It's been one of my basic assumptions here at IGN that there is no such thing as the "perfect" game. No matter how ambitious a designer's ideas might be, they will eventually encounter the limitations imposed by time, money or technology. While the results of working within these limitations can often be sublime, there's not a designer in this industry that hasn't wished for just a little bit more of whatever it would take to make their game better. Some of you might see that way of thinking as a reason to despair but I see it as a fundamental expression of hope and limitless potential for the PC development environment. It is, in my opinion, a fundamental belief for any fan of PC games.
It's also a worthwhile motivation for Creative Assembly to apply ten years of experience and growth to the father of its celebrated strategy series, Shogun: Total War. IGN recently visited Creative Assembly's studio and were able to speak with principal members of the design team about their vision for the new title and its place in the evolution of the franchise.