What the hell is up with Dominions 3???

PDF · #1 March 20th, 2006, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Gandalf Parker said:
Hmmm from what I see, it would appear that we have taught them not to consider their logical-based limits to be our logical limits (OK Im not logical. 1500 provinces? Im gonna have FUN). So Im guessing that the same thinking is present in every ceiling limit that we encountered in Dom2.

And what are some of those. Monkey Nation? Bandar? (I saw a god on their side of the battle)
And another that looks trollish with pale skin. Agarta by the screenshot name. Is that the "underground city" thing that was hinted at?

The map views show icon-style maps. Is that what the new random map generator built into the game puts out? Not like the DomMap random maps at www.Dom2Minions.com

More screenshots! More screenshots! less battle shots and more of the managment screens.
I take it that these are special gifts for PDF's magazine? I cant use them on www.Dom3Minions.com?
Can I link to the article at least? Or maybe this thread?

Are we getting a Dom3 shirt to replace the Dom2 one?
http://www.cafepress.com/shrapnelgames?pid=2837642

I guess that alot of this is still in flux due to beta testing. *sigh*

Gandalf Parker
-- Dominions 2:
The Ascension is yours!
(some assembly required)

Gandalf,
I think there's no problem linking to the screenies on your site as long as you give credits to IW and Cyber (indeed they were gifts)

. As for copying them I will get confirmation but think it's ok too under same conditions (anyway we have no means of preventing it

)

Pocus · #2 March 20th, 2006, 02:26 PM

are you sure PDF you had the right to disclose these screenies? I thought Theo had it from IW, but just for the mag.

PDF · #3 March 20th, 2006, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Pocus said:
are you sure PDF you had the right to disclose these screenies? I thought Theo had it from IW, but just for the mag.

I asked KO and Th�o permissions before, don't worry Pocus !

Gandalf Parker · #4 March 20th, 2006, 07:22 PM

Quote:

NT Jedi said
Since Dominions is one of your top selling games it should definitely have an advertising strategy which grows upon getting closer to the release date.

Dont go wishing advertising on them. The developers might not want that.

Unless you mean more PR releases

Quote:

Annette said
In case you guys don't already know, Gandalf loves tshirts!!!!

Ok then, how about a mug with the keypress chart on it. Im thinking that when this game is released Im going to NEED a mug for all of those long late nights.
Please.... just.. one.. more.. turn...

Gandalf Parker

Annette · #5 March 20th, 2006, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Gandalf Parker said:
Ok then, how about a mug with the keypress chart on it. Im thinking that when this game is released Im going to NEED a mug for all of those long late nights.
Please.... just.. one.. more.. turn...

You know I love you, Gandalf!

As to the question of when to begin the "hype"...too soon, is no good...too late, no good...I feel like Goldilocks. We don't hold Illwinter, or any of our developers, to a schedule. When it's ready, it's ready. Illwinter does not need the pressure of delivering on some arbitrary timeline, nor are we inclined to request it. We want to minimize the chances of the developement and testing process to be pressured by the "is it ready yet?" mindset. So we begin the "hype" when we feel the time is right. I hope that explains our point of view; we've learned through experience

NTJedi · #6 March 20th, 2006, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Annette said:
As to the question of when to begin the "hype"...too soon, is no good...too late, no good...I feel like Goldilocks. We don't hold Illwinter, or any of our developers, to a schedule. When it's ready, it's ready. Illwinter does not need the pressure of delivering on some arbitrary timeline, nor are we inclined to request it. We want to minimize the chances of the developement and testing process to be pressured by the "is it ready yet?" mindset. So we begin the "hype" when we feel the time is right. I hope that explains our point of view; we've learned through experience

No need to set any specific timeline, we care more about the game being good than being done fast. Gamers are more curious about the content, improvements of artificial intelligence of computer opponents, and new game features. Dropping small pieces of information or screenshots is enough to get word of mouth working. Giving almost zero information for the last 10 months WILL NOT work as well as giving small pieces of information/screenshots for the last 10 months. In fact too much silence is bad because fans become worried or upset as seen with Triumph Studios.

Gal_Civ_2 was(is?) the #1 selling software at Walmart... not just games but all software. It's not enough to only examine what's worked in the past for you, but to examine what's working for others.

That last sentence is true for almost any type of business.

Kristoffer O · #7 March 21st, 2006, 06:12 AM

The 10 month silence is more of a IW silence than a shrapnel silence (and 10 months is a bit of an exaggeration). Unless we give them screens and info they can't give you any info. I've been quite bad at writing dev diaries as I said I would. Probably because I mostly write when I'm in a good mood and have little work at school (this fall was a tough one and dev diaries were not my top priority, but now everything is brighter).

But there has been some info leaking. The most anticipated game at the start of this year for example.

I hope you haven't lost faith young prophet