SEV How's it look?

[Grandpa Kim]

This is a question for the beta testers. I'm NOT looking for any secrets but I am interested in just how you feel about the game. Is it a big improvement over SEIV? Is is just more of the same but prettier? Is it wildly different and can't be compared?

Drop us a line. Inquiring minds want to know.

[Baron Munchausen]

It's quite recognizable as Space Empires. Yes, it is definitely prettier, and it has some nice improvements but it still plays like Space Empires. There are some very big decisions still outstanding about possible changes so it's currently impossible to say if it's going to be 'better' or 'worse' or 'just different'...

[Fyron]

How one feels about a game is probably covered by the NDA. It results directly from the secrets of how the game cuurently is.

[Grandpa Kim]

Imperator Fyron said:
How one feels about a game is probably covered by the NDA. It results directly from the secrets of how the game cuurently is.



http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif That's hilarious! I wonder if anyone is not now a tester because he refused to sign the NDA?

[Iron Giant]

And the SEV media blackout continues.....

Not a screenshot in months, no solid information.... Oh well, I just hope its awesome as SEIV, just updated....

[Captain Kwok]

I think there has been lots of information spilled out on SE:V, you just got to know where to find it. More screenshots would be nice, but most areas of the game I think have already been covered so it would be more of the same. I'd like to see some more DEG race wallpapers though.

[Ed Kolis]

I'll let you in on a little-known secret I picked up while beta testing Starfury... NDA does not stand for Non-Disclosure Agreement... it stands for Nazi Death Arrangements! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/eek.gif If you violate the NDA, Nazis will come and track you down and arrange for your death in a particularly gruesome fashion...
That's the REAL reason I'm not participating the in SE5 beta http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[Baron Munchausen]

In the SE Universe that's Norak Death Arrangement. You already knew that the Norak are 'Deeply Religious' but did you know who their god is? Violate MM's terms and the Norak Ninja Assassins will find you.

[Ed Kolis]

Ooh, let me guess, Kazon and Dogar, the Twin Gods of Death and Destruction? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[douglas]

Ed Kolis said:
Ooh, let me guess, Kazon and Dogar, the Twin Gods of Death and Destruction? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif


BLASPHEMY! You put their names in the wrong order! It's "Dogar and Kazon"! The Ninja Assassins will be visiting you shortly.

[narf poit chez BOOM]

These ninja assasins? The two inch tall ones?

I'd get a refund.

[Kamog]

Well, does it look like SEV will still come out in February next year? Or will it be later in the year? I guess it's hard to say at this point, right?

[ZeroAdunn]

Kamog said:
Well, does it look like SEV will still come out in February next year? Or will it be later in the year? I guess it's hard to say at this point, right?



No, its very easy to say. For instance: "Why yes, it will be out nex february." Viola, easy as pie. Of course, I have no inside information, so I am just making things up.

[Thermodyne]

Baron Munchausen said:
There are some very big decisions still outstanding about possible changes



Assuming that this is accurate, this would be the biggest news here. And as such, should have been covered by the NDA’s.

[Renegade 13]

Kamog said:
Well, does it look like SEV will still come out in February next year? Or will it be later in the year? I guess it's hard to say at this point, right?



At this point, it is impossible to know. And since we don't know, we don't want to guess! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Likely we aren't supposed to say what we think of the game yet, since if someone for some strange reason said they thought the game was horrible, that could hurt sales based only on the opinion of one person. Now, that situation is very unlikely (come on, this is SE5 we're talking about!), but is still likely covered under the NDA. I'd have to dig my copy out to know for sure though...

[douglas]

Thermodyne said:

Baron Munchausen said:
There are some very big decisions still outstanding about possible changes


Assuming that this is accurate, this would be the biggest news here. And as such, should have been covered by the NDA’s.


The relevant quote from the NDA is "Customer agrees not to discuss flaws in the software with any party other than MALFADOR MACHINATIONS." That is the only reference in the entire document concerning not revealing anything to outsiders. I don't think a nebulous statement that (unidentified) parts of the game design haven't been finalized yet is covered by that. For an example of something else that statement doesn't cover, the version numbering is up to .50 now. Now, if I were to tell you that it crashes whenever I try to do X, that would be a violation of the NDA.

Edit: Hmm, technically, discussing bugs and design controversies even with other beta testers violates the NDA, since those other beta testers are not "MALFADOR MACHINATIONS". http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[Atrocities]

Imperator Fyron said:
How one feels about a game is probably covered by the NDA. It results directly from the secrets of how the game cuurently is.



Correct

[zircher]

So, we can talk about the shining examples of beta testers working together, the successful string of updates, the joyful progress on building custom races, and Malfador's interaction with the suggestion process?
--
TAZ

[narf poit chez BOOM]

Well, someone might think one of those is a problem.

[douglas]

zircher said:
So, we can talk about the shining examples of beta testers working together, the successful string of updates, the joyful progress on building custom races, and Malfador's interaction with the suggestion process?
--
TAZ


Well, there's also something about Malfador being able to take away your right to beta test SEV without needing a reason. Ah, here it is: "Customer’s right to use Space Empires V under this agreement will terminate on the earlier of (i) written notice of termination of this agreement by MALFADOR MACHINATIONS or Customer or (ii) the date of general commercial availability of Space Empires V. MALFADOR MACHINATIONS shall have the right, at its sole discretion, to terminate this agreement with or without cause upon written notice to Customer." The topics you mentioned might not technically be forbidden by the NDA, and Aaron might not care, but if you start talking about things he'd rather not have become public, he can kick you out of the beta test whenever he feels like it. I'd say check with Aaron first before revealing anything that isn't trivially uninformative (like version numbers that are based entirely on how much time has passed since the beta started).

[Atrocities]

Best not to discuss anything at all aside from telling people to contact Malfador with any questions.

[Grandpa Kim]

Is your remuneration covered by the NDA? I'd be curious to know what you're being paid.

[Ed Kolis]

Paid? They're getting to play the game early... if they're getting paid I seriously got ripped off as a Starfury tester! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[Atrocities]

I am being paid $1,200.75 dollars a day.

[Captain Kwok]

There's no money in it for the beta testers, we do it for love. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[Grandpa Kim]

Err, this must some new form of love with which I'm unfamiliar.

Do you mean you love to work for free? to bust your butt so others can profit? Is your name in the credits enough? I'm afraid this mindset eludes me.

[narf poit chez BOOM]

Hmm, yes, that is a point.

[Captain Kwok]

It's not like a full-time job you know. You test the game, play it, report bugs and make suggestions. Your reward is being part of the creation process for a game that you enjoy and maybe a free copy of the game.

[Renegade 13]

Grandpa Kim said:
Err, this must some new form of love with which I'm unfamiliar.

Do you mean you love to work for free? to bust your butt so others can profit? Is your name in the credits enough? I'm afraid this mindset eludes me.



Don't need a monetary reward. Being able to be a part of the development of the game from early early playability right up to the shining finished product is part of the reward for me. Also having the chance to recommend that things be changed, added, enhanced etc., and being able to know that something you suggested made it into the final version for many people all over the world to enjoy...that's a good feeling. Then again, a little cash wouldn't be amiss either http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[wilhil]

Grandpa Kim said:
Err, this must some new form of love with which I'm unfamiliar.

Do you mean you love to work for free? to bust your butt so others can profit? Is your name in the credits enough? I'm afraid this mindset eludes me.



I have done professional beta testing and even though I am not in this beta, I can tell you there is a diffrence :

professional - paid work - even if you do not like the game

play it over and over again for hours and try and do each and every possible scenario as well as doing it on diffrent hardware. Get paid quite a bit in some cases and name in credits, have to write bugs found in great detail on how it occured, and blablabla, annoying!

hobby - free

You get to go through and play a game that you love, get to see it before anyone else, for free but possibly get a position in special thanks in the credits, and just report any problems you find in a general manner, and in some cases get a special offer or a free copy of the game when it is complete

(I dont think there will be free copys of SEV or no one will buy!, it seems everyone who wants to buy the game got in to the beta test apart from me!)

that just about sums it up....

[narf poit chez BOOM]

I didn't get into the beta. Didn't try - Not enough time.

[Raging Deadstar]

We all know the Beta Testers are only in it so they can learn all the sneaky tactics first so when PBW SEV comes around they can quickly crush all opposition and claim status of Galactic Overlords http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

Of course then they turn on themselves, giving us mere non-beta testers/mortals a chance... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[narf poit chez BOOM]

Fear the beta testers of DOOM!

[Iron Giant]

I would have LOVED to be a Beta tester. Did it for Starsiege, had a blast. Had more fun in beta than in the final, because of some unfortunate design decisions...

But most of all, I just want to play SEv, even if its not done yet...

[sachmo]

so, how's the game look?

[Atrocities]

You would have to look for yourself. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif www.malfador.com (http://www.malfador.com) and SFI. There are a few game previews out too.

[Iron Giant]

Could someone link us to game previews? I've seen the "blurb" on Gamespot, malfador and the publishers site, but I can't find any real information.

For that matter, what features will SEV really have?

I've read about Heros, (ala MOO2 ship captains) are they in or out?

What ship sizes are there? Is it the same very clustered sizing where a Battle Cruiser is only a little bigger than a cruiser or are the sizes much different?

What about weapons, are they still pretty much the same or have things found slightly better balance?

What about fighters, are they in? out? Usable?

Other than the graphics, what game play differences are there between SEIV and SEV? Is it just SEIV with nicer graphics?

How many ships can an AMD 3000 with a 128mb Geforce 4 card deal with in SEV at once? Do large battles bog down or is it beautiful and smooth?

What is the projected release date?

I've done all kinds of searches and I'm coming up with no real answers here. Are there some websites Im missing?

[AgentZero]

Well, keeping in mind that one must respect both the letter and the spirit of the NDA, I ain't answering nothing. The SE5 NDA looks a heckuva lot like the one I got for SE4, and Aaron was quite clear back then that we weren't to discuss anything without running it past him first. Although I just took the easy route and cackled madly whenever asked about it. So in that vein, Bwahahahahaha!
Incidentally, I forgot my SE5 beta CD at home so I've been SE-less for the better part of three weeks now. For those of you considering giving up SE, I'd recommend strongly against it. The withdrawl is just unpleasent. And I mean unpleasent in the same sense that one would say, the sun is a bit hot.

[Ed Kolis]

Iron Giant, have you seen the 3D Gamers preview video?
http://www.3dgamers.com/games/spaceempires5/downloads/

[Fyron]

Even better, check out these sites that have gathered much publically available info:

http://www.spaceempires.net/home/gameinfo-SE5.html
http://www.captainkwok.net/se5info.php

[geoschmo]

You can't tell that much about a game from screen shots. And of course the NDA precludes us from talking about specifics. But Aaron wouldn't mind if I told you this:

SEV is going to rock. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif This isn't just some hope based on Malfadors past performance. As beta tester I can see the game and it's potential. I can honestly say that I will be very suprised if anyone who is a fan of SEIV will be dissapointed by SEV. It's definetly going to be worthy of the mantle of Space Empires.

I'm sure this won't make it any easier on you to hear this, since you still have to wait on the game. But it's hard for me to wait to be able to talk about it. I think it's that good.

[Oversway]

Cool. Sounds like the only fear is that Strategy First might screw something(s) up.

[Iron Giant]

The kwok site is great, thats the type of list I'm looking to have confirmed.

All the screenshots everywhere are the same though. Been there, seen them. Not nearly enough screenshots available.

I can't seem to get that video though, is it good?

Is it still scheduled for February?

[Kana]

Video rocks...maybe someone who still might have it can post a link...

Kana

[Captain Kwok]

Thanks.

I've actually been meaning to update the list for the last little bit, maybe I'll get to that. I do have to get MM's clearance before I can post updates though. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[Fyron]

The video link was posted below:

http://www.3dgamers.com/games/spaceempires5/downloads/

[Spoo]

geoschmo said:
You can't tell that much about a game from screen shots. And of course the NDA precludes us from talking about specifics. But Aaron wouldn't mind if I told you this:

SEV is going to rock. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif This isn't just some hope based on Malfadors past performance. As beta tester I can see the game and it's potential. I can honestly say that I will be very suprised if anyone who is a fan of SEIV will be dissapointed by SEV. It's definetly going to be worthy of the mantle of Space Empires.

I'm sure this won't make it any easier on you to hear this, since you still have to wait on the game. But it's hard for me to wait to be able to talk about it. I think it's that good.



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

*Goes back to waiting...

[Atrocities]

Screw it I am going to tell you all you want to kn...... ISP FAILURE. USER ATROCITIES IS UNKNOWN.

[wilhil]

NNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Damn, Atrocities pc must of been tappen, obviously one of the conditions of the NDA http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif


lol, please tell!

[Grandpa Kim]

geoschmo said:
You can't tell that much about a game from screen shots. And of course the NDA precludes us from talking about specifics. But Aaron wouldn't mind if I told you this:

SEV is going to rock. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif This isn't just some hope based on Malfadors past performance. As beta tester I can see the game and it's potential. I can honestly say that I will be very suprised if anyone who is a fan of SEIV will be dissapointed by SEV. It's definetly going to be worthy of the mantle of Space Empires.

I'm sure this won't make it any easier on you to hear this, since you still have to wait on the game. But it's hard for me to wait to be able to talk about it. I think it's that good.



Now that's the kind of stuff I wanted to hear! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif Had I heard nothing, I'd have begun to worry. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

[Grandpa Kim]

Oh, and one more question I think can be answered. How much computer will we need to play SEV?

[Captain Kwok]

I would say it is equivalent to Starfury requirements.

[zircher]

To take that literally, here are the StarFury requirements accorting to Strategy First's site:

System requirements

Windows 98, 2000, ME, XP; Pentium 500Mhz, 32MB RAM; A video card with 3D acceleration and DirectX 7.0; DirectX compatible sound card capable of supporting MP3 and DirectSound playback; 400MB hard drive space; 1024x768 screen resolution
--
TAZ

[Makinus]

Hey, betatesters, ask Aaron to post more screenshots!

[Anguille]

Makinus said:
Hey, betatesters, ask Aaron to post more screenshots!



I second that...it's been a very long time since the last update. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

[wilhil]

Anguille said:

Makinus said:
Hey, betatesters, ask Aaron to post more screenshots!



I second that...it's been a very long time since the last update. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif



thirded!

or a 100 turn beta demo like some games do! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Atrocities]

We will ask him.

[Iron Giant]

Atrocities said:
We will ask him.



Thank you, thank you, thank you.

[Paladin_SE5]

Iron Giant said:

Atrocities said:
We will ask him.


Thank you, thank you, thank you.


On the other hand, you would'nt want us to spoil the fun of it with too much previews, hmmm? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

Ah well, the NDA's the main reason I usually lurk and do not usually post here, I'm afraid I'll open my big mouth http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif