new SEIV milestone reached
 

I dont know if its been mentioned already but apparently Shrapnel is now clear of all copies of SEIV Gold. Maybe the forum change was at the same time.

Someone I sent from the strategy forums said its no longer available and I just verified that at GamersFront (the Shrapnel sales site) if you click on Space Conquest you get..

I'm sorry, there are no products matching your criteria. Please try again.

Re: new SEIV milestone reached
 

I wonder how many games become sold out?

Re: new SEIV milestone reached
 

I will wager that we have not seen the last of SEIV. Look at what was done with Starfury afterall.

Re: new SEIV milestone reached
 

It would be nice if we could see SEIV on shelves. When I mention it in the strategy newsgroups there are alot of "I used to play that" responses. If a new CD with working mods could be boxed and put out I think there might be alot of nostalgia sales just in time to remind people how much they like it just before SEV busts loose

Re: new SEIV milestone reached
 

I wonder if I could submit the star trek mod.... ??? except for the race portraits, those would have to be replaced, the ships and other images are 100% my creation.

Re: new SEIV milestone reached
 

I guess I'll have to update P&N sometime, then http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

Re: new SEIV milestone reached
 

Well if they offer SEIV on the shelf we can always do our own CD. 99% of the work is done, offering the CD online for sales is super simple. We could do it for no profit or make a buck or two on each. If they dont give us a server we could always direct the profits to that.

Re: new SEIV milestone reached
 

Hmmmm too late. This is a quote from Strat-1st newsletter..


Space Empires IV Deluxe
Why Conquer A Single System, When You Can Rule The Entire Universe...

As Galactic Emperor, you must discover new planets to colonize, encourage scientific discovery and economic development, and put down the occasional rebellion. Be wary of the galaxy’s other inhabitants as many covet your territory. Some will want to wage war; others may wish to negotiate. As a strong leader, victory is yours to declare…otherwise, wave your white flag, and prepare your surrender to enemies whose plans outsmart your own!

The award-winning Space Empires IV Deluxe is the latest edition in the Space Empires series. This Deluxe Edition adds all the latest tweaks and upgrades, as well as including all level and campaign design tools, allowing anyone to become a part of the expansive Space Empires Mod community.

Coming Soon!

AND apparently Strat-1st is opening an online store.
AND apparently Strat-1st has been BOUGHT OUT and is now part of Silverstar Holdings nasdaq stock available on ticker symbol SSTR (we can buy STOCK in SEV!)

Re: new SEIV milestone reached
 

Ahhh, I wonder what will be in the Deluxe version, perhaps a new patch?

Re: new SEIV milestone reached
 

I wonder how long it'll take the games to reach shelves, and how well they'll do in retail. Will there be any mention of PBW in the manual, help files, installation background, etc? If so, we might be seeing an influx of new players soon after SEIV Deluxe, which presumably includes 1.91 on the CD, hits the shelves.

I hope the acquisition means their problems with paying their developers are almost over.

Re: new SEIV milestone reached
 

I remember Aaron mentioning that there would NEVER be a new pay-for version of SEIV after Gold... I hope they just mangled the name of SEIV Gold...

Levels and campaigns? Wow... These S1st people need to get their act together.

Re: new SEIV milestone reached
 

Nope. Tis SEIV Deluxe.

Coming to store shelves near you. And I will wage top dollar that no one who buys it who does not know about this forum will not find out about it unless by accident. The information here is on thin ice. Time to diversify the knowledge base.

Re: new SEIV milestone reached
 

I think you may have one too many "not"s in that sentence http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

Including all the tools eh?
I wonder if that means my stuff too?

Re: new SEIV milestone reached
 

I think that most of that was developers who did not understand the difference between a publisher like Shrapnel and one like Strategy First. Ones here complain about lack of shelfware or publicity, ones there complain about lack of payment. But a publisher that does online fills and marketing is instant profits. The one that does shelfware and paid ads means that the money for that has to be repaid before any profit checks. (marketing takes man hours, publicity takes $$$)

I think Aaron knows the difference though. Im guessing he is willing to take the long gap in order to try for a wider player-base. Im hoping that when he does, he shifts back since sequels dont have alot of justification in shelfware (unless that company considers him worth a pre-payment)

Re: new SEIV milestone reached
 

What is SEIV Deluxe? Is it worth buying it if you already have SEIV Gold and you're planning to buy SEV?

Re: new SEIV milestone reached
 

We don't know yet. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif They didn't repackage Starfury so it might be something new, but it might not.

Re: new SEIV milestone reached
 

just think sj... if your tools are in the package... Your software will be at EB http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: new SEIV milestone reached
 

Well Strat-1st has already announced the release. Im guessing that anyone who hasnt already been contacted, maybe isnt going to be contacted. That doesnt necessarily mean that your stuff wont be included, just that Strat-1st doesnt feel a need to contact you about it.

After all, its not Shrapnel the indept-developer turned publisher and now the proud defender of the indept developer, the company which has already asked us all to participate in betas, in us all developing a new game, in producting a new magazine, etc etc etc.

Re: new SEIV milestone reached
 

GP you lost me. Its to early in the morning for my brain to be working. Sounds like your being sarcastic..... am I wrong? No offense.

Re: new SEIV milestone reached
 

Aaron would still be the person putting together such a CD, not S1st... They would just print it and market it. I still think it is just a mislabeling of SEIV Gold...

Re: new SEIV milestone reached
 

Q: Since when is SFI in control of the 'content' of the CD? I was/am under the impression that Malfador is the one who decides the CD content, and therefore Aaron is the one to speak to.

I'll see if I can get Aaron to make an 'Official' post on his site about what exactly the differences between se4:Gold and se:Deluxe is. At the very least it will help the existing fan base in their decision to buy or not to buy this new release.

Cheers! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: new SEIV milestone reached
 

Nope, no sarcasm there. Strat-1st will be the legal side of the CD. So even if it is SEIV Gold it probably has to be called something different than that. And whether Aaron wants it or not Strat-1st may have jumped on the announcement after deciding that the way things were done with the mods and tools freed them of need to contact the authors. Usually something isnt announced if there might still need to be negotiations on it. From what other authors have posted about Strat-1st once the contract is signed, some things are decided without them. Aaron of course is the mostly likely source for who is deciding what goes on it though.

As far as the things that Shrap has done those are all true statements also. People hanging around in only one forum might not know of all of it but its all cool stuff.

Gandalf Parker

Re: new SEIV milestone reached
 

I don't expect them to be stupid enough to blatanty rip off the community's mods and tools.

If shrapnel did it, they *might* get away with just a massive loss of respect and reputation instead of legal action.

Re: new SEIV milestone reached
 

"rip off"? I dont think it would be considered a rip off to not ask about things if they dont need asked about. But I dont know what arrangments were made on the last disc. Was it ask and kudos? or was there money involved?

Re: new SEIV milestone reached
 

While the tools and mods are free to download, selling them without the author's permission is a different story.


Now, if they are only going to be using the really really old mods and shipsets and whatnot that were on the SE4 Gold CD, then Aaron has already got permission.
But if such is the case, then the newsletter entry on SE4 Deluxe is somewhere in the range of misleading to lying:

Re: new SEIV milestone reached
 

Hey GP whats your goal here..... ?????

I am sorry to the community and to shrapnel but I am getting a little ticked off by what you have been doing here in these threads over the last two weeks.

Things change.... The community has already figured that out and we are all going with this. Were looking forward to SEV and at the same time were all still here at shrapnel. We are branching out and trying other games.

Please if you have a stone to grind take it up with Aaron.

SEIV is a game that is 4 years old. It has been a great success at shrapnel. It has built a community that in the long run will benifit shrapnel. I do not see those who have been here at the beginning posting away about this. Just you. A few have raised a few concerns. But we all realise that it is just a game and that Aaron wishes to try something new.

I support him on his new venture and hopefully will help him meet his goals. Cause life sucks and most people want to remind you of that every day. And the Shrapnel community is a place that is so unlike every day life where people help you and welcome you. For me and for a few others here that has become a very important fact in our lives. I am very glad I found shrapnel. It has helped me through some troubled times in my life. I have helped some through their lives.. I have also seen people leave here but were still friends and we carry on supporting each other.

Yea its long winded. But hey I have thought long about this post and then written it in 4 minutes http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Just let it go and look forward to the 101st http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: new SEIV milestone reached
 

I can confirm that SEIV Deluxe will just be the latest version of SEIV with the extras included on the Gold CD. I do not believe that Aaron was planning on getting updates or anything...

Re: new SEIV milestone reached
 

*sigh* I guess the name change must be because Shrap sold the SEIV Gold edition. Couldnt be named the same. Oh well it will still let me continue getting people to get it.

Well you could still do an update CD yourselves. Get a CafePress shop and attach it to PBW, upload an iso image, its available right away to be cut&shipped for each order individually. It could stay the base price of 4.99 or be set at some other price (5.99, 7.99, 9.99) with the profits going to PBW. I think it would be a great idea.
www.OddThotz.com/CafePress.html
Add manuals, tshirts, a mug with the keypresses on it. Whatever

Re: new SEIV milestone reached
 

Gandalf, when you say make an 'Update CD' what are you talking about? If you mean make a CD of SE4:Gold patched up to v1.91 then in effect you are blatantly using Cafe Press to 'Pirate' SE4:Gold, Saying the profits go to PBW is just setting them up for the fall.

..If on the other hand you mean make a compilation of the latest editions of the various mods, well, that's different,.. you would still need to get permission from all the mod builders to include their mod on such a compilation. In this light it could very well be an interesting proposal.

So, which of these two did you mean?

Cheers! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

P.S. I just thought your post was a bit 'ill-written' to have undertones of piracy even if that was not your intent.

Re: new SEIV milestone reached
 

Oh no! Im quite paladin on the subject of pirating and I often take flak on the subject from friends. Ive even recently finished catching up my shareware and freeware on registrations.

I would very much like to see an effort made to get all of the mods caught up to work with SEIV Deluxe, made easy to install, and packed onto a single add-on CD for sale to support PBW.

MODs, Races, FAQs and Manuals, tools. Maybe even some demos for the programs that come up in the "how can I make my own" questions

Gandalf Parker

Re: new SEIV milestone reached
 

Gandalf, I didn't really think you were suggesting pirating, I just thought the way you worte your post was not as clear as it could be.

The Updated Mod compilation is a good idea, if Geo is lurking maybe he would be interested in doing something with your suggestion.

Cheers! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: new SEIV milestone reached
 

sorry, seems like lately no matter what sunny thing I post it gets read as sarcasm or poison. Making just as quick to see posts wrong I guess

Re: new SEIV milestone reached
 

Its not you GP. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif Its hard to convey humor in posts. Don't sweat it.

Re: new SEIV milestone reached
 

Just do what I do:

/me grows to eight feet tall, pulls out a really big hammer and whacks AT on the head. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

Re: new SEIV milestone reached
 

Did this die? I would think that this community of any would be able to collaborate on a CD. Would anyone be willing to see their stuff put on a CD?

Re: new SEIV milestone reached
 

I would not be in favor of this as a method of raising funds for PBW.

First of all PBW does well enough on straight donations to meets it's expenses at this point, and that's all we've ever tried to do. When we've ever had a cash shortfall, a couple of posts asking for more donations, or a fundraiser like the stuff Shrapnel gave a way a couple years ago or Tesco's race to SEV tourney have been more than sufficent.

My real concern is putting PBW on the hook in case someone feels like their intellectual property got put on the CD without their permission. I really don't need to have Paramount Pictures, Lucasfilm, or even Hadrian http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif sicking the lawyers on us for what they feel is improper use of their copyrighted material. As long as that stuff is being freely distributed for download the worst you get is a "cease and desist" order. You start offering a physical CD and asking for a fixed price in return and they want to come take away your house.

Whether or not any such hypothetical suits would have merit is totally irrelevant. It's a fight I don't need to deal with so I'd just as soon stay as far away from the idea as possible.

Re: new SEIV milestone reached
 

Actually the things which they would most be bothered by wouldnt disturb me all that much if they were left out.

And if PBW doesnt want attached to it, thats not a big deal. It can always be priced at cost ($4.99 I think) just to make it available