When will SEIV be playable? - Page 2

Instar · #11 January 3rd, 2001, 04:07 AM

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 · #12 January 3rd, 2001, 04:26 AM

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

).

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Sarge is coming...

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

Worgaus · #13 January 3rd, 2001, 04:38 AM

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 · #14 January 3rd, 2001, 04:46 AM

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 · #15 January 3rd, 2001, 12:18 PM

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.

Socialist · #16 January 4th, 2001, 01:11 AM

ehehe i wont ban you Comrade :P

PUke..you got it right....(barf..har har) eheh

i am happy with the game..and when TCP IP comes out...look me up..i dont mind huge long games..I got a lot of time at home watching my daughter..it will give me pleasure to take on your Capitalistic empire and bring it into the Commune's fold...hehehe

the game is great by the way...and HUMAN to HUMAN is always the point...not to fun beating up a computer ..cant feel his agony as i crush his counter revolutionaries.heheeh

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Waves his Red flag

Socialist

Atrocities · #17 January 4th, 2001, 01:37 AM

Man, to think that only one guy is doing all the programing for this game is as amazing as finding new life in the galaxy. That really takes a lot of talent to do, and I am amazed that he does it with such skill.

The AI problem is one that can be tweaked, corrected, and overcome in time. I have confedance in MM and in all you moders out there. Mephistos's Mod made a great addition to the game, and I love it.

(Hum, do you live in CA Mephisto? Perhaps MM could use another programer?

Hint Hint)

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"We've made too many compromises already, too many retreats! They invade our space and we fall back -- they assimilate entire worlds and we fall back! Not again! The line must be drawn here -- this far, no further! And I will make them pay for what they've done!" -- Patric Stewart as Captain Picard

benp · #18 January 4th, 2001, 02:58 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Richard:

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

Is anyone at SG or MM working on the AI scripts? It doesn't seem like it except in the most cursory way.

My frustration is that you don't seem to realize how badly broken this is. The game is sitting on my shelf until you produce a patch with some races that work as well as Mephesto's. I have a feeling that MM is sneaking new features in instead of cleaning this up. (Like TCP/IP...)

It's been over a month since this game shipped, and the same stupid typos are still there in these scripts, to the point where some third party can come in and create a much better computer player then you have. Does that seem right to you?

I'm glad others are enjoying SEIV as is, but I've played about 10 different "conquor the galaxy" games in the past 10 years (including SE III), and unless one has AI that acts semi-resonably it's not worth playing. (For me.)

Ben Polk

Mephisto · #19 January 4th, 2001, 11:27 AM

Sorry, I live in germany.

But I already offered my help.

quote:
Originally posted by Atrocities:
Hum, do you live in CA Mephisto? Perhaps MM could use another programer? Hint Hint

Richard · #20 January 4th, 2001, 05:16 PM

Actually Ben it has more to do with the size of Aaron's team.

The other problem is Aaron is used to working on his games as a long term project much like Norm Koger and Gary Grigsby did for their games in years past.

I can tell you this though drop him an email with your specific concerns, he is very open to discussion.

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

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