing and match-making functionality for the game's multiplayer component. Empire: Total War will also authenticate through Steam the very first time it is run.

People who preorder Empire: Total War on Steam now will immediately be able to download a free copy of Rome: Total War Gold.

Empire: Total War will be released February 3.

Creative Assembly has released a few more screenshots of its upcoming large-scale strategy title Empire: Total War. Set during the Napoleonic age of the 1800s, Empire will feature massive RTS battles on both land and sea. The turn-based campaign map is set to feature conquerable representations of North America, the Indies, Europe, and North Africa.

Empire: Total War is scheduled for a February 3 release on PC.

Sega has released a new trailer for Empire: Total War, the latest turn-based strategy game from Creative Assembly. This trailer shows the evolution of the game's campaign features applied to the 18th century battlefield, whether in America, Europe or the Indian subcontinent.

The PC exclusive arrives on February 3, 2009. Thanks to Shacker zooolander for the tip.

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A new trailer for Creative Assembly's Empire: Total War has lined up in formation and fired over a volley of information relating to land battles from the 18th century.

The end of the trailer also reveals a release date of February 3 for the PC-exclusive strategy game. Previously, only a window of the month of February was known.

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Sega has released a batch of six screenshots from Creative Assembly's upcoming strategy/RTS title Empire: Total War--three showing land battles, and three if by sea.

PC strategy fans can expect to whet their appetites for Napoleonic combat next February.

A new Empire: Total War (PC) video has been released by SEGA, showing off the naval combat featured in Creative Assembly's newest strategy game.

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Empire: Total War is due out in stores next February.

Let me give you an idea of how absurdly detailed Empire: Total War is: the game accurately models buoyancy. Every musket ball is accurately modeled using the game's physics engine. The land battle maps are generated from NASA satellite imagery.

Empire: Total War is a model kit of a game. Based on my time with it, I can say that naval combat has been brilliantly realized, with a level of polish that honestly left me stunned.

I got a look at a lengthy naval battle, the Americans facing down the British. The game features dozens of ships, and all sorts were on display. Small sloops, larger frigates, ships of the line--even rudimentary rocket-armed ships and early steam-powered behemoths.

It is difficult to stress how fantastic the game looks in motion. Cannon fire is a sight to see: billowy smoke thundering from each broadside, masts accurately snapping and crashing onto the rolling waves. Crew effects have been added since last we saw a build, and now an impressive number of sailors can be seen running... Read more

Currently making their way online are screenshots from upcoming Sega games. We have images from Alpha Protocol, Empire: Total War, Golden Axe: Beast Rider, Madworld, Samba de Amigo, Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood, Sonic Unleashed, Space Siege, Stormrise and Valkyria Chronicles.

Alpha Protocol (PC, PS3, X360) Empire: Total War (PC) Golden Axe: Beast Rider (PS3, X360)... Read more

Creative Assembly's latest PC RTS title Empire: Total War will hit North American retailers in February of 2009, according to a new trailer released today by publisher Sega.

While no specific North American release date was was indicated beyond the February window, the title was also slated for a February 6, 2009 debut at UK retailers. Total War is likely to hit North American retailers around that time, with Tuesday, February 3 or Tuesday, February 10 representing the most likely candidates. Shackvideo users can use the HD Stream.

Sega has released a video development diary for Empire: Total War, focusing on the dueling part of Creative Assembly's PC strategy game. Empire: Total War is expected some time in November.

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The chaps at Computer & Video Games have a new Empire: Total War preview up, reprinting a PC Zone article on the strategy game sequel.

Pro-G has been updated with a Empire: Total War Q&A. Mike Simpson and James Russell are asked about gameplay additions, combat, historical accuracy, and more.

New at Computer & Video Games today is this Empire: Total War Q&A. Creative Assembly co-founder Mike Simpson and lead designer James Russell talk about the game's setting, naval combat, improvement of returning features, and taking the series to the console.

There's an Empire: Total War preview on Computer & Video Games, talking to the folks at Creative Assembly about their new strategy game.

Fans of the Total War series rejoice, as Sega has announced that The Creative Assembly has been secretly working on Empire: Total War for the past year, with the strategy game sequel hitting stores some time next year.

Empire: Total War is set during the 18th century, said to be the most requested time period by the Total War community. The game will introduce naval combat to the series, which will result not only in ship-to-ship combat, but also boarding of ships and engaging in hand-to-hand combat on the decks.

Empire also promises further refinements to the series' 3D battles and turn based campaign map including improved trade, diplomacy and espionage systems, a refined and streamlined UI, and improved advisors. You can find two screenshots here.