Re: what about the future?
 

I get the picture.

Still, I'm realy currius about the 'next thing', and asking is not goverened by any NDA's :D

Re: what about the future?
 

Oh, this was revealed a while back:
http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/showp...0&postcount=15

Re: what about the future?
 

I was actually looking for something that was NOT an 1 of april joke...

Re: what about the future?
 

That was one of the better ones though.
There are a number of Dom4 threads that had some very creative guesses.

Re: what about the future?
 

Hey! Revealing that info doubtless cost me the opportunity to be a playtester on dominions 4. Show a little gratitude for my sacrifices - I went out and bought an xbox 360 for nothing.

Re: what about the future?
 

Very interesting. Where I can find this fan made 3rd party work? I guess server side scripting of events and triggers huh?

Re: what about the future?
 

See Illuminated One's Dom 3 Scripting Framework:

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/showthread.php?t=43892

Re: what about the future?
 

The "dungeon master" mods were started partly for that purpose. I think it was all discussion until my Watcher mod http://www.dom3minions.com/mods.htm
Now there are a GameMaster, Debug, Pantokrator and some others I cant remember (apologies).

They all are designed to one person, the Game Master if you wish, access to the game in order to do more than just participate. Discussion included
a) enter the game and check on things from the inside
b) enter to get a map view
c) enter to grab an image of the score graphs
d) enter to send messages to everyone in the game such as to add flavor to the game
e) viewing and recording combats without being one of the participants
f) using messages and spells to duplicate and expand on events

Expansion of (f) is these events could use the same settings as present ones but expand them. Such as random numbers, turn counter, scales, terrain, seasons. They could also make use of anything that can be pulled from a games log if debugging is turned on including the taking or using of certain sites, arenas and their results, entry of certain factors into the game.

Re: what about the future?
 

Stardock has done quite the opposite with the game they're currently working. We're talking about a couple developer journals every week with screenshots and game details. This method is generating more talk and discussion about this future game. "WORD OF MOUTH" is one of the main reasons for a successful game... NOT how quiet the developers were able to keep the game unknown. Stardock actually has the smartest move for a successful game as compared with the ultra hush silent treatment which is such a 1990s trend.

Re: what about the future?
 

That would depend on the developers.
Many of the suggestions for Dom3 were killed purely by the way they were discussed. No matter what the logic was, if it was demanded or belittled or sarcasmed then it could die. If Illwinter disclosed the details of their project to this crowd, Id suspect that the fun would go out of the development. Im not sure that it could survive us. Its better to get something than to chance getting nothing.

Everything has its pros and cons.