When will SEIV be playable?

[evader]

I Think that SEIV is a very good game. I agree that the AI need work. But take it from a programmer writing even a dumb AI take a lot of man hours. And if when you got to the point where it moves with some rhyme and reason it is easy to fool it.

But on anothor note I am been playing it and there are two things about the game that keep me hooked

First there is the game itself. Outsmarting the AI is only part of it. Internaly maninging and expanding my empire is a bLast.

Second SEIV is easy to modify. You can spend a lot of time just making new compnets and races.

So to those of you who don't have it yet, go get it. It is a bLast. Even if MM doesn't making anymore changes it will still be fun.

[Atrocities]

You know, I have to disagree with you here. I think SE IV, espeically with Mesphisto's mod, is quite playable. In fact, I am in a game right now where the AI is kicking my tail all over the place.

MM has said that SEIV is an ongoing project that they will stay with and improve as time goes on. They will, and they have made some awsome improvements to the game since its release.

No to offend you benp, but if you dislike the game, might I suggest Reach For The Stars as an alternative to SEIV. After playing that game for a day or so, you will love SEIV.

[Instar]

We can expect that the AI will be getting better. Aaron is committed to it (along with a dozen other things, and BTW, hes the only programmer, and its a heck of a lot of work to make a good AI)

[Richard]

Well the mods these fine put out are just that mods (even though they are great).

We are putting all of our energy into improving the game without modifications (ie our own game patches).

I wish we were a larger shop and could accomadate your request but just taking care of the odds and ends of business takes up most of our days (and in my case my part time nights ).

------------------
Sarge is coming...

Richard Arnesen
Director of Covert Ops
Shrapnel Games
http://www.shrapnelgames.com

[Worgaus]

benp: The game is playable already. Is it the best it will ever be? No, and thats the beauty of it. Look at all the other game companies out there that offer little to no support after they release it. MM supported SEIII a *long* time after its release, and from whats been said, they fully intend to support this one in the same manner. I knew the game wasn't complete when I bought it, but its playable, and a hell of alot more stable then some of the other games I've bought these past few months. I bought it in full faith that it was a work in progress and it would be continue to be supported. I'm also sure that features and cool new things will be added periodically, based on player requests and feedback. If you wanted a game that might only recieve a few patches, but never anything significant added, I hate to break it to you, but you bought the wrong game. As for me, I'm happy with it.

[The Puke Empire]

hotseat and mp.......

All the games that my friends ever play are quake and mech warrior, they think I'm playing with a spreadsheet ever since I got SE4.

Personally all the time I can find to play is 11pm ~ 2am, after I get home and before bed.. guess would be nice if my gf likes SE4, but she doesn't.

for MP I think real time is still the way to go, it really sucks to wait for ur friend to play out their turns... I'm waiting for cossack: european war to come out for some major MP, SE4 will stay solo for me.

[Mephisto]

Sorry guys, but I think you just don't get Benp right. He isn't complaining about the under laying AI AFAIK. He is complaining that the AI scripts are not as good as they could. And that’s right. The AI scripts have obviously not been modified since month. The AI isn't using ECM/ECCM due to a error in design AND spelling. It will not build atmospheric converters. It won’ research planet utilisation and so on.
That's the "secret" behind the EA. I made the AI use what's out there and I think this very much improves the game. I did not modify anything except making a new race (a point Richardson did not notice, as it seems). The under laying AI is NOT the problem, the scripts what to use are the problem!
To do a good AI script is a very hard and long process with a lot of play testing even for one race. MM just don't has the time to squish bugs AND do this kind of scripting. I will continue to create and improve races for SE4 but I can see why Benp is frustrated. It’s just frustrating to search the whole map for the new races.