Showing our appreciation for the Devs.
 

If I had the means, I would fly to Sweden, toast the Devs as eloquently as I'm capable of, with the most expensive liquor, and buy them the best meal in the finest restaurant. This game has added a lot to my life, and I am very grateful. It makes me think more deeply, write better, learn more about the world, and meet more good people than I otherwise would have. I hope Kristoffer and Johan will read this, because you both should know that your efforts are worth a lot more to me than money. You've managed to add a piece that was missing to my world. You've merged myth and history and fantasy and literature into a whole, and made them fun to become involved with. I'm a poor white boy from backwoods Pennsylvania, and because of Dom3 I know more about African history than I do about the game of Soccer (sorry Soccer fans-as an aside, I can't stand American football.).

I don't know or understand in what ways the Devs feel unappreciated on this forum, but it's certainly not a universal sentiment. I hope I personally haven't done anything to offend, but if I have I was mistaken, and I deeply appologise. I've had some experience with gaming forums though, and to my eyes, this one's far and away the most considerate, earnest, and all around exceptional.

Johan, Kristoffer, you guys are the best. You're responsive, you update your game regularly, and you're pleasant to talk to in all cases. Your game itself is great, but you're a real pleasure to have as the creators of it.

I think it's hard for a lot of people to express themselves well, or even to avoid being an ***, but people care about your game. Do I think people should say it more often? Yes I do, but they say it in other ways too. I see it in the number of mods, Edi's databases, Gandalf's servers and the quick donations that were made, our three new moderators who came out of this forum, and all of the guides to various nations, and the way people have fun-and put a real effort into-posting about mooses and kittens and everything else imaginable. Even the suggestions for improvement-because that's still time and effort someone's taking to become involved in your project. It may at times seem demanding, or even envious-and perhaps it is-but it's also people gathering together and wanting to build on the magnificent foundation you've so generously supplied.

You've created a good game, and a good place to be, and it makes people happy-it makes me happy, and I'm very thankful. Johan, Kristoffer, I don't have the money to fly to Sweden and do it properly-forgive me, I have a wife and a mortgage-but I'll drink to you today, my friends, my teachers, my good fortune to have met you.

Re: Showing our appreciation for the Devs.
 

What can others say after that?

I've played various iterations of Dominions for years. I haven't played them that much, but I really love all the lore and stories in it, descriptions of the nations and spells and all kinds of fun stuff that appears in events or in magic sites. Despite doing its best to give different nations different feel and different power spectrum, the game is also surprisingly balanced. It's fun to play and fun to speak about. It's not perfect, but it's very, very good.

I've played Dominions more than Master of Magic, Master of Orion, King of Dragon Pass, Planescape: Torment, Fallout 1, Mount & Blade, Dwarf Fortress and many, many other good games. The non-controlled battles are one of the greatest things I've ever seen in games, right after the diplomacy-friendly we-go-together turn system.

Re: Showing our appreciation for the Devs.
 

Well, I will say one thing: Dominions reminds me of my childhood, of games I wanted to play, and still want to play as an adult. It's the little soldiers of my imagination that I wanted to see in action, and all the fantasy and dreams I desperated wanted-and still want-to be real. And it's special that it's set in a world where all those conflicting myths, all those desires and fears of humanity, can come together and live a bit.

Re: Showing our appreciation for the Devs.
 

Hunh. I'm not the gushy type, but I appreciate how KO is a good guy, and when I saw this topic in the forum my first thought was, "Okay, I could probably show appreciation for the devs in kind by reviving my work on a T'lan Imass mod nation. KO would probably enjoy playing that if I'm clever enough with the descriptions and national spells." So yeah, thanks for the reminder and I'll see if I can motivate myself to do it. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

-Max

(And then, of course, we need to do the human empire on Assail who've managed to hammer the Imass (!!!) almost into oblivion. I'd do Thelomen Toblakai except that Ashdod already fills that niche pretty well.)

Re: Showing our appreciation for the Devs.
 

this thread's so saccharine.

sweeter than froo froo cocktails at a dance bar playing the most cliche dance music and top 40 hits they can find.

I'd send KO a boatload of Bulgarian pole dancers. And since he seems like I nice guy, I'd have em tested for herpes first; don't want to give him any STDs.

Re: Showing our appreciation for the Devs.
 

Sometimes it's hard to get any appreciation, even for showing appreciation.

Re: Showing our appreciation for the Devs.
 

It's always funny to me how willing people are to make fools of themselves for negative reasons, but-and it's often those same people, but not always, Omnirizon-who disparage those who willingly put themselves in the same position for positive reasons.

There's a difference between heartfelt and saccharine, though-that of honesty, if nothing else. And I-honestly-wouldn't have written it if I cared about how it sounded, or thought it sounded sicky-sweet.

Re: Showing our appreciation for the Devs.
 

ehh...

don't worry about me; do your thing.

I was dancing like a little girl to the most homo 80s music at just such a bar last nite. It was damned fun. Everybody dresses 80s, I wore raggedy jeans and one of my death metal t-shirts. there were chicks with leg warmers, dudes with blue jean jackets and bandanas. it was totally gay, and fun.

I'm nobody to poke at you for being sappy, but talk is cheap. so why not?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUod3jGQt0U

take on meeeeeee. take me ooooooooon. i'll be goooooooone. in a day or twooooooo.

Re: Showing our appreciation for the Devs.
 

The younger generation still struggles with things like sincerity, Badger, please forgive them. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif

As far as Bulgarian pole dancers go, I heard most of them bring their own pole, if you know what I mean, !yikes!


But in all seriousness, I feel very much the same, and I think many people do (though maybe few are touched quite so deeply, or are nearly so capable of expressing such). It is the simple fact that this game truly is imagination given a life of its own, and done so by a couple of incredibly talented - and personable - fellows. With all of the money that I and my best friend have spent on "studio" titles, I've rarely found a game which had 100 contributors that gave me even 10% of the value that Dominions has.

I'm all for the expensive drink (Cognac perhaps?) and fine meal, and I get the sense that these inspirational game-makers would happily take a visitor up on such an offer. Why? Well, it's simple..... the big studio developers, they know how many people they have pissed off with their vapid, unfinished, poorly thought out dung, and so would not take a fan's hospitality, out of fear of poison or gunshot. But not our devs, for they know what a good game looks like, they know what dedication and support of their product looks like, and they know what honest and sincere appreciation looks like.

I am too new around here to start a thread like this on my own, but I can thank Badger for that one. However, I don't think I'm too new to gush. I just wish more people felt comfortable expressing love as an emotion not connected to sex. Dominions doesn't make me feel sexual (well it didn't until those ads showed up!), but it does fill me with pleasure. I don't know why people find it so hard to be appreciative of what they are given, and to express the potential of a future positive, rather than complaining about what they see as a flaw in someone else's endeavor.

We're very lucky. At least, I feel that way. It would be a triumph of humanity if even 10 people could muster up the courage to simply post in this thread, "I love you guys."

And thank you.

Re: Showing our appreciation for the Devs.
 

I must say that nothing since the first Age of Wonders has captured my imagination in the way that Dominions has and comparing those, Domninions comes out on top by a wide margin. I've played the series since Dominions - PPP and it just keeps getting better and better. With strategy games, I am very much a sandbox player, so for me every game of Dom3 is in a way like a story of its own.

The uniqueness, the research that has gone to it all, the thematics, the world history, the detail in the nations, it's refreshing and exhilarating and sets my imagination on fire. If it didn't, these things would never have been written. I have no doubt that Dominions will keep on enriching my life for a long, long time to come, regardless of whether or not there are any sequels beyond Dominions 3.

So I want to thank Kristoffer and Johan for making Dominions (as well as CoE). It takes a special kind of vision to produce something this unique and I'm proud to be able to call them friends.

Thank you, Illwinter! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Showing our appreciation for the Devs.
 

Awww...I love you too, JimMorrison.

I think a lot of one's ability to express emotion has to do with being comfortable with who you are, and your own sexuality.

Re: Showing our appreciation for the Devs.
 

sincerity is a construct; it is meaningless save as a method of deluding people into preserving a social hierarchy. thus why sincerity is well developed in confucian ethics. the orient in general has a strong respect for social hierarchy, thus why there is so much emphasis on sincerity that often comes across as pretense to those of the west. but even in western areas with more established social hierarchy, such as the dixiecrat south or amongst the lower class in general (who must be made to respect upper classes despite being exploited by them) there is so much emphasis on things like "firm sincere handshakes." though i imply social hierarchy and sincerity are bad through my rhetoric, they are not necessarily.

i'm authentic because i remain true to my typcial detached, irreverent, and deconstructionist self. thus i tell honey he is being saccharine and this thread's a little too sweet yadda yadda yadda.

"sincerity" in this context would be for me to not act authentic in order to preserve the tone and then the social hierarchy established by honey in the thread.

however, i never questioned honey's authenticity. he wasn't necessarily constructing sincerity in order to accomplish some goal; to place himself in favorable light or suck up. maybe he's a sappy guy. i'm not one to judge.

dominions and its devs are authentic to us as players because they have proven themselves as very fun to play games and dedicated devs.

i never asked dominions to be sincere nor the devs to be sincere devs. it would be meaningless to ask such.

sincerity is meaningless. a construct. an illusion. a delusion. there is no such thing as intrinsic sincerity.

Re: Showing our appreciation for the Devs.
 

It's more fun to mod than any other game I've tried.

But more than that I'm really impressed by the way KO interacts with fans on this site and continues to produce great stuff for the game. Dom3 has had more content released in patches than 90% of retail expansion packs have. It isn't like it /needed/ it, but it keeps the game exciting and fresh.

JK's support for modders and bugfixing has been pretty amazing too. He obviously doesn't have much of a presence on the forums, but he generally does fix the important stuff for us and as much as we might complain about certain bugs (like cave provinces) the amount of stuff on the buglist that's turned green is really very impressive for one guy working on it in his spare time.

I know KO wanted a dark elf mod made at some point, just for nostalgia's sake possibly, so I will endeavour to get that done for him in the nearish future. Don't think I can really do anything for JK though.

Re: Showing our appreciation for the Devs.
 

I am not easily so eloquent as HoneyBadger. But I'd just like to say here that I agree with him 100%.

I think Omnirizon is an arts student. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif [meaning arts as opposed to sciences of course, not fine art]

Re: Showing our appreciation for the Devs.
 

The devs got our appreciation when we shelled out the [img]/threads/images/Graemlins/icon41.gif[/img] for the game, no?

Money talks, b.s. walks.

Re: Showing our appreciation for the Devs.
 

Reverend Zombie,

Our devs are not quite so crass as you believe. Everybody likes to succeed at what they do; many people mistake a metric (money) for the thing (success). JK and KO seem more motivated by cool ideas and appreciation.

-Max

Re: Showing our appreciation for the Devs.
 

"BUILD ME AN APPRECIATION THREAD WORTHY OF MORDOR!"

This game is truly inspiring, thanks reading all of our minds and making the game we've been dreaming of since we were kids. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Re: Showing our appreciation for the Devs.
 

I don't debate your persuit of authenticity, Omnirizon, although I think you'd find it more easily outside of whatever philoso-ethical dictionary you're using to dredge up that bit of near incomprehensibility. I also don't question your age, your persuits, the self you represent, etc. I do question your judgement-in your persuit-to besmirch someone who is themself expressing authentic character.

You can question my sappiness, or lack thereof, but you can't within the same statement call someone overly emotional, and coldly calculating, at the same time. They're diametrically opposed. And since you've already put forth your position that I am "sappy", you have proven beyond my own ability that I am acting in an earnest, real, unphoney way.

So I thank you for your compliment-obviously a high one, considering all the expensive words you used, and your earlier statement about talk being cheap-misguided and ultimately distracting to your goals though it may have been.

Re: Showing our appreciation for the Devs.
 

those words were cheapos.

wait till i start dropping bombs like:

antiestablishmentarianism

floccinaucinihilipilification

or

hippopotomonstrosesquipidalian

Re: Showing our appreciation for the Devs.
 

Thanks KO and JK. I think one of the great accomplishments of Dom 3 is bringing together this cool and intelligent community from all around the world.

Re: Showing our appreciation for the Devs.
 

Heehee. This is such an oxymoron statement that it made me smile.

As for the $$$ thing, the devs have stated often that is not a driving force for them. Especially when someone tries to justify a change based on it. What they do, they do for fun. The changes we have gotten in the game have been strongly affected by the conversations (both good and bad) that occurred in this forum.

Its not hard to find examples in the archives here. Great idea threads with posts by the devs, then whether or not the thread went sour and whether or not any progress was made on that particular item. Some people here are very talented at getting their suggestions attention by the devs, and some people here are equally talented at getting the devs to turn away from a subject.

So I also will pile on loads of saccharine appreciation for my favorite game. And for every free patch and addition that I have received since then.

Re: Showing our appreciation for the Devs.
 

HoneyBadger,

Bravo! I wasn't personally moved by the earlier declarations but I enjoy seeing people stand up for themselves, or even especially for others.

"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." -Stephen G. Tallentyre

-Max

Re: Showing our appreciation for the Devs.
 

I floccinaucinihilipilificate your feeble attempts at hippopotomonstrosesquipidaliation in furtherance of your imperialist, establishmentarian, Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakit anatahu neo-hegemony.

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

-Max

P.S. Titin.

Re: Showing our appreciation for the Devs.
 

I sincerely meant that statement. so stop deconstructing what I say; wizard.

My hippopotomonstrosesquipidalian retort.
 

In which I shower Omnirizon with floccinaucinihilipilification.

Omnirizon-like so many things, it's not the size of the word, it's how you use it. Take antidisestablishmentarianism, for instance. It's a great word, very applicable to Dominions3, since antidisestablishmentarianism-in a universal, and strategic senses, as opposed to it's pertinence in relation to the church of England, is pretty much the whole goal of a game, atleast in MP.

If you want a really *big* word, try pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis. And wear a mask.

And if you ever visit Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamogg, be careful where you fish. Especially in the company of Algonquins.

Thanks MaxWilson http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Showing our appreciation for the Devs.
 

The halfling's weed has clearly gone to your head Omni!

Re: Showing our appreciation for the Devs.
 

Hmmm... Gandalf, seeing as how the Devs usually walk away from suggestion threads that fall apart from lack of appreciation, if the appreciation thread-already chock full of appreciation-should also fall apart, will that create a Dev-vortex that will suck us all into an alternate universe where Dom4 is already a reality?

Re: Showing our appreciation for the Devs.
 

ROTFL

Re: Showing our appreciation for the Devs.
 

First, your statements show a deep sense of sociopathy - you may need to do some soul searching, the unfortunate part is that if you cannot empathize with others, you cannot seek therapy, you can only help yourself.

Second, your semantic separation of the concepts of sincerity and authenticity, as regards human behavior and expression, are erroneous. The fact being, that if you are being "authentically" yourself, you are in fact "sincerely" expressing yourself. Therefor, in the context of authenticity, you are as sincere as the rest of us, when you express your inability to empathize with others.

And lastly, since upholding your personal authenticity is a sincere expression of yourself, you are also a hypocrite, and should at least choose to either authentically describe yourself as a hypocrite, or sincerely seek to change that aspect of your psyche.



So OT! The internet is a strange place, a fact that becomes so glaringly obvious any time anyone even attempts to do anything that isn't based in egotism, cynicism, arrogance, or sheer stupidity. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif


Would it be possible that we could all just send a couple more bucks to Gandalf's fund, and perhaps he might be so kind as to buy a really nice bottle of tequila (100% Agave, maybe something that you don't see much in Sweden? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif), and send it to our friends at IW? And if so, would we find a Mescalito hidden in the next patch? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...es/redface.gif

Re: My hippopotomonstrosesquipidalian retort.
 

You know they called that "Lake C".

meh
 

Meh, all this talk about stuff using very long words makes my head hurt. To that, I say:

GG Devs! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

<---both a science and art student at some point in life.

Re: Showing our appreciation for the Devs.
 

Thanks for the psycho-analysis, Hannibal Lector. You want some Fava beans and chianti with that liver?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVlkZVAw8Gc

fwhhT-T-T-T-T



EDIT: hannibal lector rather. fixed.

Re: Showing our appreciation for the Devs.
 

I am not sure the guys who came up with blood sacrifices and doom horrors are into the mushy, feel good stuff. Can we just send them beer? I think they would appreciate that appreciation.

Re: Showing our appreciation for the Devs.
 

For a couple of Swedes they're not entirely despicable.



What? This is how Norwegians show appreciation.

But seriously, I'm impressed with the amount of work and the attention to detail they've managed to put into the game. For two guys working out of their bedrooms (or garages, saunas, snickarbod or whichever) it's downright amazing. Considering the depth of the game and the numerous patches they've supplied, years after the game was released, I can honestly say that not even Civilization IV has given me the same value for money.

Re: Showing our appreciation for the Devs.
 

Like I keep saying, best £25 I've ever spent, it's the game that keeps on giving.

My thanks, honestly.

Re: Showing our appreciation for the Devs.
 

Thanks for the kind words guys! Guess I'll have to make yet another patch then http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Re: Showing our appreciation for the Devs.
 

I think our devs are awesome, but apparently that sentiment is not universally shared, as someone is clobbering KO in Kingmaker(:

Of course it may be someone who has long thought Yomi needed a boost and is trying to drive the point home. Who knows.

But yes, if you guys are ever in new orleans dinner and drinks are on me. Just pm me a bit before you come so i can prepare.

I can even take you on a Swamp Tour to make my case for Alligators in the Miasma!

Re: Showing our appreciation for the Devs.
 

Ive often thought about sending beer and pizza to one of their work sessions (maybe send along with a not so subtle note thanking them for working on my favorite map or server wishlist item?)

Re: Showing our appreciation for the Devs.
 

> I think our devs are awesome, but apparently that sentiment is not universally shared, as someone is clobbering KO in Kingmaker(:

Yes, yes! I'm totally innocent. I would never attack a neighbor, would I? It was just some undisciplined oni doing what oni usually do. I had nothing to do with it http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Unfortunately the feast turned sour. The beast-men would not be hunted as proper beasts.

Re: Showing our appreciation for the Devs.
 

Me and my Ph.D. in Philosophy sincerely and authentically have no idea what's going on in the Omnirizon debate. So don't blame us, please!

I'll just wish our fine devs happiness as Aristotle defines it: "a complete life of virtuous activity"...They've got the virtuous activity bit down, it seems.

Re: Showing our appreciation for the Devs.
 

Damn it. I was just about to start vehemently arguing against this statement, laying all the blame on KO and his unprovoked attack, and it seems like 2 posts further down the damn Swede already takes all the blame himself, preventing me from issuing my full-proof defence statement.

Instead let's just say that the fact that I'm fighting this war to the best of my ability, despite the obvious heartbreaking pain it causes me to eliminate the wonderful person that is KO from the game, is a true testament of my love and respect for the game itself. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...es/biggrin.gif

I would also like to empty my own little bucket on top of the mountain of praise. I am absolutely, totally and irrevocably in love with this game. I can still vividly remember my sense of awe and wonder when I first discovered such little touches as the 'lost a couple of eyes/lost an unimportant body part' afflictions, white one reincarnation, and the dozens of other little touches that reveal the love and care the developers themselves feel for this game. And this of course on top of a brilliant strategy game.

Thanks KO and JK for making the game I allways dreamed of playing, yet never knew existed.

Re: Showing our appreciation for the Devs.
 

I wanted you to know I appreciate you in spite of not posting in this thread, but I've just posted in this thread http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

Re: Showing our appreciation for the Devs.
 

I've tried showing my appreciation by posting positive reports about Dominions_3 on other forums.

Larger Community and more $$$ for KO and JK.

Re: Showing our appreciation for the Devs.
 

My son Johan Kristoffer and my daughter Dev Dominion are also big fans of the game.

Re: Showing our appreciation for the Devs.
 

this is a sure sign you actually went to a good university then.

Re: Showing our appreciation for the Devs.
 

Well, I dropped out of highschool.

Re: Showing our appreciation for the Devs.
 

Agreed - I put a review on Amazon and Metacritic. Why aren't there more strong reviews?

More reviews = More sales - > more $ = more time = >% of Dom 4.

Or so my algorithm tells me.

Re: Showing our appreciation for the Devs.
 

I never pass an opportunity to show the devs my appreciation. So to not make an exception I'll say again: Thank you IW dev. You have given us the most wonderful gift in the form of this deep, intriguing and ultimately fun game.

I still recall how I used to play Dom-PPP demo for months. I was so anxious to be able to research beyond level 4 and recruit the worthy commanders that I used to check my mailbox every day since I'd ordered the game. Boy, I was one happy guy when it had finally arrived http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Showing our appreciation for the Devs.
 

T'is quite the impressive feat. I think that, of all the games I've played (which date back to ancient games like ASCII-art Star Trek games, the BASIC kingdom-management game Hammurabi, assorted BBS door games...), this particular series has the best longevity and the lowest tendency to irritate me. SE:IV I find similar, although with more irritations e.g. pathfinding in the presence of hostiles sitting on warp points.

Re: Showing our appreciation for the Devs.
 

I have a story quite similar to WraithLord's story, however I was a game later xD. This game really is an excellent, addictive and strategic game, and the only wish I have for it is that it, and it's community, continue to grow. That and that I could get a handle for long enough to play MP.