The Future for SE IV? Does it have one?

[Phoenix-D]

"My point is that the COST would prohibit the inclusion of 3D combat, and since no publisher will even look at a Four X game without 3D combat, the reason to produce it is null and void."

heh. Not Shrapnel. Check out Dungon Oddysey for more proof of the "gameplay over graphics" style

Phoenix-D

[Trajan]

Gentlemen,

In agreement with many who enjoy this community, I support the "game-play over graphics" strategy that MM and Shrapnel sell. The ability to mod and improve the game away from the developers allows me to invest personal time into the game. This vastly increases the Lasting playability of this game.

I have enjoyed/endured many many strategy games in the 20 years or so that I have been playing, as I am sure anyone posting here has. SEIV is simply (and I mean that literally) the most mind engaging game I have enjoyed since the original CIV game.

That is not to say that I do not enjoy other morw graphic oriented games and genre's, such as Everquest, or Star Trek games. Never having been a "twitchy" gamer I do not always enjoy playing visually action oriented games as much as I do strategy games.

Finally, what makes a game truly enjoyable is those I play it with. The community around this game is so positive that I doubt I would have ever bought the game if this community didnt exist.

Cheers!
Trajan

[Richard]

You couldn't be more wrong. Aaron is going to first off continue to support SE:IV for the near future. It is STILL selling at a fairly nice clip, and is still our top selling game.

Aaron made enough money to quit his day job and make his dream of doing Malfador a full time thing a reality.

Currently he is working on support of SE:IV, DO, and is already working on the upcoming 3D Space combat game in the SE:IV universe. This game will be the test bed for the 3D combat portion of SE:V. Right now we're looking for a new artist to finish up the 3D work, since our artist got a job with one of the MMORPG companies, but that will happen in time. The engine is coming along nicely with placehoulder art.

To be honest i really shouldn't feed this any further, but I wanted to make sure the facts are known.

[Richard]

Oh and your wrong about another thing. We had competition for SE:IV when we negiotiated the deal with Aaron. In fact a large publisher of strategy games recently begged us to allow them to sell SE:IV Gold in retail. However, as normal, the deal just wasn't that good for everyone but the publisher involved .

[oleg]

MoW pleasantly surprised me at once :

Originally posted by ManOfWar:
... To have an SE V, will mean that Aaron will have to incorperate a 3D combat system. Since most Four X games since 97 and on have had 3D combat, one has to really wonder why SE IV did nt have it. I don't think not having hurt the game, in fact I think it made the game that much more enjoyable. ...

I can not agree more. SEIV tactical battles suits me very well. I won't mind pseudo-3D like in CivIII, Starcraft, etc. but it is not big deal for me.

And now Richard announce 3D expansion of SEIV !!!!
I'm going to off-license for champaine bottle

[geoschmo]

Originally posted by oleg:
And now Richard announce 3D expansion of SEIV !!!!
I'm going to off-license for champaine bottle

Hold on there oleg. I think you maybe misunderstood him. I don't know anything for sure, but I haven't heard anything saying this will be an expansion of the current game. I believe it's supposed to be a seperate game entirely. But one that is set in the "SEIV universe." Of course I could be off too. But until we know for sure we shouldn't go off to far cause that's how people get disapointed.

Geoschmo

[dogscoff]

Well, bearing in mind that this whole thread is going to be entirely speculation based on unfounded assumptions (unless Aaron makes an appearance ), here's my largely unstructured 0.02:

Who's to say SEV won't include 3D graphics? I bet Aaron could do it if he wanted to.

Aaron has been working on SE for, what? 7 years now? 8? That's not a passing interest. OK, he might be sick to death of it- I don't know- but I'm guessing he still loves it, and is still pursuing his vision of the perfect 4X game. If his vision is anything like mine- (and so far it's pretty damn close.) then there is a long way to go. Superlative the game may be, but it still only scratches the surface of the vast universe of possibilities that could be explored in the 4X genre.

MM and Shrapnel have proved with SEIV that you *don't* necessarily have to follow the mainstream to make a success of it. They've done it once and can do it again. I see no reason why SE should not continue to evolve, other than something drastic happening to Aaron or him having a change of heart.

BTW, Although I think MoW was out of line in the Last thread, I don't see any evidence of trolling here and I think this is a valid topic of conversation. We're all capable of being civilised, and there's plenty to discuss.