Q&A Session with Aaron Hall. (Offline Edition)

[David E. Gervais]

Hello, People

FYI Aaron Hall will be visiting the #se4 Channel over at irc.us.gamesurge.net on Friday the 13th of August for two chat sessions. (to accomidate both the north american and european fans.)

The scheduled times are 11am to 11:30am PST and
6pm to 7pm PST.

I hope to see you all there, spread the news please.

NOTE: If you won't be able to make it, you can post your questions here and I will compile and forward them all to Aaron. He will then do his best to answer as many as possible. The final Q&A from the questions posted here will then be posted for all to see, and transcripts of the chat sessions will also be made available.

..let the countdown begin..

Cheers! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />

[Ruatha]

I'll release the companion before so that anyone who are like me IRC incomptent can access the chat.
Everything is predefined so it should be just to press ok a few times and start chatting.

I'll be there!

[ August 04, 2004, 20:25: Message edited by: Ruatha ]

[Ed Kolis]

Sweet! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif
Someone sticky this! (sorry Fyron http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif )

[Atrocities]

Damn so much going on that weekend. Thanks david for posting this.

[Fyron]

For connection information, visit the official #se4 Web Site (http://se4irc.spaceempires.net/).

[tesco samoa]

take the tourney off sticky and add this...

[Loser]

Question: Hotkeys? Please?

[Spoo]

I don't think I can make it, but I've got a few questions:

1) What will be the maximum number of ships per empire? Will we still be able to create 400 ship fleets? [edit: answered]

2) Will ships be movable in 3 dimensions, or only two like in Starfury? [edit: answered]

3) Can we expect any new stellar manipulations? (planet moving, galaxy destroying doomsday device, more terraforming options - change ice worlds into rock, change planet size, etc.)

[Puke]

- any more controll of a ships position in formation? i.e. which ship is read as 1, 2, 3, etc.

- any non-wormhole movement between systems? built-in jump or warp drives? ability to plot a vector across the strategic map?

- any chance to move away from pre-defined hull types (see the suggestions thread)? where ship construction tech improves the mass:cost ratio, and there is a constant mass:propulsion formula, with better propulsion systems providing more thrust to move the larger mass...

- any details on the planned diplomacy model?

- if Aaron ever has a free minute to spend with the fans, I'm in the city and will buy him a pint of his choice some night.

[CNCRaymond]

I have a question, but Atrocities says I should not ask it, so I won't. Since this is his computer I will wait until FRIDAY THE 13th to ask it.

Oh the hell with it, he can shoot me later.

Can I have a FREE copy of the game? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Seriously, what can we except in the way of marketing, design, game play, system requirements, etc.

Will the game have the same look and feel as SEIV, or will it be as differant from SEIV as SEIV was from SEIII? (A Duh question, but I am just curious.)

[ August 05, 2004, 07:42: Message edited by: CNCRaymond ]

[Timstone]

I can't login!! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon8.gif

Okay, I've registered myself at GamesNET, but now I can't do anything. Please help me.
I followed the guide on spaceempires.net.

[narf poit chez BOOM]

I use trillian. Can't help you, although it would be nice having someone to talk to.

[Timstone]

I'll search for Trillian. Might be useful.
I won't be able to DL it untill tonight. Thanks for the suggestion. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

[Ed Kolis]

Originally posted by Timstone:
I can't login!! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon8.gif

Okay, I've registered myself at GamesNET, but now I can't do anything. Please help me.
I followed the guide on spaceempires.net. <font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">#se4 is on Gamesurge now... I don't think Gamesnet even exists anymore http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/confused.gif

If you're using Trillian, once you're connected you should be able to right-click the grey circle which stands for IRC and hit "Join Channel", then type in #se4 and you will be in the channel.

[Fyron]

Ugh... I could have sworn I had already updated the site to reflect the server network change... it should be Gamesurge, not Gamesnet. The site has been updated. Sorry for the confusion.

[Aiken]

My humble questions:
1. What kind of AI for SE5 is expected? a) same as in SE4 but adopted; b) entirely new with great improvements; c) other?

2. Some more details about scripting language, pretty please?

[mac5732]

Great to have Aaron on, don't know if i'll make it live, so if you could ask him the following

In regards to music, could there be music from more then l theme? The music could change when change happens in the game?

Also if the AI will at least build Baseships or its equivilant in the game along with defending wormholes

Tks David

[ August 06, 2004, 02:19: Message edited by: mac5732 ]

[Suicide Junkie]

I plan to be at both.

An "export to video" button would be very nice for the combat replay, and main screen even http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

[David E. Gervais]

Originally posted by Suicide Junkie:
I plan to be at both.

An "export to video" button would be very nice for the combat replay, and main screen even http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif <font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Ahem!, SJ, that's not a question, that's a request. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif Please rephrase if you hope to get an answer. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif

Cheers! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

[Raging Deadstar]

Originally posted by mac5732:
Great to have Aaron on, don't know if i'll make it live, so if you could ask him the following

In regards to music, could there be music from more then l theme? The music could change when change happens in the game?

Also if the AI will at least build Baseships or its equivilant in the game along with defending wormholes

Tks David <font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Unfortuantly i will be out at said time http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon9.gif But could someone ask for me will SEV be using Music from the CD Itself or will it do what starfury does and have the Music mp3 files installed on the computer itself?

The main reason is I hate having to burn new music cd's to listen to music ingame (i could use windowes media player or winamp but it gets annoying). The other reason is i want to have combat in game with the music from B5 at the battle of the line playing http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

[Ed Kolis]

Do you really mean PST? That's GMT-8, but we're on Daylight Savings Time, or PDT, which is GMT-7 now, so that might be a bit confusing for people in the US... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon9.gif

[David E. Gervais]

11:00am to 11:30am PST (Pacific Standard Time) California time (Aaron's time) GMT -12:00
2:00pm to 2:30pm EST (Eastern Standard Time)Montreal, NY Time (My time) GMT -8:00

and..

6:00pm to 7:00pm PST (Pacific Standard Time) California time (Aaron's time) GMT -12:00
9:00pm to 10:00pm EST (Eastern Standard Time)Montreal, NY Time (My time) GMT -8:00

I hope this helps clear the time zones thing.

Cheers! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

[TerranC]

11:00am to 11:30am PST (Pacific Standard Time) California time (Aaron's time) GMT -12:00
2:00pm to 2:30pm AST (Atlantic Standard Time)Montreal, NY Time (My time) GMT -8:00

and..

6:00pm to 7:00pm PST (Pacific Standard Time) California time (Aaron's time) GMT -12:00
9:00pm to 10:00pm AST (Atlantic Standard Time)Montreal, NY Time (My time) GMT -8:00

I hope this helps clear the time zones thing.

Cheers! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif



Montreal and New York uses Eastern Standard Time. Halifax, New Brunswick, and possibly Maine uses Atlantic Standard Time.

[David E. Gervais]

Ahem, thanks to the "Edit" function, I can honestly say that you have miss-quoted me my friend. :P LOL

Your turn to edit your post. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Muahahahahahaha Cheers! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

[tesco samoa]

Hmmm trying to get the wording right,

Will there be some kind of galatic council thing ??

Will there be the ability to send Messages to all players/ all partners/ all enemeys

Will there be different ways to view the maps. (Such as sphere of influence )

Will I get my sortable reports with the ability to filter the results/querry http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smirk.gif

Will there be a dipolmatic history report ?

hmm... cool idea... sorry for dropping it here... A automated momument creater... ( Say a big battle between two empires ) that square in space or the nearest planet gets a little momunment marking the occasion. Who thought who and what the losses where... Just pure RP.

Now to word that into a question. Add Will there be to be beggining of it http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Well thats all for me

[Loser]

Could you ask him this, specifically, please.

"Is iy going to be possible to play the game without the mouse, or with only limited mouse usage? Can we navigate the lists and bring up windows with just the keyboard?"

[Ed Kolis]

No mouse? Careful, you might get Narf mad! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[Baron Munchausen]

Hmmm trying to get the wording right,

Will there be some kind of galatic council thing ??

Will there be the ability to send Messages to all players/ all partners/ all enemeys

Will there be different ways to view the maps. (Such as sphere of influence )

Will I get my sortable reports with the ability to filter the results/querry http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smirk.gif

Will there be a dipolmatic history report ?

hmm... cool idea... sorry for dropping it here... A automated momument creater... ( Say a big battle between two empires ) that square in space or the nearest planet gets a little momunment marking the occasion. Who thought who and what the losses where... Just pure RP.

Now to word that into a question. Add Will there be to be beggining of it http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Well thats all for me



I have been periodically spamming MM in email with my suggestions, and one of my Posts was about 'In-game Communication' with most of these diplomatic ideas included in the list. He says that he plans to do something like this, but it's not actually implemented yet. So, requests for details are no use. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif But at least he sees the need for better communication between multiple players.

[tesco samoa]

oh yea one more

what options will be available for game setup

(ie. will their be the abliity to turn off and on options such as no tech trade, no analyzse ships, no ship trades.... cannot use colony tech from other empires... detail of Fog of war ... etc... Also will we be able to set what techs are available in a game and their cost ? without creating a mod each time we want to adjust something )

What scale will SEV be in comparisions to the other Versions of the game.

[tesco samoa]

hehe one more.

In the previous games of SE the weapons and combat have favoured beam weapons over missles and units. Will the SEV series continue with this or have you created more balance in the different styles and weapons that ships and fleets can use in combat. If so can you briefly explain the concepts of combat balance for sev.

Will mines be more usefull in SEV and if so how?


What game or style of game would you love to create?

And Last

Over the years I am sure you have had your share of crazy emails from distraut fans do any humours ones stand out that you would like to share with us ?

[Timstone]

11:00am to 11:30am PST (Pacific Standard Time) California time (Aaron's time) GMT -12:00
2:00pm to 2:30pm EST (Eastern Standard Time)Montreal, NY Time (My time) GMT -8:00

and..

6:00pm to 7:00pm PST (Pacific Standard Time) California time (Aaron's time) GMT -12:00
9:00pm to 10:00pm EST (Eastern Standard Time)Montreal, NY Time (My time) GMT -8:00

I hope this helps clear the time zones thing.

Cheers! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif



Okay, so if I understand this right, I must login at:
- 24:00 to 24:30
or
- 7:00 to 7:30

I live here in London time +1.
Correct?

[Alneyan]

Erh, I don't have my table ready, but wouldn't EST be at around -6 and Pacific Time at -8 (possibly -9)? -12 would be at the other side of the globe, which would be New Zealand.

If I am right, it would make for about 8 pm/9 pm in Europe for the first time, and in the small hours of the night for the second time (4 or 5 in the morning). Did I get the maths right? *Curses time zones*

[David E. Gervais]

Ok, a nifty little chart to help people with their login times..

Global Time Chart (http://www.aglobalworld.com/Zones.html)

I hope this helps, Cheers! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

[Fyron]

You could always log into the channel today (or tomorrow, or some day before friday) and ask someone to tell you their timezone and local time. Most effective would be someone in the PST time zone, as that is where Aaron is located. There are a number of channel regulars in the PST time zone, including Tevlik, Puke, Will^, Narf, myself, and others. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif Daylight savings screws with timezone calculations pretty badly... Not every place in every time zone does Daylight savings, and most places start and end it at different times (different days of the year). Arizona, USA, for example, does not do daylight savings at all.

Of course, to be safe on Friday, log in an hour early. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[tesco samoa]

hehe... one more

Will you have the option to retreat from combat if the situations are just right to get away ?

[tesco samoa]

and one more.

Will you be able to cloak in combat and have the abilty to decloak , fire and recloak....

[Baron Munchausen]

You could post a countdown timer on your website giving the exact time till the chat starts. Many people are probably anxious enough to keep checking it. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

[Fyron]

Hmm... want to make such a timer? I don't know how to do it... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Edit: Ok, I think I found someone to make one... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

[Timstone]

11:00am to 11:30am PST (Pacific Standard Time) California time (Aaron's time) GMT -12:00
2:00pm to 2:30pm EST (Eastern Standard Time)Montreal, NY Time (My time) GMT -8:00

and..

6:00pm to 7:00pm PST (Pacific Standard Time) California time (Aaron's time) GMT -12:00
9:00pm to 10:00pm EST (Eastern Standard Time)Montreal, NY Time (My time) GMT -8:00

I hope this helps clear the time zones thing.

Cheers! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif



Okay, I think I've found it!
Damn, I'll have to go out of my bed early! /threads/images/Graemlins/crazy.gif
Fortunately it is for a good cause. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/cool.gif
HTe thing that really confused me is that freaking annoying 12 hour PM and Am stuff. That is really man's most stupid way of indicating time!
Anyway, these are the times that I will be able to talk with you guys and with Aaron:
- 2:00 to 2:30 (yes, at night)

and

- 9:00 to 9:30 (in the morning)

I live in the Paris timezone.
Can somebody confirm this?

[csebal]

Dont get me wrong please, but why cant people specify times in GMT, especially for events that are supposed to be international.

GMT is universal (actually, it equals UTC), independent from Daylight saving and other confusing elements, and as every other timezone is specified as GMT+x, its logical to use GTM when specifying times.

A little help with time zones:
http://www.timeanddate.com/library/abbreviations/timezones/

Based on that,
11AM PST (or 11:00 PST) is 19:00GMT (PST = GMT-8)
2PM EST (or 14:00 EST) is (suprisingly) 19:00GMT as well (EST = GMT-5)

6PM PST (or 18:00 PST) is 02:00GMT
same goes for 9PM EST

So the chat will be
19:00GMT - 19:30GMT (friday)
and
02:00GMT - 03:00GMT (saturday)

Because of Daylight saving, most of europe will have to add 1 or 2 hours to that, based on your timezone.

We use WEST (Western European Summer Time), which is GMT+1
and CEST (Central European Summer Time), which is GMT+2
or even EEST (Eastern European Summer Time), which is GMT+3

As Far i know, WEST is only used by Spain and Portugal, and maybe Parts of France
CEST is used by most of Europe, even in Hungary, which is quite far to the east side.

Then again, i do not have the map ahead of me, so i may be wrong. In that case, feel free to correct me.

Hope it helps
csebal

[Timstone]

I take it that my calculations/guesses were correct. Expect me to see/speak you guys in the second chat. The first is far too early for me. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[csebal]

Nope, actually u were wrong.

The first chat is supposed to happen from 19:00-19:30 GMT (friday evening),
while the second one wille be from 02:00-03:00 GMT (saturday morning)

...that can vary depending on the timezone you live in.
Western European Standard Time (WET) adds nothing
Western European Summer Time (WEST) adds 1 hour
Central European Standard Time (CET) adds 1 hour
Central European Summer Time (CEST) adds 2 hours
etc...

So for the Paris timezone i think it'll be 21:00-21:30 (friday night) and 04:00-05:00 (saturday morning). Given Paris is CEST as well, which i think it is.

For my country, Hungary, it is the CEST that we use at the moment, so for me, the above schedule is correct. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

-- Is there anyone else, who could confirm what i wrote? I'm starting to get confused myself as well. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/confused.gif

[Fyron]

As of right now, 11:00 PST is actually 18:00 GMT, as GMT does not adjust for daylight savings time...

[csebal]

Yay, another Version...

lol..

I think you are referring to Pacific Daylight Time (PDT), which is one hour earlier than Pacific Standard Time (PST)

As of right now, 11:00PST is actually 19:00 GMT, as GMT does not adjust for daylight savings time, neither does PST. The Daylight saving Version is called PDT and is GMT-7 instead of GMT-8 (which would be PST)

So Please someone tell us when that chat is supposed to happen.

at 11:00 PST or at 11:00 PDT?!?

I think we've got some nice timezone confusion for ourselves here.

The 64k $ question:
- Which one is the right answer?

[Caduceus]

Time travel is extraordinarily complicated.

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Wildcard

[David E. Gervais]

This post is a time check based on the date time posted by the forum for this message.. will edit the projections once this is posted. brb..

This post was made at 2:00pm my time which is the time Aaron will join the chat on friday for the first session. and 7 hours later for the second session. I'll let you all do the math.

P.S. I'm going to try and lurk in the chat room as much as possible today. If you want to syncronize your time, just drop in and I'll do my best to set you straight. (you tell me your time, I'll tell you maine and I'll do the math for you)

Cheers! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

[csebal]

I were just thinking about what people living in the GMT+12 timezone do, when they work in GMT-12 (the two are next to eachother as we all know)

So practically i wake up 5:00am Tuesday and (two hours later) arrive to work at 7:00am Monday.

The opposite way is even more scary, because i'll have to wake up 4:00am Sunday (GMT-12) to be at work by 6:00am Monday (GMT+12).

Well, thats horrible to even think about.

[csebal]

Its 18:00 GMT now, so if you made that post 14:00 local time, you are GMT-4...
...which is either
Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
or
Atlantic Standard Time (AST)

based on that the revised GMT schedule would look like:
18.00-18.30 GMT (friday)
and
01.00-02.00 GMT (saturday)

i think...

[Ragnarok]

A link for GMT. (http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.com/) That should explain all.

[Will]

Some more technical questions:

1) SEIV, DO, and SE:SF all had basic vanilla text files for configuration and mods. Will this stay the same for SEV? I am a little bit split as to what kind of config/mod format I would like to see: stick with text, only a bit more error tolerant? or have a front-end client to modify a more compact data file? Sticking with the text files allows much more freedom, while the client would ensure complete reliability.

2) Will the game files be similar in structre and importance as with SEIV? More specifically, *.GAM and *.PLR files will still exist and perform the same uses as before, and all other game files are of minor to no importance, correct?

3) It would be nice to have a bit of randomness show up in the game, like a mineral miner advertising that it produces 500 minerals sans-modifiers, but it could actually produce anywhere from 450 to 525. I would imagine something like this will exist with the combat engine, but what about the rest of the game?

I'll probably think of more later http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[Fyron]

To alleviate the confusions with time zones, the #se4 web site now has a count down page, which gives you the exact amount of time left until the scheduled chat sessions. It was contributed by Tevlik. You can view it here:

http://se4irc.spaceempires.net/countdown.php

[Timstone]

To alleviate the confusions with time zones, the #se4 web site now has a count down page, which gives you the exact amount of time left until the scheduled chat sessions. It was contributed by Tevlik. You can view it here:

http://se4irc.spaceempires.net/countdown.php



Now this resolved everything!
Thank you Tevlik!
And thank you Fyron!

[David E. Gervais]

Just a quick note, the questions you post here will not be asked during the chat sessions, I will be compiling them into a Q&amp;A (with all the questions and Blank spaces for the answers) I will then send this batch of Questions to Aaron who will answer them at his leisure and return the completed Q&amp;A back to me. I will then post the resulting file here for all to see.

Oh, and remember this is a Q&amp;A not a wish list, so post your 'wishes' in that 'other' thread.

Cheers! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

[Alneyan]

Alas, this chart confirms the time I had expected for my own session, and I won't be able to get there (at least, I managed to figure out the time for my zone without being fully confused).

So my questions are as follow:
- Will the construction rates "stack"? That is to say, will any excess carry over to the next item in the list, or will it be "one queue element per turn" as in SEIV? For example, will you need two turns to build two ships costing 2,000 minerals at a 4,000 minerals spaceyard, or a single one?
- Will the dynamics behind Stellar Manipulation be changed with SEV?
- As mentioned before, would it be possible to have a few details about the script system?

Thanks!

[csebal]

While i'll try to be Online and ask this myself, but it is possible i'll not be able to make it, so heres my question:

- Will the game have an option to save smaller, patch like savegame files when generating the new PBW turn? I'm talking about files, the client can use to build the actual savegame file itself, taking the previous turn's one, and applying the changes received to it. (Shameless feature request hidden inside http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif)

[Renegade 13]

I also hope to make it, but just in case I have to work ( http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon9.gif ) I'll post a couple of my questions here:

1. When will beta testing begin, and when are applications going to be available?

2. (The obvious question on all our minds) When is the approximate release date for SE5 (if there is one)?

[Iansidious]

Can someone tell me what I need to do too get to the chat session? I downloaded Trillian and got that setup. But is there anything else I need to do. Not in the mood to problem solve today. Thanks

[tesco samoa]

Another question.

Will there be some kind of history for communication between empires.

Also what will the treaty system in SEV be like ( will there be more options such as the SJ school of trading... We can enter a trade agreement... 1 % organic for 2 % Rad... etc... )

Will there be more flexablity in what we can choose in our relationships with other empires... Such as what they see, intel , research sharing and trading....

Do I get my sortable/selectable reports http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Will there be a better map generating tool ( if so suggestion,,, allow for a statistical overview )

Will there be the ability to set up seneraos or generate full maps that are at later stages in the game ?


And Last but not least.

What do you think will be hard coded and not available for modding

[tesco samoa]

ok this is the Last one.

Will we be able to export reports ?

[Fyron]

Can someone tell me what I need to do too get to the chat session? I downloaded Trillian and got that setup. But is there anything else I need to do. Not in the mood to problem solve today. Thanks

http://se4irc.spaceempires.net details what you need to do to connect to the channel. Make sure you can get to the channel itself a while before the chat sessions, such as today. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[tesco samoa]

Oh Yea.

What is the scale of SEV

[Timstone]

Okay, I'm connected via Trillian. Thank goodness for the Connection Guide on Fyron's site!
Without it, I never would be able to connect the damn program to Gamesurge.
I hope to be there tonight. Around this time nobody is Online. I however will be Online pretty much this entire day. Later dudes!

[Ragnarok-X]

someone has to post the FULL logfile once the chat is over!!

[Ragnarok]

I am sure Fyron and others will post the log file for us all to enjoy. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Fyron]

Okay, I'm connected via Trillian. Thank goodness for the Connection Guide on Fyron's site!
Without it, I never would be able to connect the damn program to Gamesurge.
I hope to be there tonight. Around this time nobody is Online. I however will be Online pretty much this entire day. Later dudes!

Around that time, nearly everyone that frequents the channel was asleep, as they live in America (Canada or US). http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif


someone has to post the FULL logfile once the chat is over!!

It will be available in the same location as the other #se4 guest speaker logs:

http://se4irc.spaceempires.net/archives.php

Just 2 hours and 18 minutes to go for first session!

[Ragnarok]

Yay! I should be able to make it for the first session, but I am not sure about the second.

[Fyron]

I have posted a brief rules page of the rules that will be in effect during the chat sessions. Make sure to thoroughly understand them (there are only 3). Thanks.

http://se4irc.spaceempires.net/rules.php

[tesco samoa]

What is the SEV system for Tatical scanning of enemy/allied ships , units and space objects. Will it be ship vs ship or will you take the total scanning power of one player vs the other and determine what they will be able to determine ? Same with Jamming. I am thinking along the lines of the David Weber books if you need a frame of reference.

[DarkAnt]

well, the first one is over and I can say that it was a bLast. Just rubbing it in to all of you who missed it http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

[Will]

Logs for those who missed it... (I hope attaching works...)

[Fyron]

Official chat log has been posted on the #se4 web site:

http://se4irc.spaceempires.net/archives.php

[David E. Gervais]

The 'Attachment' works Will, and I aprieciate your posting it, but as Fyron said the "Official" place to look is here..
First Chat Session wit Aaron Hall (http://www.spaceempires.net/home/modules.php?name=Downloads&amp;d_op=getit&amp;lid=411)

I'd say the first chat was a quallified success, but don't forget if you can't make it of failed to get your question asked, just post it here and I'll get it to Aaron.

Cheers! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

[Will]

Yeah, it's a bit hard to see in the title section. But a success (and it went over 20 minutes past when it was supposed to!).

[Ragnarok]

I must say after seeing the chat this afternoon I am even more excited about SEV! The way the combat is going to take place I think will be really neat.

[Renegade 13]

I'd say the first chat was a quallified success, but don't forget if you can't make it of failed to get your question asked, just post it here and I'll get it to Aaron.

Cheers! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif



Only a qualified success??

[Saber Cherry]

So, what is this SE3 research/intel model that will be used in SEV? How does it differ from SEIV?

[Ragnarok]

It uses %'s in it. You have X amount of research points like in SEIV and you can take X% of that and put into any given tech, then another Y% into another and yet another. You can have it to where you have 1% of you total research points in 100(perhaps more?) different tech areas whereas you are limited to just 12 max areas of research in SEIV and really even less then that unless you turn on devide points evenly.

[TerranC]

Only a qualified success??



Of course; we've only witnessed one half of the entire event, you know http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif.

[Fyron]

So, what is this SE3 research/intel model that will be used in SEV? How does it differ from SEIV?

You can get the shareware for SE3 from www.malfador.com (http://www.malfador.com) (under 2 MBs, possibly a lot less) and see exactly how it works. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Saber Cherry]

The way research points accumulate (e.g., without compound interest) makes it preferable to put all points into a single project. MOO I had a sort of strange system where spreading research around was beneficial, but as long as doubling research allocation halves research time (that is to say, as long as research "flow" and time are perfectly inversely proportional) spreading research is detrimental.

For example:

If you have 4 projects of 1000 RP each, and you get 1000 RP per turn, sharing the research gives you 4 advances on turn 4... but focusing research gives you one advance per turn. The more you spread research, the worse off you'll be...

Was there some hidden advantage to spreading research in SE3, like compound interest or decreasing gains?

[Caduceus]

This blew my mind, although I know it is fluff:

&lt;Malfador&gt; Did I mention the System Map is 3D rendered as well? Nice spinning planets and all...

That will be neat http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

Wildcard

[Caduceus]

I also like that we will go back to SE3 style Intel and Research. It was one of the biggest turn-offs for SE4 for me for a long time. I downloaded the demo and kept on putting off getting it until Last year...

Wildcard

[Fyron]

Was there some hidden advantage to spreading research in SE3, like compound interest or decreasing gains?

It is more of a benefit for intelligence... If you make a huge amount of research and can get many tech levels in a turn, there is no limit to 12 tech areas. The same goes for intelligence, for which the limit tends to be reached a lot more easily. Also, you don't have to remove tech areas that you started researching, but changed your mind mid-way, due to no limit of 12 slots in the queue.

[Baron Munchausen]

'Neat'? Not really. More like distracting, and a waste of CPU power. I hope it can be disabled to make SE V more playable on older systems. If he can allow 2D images to be used in combat rather than the 3D renderings I'd think he could disable this as well.

A good strategy game doesn't need fancy graphics.

[Fyron]

A good strategy game doesn't need fancy graphics.

True, but it still benefits from them. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[Aiken]

Join, join! It's the Last chance for you.

[Will]

Session #2 done! And even more juicy tidbits in this one. Fyron doesn't seem to want me to post my logs... shh, don't tell http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Fyron]

Official chat log of session two has been posted on the #se4 web site:

http://se4irc.spaceempires.net/archives.php

[David E. Gervais]

Ok, folks I'll be gathering questions for another day, then I'll gather them all up and send them to Aaron. So don't be shy, ask away.

You might want to read the logs for the two chat sessions so that your question does not get wasted due to it having allready been answered.

Cheers! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

[tesco samoa]

hey guys. thanks really enjoyed that.

Will intel allow for false information. Or perhaps just pieces of the big picture.

[Fyron]

I added line wraps at column 80 to my chat logs...

[Captain Kwok]

I attended the second session and was very impressed with the level of detail going into the political/diplomatic aspects of the game. If you missed this session be sure to read the transcript to find out more! It's going to be really cool. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[Master Belisarius]

Was reading both chat sessions... SO GREAT IMPROVEMENTS! SEV will be not SEIV plus! I want SEV right NOW!

[Asmala]

I wasn't able to attend the chat, but after reading log files a question came to my mind.

Is it possible to release the syntax of SEV's map files? Then somebody could make his own map editor.

[Ed Kolis]

I was there, but I still have more questions http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

1. What kinds of new techniques can we have to texture our ship models that were not seen in Starfury? I'm talking about stuff like procedural shading (yeah! yeah! uv is SO hard to align right http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon9.gif), bump mapping, gloss mapping, transparency, etc.

2. You said we'll be able to completely customize our unit types so we could for instance make fighters that warp or ships that go in cargo... will we be able to do the same with stellar objects so we could make for instance colonizable stars (for plasma based races) or remote-mineable nebulas?