Time Commanders
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Time Commanders is a series of programmes made by Lion TV and PlayGen for BBC Two that ran for two seasons from 2003 to 2005. The programmes, originally hosted by Eddie Mair and more recently by Richard Hammond, feature an edited version of the game engine behind the real-time strategy game Rome: Total War to recreate famous battles of the ancient world. The battles are replayed by 4-player teams from diverse backgrounds. The teams are unfamiliar with computer games, to make sure their gaming skills do not influence their success. After a brief introduction of the battle, including an overview of military units, terrain and available forces, the players have to develop a strategy and then deploy their forces. Two of the players are selected as generals, who will direct the battle and have access to a strategic map. The other two players are designated lieutenants in the first series, and captains in the second. The units are indirectly controlled by the lieutenants, who issue commands to programme assistants, who in turn use the game interface to control the units. Troop deployment and battle follow, although in the second series there is a small skirmish conducted as a separate event, to acquaint the players with the game mechanics and their units. In the second series the team also get strategic pauses where they can refine their strategies.
During each game, a pair of military specialists analyse the performance of the players and explain how the real historical battle unfolded. One of these observers is often Dr. Aryeh Nusbacher and others have included Mike Loades, Saul David, Mark Urban or Dr. Adrian Goldsworthy, the series' historical advisor.
Notably, the series as televised contained no reference to the origin of the software powering the 3D visuals of ancient battlefields. This is due to the BBC's rules against product placement (Creative Assembly were named in the credits of the show with a specific mention of them providing the Game Engine).
Contents |
[edit] Series One
| # | Episode | Airdate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Battle of the Trebia | 4 September 2003 |
| 2 | Battle of Watling Street | 11 September 2003 |
| 3 | Battle of Bibracte | 18 September 2003 |
| 4 | Battle of Mons Graupius | 25 September 2003 |
| 5 | Battle of Tigranocerta | 2 October 2003 |
| 6 | Battle of Pharsalus | 9 October 2003 |
| 7 | Battle of Cannae | 16 October 2003 |
| 8 | Battle of Raphia | 23 October 2003 |
| 9 | Battle of Qadesh | 30 October 2003 |
| 10 | Battle of Leuctra | 6 November 2003 |
| 11 | Battle of Adrianople | 13 November 2003 |
| 12 | Battle of Telamon | 20 November 2003 |
| 13 | Battle of Gaugamela | 8 December 2003 |
| 14 | Battle of Chalons | 15 December 2003 |
| 15 | Battle of Marathon | 22 December 2003 |
| 16 | Battle of the Silarus | 29 December 2003 |
[edit] Series Two
| # | Episode | Airdate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Battle of the Teutoburg Forest | 16 January 2005 |
| 2 | Battle of Stamford Bridge | 23 January 2005 |
| 3 | Battle of the Hydaspes River | 30 January 2005 |
| 4 | Battle of Cynoscephalae | 6 February 2005 |
| 5 | Battle of Dara | 13 February 2005 |
| 6 | Battle of Troy | 20 February 2005 |
| 7 | Battle of Hastings | 27 February 2005 |
| 8 | Battle of Sarmisegetusa | 13 March 2005 |
[edit] See also
- Decisive Battles: Another TV programme that used the Rome: Total War engine
[edit] External links
[edit] References
All episode airdates taken from IMDB
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