Frogboy Frogboy

Two weeks from tomorrow

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Two weeks from tomorrow

from JoeUser Forums

Greetings!

So much going on right now that it’s hard to do anything other than ramble.  So I will. :)

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Random House has sent over some advance copies of Elemental: Destiny’s Embers.

This week we’ve been integrating lots of the lore from Random House into the game itself.

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A lot of the finalized land textures, fonts and other goodies are starting to go in.  We’re also replacing DirectX 9’s primitive font rendering system with one we’ve been working on for awhile.  I wasn’t sure this was going to get in before release because it’s a pretty big project but it came in ahead of schedule so it’s going to make it in prior to release which is nice.

Today me and Bruno are incorporating the various special abilities into monsters, NPCs, etc. 

They’re doing a lot of work on the tactical battle map and terrain system but I’m not that involved in that area so that’ll have to wait for a future blog.

I’ve been working on the reputation system so that getting married isn’t quite so easy.  It’s going to be controversial but suffice to say, when you’re King (or Queen) you don’t get to marry purely out of “love”. The level of the NPC magnifies how powerful the children are. But the higher their level, the higher your reputation has to be (reputation here defined as your faction’s population/100 * Your relative world power (0 to 1.0).

This afternoon I’m putting in the new diplomacy techs that let you begin recruiting friendly third parties into your armies (various special creatures).

Media Coverage

image In 2010 it’s pretty hard for independent titles to get a lot of media coverage.  However, that’s been changing in the past couple of weeks as we start to show off the near final version of the game .

A few examples:

http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/64973

http://www.gametrailers.com/video/character-design-elemental-war/100928

(http://www.neoseeker.com/news/14458-elemental-beta-journals-pt-1-sexy-mages-battles-and-brigands/)

http://www.pcgamer.com/2010/07/29/elementals-beta-intro-melts-our-nerdy-hearts/

http://www.gamingnexus.com/FullNews/Elemental-War-of-Magic---Interview-with-Brad-Wardell/Item18934.aspx

http://pc.gamezone.com/ads/interstitial/?oldurl=http://pc.gamezone.com/editorials/item/stardocks_brad_wardell_talks_elemental_war_of_magic_galciv_iii_specula/

http://www.fragworld.org/frag/interviews/interview-with-brad-wardell.html

http://www.gamestooge.com/2010/08/07/preview-elemental-war-of-magic-pc/

I also had a great talk with CNN about our no DVD copy protection system.  The integrated modding system in Elemental where people can share creations obviously requires the player to have an account (much like a forum account is required to comment on this blog) and that account is tied to their serial #. Such a system thus rewards paying customers. We’ve already got several post-release updates in the works including a quest pack, a monster pack, and I am taking time off this Fall to mod and play with the Elemental AI which I’m very much looking forward to.

So that’s all for now.

 

 

 

82,775 views 44 replies
Reply #26 from Sins Forums Top

[Conspiracy Hat & Sarcasm On] Anyone else notice the title of the thread? Two weeks from Tomorrow...what!!??!! The game has been delayed to the 25th of August. I can't believe it. I bet it is because it is not ready and they really are going to delay until next February.



I had my whole life planned around an 12:01 am release on the 24th, now I am going to lose my job, wife, kids, and my neighbor's dog. [/Conspiracy, Sarcasm].
End of quote

You know, if you count the days from tomorrow (the 11th) to the 24th, including the 24th, you get 14 days:P

Reply #27 from Elemental Forums Top

Frogboy:  "and I am taking time off this Fall to mod and play with the Elemental AI which I’m very much looking forward to."

 

You're sick and need help....but not til after Fall :P

It's that sort of insanity love for your job and for the game that makes Stardock games what they are.  Thank you.

CursorFX - Customize your Windows cursor
Reply #28 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Astarach, reply 27
Frogboy:  "and I am taking time off this Fall to mod and play with the Elemental AI which I’m very much looking forward to."

You're sick and need help....but not till after Fall

It's that sort of insanity love for your job and for the game that makes Stardock games what they are.  Thank you.
End of Astarach's quote

We have to keep in mind, not only is Frogboy a successful Game Developer, he's also an avid Game Player just like the rest of us. That's why there's a lot of crappy games out there. Because those games are made by Devs that don't Actually Play the games they make. Those kinds of Devs sit in stuffy board rooms in business suits talking about how many millions they plan on raking in by the end of the first quarter and they've lost all connection with the love and art that is game development. Frogboy would probably rather see Stardock go down in flames than turn into one of "Those Kinds" of companies no matter how much money he might make or loose. It shows a real love of the craft when a developer takes their spare time to keep working on and playing their games. That's not just dedication, that's Love.

 

Reply #29 from Elemental Forums Top

Great news for you guys!  I'm looking forward to the release version.  Might have to take a vacation day from work to dive into it properly.  (I know what some of you may be thinkin', but I haven't taken a vacation this summer so ::rasberries:)

Reply #30 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Raven, reply 28

Quoting Astarach, reply 27Frogboy:  "and I am taking time off this Fall to mod and play with the Elemental AI which I’m very much looking forward to."

You're sick and need help....but not till after Fall

It's that sort of insanity love for your job and for the game that makes Stardock games what they are.  Thank you.


We have to keep in mind, not only is Frogboy a successful Game Developer, he's also an avid Game Player just like the rest of us. That's why there's a lot of crappy games out there. Because those games are made by Devs that don't Actually Play the games they make. Those kinds of Devs sit in stuffy board rooms in business suits talking about how many millions they plan on raking in by the end of the first quarter and they've lost all connection with the love and art that is game development. Frogboy would probably rather see Stardock go down in flames than turn into one of "Those Kinds" of companies no matter how much money he might make or loose. It shows a real love of the craft when a developer takes their spare time to keep working on and playing their games. That's not just dedication, that's Love.

 
End of Raven's quote

 

I would blame the big publishers that force the devs to do stuff they're not passionate about just to bang out another buck. Almost no one would be doing actual game development if they weren't passionate about it, due to the long hours, excessive over time, and lack of anything else during some periods. It's CEO's of publicly traded publishers like Activision/Kotick that kill the spark in other games. This is why most good game studios turn to crap once they're absorbed by publishers like EA, Activision, Ubisoft, etc. This is one of the reasons why Stardock and Valve really stand out. They're more interested in pleasing customers rather than share holders.

Reply #31 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting kyogre12, reply 26

[Conspiracy Hat & Sarcasm On] Anyone else notice the title of the thread? Two weeks from Tomorrow...what!!??!! The game has been delayed to the 25th of August. I can't believe it. I bet it is because it is not ready and they really are going to delay until next February.



I had my whole life planned around an 12:01 am release on the 24th, now I am going to lose my job, wife, kids, and my neighbor's dog. [/Conspiracy, Sarcasm].

You know, if you count the days from tomorrow (the 11th) to the 24th, including the 24th, you get 14 days
End of kyogre12's quote

 

Either way, the neighbor's dog gets it.   I'm so sick of that dog waking me up on Saturday mornings.   :borg: >:(

Reply #32 from Elemental Forums Top

New info woot, almost at the finish line gooo!

Today me and Bruno are incorporating the various special abilities into monsters, NPCs, etc.
End of quote

If possible and you guys happen to have a break, could you drop some info on a couple of examples of these abilities XML? If its possible to do some in Beta 4 I know a few people would like to know how to do their own :thumbsup:

Reply #33 from Elemental Forums Top

Quick question, will the book have a download code in the back which we use to get the bonus campaign?

Also will the extra campaign be based on the books characters? As i understand it the book is set in the future of the game.

 

Thanks in advance and great job with all your hard work, i hope it all pays off.

Reply #34 from Elemental Forums Top

Any chance of you signing some of the books so we can order them?  Might be corny, but I think it would be great to have you sig on your first book!

Reply #35 from Elemental Forums Top

Two weeks to go! Awesome!  Is it too early to break out the Blackmore's Night CDs?!?  ^_^

Reply #36 from Elemental Forums Top

I am gonna play this game so hard the expansions are gonna feel it!

Reply #37 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting Thizzbaby, reply 33
Quick question, will the book have a download code in the back which we use to get the bonus campaign?

Also will the extra campaign be based on the books characters? As i understand it the book is set in the future of the game.

 

Thanks in advance and great job with all your hard work, i hope it all pays off.
End of Thizzbaby's quote

 

Yes to both. :)

Reply #38 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting seanw3, reply 36
I am gonna play this game so hard the expansions are gonna feel it!
End of seanw3's quote

Ha! We have a winner for the best response!   :beer:

Reply #39 from Elemental Forums Top

Ive already ordered the CE version of the game, but im curious on release day, will I be able to DL the whole game(CE version) thru Impulse, or will I have to wait til I get the game via mail?  Also, is your book going to be in Hard cover or just paper back?  I always prefer Hard for some reason, but just wanted to know before I order.  Is Amazon the place to do that from?  Sorry about all the questions, I know you all are busy and I always appreciate when anyone can get on here and answer our questions!  Thanks again!

Reply #40 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Frogboy, reply 37



Quoting Thizzbaby,
reply 33
Quick question, will the book have a download code in the back which we use to get the bonus campaign?

Also will the extra campaign be based on the books characters? As i understand it the book is set in the future of the game.

 

Thanks in advance and great job with all your hard work, i hope it all pays off.


 

Yes to both.
End of Frogboy's quote

 

 :D Great thats all i needed to hear, pre-ording the book from Amazon now. I should be done with Horus Heresy Nemesis by the time it arrives.

 

Reply #41 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting jmccrea, reply 39
Ive already ordered the CE version of the game, but im curious on release day, will I be able to DL the whole game(CE version) thru Impulse, or will I have to wait til I get the game via mail?  Also, is your book going to be in Hard cover or just paper back?  I always prefer Hard for some reason, but just wanted to know before I order.  Is Amazon the place to do that from?  Sorry about all the questions, I know you all are busy and I always appreciate when anyone can get on here and answer our questions!  Thanks again!
End of jmccrea's quote

If you bought through Stardock, the digital version will be activated on release day. So you'll be able to download immediately, and you'lll get your extra goodies when the box arrives in the mail.

Reply #43 from Elemental Forums Top

Frogboy, You know what this game needs more of?..........COWBELL

Reply #44 from Elemental Forums Top

The CNN interview is live.  Reads well too.

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/TECH/gaming.gadgets/08/24/digital.rights.games/#fbid=FXiNSwVemw1&wom=false