What's this game all about?
Total Annihilation is way too much of an RTS game to describe using NotePad. But a good attempt will be made here.

What reviews did it get?
Find out what everyone has said about this great RTS game. All the reviewers rate Total Annihilation in the top ninety percent range.

What awards did it receive?
See the many awards that were won by this great RTS game. You'll understand why Total Annihilation is one of the best PC games of all time, if not the best of all time.

What best game list did TA get mentioned on?
Total Annihilation made IGN's Top 100 Games of All Time list.

How can I buy it?
Find out what bundles of the game are for sale.

What patches do I need?
The latest version of TOTALA.EXE adds new functions to your TA game and is a requirement for playing online.

How do I increase the size-limit of my army?
Get the 500-unit patch for Total Annihilation. Now you can play with even larger armies.

How do I make the AI play more aggressive?
Learn how to design better and more aggressive AI players that not only fight great, but manage their resources more efficiently. Edit an existing AI or create a custom one of your own from scratch. Then have it fight against the AI players found here.

What additional units can I download for TA (I want some that Nuke!)
Just some units to improve the AI player's war machine (and yours).

What other useful patches are there for the game?
The TA Bugfix 1.6 patch for The Core Contingency is great if you want to play Total Annihilation the way it was meant to be played. You might not ever go back to playing TA the old way again.

What maps can I download from here?
Be sure to tryout the maps found here. Feel free to get some ideas from them also.

Do you review maps?
Yes. Here are some reviews of maps that have come across SHONNER'S desk. Do you have a map of your own that you would like to see reviewed here? Just email it.

How do I make my own custom 3D terrain maps for the game?
This tutorial shows you how to make great custom 8 x 8 maps for TA easily and consistently using Bryce 5. Vue 10 Infinite users click here.

How do I edit TA files?
Modify or create your own UFO files for Total Annihilation.

Can I still play online?
Now that you've mastered the game in both campaign and skirmish mode, try your hand at multiplayer mode.

What are the song titles for the music used in TA?
Good question. A lot of us only know the song titles as Track 1, Track 2, etc. But over the years, TA fans have come up with song titles of their own. Here are the ones that have stuck.

Where do I find the TA game videos on my CD?
There are five videos on the TA CD that you can view without having to play the game. "So that's how Cavedog did it!"

What technical advice and playing tips for TA do you have?
Great games instill greatness in their players. Total Annihilation is one such game. You too will become a better person from playing this game.

What is TA fiction?
Good question. Read it and find out. Email SHONNER if you like it so far.

Who here does their own 3D modeling?
We decided we'd try building a 3D model of the Arm Commander. This is just a work in progress so far.

What's happening now with the game?
Some fans of Total Annihilation are working on a project called TA3D that looks very impressive.

Was Total Annihilation really in the thick of RTS gaming back in the day?
Yes. The BlameThande Channel over at YouTube will take you on retrospective trip through the early years of RTS gaming. It's a very good series.

What was Total Annihilation warfare like before computers?
Back in 1977, before there was TA and before there were TRS-80's, there was a boardgame called OGRE. The units in the game featured powered infantry, tanks, hovercraft, missle and laser towers, heavy bertha-like canons, mobile canons, fusion plants, nukes, and the feared krogoth-like OGRE! It is still in print and any good gamestore carries this classic Last War strategy game along with its many expansions.

Who did the artwork for the game?
Clayton Kauzlaric worked with Chris Taylor at Cavedog. He designed the look and feel that Total Annihilation has. And yes, there were humans in the game at some point during its early development. Interesting history for sure.

Was there ever a space RTS game that was like Total Annihilation?
Check out The Outforce. It's a great space RTS that plays a lot like Total Annihilation. It has great 3D units, great 3D physics, a similar gaming interface, and huge maps.

What is the history of RTS games?
Total Annihilation and other real-time strategy games are mentioned in this article describing the history of real-time strategy gaming.

Why isn't Starcraft mentioned here?
Of course this TA site wouldn't be complete without including "TA vs. SC" links! Check 'em out!

What features will TA2 have?
This is a growing list of features that should be included in TA2. Your list may vary.






Thank you, Chris Taylor, for designing the best RTS game in the world that is TOTAL ANNIHILATION!

And thank you, Jeremy Soule, for the great musical score you brought to this game!


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