Interview with Malfador

[Atrocities]

I was going through old files and came acrossed this interview. I don't recall which site posted it.

Malfador Machinations... Interview one year later
An Interview with Aaron himself on Malfador Past, Present, and Future....

Welcome to the second of our regular features. Finally, we are able to bring you the interview we've been promising since August 2001, an interview with Malfador...

SpaceEmpires.org:

Hi!
Sorry about the delay, I know I promised Last month but things always popup to delay us all. But thank you for taking the time from your very busy schedule to answer our questions today.
First of all, we wanted to know what really kicked off the first game? What was it that made you decide to make Space Empires?
Aaron Hall of Malfador:

I've always loved and played space strategy games such as Starfire, Star Fleet Battles, Wing Commander, Master of Orion, and such. I've been writing a form of Space Empires every since I started programming on a TRS-80. I finally wrote a visually appealing one in Visual Basic 1.0 just as a tinkering hobby.
SpaceEmpires.org:

Why did you choose to use a warp-point design for the galaxy instead of a star field whereby the systems could have been identified by stars?
Aaron Hall of Malfador:

After games such as Starfire and Wing Commander, it just seemed like a much more strategic layout. Also, I felt that for budding conquerors, the simple graph nature of the connections made it much easier to conceptualize the entire galaxy. Other layout such as a huge flat map, or a 3-D map were much tougher to keep track of.
SpaceEmpires.org:

Will any new technologies be added to the current Space Empires IV? Like a possible expansion pack or adding some features that didn't make it into the release like monsters and drones?
Aaron Hall of Malfador:

We are currently hard at work on a Space Empires IV: Gold Edition which will add many of these requestsed features such as Drones and TCP/IP play. Also we wanted to showcase all of the fantastic 3rd party modifications that have been made for the game by our fan base.
SpaceEmpires.org:

What are the current aims for the next patch?
Aaron Hall of Malfador:

They change from week to week. We fix things as they are brought to our attention. We also add things as well, which is why we continue to have bugs.
SpaceEmpires.org:

Will there be any additional races created by MM? Or any additional mods?
Aaron Hall of Malfador:

There probably won't be any new races, but there may be mods. Its tough to say since bug fixing always takes top priority.
SpaceEmpires.org:

Will you be adding more space structures,besides ring & sphereworlds?
Aaron Hall of Malfador:

No, no more space structures. But we are adding more system types!
SpaceEmpires.org:

Do you have plans for writing, or having written, a comprehensive "How To Play Space Empires IV" book in the future?
Aaron Hall of Malfador:

We really should, but it would probably take years to write. As a first step, we are having a completely new manual written for the SE4 Gold Version. The first manual definitely needed help.
SpaceEmpires.org:

SE4 has one of the biggest research trees of any 4x space game ever made. However some people think there is room for even more improvements in the tree, have you ever thought about adding new areas and/or components to the present Space Empires 4 tree, and if so what areas of the tree would you like to improve if you had the time?
Aaron Hall of Malfador:

First off would be Drones. That's something we have for the Gold edition. After that, we'd love to create more racial techs, they're the most fun. The problem is that you could really spend years writing new technologies and we just don't have the time. That's one of the main reasons we made the game modifiable, so that players could create their own.
SpaceEmpires.org:

What do you think of the explosion of Mods and Race Styles that have sprung up over the Last 8 months? Is there any Mods or Race Styles that you use?
Aaron Hall of Malfador:

We love them. The new race styles are particularly fun. I personally like the "United Flora Empire". I think many of the player created race styles and technologies are far better and more imaginative than anything we ever came up with.
SpaceEmpires.org:

What advice do you offer for the newbie mod'ers and race style designers? Any comments for the veterans?
Aaron Hall of Malfador:

I would suggest starting small. Perhaps modify some of the existing weapons and see what you can come up with. Work your way up to a complete race style with AI files. Always keep in mind that everything you create needs to be balanced. Its very easy to create the "Ultimate" weapon, but it quickly makes the game no fun. Everyone ends up using the same weapon. Try to balance all of the weapons together so that no one is best.
SpaceEmpires.org:

What single advancement - modification - addition do you feel is most important to SE4's future?
Aaron Hall of Malfador:

Right now, I would say TCP/IP play. Most players are used to using this method to play multi-player games. After that, its to add true 3D rendering to the game, but that's for SE5!
SpaceEmpires.org:

What happened to some of the features that were originally slated to come with the full Version? Were they coded then removed or just not created yet?
Aaron Hall of Malfador:

Most of them were lost because of lack of time. We beta-testeed SE4 for almost an entire year. In the end we just had to bite the bullet and cut some features, or else the game would have taken another year to release.
SpaceEmpires.org:

Will the option to retreat from combat return some day?
Aaron Hall of Malfador:

Definitely. It was such a mess in SE3, we took it out for SE4. But it will return again in SE5.
SpaceEmpires.org:

The idea of a palace facility, with functions similar to the kind in civilization, be added to SE4?
Aaron Hall of Malfador:

I believe its being added in a mod by one of the players. We originally had palaces in an early versino of the game but they unbalanced the game. It was too easy to kill a player's palace and throw his whole empire into chaos.
SpaceEmpires.org:

Will there be a scenario editor? Is possible with the depth of SE4?
Aaron Hall of Malfador:

That's actually somewhat doubtful. It would take months to write a good one, and without revenue from the endeavor, its hard to be able to stay in business creating one.
SpaceEmpires.org:

Some people still hold out stating that SE4 is a let-down, do you have any comments for them?
Aaron Hall of Malfador:

For some people it is. Some players were introduced to space strategy games with a non warp point view of the galaxy. To them, the whole layout of Space Empires is just strange.
SpaceEmpires.org:

Many people, also, still complain about SE4's graphics and sounds. Is there any plans to improve either of them?
Aaron Hall of Malfador:

Graphic improvements have to wait until SE5. However, for the SE4 Gold Version we are creating all new stereo sound effecst for the game. They are very cool!
SpaceEmpires.org:

Will any of the old fan Favorites from SE3, like picking the starting techs, return?
Aaron Hall of Malfador:

Nope, not for SE4. Perhaps SE5...
SpaceEmpires.org:

Have you tried to allow SE4 to play non-CD music like MP3 and such? Maybe selling the SE4 music on a separate CD?
Aaron Hall of Malfador:

Its possible, but only with time permitting. The game is getting on in years now. After the Gold Version, time would be better spent on SE5.
SpaceEmpires.org:

There has been many rumors of MM's next game being an RPG like dungeon master or an Online SE5. Either way, which do you think you will go and what it would be like?
Aaron Hall of Malfador:

Its actually just a simple retro-RPG. Much like Rogue or Moria, it is a random dungeon game where you complete quests. The graphics and sound effecst are somewhat simple, but the game is fun. We hope to release it early next year.
SpaceEmpires.org:

What inspired you to create the rumored RPG if it exists?
Aaron Hall of Malfador:

The game is actually a combination of things. We want to create a few smaller games before starting in on the massive SE5 undertaking. We'd like these smaller games to incorporate new technologies that we will use in SE5. Also, just like the original SE, its best to start small on a game. We want this simple RPG to be the beginning of a much larger game that is Diablo-esque. The first Version is simple but lays the groundwork. And the final bit is that I've always wanted to create a random dungeon generator game.
SpaceEmpires.org:

What kind of storyline will be featured in the rumored RPG if it exists?
Aaron Hall of Malfador:

Evil Lord Sertis has stollen his brother's Crown of the Magis and is raising a great undead army to unseat him. You must retrieve the crown and put an end to this threat to the kingdom.
SpaceEmpires.org:

Will you be releasing an SE4 expansion pack that many have rumored to exist?
Aaron Hall of Malfador:

The SE4 Gold Edition is it.
SpaceEmpires.org:

Do you have an idea, or for that matter, plans for a 5th SE game?
Aaron Hall of Malfador:

We have many plans for an SE5. We will definitely write one, but not for at least a year. We need to create a lot of the technology that will be needed for the game.
SpaceEmpires.org:

Will MM be grabbing additional programmers / talent to spread out the work load of the next games?
Aaron Hall of Malfador:

More artists, definitely. As for programmers, it will all depend on the need and what kind of revenue we can generate.
SpaceEmpires.org:

Will there be any job opportunities, even volunteer ones, in other parts of Malfador.
Aaron Hall of Malfador:

We love volunteers! If anyone is interested in helping with a future game, just drop us a line at help@malfador.com. We're always looking for artists and designers.
SpaceEmpires.org:

Is the MM going to release some special Versions of their old games (se3 and/or se2) or keep working on the current se4 and the future games?
Aaron Hall of Malfador:

I think se3 and se2 are pretty much done at this point. Though we have gotten a few requests to release the source code for these games. That may eventually come.
SpaceEmpires.org:

Are there plans to create SE4 Merchandize like shirts, hats, mugs, etc. Please.......
Aaron Hall of Malfador:

That's up to Shrapnel Games. A T-Shirt might be nice...
SpaceEmpires.org:

Any plans for the future of the company (i.e., establishing it as a full time gaming company)?
Aaron Hall of Malfador:

As of this summer, we are a full-time game company. I hope we can slowly expand the company and hire additional people. Its a slow process without major hits under your belt.
SpaceEmpires.org:

Any kind of time table for when SEIV can be found in stores?
Aaron Hall of Malfador:

That's another one you can ask Shrapnel Games. So far we've had a tough time getting anyone interested in putting SE4 on store shelves.
SpaceEmpires.org:

Piracy is now a major concern of the community. On several occasions, we've found people offering the pirate the game just to spite others. While we've taken our own measures to drive them away, what are you doing on your end?
Aaron Hall of Malfador:

We go after them wherever we find them. However, piracy is just a normal state of affairs on the net. Its not going to go away any time soon.
SpaceEmpires.org:

Could you give us a rough idea of how many emails related to SE4 you get each day?
Aaron Hall of Malfador:

Ouch, on a slow day about 30. On a busy day, about a 100.
SpaceEmpires.org:

Would you consider allowing people to obtain licenses to write novels based upon your Space Empires Franchise?
Aaron Hall of Malfador:

We'd love to. If there are any budding authors out there, feel free to write a novel! We can promise that licensing will be pretty cheap!
SpaceEmpires.org:

What are your future plans? Game releases, development, etc?
Aaron Hall of Malfador:

Our current plans are to release the retro-RPG, and then start work on a fully rendered tactical space combat game. This game would hopefully become the graphics engine for SE5.
SpaceEmpires.org:

What are your system specs? (Just want to know what the creator uses to play and program SE4)
Aaron Hall of Malfador:

SE4 was starting on a Pentium 350, and is now on a Pentium 900. We try to develop on a machine that's not too far from what gamers are playing on.
SpaceEmpires.org:

In the game industry, what do you feel is the biggest current trend among new games? What are your likes and dislikes about it?
Aaron Hall of Malfador:

Realtime rendered 3D games. It started out as just action, but now its a requirement for strategy games as well. SE5 will have to have it.
SpaceEmpires.org:

Any thoughts on your competition? Is there any communications that you know of between them?
Aaron Hall of Malfador:

We like our competition, what there is of it. I look forward to playing Master Of Orion 3, Stars Supernova, and Galactic Civilizations 2. I love to see the new things they all come up with. The main point is just to keep the genre going!
SpaceEmpires.org:

Have you been contacted by any other game companies about SE4's cult success.
Aaron Hall of Malfador:

Mainly just by smaller developers who are interested in how its going and tips for success.
SpaceEmpires.org:

Any thoughts on expanding the SE IV franchise to include other games like Planet Fall, First Person Shooters, RTS, etc?
Aaron Hall of Malfador:

We sure hope so. We've toyed with the idea of making a real-time combat game based on SE, and an RPG based on SE. Only time will tell if they get completed.
SpaceEmpires.org:

Will we see any of the SE games for console games such as X-box, PS2, or Nintendo? Other operating systems perhaps?
Aaron Hall of Malfador:

I really don't see it making it to any consoles, but it may make it to Linux.
SpaceEmpires.org:

In conclusion, several SE fans are now plotting to take over the world as a result of your game, would you be interested in helping them or giving them some words of advice? lol.
Aaron Hall of Malfador:

Our best advice: An unhappy population is quickly remedied by a few battlecruisers in orbit.
SpaceEmpires.org:

Thank you again Aaron for taking some of your valuable time to answer our questions.

From all of us at SpaceEmpires.org, thank you.
Aaron Hall of Malfador:

Thanks for such thurough questions!
Love the site!

Aaron