IGN: Elemental: War Of Magic - Preview

[Sombre]

Well you were referring to 'all' 'you guys'. I just mean to show that you don't have to be taking the concept art as a reflection of the game's quality in order to think it's rubbish.

[Foodstamp]

Poor wording on my part I guess. I should have quoted the guy. I meant 'all your' as in all his expectations, the next part 'you guys' was asking if anyone who was complaining had seen the latest screenshots which I think look pretty great for a game in alpha.

[Sombre]

I agree the graphics look pretty great considering. I was a big fan of the graphics in the AoW games too, because though they were relatively simple technologically, they were very rich and lush.

[Foodstamp]

I think what I like about Elemental graphics is the way it looks like Cell Shading. Also, the comment has been batted around that the game is uninspired. Stardock has wanted to work on this game since they were negotiating the rights to Master of Magic 2. Maybe the comment was directed at the concept art being uninspired, because I cannot imagine a game that has been in design for so long that is using such a great classic game for inspiration could be classified as uninspired.

My only grievance with the game so far is that it is not going to be Master of Magic 2, and there is only going to be two factions instead of lots of races/nations which is one of my favorite features of Master of Magic and Dominions. But I guess we can handle that with what they have promised is going to be a ridiculously easy to use modding system, but really how easy can a 3d game be to mod? In my experience, 3d models, textures are best left to people with experience in the field.

[LDiCesare]

3D is indeed a pain to mod, but look at Civ IV and Fall from Heaven. If nothing else, I believe the FfH models can probably be reused and imported into Elemental, thus providing some dwarves, elves and dragons.

[ArkhanTheBlack]

Elemental seems to get more like Total War Fantasy and not like Master of Magic.

BTW, anybody tried the Third Age mod for Medieval 2 yet? Seems to be of similar quality like FFH2 for Civ4.

[Foodstamp]

I'm actually playing the 3rd age mod right now for med2. I like it a lot .

[NTJedi]

The current game art screenshots are not the final results... only where the developers are at this point. The beta version has not even been finished, so I'm expecting the graphics will continue to improve.

In regards to game features I have read in the dev journals the game will have a random game generator, a campaign, map editor, LOTS of modding, and some multiplayer.

The chance to be part of the beta testing for this year is ending soon based on the last developer journal.

[Omnirizon]

What is this game? I havn't heard of it before.

It looks pretty conventional and boring to me. bleh.

[Sombre]

The main reason people give a crap is because stardock were supposed to be doing MoM2 essentially. But they aren't. They're just doing a soulless fantasy strat game, of which there are many.

It might be good, but judging by galciv - no soul.