chris-taylor posts

We are really enjoying the video blogs for Kings and Castles, even though they are mostly, well, about Gas Powered Games' head man Chris Taylor being a ham on screen (and we mean that in a good way). In this video blog we learn that the upcoming fantasy RTS game will be dealing with melee combat as opposed to the projectile weapons that have been used in the Supreme Commander games.

There's also a quick trip to the storage room of Gas Powered Games where we learn is the place where every PC video card ever made is located. Oh, and some man-horse lovin'. Can't forget that.

With Supreme Commander 2 now tearing up PC monitors this week, some of you may have wanted to play the game that served as the main inspiration for Gas Powered Games' RTS sci-fi series. Well wonder no more because Stardock's Impulse PC game download service has just gotten the exclusive digital download rights (via Atari) for Total Annihilation, the 1997 RTS game that put Gas Powered's founder Chris Taylor on the map.

Developed by Taylor at the now defunct Cavedog, the game was the first RTS title to have full 3D units and terrain. The Impulse version of the game sells for $9.99 and includes both the original title as well as all of the content from the game's Core Contingency expansion pack.

There are few things as frustrating for an RTS gamer than units that constantly get stuck on things, lose their way, or take a long time to get where they need to go. The problem is even more pronounced in games like Supreme Commander, where there are tons of individual units, all greatly varying in size, moving around a gigantic battlefield. The Flowfield pathfinding technology, developed by Gas Powered Games specifically for Supreme Commander 2, looks like it does wonders for addressing this issue. Although some might find this video a little techy, the programming is clearly impressive and we're interested in seeing it utilized in future games.

Supreme Commander 2 releases on March 2nd, and pre-loading is already available on Steam. Players can also put Flowfield to work now with the playable demo, also available on Steam.

Download HD Supreme Commander 2 'Flowfield Pathfinding' Video (320 MB)
Check out all Supreme Commander 2 downloads

Supreme Commander 2 seems to be going out of its way to please players with its over-the-top and gargantuan experimental units. The newest one to be featured is the Noah Unit Cannon, which is both a super long range weapon and production facility. Players build units inside this massive gun and fires them clear across the map for a surprise attack. This is the kind of weapon for people who love building big guns and launching surgical strikes. Players will have a chance to pull the trigger on the Noah Unit Cannon and use other experimental units when the game releases on March 2. A playable demo is available now on Steam.

Download HD Supreme Commander 2 'Noah Unit Cannon' Trailer (286 MB)
Check out all Supreme Commander 2 downloads

Games that are coming out soon have a lot of unknowns that the average person might not know. Who is this character inspired by? Is all the talk of volumetric fog or cel-shaded graphics really worthwhile? Do the game mechanics really seem solid, or are they lackluster? In All You Need To Know we provide information to help you fully appreciate what these upcoming games have to offer.

Feed your head after the jump.

Check out our collection of Supreme Commander 2 related downloads here on Big Download!

In order to make good use of Supreme Commander 2's camera, which can be zoomed out into orbit, there have to be some gigantic units to make it worthwhile. Well, the game clearly won't disappoint when it comes to larger-than-life experimental units. Featured here are the AC1000, Colossus and Pullinsmash. Both the AC1000 gunship and Colossus are pretty straightforward "destroy all that stand before them" units (although the Colossus's ability to use enemy units as ammunition is really cool). However, the Pullinsmash takes the prize for creativity and oddness. It sucks in entire armies and smashes them all up together. We have to admit, we don't really see a lot of offensive use coming from the Pullinsmash, but it's fun to watch.

The AC1000 video is shown above and the rest can be seen after the jump. Supreme Commander 2 releases on March 2nd.

Download HD Supreme Commander 2 'AC1000' Trailer (186 MB)
Download HD Supreme Commander 2 'Colossus' Trailer (322 MB)
Download HD Supreme Commander 2 'Pullinsmash' Trailer (292 MB)
Check out all Supreme Commander 2 downloads

One of the defining features of the Supreme Commander series is the massive experimental units that take tons of time and resources to build, but leave nothing but devastation in their wake. Supreme Commander 2 keeps that fine tradition going. These videos, narrated by Chris Taylor, introduce viewers the Cybran Bomb Bouncer and Kraken. The Bomb Bouncer gets its name from the ability to deflect incoming fire using a giant shield, and hitting its shield charges up its offensive weapon. The Kraken, with the trailer shown after the jump, is an ocean based unit with many arms that can individually target enemies. Fans will have a chance to build these units for themselves and wreak destruction when the game releases on March 2.

Download HD Supreme Commander 2 'Bomb Bouncer' Trailer (254 MB)
Download HD Supreme Commander 2 'Kraken' Trailer (236 MB)
Check out all Supreme Commander 2 downloads

Seattle-based Gas Powered Games has released a variety of titles for a number of years, from a fantasy action-RPG series in Dungeon Siege to a sci-fi RTS series in Supreme Commander (its sequel is due out on March 2) to a sci-fi RPG in Space Siege. In 2009, they shipped out Demigod, a mix of multiplayer RTS game with a fantasy RPG.

But apparently all of those projects have led up to their just announced game Kings and Castles. Described by Gas Powered's founder Chris Taylor as "the ultimate fantasy RTS game" the developer has decided to give its fans a detailed look at the production of the game via their just launched web site. They also plan to use social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter to get the word out.

Big Download got a chance to ask Taylor some questions to find out more about why they are promoting Kings and Castles in this way, a few more details on the game itself and more.

True to Chris Taylor's words earlier this month, his game development studio Gas Powered Games has just announced their next game title, Kings and Castles. The fantasy RTS game for the PC and other platforms will have the player control "of one of three powerful kings who are vying for control of an all-new, original fantasy world."

That's basically all we know about the game and that background image from the game's web site is all we have on what the final title might look like. Indeed no release date or publisher has been announced. However, Gas Powered is planning to give everyone a chance to watch most of the game's development from beginning to end, promising that it will use the game's official web site and social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter to keep fans informed on Kings and Castles' development.

The official web site has also posted its first video blog via YouTube where we see Taylor feeding farm animals and talking about their plans to give its fans a way to observe them make Kings and Castles. Oh and he gets attacked by a horse. You can check out the first video blog after the jump:

One of the biggest PC game developers currently in operation is Gas Powered Games. It's founder, Chris Taylor, first gained fame for another developer with the RTS title Total Annihilation. For Gas Powered he has lead the development of the action-RPG Dungeon Siege series and the RTS game Supreme Commander. This year they released their latest game Demigod with Supreme Commander 2 waiting in the wings for 2010.

Industry Gamers got a chance to quiz Taylor on the games that have influenced him the most in his career. He goes in chronological order with titles like Space Invaders and Robotron first on the list, then proceeds to early PC games like SimCity and Populus. He says playing the early RTS games from Westwood Studios (Dune 2 and Command and Conquer) "changed the course of my life. Not only did I now know I loved and wanted to make video games, I wanted to very specifically make games like this..." It was those games that caused Taylor to create Total Annihilation.

More recent favorites include the Diablo series, Battlefield 1942 (" I played EVERY night for over a year") and the arcade racing game FlatOut ("I seemed to plug right into that game and it will always be a favorite.')