Twilight Beta 6

from GalCiv2 Forums

I know that you guys have been waiting for this update for awhile, and I apologize, but we've had a nasty bug going through the office and as soon as someone recovers enough to come back to work, the next person gets it.  I'm still recovering from it, actually, but since it's a viral infection only time will get rid of it.

If you can't see the beta, try switching to US-1 as that's the server that gets the updates first, then it synchs to US-2.  You may also need to Refresh your XML Files (tools->options->internet). 

As vague as "Various AI changes" is, the majority of the changes are actually to the AI in this beta.  However, rather than delaying the beta to allow Brad write a comprehensive list of the changes, we're putting up with the vagueness. :) 

+ NEW: Now including the Scenario Editor

+ NEW: Now including the Campaign Editor

Note: We've had a report that the new editors require mfc71.dll.  We've fixed the problem here but we can't put up another update because the person who does that has already gone home for the 4 day weekend (we get both Friday and Monday off).  If you Google the file, you can download it for free.  Sorry about the inconvenience.

+ NEW: Added InfoIcon for new ship design notification

+ FIXED: Some incorrect thumbnails for updated ship components

+ FIXED: Bug where trade route was cancelled after the freighter was destroyed too few times, fix also fixes the freighter command.

+ FIXED: Bug with research all cheat key that gave you bonuses for techs you already researched

+ FIXED: Added code to make sure that the Dread Lords never make peace

+ FIXED: Bug where if you had more than 1000 Ascension points, you wouldn't win

+ FIXED: Crash due to null Civ pointer in alien message dialog

+ FIXED: Added check for null crystal pointer in ai drengin function

+ FIXED: Bug where galaxy not clearing ascension crystals from game to game

+ FIXED: Bug where sector mapper was not clearing ascension crystals from game to game

+ TWEAK: Various AI changes

91,682 views 54 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Cool! I actually stumbled upon the version before the announcement, very exciting indeed!

Thanks
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Thanks Cari, hope everyone at SD is feeling better. There was mention in another thread of this being the last expansion because you "weren't going to be able" to put out more expansions. Could anyone clarify why that is? I know *I*'d pay for one...
Ashes of the Singularity II
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
The editors seem to require mfc71.dll. I had to download said dll manually from another site to get them to work.
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
The editors seem to require mfc71.dll.


Noted, thanks.

~C
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
:)


Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I haven't played TA in over a month and a half. I remember Brad talking about some super-duper AI improvements that were supposed to be implemented. Have these improvements been implemented? All I see in the patch notes are "TWEAK: Various AI changes."
Reply #7 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

+ NEW: Now including the Scenario Editor
+ NEW: Now including the Campaign Editor


Here's some suggestions for the editors.
*For the Scrnario editor: How about the ability to have 5 custom races and the ability to choose what custom races to play as and the same for opponents.
* For the campaign editor, how about being able to select movies from your computer to use as intros and outros for missions
Reply #8 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
[
The editors seem to require mfc71.dll. I had to download said dll manually from another site to get them to work.


What's that?
Reply #9 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Here's some suggestions for the editors.

At this stage, we're most interested in you guys finding usability problems with the editors.  Twilight has been on feature lock for awhile, and this includes the editors.  We might start a thread at one point for suggesting features, but for right now, let's find some bugs.  :)

For the campaign editor, how about being able to select movies from your computer to use as intros and outros for missions

The scenario editor is your mission editor.  A campaign is made up of one or more scenarios (missions).  In the scenario editor, on the INFO page, there are two editboxes that already do what you are suggesting - one for "Intro Cutscene" and the other for "Outro Cutscene".
Reply #10 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

*For the Scrnario editor: How about the ability to have 5 custom races and the ability to choose what custom races to play as and the same for opponents.* For the campaign editor, how about being able to select movies from your computer to use as intros and outros for missions

Well, it's not possible in code to have 5 completely custom races.  You could, however, create your own version of the RaceConfig.xml file and put it in the mods folder and it should use the modded races even though the tags in the editor say Terrans, etc.

As for the movies you can set the intro/outro cutscenes in the Scenario editor, but they have to be compressed with the free bink tools you can download at www.radgametools.com

The editors seem to require mfc71.dll. I had to download said dll manually from another site to get them to work.What's that?

It's a MFC (Microsoft Foundation Classes) dll that is included with Visual Studio 2003.  We forgot to test on machines that didn't have Visual Studio installed.  We've fixed it here, but the person who puts up the updates has already gone home for the 4 day weekend so we won't be able to update the game again until Tuesday at the earliest.  You should be OK downloading it from the sites that google comes up with.

 

 

Reply #11 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Thanks Cari, hope everyone at SD is feeling better. There was mention in another thread of this being the last expansion because you "weren't going to be able" to put out more expansions. Could anyone clarify why that is? I know *I*'d pay for one...

I can't say for certain, but Brad probably meant that there's diminishing returns on making additional expansion packs, the amount of work it takes to make an expansion pack vs the number of people who will buy it.  It's not really that we aren't actually able to, it's just that it's in our better interests to put the developer hours on new titles which will sell more than another expansion for GalCiv2.  Also, GalCiv3 will benefit greatly from the technology we're developing for our fantasy strategy game.

Reply #12 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Thanks for the update guys. Any news on when we will be able to play/submit MV games with TA please?

Reply #13 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

I haven't played TA in over a month and a half. I remember Brad talking about some super-duper AI improvements that were supposed to be implemented. Have these improvements been implemented? All I see in the patch notes are "TWEAK: Various AI changes."

Umm...I don't know.  "Super-duper AI improvements" is fairly vague as well.  :) It seems to me that you mostly want to play a build that's more like a gamma, so you may just want to wait awhile longer.

Reply #14 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
If you require the mfc71.dll you can download it from the GCII - a guide for dummies site, as i have uploaded it to there for easy access.

Download > MFC71.DLL
Reply #15 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
The real question is: will Brad put up some notes on AI changes LATER? ;)

Thanks, I'm looking forward to giving this a shot!
Reply #16 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Oh yea, The AI coding begins in earnest this weekend.  So far, I've been just scrunching around the edges.
Reply #17 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Yes, I made up that word. Scrunching.
Reply #18 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Thanks Cari, hope everyone at SD is feeling better. There was mention in another thread of this being the last expansion because you "weren't going to be able" to put out more expansions. Could anyone clarify why that is? I know *I*'d pay for one...
I can't say for certain, but Brad probably meant that there's diminishing returns on making additional expansion packs, the amount of work it takes to make an expansion pack vs the number of people who will buy it.  It's not really that we aren't actually able to, it's just that it's in our better interests to put the developer hours on new titles which will sell more than another expansion for GalCiv2.  Also, GalCiv3 will benefit greatly from the technology we're developing for our fantasy strategy game.


I suppose I can understand that. It's a shame though, it seems like there's still an enormous amount of potential in the current game engine.
Reply #19 from GalCiv2 Forums Top


Can you at least try to allow two custom races, just two? Because i don't enjoy modding, plus it's unfun for me. And do the videos have to be bink because the internet connection on my desktop is messed up so i have to use my lap top's wirless in order to use the internet so downloading anything is impossible ? I wanted to make a Star Wars themed campaign without using mods so please can you because, i've been making movies with windows movie editor and i've completed half of them so can you guys please try to allow non-bink videos to be used?


Reply #20 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
*
It's a MFC (Microsoft Foundation Classes) dll that is included with Visual Studio 2003.  We forgot to test on machines that didn't have Visual Studio installed.  We've fixed it here, but the person who puts up the updates has already gone home for the 4 day weekend so we won't be able to update the game again until Tuesday at the earliest.  You should be OK downloading it from the sites that google comes up with.
 
 


my coumputer is from 2006 so will the editors still work?
Reply #21 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Do we have the ability to completely edit technologies? This is the part that I would kill for!!!

For example, will we eventually be able to name a tech, determine the prereqs and techs after it, and say it gives you
Reply #22 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
The real question is: will Brad put up some notes on AI changes LATER? Thanks, I'm looking forward to giving this a shot!


Dang, the AI is already approaching Sky Net functionality.....
Reply #23 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Thanks Cari, hope everyone at SD is feeling better. There was mention in another thread of this being the last expansion because you "weren't going to be able" to put out more expansions. Could anyone clarify why that is? I know *I*'d pay for one... I can't say for certain, but Brad probably meant that there's diminishing returns on making additional expansion packs, the amount of work it takes to make an expansion pack vs the number of people who will buy it.  It's not really that we aren't actually able to, it's just that it's in our better interests to put the developer hours on new titles which will sell more than another expansion for GalCiv2.  Also, GalCiv3 will benefit greatly from the technology we're developing for our fantasy strategy game.I suppose I can understand that. It's a shame though, it seems like there's still an enormous amount of potential in the current game engine.


I will second this, we need to be able to use custom races for this. To edit a map, campaign, scenario, tech tree, it only makes sense to not have to use drengin, yor, etc.
Reply #24 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
The question may sound stupid - to all those that already own TA and have played the beta:

Would you advise me buying it? The unique technology trees are very appealing, but just be honest. Any critics yet?
Reply #25 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Would you advise me buying it? The unique technology trees are very appealing, but just be honest.


The euphemism "Die for it" is overused, but it really does apply to TA. I have never seen a more comprehensive "Expansion Pack" on the market, and they are still adding to the Beta, its stunning. In the hands of a less scrupulous Publisher, the Marketing Director would be insisting on calling it GalCiv3.

Sins made a huge impact on release, in my view TA will make a relatively similar impact, even to the extent that other Fan Bases might even challenge their favorite publisher "if they can do it, why cant you ..." A little fanciful maybe, but I'll bet many will think that way at the very least.

There will be an unspoken Gauntlet thudding on the floor when TA is released, and I don't believe many other gaming houses can at present respond to the incredible Value For Money TA gives, and will have a hard time picking up the Gauntlet.

Watch out for the 2008 Awards season at year end - Sins and TA will figure way up there on the list, and will pick up a few "Best of" awards, of that I have absolutely no doubt whatsoever.

Regards
Zy