[capnq]

I am not yet convinced that MOO3 will actually be released before the suits kill it completely.

I had not heard about this, could you elaberate?

Well, you have to consider that this is a cynical, pessimistic, burnt-out ex-computer programmer speaking.

I have not followed MOO3's development very closely, in part because I've only played MOO and not MOO2. I tried reading some of the material posted on the Web site, and got put off by a number of things.

Virtually everything I have heard about MOO3 since I gave up on the site has been negative. Multiple release delays, the most innovative new features cut, the lead designer leaving the company, bad blood and attitude problems between the remaining developers and some of the fans. Things that are being touted as strengths make the game even less attractive to me. (You need Excel to mod the data files!?! )

I haven't actually heard any rumors that management might cancel MOO3, but everything I have heard in the Last year or so sounds like the game is experiencing Death By A Thousand Cuts.

I frankly expect that whatever form it's finally released in, it will provoke as sharply divided opinions as Civ III did.