Frequently Asked Questions
This section strives to provide some quick and informative insight to old and new fans of Empire at War alike.
Table of Contents
About Empire at War
- What is Empire at War?
- What is “Real-Time Strategy?”
- What is this game about?
- Who can you play as?
- When is it released?
- What are the system requirements?
- Is the game able to be easily modded?
- About how much does it cost?
- What is the game’s rating?
- Will there be a Mac version?
- How do you train units?
- How do reinforcements work?
How you play Empire at War
- What modes of play are there?
- Do we play on space or on land?
- Can we switch back and forth between planes?
- Can we fight on different worlds?
- Can planets “rebel” against you?
- How many units can we create?
- How realistic is the engine?
- Are there ways to convert planets to our side peacefully?
- How does technology research work?
- Can we attack individual systems on a ship?
Answers to all the Star Wars Fan Questions
- Can we play as the Original Trilogy heroes from the movies?
- How can you kill those heroes? They tend to stick around in the movies quite a bit…
- Is the Death Star available?
- What planets are in the game?
- Are there units from the Prequel Trilogy?
- Will we see a lot of aliens?
Miscellaneous
- How do I configure my computer and Empire at War for Multiplayer?
- Who can I contact to get more information about Empire at War?
About Empire at War
What is Empire at War?
Empire at War is a new Star Wars Real-Time Strategy game created by the people at Petroglyph and published by LucasArts.
What is “Real-Time Strategy?”
A Real-Time Strategy, or RTS, game focuses on being the commander of an army or a civilization. You can control units, gather resources and wage war in most RTS games.
What is this game about?
Empire at War allows you to step in to fight the greatest conflict of the Star Wars universe. The game begins during the tyrannical Galactic Empire’s rise of power and the heroic Rebel Alliance’s revolution, but you shape the outcome of the conflict after that.
Who can you play as?
You can either attempt to conquer the galaxy as the Galactic Empire, or you can fight for freedom as the Rebel Alliance.
When is it released?
Empire at War is currently available for purchase anywhere.
What are the system requirements?
The minimum system requirements are as follows:
- Computer: 100% DirectX 9.0c compatible computer
- CPU: Intel Pentium III 1.0 GHz or AMD Athlon 1.0 GHz
- Operating System: Windows 2000, Windows XP
- Ram: 256MB
- Graphics Card: 32 MB graphics card with Hardware Transform and Lighting (T&L) capability
- Sound Card: 100% DirectX 9.0c compatible, PCI or Onboard Audio Device
- Internet: 56kbps or faster connection (required for multiplayer only)
EaW does not require a high-end system, though it will most certainly run better. Empire at War is designed to support a broad range of audiences.
Is the game able to be easily modded?
Yes. The game is easy to modify, as it is based off of LUA and XML technology. Since these are user-editable, it should not be a challenge to make modifications to the game.
Will there be a scenario editor?
Yes. However, it is not included with the game. It probably will be released in a few months.
About how much does it cost?
There is a Collector’s Edition for around $60 USD, and a standard version of the game for $50.
What is the game’s rating?
Teen for fantasy violence.
Will there be a Mac version?
Probably. At this point, we don’t really know. Initially it was rumored that there was going to be a Mac version, but we can’t confirm it at this time.
How do you train units?
Which units can be trained depend on what you have built on and around your planet. After you recruit them, troopers will move in groups, as will all units, or “companies”. Some companies will consist of more or less units than others. For example, there may be six units in a trooper company, but only one unit in an AT-AT company.
How do reinforcements work?
There will be “reinforcement points” around the ground map. They can be captured by ground forces, and you can reinforce your armies with them during battle. You can only bring a limited number of reinforcements to a planet (depending on how many points you have), and the reinforcements must be within your fleet orbiting the planet.
How you play Empire at War
What modes of play are there?
You can fight a single-player campaign, which spans the entire galaxy as you try to acheive your objectives, or you can play online in either a two-player version of the campaign or a “skirmish” battle mode that allows up to eight players at a time.
Do we play on space or on land?
Both! Empire at War allows for real-time 3d space and ground battles. These battles are interconnected. For example, you could call in a fleet of bombers from space to decimate targets on the ground.
Can we switch back and forth between planes?
Not in real-time. If you’re battling on the ground, the space battle will “freeze.” You can call in those bombers we mentioned earlier, but you can’t switch up to space until the ground battle is over.
Can we fight on different worlds?
Yes, in fact. There is a “campaign map” in which you can view the galaxy in real-time. From that screen, you can choose the actions of your fleets (which planets to invade, where to move to) and you can control what is built on planets themselves. Actions you make or battles you fight affect your faction in the long run.
Can planets “rebel” against you?
Indeed they can. However, one would doubt that a planet would rebel against a Rebellion…
How many units can we create?
The population limit will be based on what you build on your planets and other investments into infrastructure. If you capture more planets, or build higher levels of space stations on planets, for example, your population limit will increase.
How realistic is the engine?
The “Alamo” engine is quite realistic, as well as very pleasing to the eye. Ships obey the laws of physics, and enviromental effects on planets, like snow and tornadoes, are a factor in battle. If you don’t believe us about the graphics, take a look at our screenshots gallery.
Are there ways to convert planets to our side peacefully?
Yes. Certain game characters from the Star Wars universe have an influence over some situations. If there’s an opportunity, you can take it and possibly make that planet ally with you.
How does technology research work?
Each side has their own way. The Empire, being the supreme force in the galaxy, conducts research through more conventional means, like research buildings. However, the Rebels must be more creative, stealing their technology using C-3P0 and R2-D2, and also using espionage.
Can we attack individual systems on a ship?
Yes. You can target specific “hardpoints” with your weapons to take out individual ship systems. Bombers are particularly effective at this, as they can attack locations while the shields of a vessel are up, but capital ships can also target hardpoints (after shields are down).
Answers to all the Star Wars Fan Questions
Can we play as Luke, Han and the rest of the Original Trilogy heroes from the movies?
Yes, there are special heroes in the game, such as Darth Vader. Some of them are able to use special powers, such as the mystical Force, to gain an advantage in combat.
How can you kill those heroes? They tend to stick around in the movies quite a bit…
And in the movies, there’s also a few of those annoying scum-of-the-universe chaps; the bounty hunters. There will be bounty hunters that you can hire in EaW. They neutralize the heroes, but they typically don’t kill them. Heroes can also fall in a regular battle, but after a certain amount of time, they will “resurrect” and you can use them again.
DEATH STAR???
Yes! The Death Star is in the game! It destroys planets with a single blast. It acts much like the first Death Star in A New Hope, complete with the recharge time. However, it seems you are only allowed to build one, and it isn’t the upgraded version in Return of the Jedi.
What planets are in the game?
There are over 40 planets in the game. Planets such as Hoth, Endor and Yavin are in the game, and a complete listing of planets can be found at LucasArts.com. There are also Expanded Universe planets like Wayland and Bothawui!
Are there units from the Prequel Trilogy (Episodes I, II and III)?
Yes, there are both units from the Original Trilogy as well as some units from Revenge of the Sith and the end of the Clone Wars.
Will we see a lot of aliens?
You bet. There are indigenous species to some planets (such as wild Rancors) and there are also planetary governments. There are many races, including Wookiee, Mon Calamari, Gungan, Bothan and, of course, Human.
Miscellaneous
Who can I contact to get more information about Empire at War?
You can view the content on this site, you could go to either LucasArts’ or Petroglyph’s website. Additionally, you could visit our forums and ask a question. You can also contact our staffers and they’ll do their best to help you.