Too long without a dev update!

I have to agree... we are dying here

That whole "Demigod thing" has kept us busy-ish. 

More updates when that settles down. 

It really hasn't been that long has it? Perhaps I've just been busy and haven't noticed. 

Ya after demigod is set... quick update for Galciv 2 WOOT! Then back on the Elemental!

This is way cool. They always take time to answer.

Hats off my friends!

Yeah, Demigod multipayer has become a blackhole of pain for several Elemental devs, so the rest of us are diligantly working to keep on schedule.  I'll try and start posting more, though   I know it's getting exciting as that Beta 0 draws closer (for both you guys AND us).

Damn you, Demigod multiplayer...Free up the Devs!

Well, all they learn with the Demigod MP will make Elemental MP better in the future

I so seriously hope so. The Demigod kerfuffle has done nothing to assuage the worries of this member of the singleplayer crowd about multiplayer stuff doing bad things to Elemental. Makes me wonder if we really wouldn't just be better off with a next-generation Metaverse. (And yes, I know that's not 'true' multiplayer.)

demigod sure has had a rough launch.    Things appear to be calming down a bit though, right?   

I blame somebody saying "we're ahead of schedule" because murphy's law came and brought down the stick.

Also, hows that opening of a 2nd game studio?  

Multiplayer does provide several benefits.  First it increases the size of its gaming community  which means faster responses for questions/problems, larger selection of game content made by the community, and the forums stay alive with more postings significantly longer.   I'm sure other reasons of value exist as well such as a larger beta testing group.

However I will be honest and list some specifics where I've seen multiplayer influence as harmful.  Within Dominions_3 the community has been very harsh on keeping all nations balanced which I feel is not necessary for a game which has 70+ nations!  As a result the only way to setup a game with a super strong AI nation is by using map edit commands because even on AI Impossible it can choose bad scales crippling its growth and expansion.  In my opinion when a game has so many nations it should have average races and very strong races thus allowing greater gameplay diversity while still providing the option for having a balanced game.  The pain point is the AI opponents receive less attention on being improved... within Dominions_3 I've posted several important AI changes/fixes, but patch after patch the vast majority were ignored.

My overall opinion is that every game which has at least one expansion will have greater replay value with multiplayer.

Dangerous words.   A game should never need an expansion and thinking about it before finishing the main product is a double-edged sword.  One 1 side you are able to prepare ahead of time to make the expansion come easier and flow with the game better.   On the other side, it means you achnoledge something that should be in the main original game but are neglectling to deliver it.

Broodwars is considered to be one of the best expansions of all time... and really it didn't add that much.  2 more units per side?   I do not feel that the expansion pack is what caused that game to have the self life it does.  (it surely did a little, but the major factor was that it was just a well made game to begin with)

Supcom: FA anyone?  Don't forget about the financial importance of an expansion pack.  Yes, x-packs include things that could have been put into the original game, but at the same time, someone has to pay the help to put that content in.  The extra money from x-packs let you do this.

Actually expansions are the best way for any PC game to evolve... as it would otherwise be almost impossible to judge game balance, design flaws, community likes&dislikes, AI weaknesses, etc., etc., .  An expansion should be approached by developers as something which can allow the game to evolve by providing greater strategy depth and stability while reducing micro_management and pain points.

There's plenty of game expansions which do little improvement and plenty of game expansions which provide great improvements... it's all about the final quality results.

That's a very reasonable point, but so is

And greater replay value via multiplayer only applies to people who *like* multiplayer. I'm gonna give it a try, but I'm not sure I'll end up as happy as Mikey did.

You don't say???

Multiplayers are great for a game since they will find all exploits, imbalances and optimal strategies quite fast.

There's a price to pay for that however....(the services of the elite are not cheap) Excpect the following:

LOTS of posts about imbalances - We are not content until every side got a equal chance of winning. And even then the endless posting will continue. It will never end 

Competetive gamers play to win - We use every trick in the book and will not apologise for it. So when you get crushed again, again and again by an overpowered strategy and perhaps even getting bugs and exploits used against you....well....life's tough   (Or like some of us say. L2P n00b!)   However, I think it's wrong to use exploits and bugs.

To add insult to injury, many of the multiplayers got an arrogant, elitist attitude.

Actually because the community is larger due to the multiplayer community you'll have more choices for available custom game content.  The larger community means you'll have your questions more likely answered even 4 years from now.  Due to the expected modding flexibility I believe Elemental will be overall better with multiplayer if it has at least one expansion.  

I play Multiplayer, Multiplayer with AI Opponents and SinglePlayer games.

ho ho ho ho, yes it is!  I never said or even suggested that expansion packs are bad.  I was simply saying that expansion packs are for improving the game AFTER it is released, not before.   If we can fix it now, we should.

Its true!   but Supcom was a complete game before the expansion.  Expansion packs are a great way to both boost the game and boost the wallets that might otherwise be failing.   You want to hit your development schedule as well.  If there is a feature that you want but just can't make, then thats that.   The thing is we are still a year from Elemental's release.  What it sounds like we're talking about here that would be important in the multiplayer aspect are things like extra spells, factions, and stuff like that.  Well part of this game is that we the fans can do half of that for them.  So that shouldn't be a huge issue right now.

I mean it doesn't seem reasonable to be talking about what should be cut yet unless there is some behind schedule tightening-of-belt going on or the project was too grand to start with.  (Admittingly, most of the game projects I've ever been on have had scope issues.  So perhaps I'm not the best to lecture on this.  Or I am the best because I know what managing scope feels like >_>

I'm on the camp that hopes Elemental will be great without an expansion. I only want expansions if they make sense, but right now, in 2009 for a game that is going to be released on 2010, thinking about expansions is a no-no. When you release a game and you know what things you didn't have time to implement that were good ideas and you also know what the people are demanding, so then you can begin to think about making an expansion, but right now it's like talking about the smell of the clouds.

like 21 days and counting! I'm jonesing over here lol.

I cannot believe how long it has been. DemiGod must have had some serious birthing-pains.

They have about 5 weeks to get beta-0, started (their front page says BY June, which to me means June 1).

Also, will there be an official announcement here when beta 0 is started? Seeing as how I am sure anyone in it will not be allowed to say they are in it....

I let my Everquest 2 account lapse specifically so I could focus on this beta (HINT HINT) I hope my sacrifice is appreciated!

I would advice not set your sights to firm on a beta-zero date.

I think its more important that they get the needed components in such a state that our feedback is usefull, instead of just pushing out the beta. Considering how "bendy" launchdates are (and rightly so imo, if its not finished don't release) I would not at all try and hold devs to a betatest date.

Hopefully this time next year we'll all be here to enjoy the full launched game. A lot of time and ground to cover before we are there. Lets make sure its usefull!

You'll definitely be able to say you're in it and discuss what's going on and everyone who pre-orders before beta-0 starts should be able to participate. That's just how SD runs betas, pre-orders are in and it's all open to public discussion.

Winter you always have the hottest avatars! Even the furry was HAWT!

(Always good to meet another boob man! Ah wait redundant!)