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Elemental: BETA 4 Preview

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Elemental: BETA 4 Preview

from JoeUser Forums

We’re finishing up our work on Beta 4 for a release later this week.

Here are a few highlights:

#1 A general polish pass has been done across the board.  Not quite to 1.0 but significantly better.

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#2 Players will be able to access the Workshop’s Tile Editor

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#3 PLayers will have access to the Workshop’s Map Editor

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#4 The tactical battles have gotten a lot of polish

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#5 There’s been a lot of love given to spell effects and sounds throughout the game

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#6 The game will occasionally design units for you (for players who don’t like designing their own units).

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#7 A MASSIVE pass on performance tuning. This same screen in Beta 3C would have been 11 FPS.

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#8 MASSIVE pass on cloth map performance to make sure the game runs on Netbooks.

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#9 The start of work on the tech trees to make them more challenging (This will be an ongoing thing).

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#10 The Diplomacy system has gotten its first pass at the AI intelligently valuing things (this will be an ongoing thing to improve)

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We have also done a massive pass at both stability and video card compatibility.  Generally speaking, beta 4 shouldn’t crash on you during the course of a game.  However, we are still working on loading games from within a game (there’s a lot of STUFF to deal with there) as well as loading saved games. It’s still far better than beta 3C but it’s not perfect yet.

We have also dramatically reduced the memory foot print but this is an area we will be making substantial improvements during the next week or so (post Beta 4).

When Beta 4 goes out, we’ll go into more depth on the things players can expect us to focus on in particular for the release version.  Given that Beta 3C was only a week ago, I think the beta community will find Beta 4 a major relief (i.e. how much can change in a single week). 

The stability of Beta 4 (our current internal beta of it) is equal to the day 0  version of Galactic Civilizations II and its performance significantly better than the release version of Galactic Civilizations II.

After Beta 4, our code tree gets separated into the version that will be polished, tweaked and bug fixed for the manufactured version (the version that hits stores on August 24) and then the version that will go towards the release (Day 0) version that will be available on August 24th.

As of today, the game is now sufficiently ahead of schedule that the Stardock team is no longer in “crunch mode”.

If you’re still playing Beta 3C, you should stop before it causes permanent damage (it’s pretty awful).

Our main focus going foward is polish polish polish polish polish (including AI, UI, Balance, Spell Work, Special Abilities in tactical battles, Tester requested tweaks, etc.).

Oh, btw, the campaign (which won’t be in the betas) is pretty damn cool and was 100% made with the mod tools and XML (i.e. you guys could make your own campaigns).

Cheers!

193,734 views 128 replies
Reply #101 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting VermillionChaos, reply 101



Quoting Tridus,
reply 97

I'd love it if people would stop pulling numbers out of their asses like this. I can only correct the same flagrantly wrong information on this forum so many times.

For people who want to get a game or two done in a limited amount of time, that's great. The single biggest problem that hobbled the Sins online community is how long games take on anything but the absolute smallest maps.


Tridius: That is the correct pricing info from all stated intents by Activision-Blizzard.  60$ for Wings and then 'expansion pricing(see 50) for each of the other 2 parts was the announced plan.  If you got some new not-released-to-the-public-info then do link it. Otherwise 60+50+50+tax/shipping = ~180.
End of VermillionChaos's quote

See what I'm talking about Tridus? $50 isn't what I'd call an "expansion" price. A expansion shouldn't cost more then $40 tops in my eyes.

Reply #102 from Elemental Forums Top

See what I'm talking about Tridus? $50 isn't what I'd call an "expansion" price. A expension shouldn't cost more then $40 tops in my eyes.
End of quote

Shouldn't - yes. But I would bet you a case of your choice that 49.99 will be the cost of the Zerg and Toss campaigns. Why, because they will also allow MP! What a deal right?

Also: see http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=257356. If I am remembering my Euros right that is even more than NA is paying for it.

Galactic Civilizations III
Reply #103 from Elemental Forums Top
Really. Are you sure this is not Starcraft Wars: War of the cloned threads?

I want my Elemental Beta 4 with two types of cheese, beef and barbacue sauce.

:P
Reply #104 from Elemental Forums Top

Sorry Winter :P.  Just ppl griping about simple things in E:WoM and praising overpriced tripe got me going.

This Thread is now about how there need to be puppies in Elemental!

Reply #105 from Elemental Forums Top

Where is that $50 number coming from? I've seen no actual announcement from Blizzard except that the expansions will be priced "appropriately for the content."

Reply #106 from Elemental Forums Top

Smarmellows,

 

They may no longer be the brain child, but does that matter? It's called Competition, and thats what consumers love, competition, just like how competition between Impulse and Steam.

And what you complaining about? I paid $100 for a single game (alot of people paid less)

If you buy a good product, what are you complaining about, I bought games for same price when I got less value (Star Trek Legacy, Star Trek Online, Age of Empires III, Empire Earth III etc).

Reply #107 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Tridus, reply 106
Where is that $50 number coming from? I've seen no actual announcement from Blizzard except that the expansions will be priced "appropriately for the content."
End of Tridus's quote

It comes from the global activision price hike model of +10. Almost everything out of their doors is 10 more than it was before.

So you take Raven's reasonable expected price(and it is reasonable) of 39.99, and tack on the 'activision 10' and the excuse that 'it is really a standalone game!' and voila! - 49.99 for an xpack.

Hell, I half-expected Cataclysm to cost 50.

Edit: Frogboy, may I have a beagle puppy to follow my Sov around? + 2 charisma for cute.

Reply #108 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting VermillionChaos, reply 108

It comes from the global activision price hike model of +10. Almost everything out of their doors is 10 more than it was before.

So you take Raven's reasonable expected price(and it is reasonable) of 39.99, and tack on the 'activision 10' and the excuse that 'it is really a standalone game!' and voila! - 49.99 for an xpack.

Hell, I half-expected Cataclysm to cost 50.

Edit: Frogboy, may I have a beagle puppy to follow my Sov around? + 2 charisma for cute.
End of VermillionChaos's quote

So, speculation then. No actual pricing has been announced.

The funny thing is that we didn't get that hike in Canada. Everything was already more expensive here and now it's evened out. :P

edit - And while we're on the subject, $60 is also the standard price for many (most) console games. Hell, Crackdown 2 was $60. Madden 11 is going to be $60. And so on. PC games have been cheaper then console games for some reason, and now some of them are not.

Reply #109 from Elemental Forums Top

Can we move away from complaining about SC2 and back to complaining about Elemental? :)

Reply #110 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Frogboy, reply 110
Can we move away from complaining about SC2 and back to complaining about Elemental?
End of Frogboy's quote

OK!

Why Brad why! Why do large mobs only take up 1 square in tactical!

Reply #111 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting otakucore2, reply 56

Quoting Raven X, reply 50Off Topic: otaku, is your Avatar the kid from "Home Improvement"? One of my ex's from back in the day was obsessed with the kid and I think she had that pic on a sticker or something.
It's actually a Japanese kid who has a blog called YES! Photo Booth Prince.  I think it's hilarious in a so-bad-it's-awesome kind of way.
End of otakucore2's quote

Sorry for quoting something that old, but ... OMG :X

Reply #112 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting VermillionChaos, reply 111

Quoting Frogboy, reply 110Can we move away from complaining about SC2 and back to complaining about Elemental?
OK!

Why Brad why! Why do large mobs only take up 1 square in tactical!
End of VermillionChaos's quote

What he said! (Hey we do agree on something! :) )

 

And walls. If your city has walls you should be able to use them in tactical combat. AoW 2 city sieges were a lot of fun because of that (at least until SM brought in spells to just flatten the walls, IMO that wasn't a good idea).

Reply #113 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting FrznMD, reply 107
Smarmellows,

 

They may no longer be the brain child, but does that matter? It's called Competition, and thats what consumers love, competition, just like how competition between Impulse and Steam.

And what you complaining about? I paid $100 for a single game (alot of people paid less)

If you buy a good product, what are you complaining about, I bought games for same price when I got less value (Star Trek Legacy, Star Trek Online, Age of Empires III, Empire Earth III etc).
End of FrznMD's quote

I...

Quoting Frogboy, reply 110
Can we move away from complaining about SC2 and back to complaining about Elemental?
End of Frogboy's quote

.. really dislike how sometimes the enemy sovereign will death charge you when he declares war? Ehh heh heh heh.

Can't wait for Beta 4. O:)

Reply #114 from Stardock Forums Top

As of today, the game is now sufficiently ahead of schedule that the Stardock team is no longer in “crunch mode”.

If you’re still playing Beta 3C, you should stop before it causes permanent damage (it’s pretty awful).
End of quote

This is what I LOVE about Stardock - honesty!  Other publishers/developers would be going "move along; nothing to see here".  I read the latter line in Brad's post and couldn't help but chuckle.  It's like the crazy aunt that everyone knows is crazy and no one wants to talk about.  Until Uncle Brad brings it up during dinner.

Reply #116 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting VermillionChaos, reply 80



Quoting FrznMD,
reply 79
Can't wait for beta 4 

@John_Hughes, obviously not a fan of RTS games?

I love SC2, the only two games I bought this year, is SC2 and this.

I also love to mod SC2.


To be perfectly frank, SC2 is not really an RTS.  As victory is more based on CPM and unit micro, than actual strategy.  Honestly, I played the beta and knew right then I wouldn't be paying for SC2, or even playing it for that matter.  It took them 7 years to do all of about nothing. 

P.S. paying 180+$ just to get the full singleplay story is an absolute joke. Bobby Kotick should be fired.

P.S.S. Average game length was 8min 37secs as of the last beta... pathetic.
End of VermillionChaos's quote

Well since RTS don't have much stratagy in them to begin with are you saying the SC2 is not a zerg fest like all other RTS games? Does this mean that it might actully be fun to play. I was going to avoid SC2 because it was a RTS game but maybe I should take a look. I like that it has Unit Micromanaging  what does CPM mean?

Reply #117 from Elemental Forums Top

CPM
End of quote
= Clicks per minutes :-)

 

And back to topic for a complaint: It's Thursday, give us the beta4 XD

Reply #118 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting FrznMD, reply 79
Can't wait for beta 4

@John_Hughes, obviously not a fan of RTS games?

I love SC2, the only two games I bought this year, is SC2 and this.

I also love to mod SC2.
End of FrznMD's quote

Just weaned myself off of 3 years inside Relics "Company of Hero's", pretty sure that was an RTS game. :)

SC2, at least I hoped, and incorrectly so, should have been something new, fresh, different. 12 years fcol. I have no misconceptions as to why it is the same. Fancy graphics btw do not make it "NEW"

The country that plays it as a National sport fcol would have had a Civil war if they had deviated. A business decision but for me, to have to wait for the other 2 campaigns, and pay for them, what gives. SC was complete and awesome, I bought all the expansions. SC2 is incomplete and the same. It is highly doubtful I will buy the rest of this incomplete game.

Which is a shame really. I was, and still am, a fan of STARCRAFT. Perhaps another 12 years will fix it problem.

P.S. The above is just my opinion. I certainly expect others to differ...

Reply #119 from Elemental Forums Top

John_Hughes,

There are more missions in SC2 then SC1, and also, you get updated mod tools/engine.

SC2 you might think is incomplete, but the replay value has always been in Multiplayer/Custom Maps, and thats where you can use all of the races.

I use to be a fan of COH myself, bought original and Opposing Fronts, but I grown bored of the same thing over and over, and got Tired of Relic because they were holding off Homeworld 3, and instead made a crappy expansion called Tales of Valor.

 

Wylaryzel,

Actions Per Minute i believe is the proper term.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbpCLqryN-Q

Just gone Friday here in AU.

 

Think I might head to bed!

 

 

Reply #120 from Elemental Forums Top

I just moved and had to take my system down last week.  I must put them back online this week to check beta 4 out.  Woohoo. happy dance

Reply #121 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting FrznMD, reply 120
John_Hughes,

There are more missions in SC2 then SC1, and also, you get updated mod tools/engine.

SC2 you might think is incomplete, but the replay value has always been in Multiplayer/Custom Maps, and thats where you can use all of the races.

I use to be a fan of COH myself, bought original and Opposing Fronts, but I grown bored of the same thing over and over, and got Tired of Relic because they were holding off Homeworld 3, and instead made a crappy expansion called Tales of Valor.

 
Wylaryzel,

Actions Per Minute i believe is the proper term.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbpCLqryN-Q

Just gone Friday here in AU.

 
Think I might head to bed!
End of FrznMD's quote

OK, how did you find the Escort Mission? Fun? Slow? Tedious even? How long did it take you to figure out how best way to defend those Convoys? That is just an early one surely, but they didn't really improve as I went forward. 

"You need more Storage/Inventory/warehouse space!" Over and Over and Over. Come on already...

I am not dissing the game per say. I am just sad that after all this time... well... :(

Reply #122 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Frogboy, reply 110
Can we move away from complaining about SC2 and back to complaining about Elemental?
End of Frogboy's quote

We're 12 posts later and still discussing SC2... (as if another uninnovative RTS game was an interesting topic :S )

Reply #123 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting _PawelS_, reply 123

Quoting Frogboy, reply 110Can we move away from complaining about SC2 and back to complaining about Elemental?
We're 12 posts later and still discussing SC2... (as if another uninnovative RTS game is an interesting topic  )
End of _PawelS_'s quote

Good way to forget about Starcraft? Dig into 3C's music folder. The actual music that plays in the game barely scratches at the surface of what's in here, good way to pass the time while waiting for Beta 4. I'd actually be playing if it still worked, 3C seems to have suspiciously become crashier than usual. Can't even get past the main menu.

Reply #124 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Smarmellows, reply 124

Good way to forget about Starcraft? Dig into 3C's music folder. The actual music that plays in the game barely scratches at the surface of what's in here, good way to pass the time while waiting for Beta 4. I'd actually be playing if it still worked, 3C seems to have suspiciously become crashier than usual. Can't even get past the main menu.
End of Smarmellows's quote

I did notice 3c seems to have more crashes/bootstraping failures on AMD machines that precious builds.  Just an observation. Friend runs an AMD machine, and I run a q6600.  2b was terrible for me, fine for him.

Reply #125 from Elemental Forums Top

I am reading that Beta 4 is out. Time to go home. (checks to see where the boss is)