Countdown: 7 days to release

from Elemental Forums

There's only a week left! That's just so hard to believe that we're almost there.

Looks like there's going to be another public update tonight. They want to test out some installer improvements and...well since they were doing that, we snuck in some tweaks, fixes and I ninja-checked in some AI improvements.

The team that started Fallen Enchantress includes virtually everyone who made Galactic Civilizations II (and expansions).  It's been a real joy seeing the team together again and teaming them up with Derek (Kael) and Jon (Shafer).  

For me, it's been a much more enjoyable experience than anything I've worked on before. Having someone dedicated to the design and to the project itself has made a huge difference to both team morale and the quality of the game.

Just after lunch today, with my iPhone in hand, I went through Studio A's lab area and talked to some of the coders and artists. Here's the video:

103,741 views 37 replies
Reply #1 from Elemental Forums Top

What! I had the player get ambushed in quests in a mod in E:wom! As you said, really simple, I just put the player's starting positions in the middle of the map and then 12 or so "defenders" (quest enemies) around the player.

Sharing tactical battles in mods is a pain right now though, they have to go into a very specific folder... but we can talk about that after release!

Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top

*Rages about the mana cost of a spell*

 

Oh wait, wrong thread.

 

I really hope that it is the correct decision to release the game now. I started watching a let's play from a guy that was posted two weeks ago who was told about FE by a friend. He seems to enjoy it, but it is people like RPS, GameSpy, and all the other large media outlets that are really going to sway the market. People love to hate on total biscuit but he has a large following, maybe try to get it into his hands soon. 

Multiplicity - Control multiple PCs using one keyboard and mouse
Reply #4 from Elemental Forums Top

Hopefully this fixes my issues- I think you're really close, and it seems like the bugs are caused by something specific, so I think you might be able to get it in time.

 

 The deadlock condition might be the fix, my crashes seem to be deadlocks.

Reply #5 from Elemental Forums Top


k6

Best countdown vid EVER. You gave us beta testers all a solid look into our efforts and the results of those efforts in real time.

But we all know that finding the problems is only 1%. The other 99% goes out to everyone introduced in that vid + all the others that weren't. Huge applause for your efforts!!

 Really excited for Oct 23 now!!

 ps. I'm a ctrl-N'er. :P Without 'snaking' to rivers and forests, I like my starts to include them as options to have the improvements available for my capital.

 

Reply #6 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Emperor_Nero, reply 2
*Rages about the mana cost of a spell*

I too think Chaos is overpriced... ^_^

Really nice to see the vid, one of the better vids so far as it explained a few things about development for us ants out here :)

Sincerely
~ Kongdej

Reply #7 from Elemental Forums Top

 

what was that about releasing an update today?

Reply #8 from Elemental Forums Top

Nice to meet you folks, and thank you!

Reply #9 from Elemental Forums Top


I just wanted to say I had a free copy comming to me becuase I pre ordered orginal war of magic, but I end up buying copy on steam also, why becuase I think this is good gener of games feels old school some what, sure things I dont like about game but theres alot of things I do like and I wanted to support move to steam so thats why I did.

 

I belive in supporting things you belive in so I bought extra copy one for me and one for my freind.

I heard there was talking that stardocks bought out MOO for space games I hope its true!

 

Now if someone would just make old style RPG games like old gold box TSR DnD games use to be like 3d movement and then turn based combat. lol

 

Keep up good work stardock

Reply #10 from Elemental Forums Top

 

Best people ever.  And that guy at the end was not at all dorky.

Reply #11 from Elemental Forums Top

Thanks, Brad, for this "Countdown: 7 days to Release" video.  Another fascinating look behind the scenes ...

And thanks, again, to all of the Stardock folks on the FE Design Team, who have worked hard, for so long, to turn out this excellent product.

Incidentally, this looks like a great place to work!  I mean, I know everyone works hard; but challenge is good ... and at the other end, you should have the Fulfillment and Satisfaction of knowing that you have solved problems, contributed to a complex team effort, and succeeded.  Congratulations on finding great jobs, in a great office!

Finally, (No shame here!) I too am a devout  "Ctrl - N'er".  Apparantly, I can now claim Cari (Elf) as a patron saint (patroness saint) in this regard.  Hooray!  For the life of me, I can not see why this is controversial.  As I have stated in other Discussion threads, I want choosing my starting point, to be one of the  "Meaningful Decisions"  that I make early in each game.  And sometimes I do it just for variety , not simply for optimization.  In a recent game, I started with a 2-3-3 (on a desert map) for the sake of emphasizing:  low population, coupled with higher resources and magic. 

Why not role the dice to get the game you want ?!?   That's what dice are for ...  and Ctrl-N  too!   :thumbsup:

 

Reply #12 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Derek, reply 11
  And that guy at the end was not at all dorky.

You mean this guy? 

Nobody ****s with this guy.

(sorry I don't have time to do a better photoshop)

Reply #13 from Elemental Forums Top

You fix my grammar and give me hair.  You, sir, are a miracle worker!

Reply #14 from Elemental Forums Top

That was a great glimpse into the people behind the names. The fact that people are still smiling speaks to what a great team environment you have there.

Sounds like the wheels are still churning on getting that polishing done. Keep it up, guys! You're totally on the right track here.

Reply #15 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting GFireflyE, reply 6
Best countdown vid EVER.

Quoting cardinaldirection, reply 9
Nice to meet you folks, and thank you!

Agreed.  Good luck over there!  Being able to see some behind the scenes stuff was awesome. 

Reply #16 from Elemental Forums Top

I really enjoyed this. Paul - you remind of a programming bug squashing Stalone (either Rocky or Rambo).

Reply #17 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting AlLanMandragoran, reply 17
I really enjoyed this. Paul - you remind of a programming bug squashing Stalone (either Rocky or Rambo).

Close, it's gotta be Cobra... "you're the disease, I'm the cure"

Reply #18 from Elemental Forums Top

Awesome, awesome video! Really enjoy the behind the scenes views and this has been the best yet!

Reply #19 from Elemental Forums Top

Very awesome to be able to see everyone and put faces with the name.  Also, in the last part with Derek...I liked the huge Stardock "Big Gulp" cup...can we get one? :)

 

Very excited to see this released and will be something Im looking forward to playing when I get back from the field!

Reply #20 from Demigod Forums Top

GL Brad - everything I've seen looks excellent.  Might I make 1 suggestion (after asking a question)?  Have you released the final (eg release) build to testers?  If not, please do so (call it beta release or w/e).   I don't think there is any harm in doing that and I'm sure beta testers won't mind.  I know others would test more than me, but I will happily take some extra time to test the release version to ensure its up to par BEFORE go live.  Just a thought.  If not, then GL.  I <3 what I've seen so far.  There's still time to go over the top - and imo, after elemental, over the top is a good idea and we will help you.  Consider me booked for 5 hours of testing/playing if you release a "near final" build. 

Reply #21 from Elemental Forums Top

Like so many others's before me said, excellent vid of a very dedicated team. Keep going this last week guys. I'm actually really looking forward to the campaign, a mode I usually ignore in 4x games.

 

I nver use ctrl+n. It's just making the game easier for yourself, why would one want that? I like the challenge of a not so optimal starting location.

Reply #22 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting LordTheRon, reply 22

I nver use ctrl+n. It's just making the game easier for yourself, why would one want that? I like the challenge of a not so optimal starting location.

 

Sorry but could someone explain to me what CTRL+N does or when you use it?

 

Thanks!

 

And great video BTW. I'm really looking forward to the final release - I've never played WoM but I recently pre-purchased Fallen Enchantress on Steam and after trying the beta I have to say it is excellent. The only thing I would change is to have the tactical battles made a bit more in-depth and strategic, as they feel a bit basic on first impressions. Other than that though it appears to be an awesome game.. it's as if you read my mind and pretty much made the game I wanted to play! :)

Reply #23 from Elemental Forums Top


These videos are fantastic.  What a wonderful company and the game itself is really shaping as the true successor to Master of Magic.  I'm enjoying it so much and it is so polished.  Bravo!

- Sword

Reply #24 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting forthright55, reply 23

Sorry but could someone explain to me what CTRL+N does or when you use it?

Thanks! 

Sure! You can use ctrl+n right at the start of the game, just after the map is generated. If you then hit ctrl+n the game will generate a new map for you and thus a new starting location. You can do this till you're happy with your starting location. I think it's a nice feature, but I never use it since I like to take what I get. But other's use it a lot and have their own (good) arguments for it.

Reply #25 from Stardock Forums Top

Ok so now that the game is released any chance that we will see a GALCIV3?