SE5 release is only 3 weeks away! [Archive]

Yimboli

May 12th, 2006, 10:37 PM

Caduceus how is dominions 3? i'm looking for something to hold me until SE5 - i can only play multiplayer civ4 when peter is around and hes 3 hours time difference!

As for the release, anyone that has ever been in a product management position can sympathize with Aaron, who *may* be forced now to make a decision: release an unfinished product or delay again to release it properly? Either decision pisses someone off. I wouldn't wanna be in his shoes with so many expectations riding on his shoulders...

but then again it'd be worth it to be able to see SE5 early!!!! =D

Markavian

May 12th, 2006, 11:28 PM

No game is worth seeing 'early'.
I'll wait patiently until Spore arrives, very patiently.

Caduceus

May 13th, 2006, 12:13 AM

Yimboli,

Dom 3 is in pre-order through shrapnel.

As long as the "start-up" annoyances and some of the micromanagement issues are gone, I'll be happy.

Alneyan

May 13th, 2006, 09:45 AM

Renegade 13 said:
Too bad I can't comment in this thread...oops just did! Does that violate my NDA?! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

Well, you might not even be supposed to speak about your NDA, so that would be a clear violation. Do you have a preference for the time and place of the suing? There's a pretty nice court in Little Rock, with upscale facilities just a few hundred metres away. Summer in Arkansas isn't a great idea, though, so you should wait for Autumn.

So, you should practice denying that you even have a NDA in the first place. You know, "I have not had sexual relations with that woman"... okay, that was the wrong line, but you get the idea. So, did you ever have a legal relation with Mr Aaron Hall? Mmh?

Atrocities

May 13th, 2006, 11:10 AM

Baron Munchausen said:
If it is released in June, you don't want to buy it. It can't possibly be ready by then. I'd expect a delay until September if they are at all rational about having a completed product on the CD.

I would not bet on such assumptions. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

Captain Kwok

May 13th, 2006, 11:39 AM

If anything, Strategy First has shown they never rush Space Empires products into the market. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

Caduceus

May 13th, 2006, 02:52 PM

Captain Kwok said:
If anything, Strategy First has shown they never rush Space Empires products into the market. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

LOL

Renegade 13

May 13th, 2006, 02:54 PM

Alneyan said:
Well, you might not even be supposed to speak about your NDA, so that would be a clear violation. Do you have a preference for the time and place of the suing? There's a pretty nice court in Little Rock, with upscale facilities just a few hundred metres away. Summer in Arkansas isn't a great idea, though, so you should wait for Autumn.

So, you should practice denying that you even have a NDA in the first place. You know, "I have not had sexual relations with that woman"... okay, that was the wrong line, but you get the idea. So, did you ever have a legal relation with Mr Aaron Hall? Mmh?

Actually, I'd prefer to be sued someplace a little nicer...Tahiti perhaps? Maybe Tonga.

"I did...er...did not have sexua...um...contractual relations with that company?"

Ragnarok-X

May 13th, 2006, 06:32 PM

Baron Munchausen said:
If it is released in June, you don't want to buy it. It can't possibly be ready by then. I'd expect a delay until September if they are at all rational about having a completed product on the CD.

Interesting. I doubt you are joking (why would you), so i guess something is not quite as shiney and fun and lovely as some ppl say it is.

Caduceus

May 13th, 2006, 09:42 PM

Ragnarok-X said:
(snip) something is not quite as shiney and fun and lovely as some ppl say it is.

... not shiney?!?! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/confused.gif

Captain Kwok

May 13th, 2006, 10:17 PM

It doesn't mean things are not nice or shiny, but that Space Empires is a complex game with a lot of options so a lot of work needs to be done finding bugs and making sure that most of the options that everyone expects are implemented and work well. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

Renegade 13

May 13th, 2006, 10:28 PM

Don't worry, the game will be as shiney, and shinier than, SEIV.

LordAxel

May 14th, 2006, 12:19 AM

Well i wouldnt hold my breath on a June release. Thats what the malfador page says and we all know how well that is updated. The Strategy First page says winter 06 and i'd believe that page. So more waiting my friends

Atrocities

May 14th, 2006, 12:51 AM

I was asked if I would buy the game if it came out in June. I didn't know what to say. If I said yes, and the game sucked, then no one would ever trust me again. If I said no, then they would assume the game sucks and would not buy it. So what do I say when asked if I would buy the game if it came out in June? - simple answer, "NDA."

Kamog

May 14th, 2006, 04:02 AM

The screenshots look really shiny! Much shinier than SEIV.

Uh-oh, I'm getting the impression from people's comments here that it's not going to be out in June. Considering how much SEIV was repeatedly delayed several years ago, it wouldn't be totally unexpected if SEV was repeatedly delayed as well. It's all right, I'll wait, it's better to get it late but with great features and bugs fixed than having it come out earlier with problems and incomplete features.

Louist

May 14th, 2006, 01:09 PM

I have mixed feelings about the screenshots. True, the game is graphicly much better than SEIV, and there seems to have been another layer of depth added (Ordinance and the like) but at the same time I fear the almost streamlined and caual look to the interface. The UI seems less serious, and I hope its not dumbed down.

Caduceus

May 14th, 2006, 04:24 PM

I think it is possible that I get dumber every year, so that might play in my favor.

Captain Kwok

May 14th, 2006, 06:13 PM

Don't worry, there is more info/depth available in SE:V.

Caduceus

May 14th, 2006, 10:48 PM

Captain Kwok said:
Don't worry, there is more info/depth available in SE:V.

Crud. PBW hands it to me again.

Puke

May 14th, 2006, 11:57 PM

Caduceus said:
I think it is possible that I get dumber every year, so that might play in my favor.

in my case, i'm pretty sure that its a documentable fact.

AAshbery76

May 15th, 2006, 09:49 AM

I'm wondering if the ground combat plays as terrible as it looks.Maybe the ground stuff was a waste of development time.

RonGianti

May 15th, 2006, 12:48 PM

http://www.strategyfirst.com/en/games/SpaceEmpiresV/

Says

Release date: Winter 2006

Oh poo.

Puke

May 15th, 2006, 01:01 PM

i have to admit, the ground combat does look pretty bad. im sure its nice being able to have different troop types, and fighters, and possibly orbital bombardment all playing a factor.

But I think that I would have much prefered it in a non-interactive axis-and-alies style interface. much like se4, where you line up the us-vs-them and the various assest plunk away at each other.

even if facilities were going to come into play -- for defense, destruction, and capturing -- they could have been represented iconically on a summary page, instead of out of scale and in mid 90's 3D.

Hunpecked

May 15th, 2006, 02:48 PM

Given the history of SE IV, I think it's likely that SE V will be:

(1) "delayed", i.e. winter '06 sounds more reasonable than summer;

(2) a good, playable game on release, but much improved by numerous post-release patches and innumerable player mods.

Timstone

May 15th, 2006, 03:13 PM

Hunpecked said:
Given the history of SE IV, I think it's likely that SE V will be:

(1) "delayed", i.e. winter '06 sounds more reasonable than summer;

(2) a good, playable game on release, but much improved by numerous post-release patches and innumerable player mods.

And we all gave a loud cheer because of number 2.
*Weeps a bit first then cheers loudly and completely forgets about number 1.*

Ragnarok-X

May 15th, 2006, 05:44 PM

Puke said:
i have to admit, the ground combat does look pretty bad. im sure its nice being able to have different troop types, and fighters, and possibly orbital bombardment all playing a factor.

I second this. I would have been *FINE*, to say the least, if a model like in MoO2 or MoO3 would have used. Some nifty visuals, maybe some large-scale tactical decisions, but thats about it. It looks really ugly. Hopefully it has some kind of auto-resolve lol.

Puke

May 15th, 2006, 06:17 PM

well, it must have an auto-resolve. just like 4, multiplayer games are supposed to be strategic-only. this kinda requires an auto-resolve.

unfortuneatly, after SE4, half the community whined for detailed ground combat. people complained that the existing interface seemed like an afterthought.

I'd much rather have the current system than some half-baked RTS clone.

Speaking of space games with ground combat, how about that Space Ranger 2?

Rollo

May 15th, 2006, 06:48 PM

or Star General...? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/Sick.gif

frightlever

May 15th, 2006, 06:52 PM

Space Rangers 2 is a great game but the RTS isn't one of its high points, IMO. Either you'll like it or you won't. If you don't want to you don't have to ever fight an RTS battle (though you should probably play the tutorial battle just to find out.)

As for SE:V - feature creep can be a nasty thing. Just how long are games going to last if every battle, on the ground or above it, is fought on a tactical map? At least it'll be an option.

Who wouldn't have been happy with an enhanced Space Empires IV with swizier 24 bit 2D grafix (cos they look better 2D unless you're going to go the monster-requirements route needed for decent 3D performance.), higher resolution support and more tech trees? I'd have liked to see more complicated resource handling too. (ie resources needing to be moved around not just magically being Space Ported to massive warehouses dotted around your empire. Proper supply line management)

The Malfador website mentions new screens shots but if I check out the gallery the latest I can see are from 2005. I've been looking forward to SE:V but I never really looked too hard at the screenies before because in SE:IV the graphics just weren't an issue. But tonite I had a hard look at what there is of the screens and the interface looks crisp but the system map looks pretty drab and the tactical combat looks pretty bad, though that may be because it's a static image.

Really what I'm saying is I hope this new and improved Space Empires doesn't come across as some old slapper who piles on the makeup so she thinks she looks 21 again.

Anyway, too late to worry much now.

EDIT - and don't tell me that they had to go 3D to appeal to the mass market because this isn't ever going to be a mass market game. Gal Civ 2 already became that popular 4X game but how many SE:IV diehards see it as a similar game?

Fyron

May 15th, 2006, 07:27 PM

The Malfador website mentions new screens shots but if I check out the gallery the latest I can see are from 2005.

As has been mentioned before, the date is wrong. The latest batch is in fact new.

Gal Civ 2 already became that popular 4X game but how many SE:IV diehards see it as a similar game?

I think few see it as a similar game, but rather as a better game on most accounts. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif It may not be dumbed down enough for mass-market appeal though. GalCiv managed that part fine.

Suicide Junkie

May 15th, 2006, 07:56 PM

Say what?
SE5 is a Turn Based Strategy game.

Tactical combat of any sort is like cheating unless you're playing hotseat against humans http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

As for SE:V - feature creep can be a nasty thing. Just how long are games going to last if every battle, on the ground or above it, is fought on a tactical map? At least it'll be an option.The same amount of time as they do now?
Tactical combat is for those who can't stand the heat of playing the pros online. It is pretty much cheating against the AIs.

Only in hotseat multiplayer is it fair to use, and then, yeah, it will take forever.
Just play simulataneous turn games instead, and all will be well in the world until Eorg stomps you with 5000 fighters.

Puke

May 15th, 2006, 08:05 PM

well, yes. same with se4. which is why im more concerned with the large scale empire management than with the combat aspects.

as long as the auto-resolve provides consistant and predictable results based on the statistics of the units involved in combat, i dont care what the graphics and effects look like on the back end. i'll never see them anyway.

Captain Kwok

May 15th, 2006, 10:51 PM

The combats do look somewhat better than how they are presented in the screenshots... MM seems to like big weird zoomed-in shots.

Tactical combat in SE:V is only available as it was in SE:IV so I don't see any problems with that. And I think a lot more people were in favour of expanded ground combat than those against it.

Kamog

May 16th, 2006, 12:17 AM

I think the ground combat screen shots look pretty good. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

The Frenchmen

May 16th, 2006, 01:09 AM

Yeh, they look bad to me =P
Ever played imperium galactica 2? Space empires with that ground combat is my dream.. here.

I only have 1 question i know cant be answered -
in a TCP/IP game when two players enter combat, is it strategic, or an option of tactical or strategic? I know the NDA won't allow anybody to talk about it, too bad even a PM wouldn't be allowed. Guess i'll have to wait.

thorfrog

May 16th, 2006, 10:48 AM

Puke said:
i have to admit, the ground combat does look pretty bad. im sure its nice being able to have different troop types, and fighters, and possibly orbital bombardment all playing a factor.

But I think that I would have much prefered it in a non-interactive axis-and-alies style interface. much like se4, where you line up the us-vs-them and the various assest plunk away at each other.

even if facilities were going to come into play -- for defense, destruction, and capturing -- they could have been represented iconically on a summary page, instead of out of scale and in mid 90's 3D.

I agree as well. Ground combat is not what I was expecting for this game.

Fyron

May 16th, 2006, 11:34 AM

I'd much rather have a complex ground combat engine to run by the host at turn processing than the craptacular SE4 ground combat system...

Graphics aren't what brings us to these games anyways, right? I'd rather have mid-90s graphics than force everyone to spend $800 US to be able to play the game.

Puke

May 16th, 2006, 11:03 PM

the only things wrong with the SE4 GC system, is where the mechanics dont operate as you would expect.

Iron out the mechanics behind the combat (hell, even make them visible in a log or something) and you dont need 3d graphics. have range, firepower, combat modifiers, and other factors all ground out into some mathamatical function, throw some minor randomization in, and you're done.

The only tactics I would want to assign to individual units are Firing Priority, and either Front-Line, Main-Force, or Rear-Support.

Ground combat can be very detailed without being graphically demanding. It could still be caried out with an interface similar to the SE4 interface. Sometimes less is more.

Suicide Junkie

May 16th, 2006, 11:26 PM

You can just look at the results in your log...
Nobody is forcing you to watch the replays.

Captain Kwok

May 17th, 2006, 05:45 PM

The strategic mode is just the RT execution without the graphics so it takes into consideration all the factors (i.e. strategies, weapon ranges etc) which sounds like what you want Puke. However, I think it's a good idea that the tactical option is available for those who want it. Kind of satisfies both crowds.

scJazz

May 29th, 2006, 05:05 PM

OK ummm silly question but it has been years and I've totally forgotten...

What is SE3 style Intelligence and Research mean?

Captain Kwok

May 29th, 2006, 05:27 PM

Research/intel in SE:IV proceeds by individual projects, while you can set the % of research/intel to spend on projects in SE:III or SE:V.

Combat Wombat

May 29th, 2006, 06:23 PM

AAshbery76 said:
I'm wondering if the ground combat plays as terrible as it looks.Maybe the ground stuff was a waste of development time.

Well consider how the ground combat looked in se4....now consider some more. There! I think you've got it ground combat in se4 was just a screen with the units listed then it did some damage calculations and decided how the battle went. With se5 the screenshots would indicate you finally have some tactical control over combat even if it is crude it is a massive improvemnt over se4.

Randallw

May 29th, 2006, 11:08 PM

It looks like it will be another 2 months. The Malfador site says August 06.

Ed Kolis

May 29th, 2006, 11:23 PM

I hit refresh repeatedly and it still says June... is there anything else new over there?

Randallw

May 29th, 2006, 11:27 PM

can't see any new screenshots but it says on the SE5 site

Full Release Date August, 2006

Kamog

May 29th, 2006, 11:51 PM

August... OK, but I can't help wondering if it's going to be delayed yet again and it's going to be October, or maybe even December. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

Suicide Junkie

May 30th, 2006, 12:14 AM

Don't worry. We will let you know when the game is ready.

In the meantime, join some PBW games!

Atrocities

May 30th, 2006, 02:14 AM

SEIV is always going to be a successful game in its own right and I will bet a ship set, that it will remain popular long after SE V has been released. As it stands, I am as excited as a father of a 16 year old girl on prom night as I wait for the release of SE V. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

Ed Kolis

May 30th, 2006, 11:22 AM

In other words, Atrocities, you think someone's gonna get screwed? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

Captain Kwok

May 30th, 2006, 11:31 AM

No. But I think that some elements of SE:IV like the ability to easily add shipsets and the existing mod base and pbw system will keep it going for some time.

Yimboli

May 30th, 2006, 09:40 PM

i think that was the perfect reply Ed!!!!!

Hey I just checked strategy first's website, it lists winter 06 as the release date. Does anyone know why there's a disconnect between the publisher and the creator? surely someone must have seen this by now...

http://www.strategyfirst.com/en/games/SpaceEmpiresV/

Will

May 30th, 2006, 09:55 PM

Well, thus far, neither Malfador or Strategy First has seemed to be overly concerned about updating their websites. The disconnect between the two sources is probably just because of the scarcity of updates on the part of both.

And hey, technically, it still could be a Winter 2006 release. That would mean it is released sometime between 21 December, 2006, and 31 December, 2006.

August would be nicer http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Captain Kwok

May 30th, 2006, 09:55 PM

It's more a case of poor updating by both sites. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

dogscoff

May 31st, 2006, 06:12 AM

Atrocities said:
SEIV is always going to be a successful game in its own right and I will bet a ship set, that it will remain popular long after SE V has been released. As it stands, I am as excited as a father of a 16 year old girl on prom night as I wait for the release of SE V. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

I'm warning you boy, if I hear of any tactical hotseat action tonight I'll be after you with my ripper beam...

Escaflowne

June 1st, 2006, 08:07 PM

LOL @ dogscoff

wow, I think that was even better then Ed's.
http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Atrocities

June 1st, 2006, 08:17 PM

dogscoff said:

Atrocities said:
SEIV is always going to be a successful game in its own right and I will bet a ship set, that it will remain popular long after SE V has been released. As it stands, I am as excited as a father of a 16 year old girl on prom night as I wait for the release of SE V. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

I'm warning you boy, if I hear of any tactical hotseat action tonight I'll be after you with my ripper beam...

R O F L M A O ----

My philosophy is a simple one. I keep a baseball bat behind the door for those boys who would date my baby girl. If they love her, they will take the beating. If they don't, they'll take the beating. - Nuff Said. /threads/images/Graemlins/Envy.gif

geoschmo

June 1st, 2006, 08:30 PM

Doesn't winter of '06 include up until march of '07? Like it's "The winter that begins in '06".

psimancer

June 1st, 2006, 11:31 PM

actually as far as this hot weather texan is concerned the north of texas winter doesnt stop ever

i mean come on when u go to cincinatti oh and the new boss is apologizing for the heat wave and all you did was step outside the building to defrost in august weather t 82 degrees outside and 68 inside the building sheesh at that time back home was a over heated 97 (all fahrenheit sorry euros)

Renegade 13

June 2nd, 2006, 12:11 AM

psimancer said:
(all fahrenheit sorry euros)

And Canadians http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

Fahrenheit...doesn't Celsius make so much more sense? At least it's based on something physical. 0� water freezes, 100� water boils. Logical!

Today was quite a hot day for the beginning of June, and it was about 24�C/75�F. I was outside and just about dying from the heat!! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

The hottest we ever get up here (central BC, Canada) is about 32�C/90�F. I feel like (and sometimes do...) crawl in the freezer! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif Then again...I'd like to see a Texan such as yourself when we hit -49�C/-56�F http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif /threads/images/Graemlins/Cold.gif /threads/images/Graemlins/Cold.gif

Fyron

June 2nd, 2006, 12:47 AM

75 F? Man, that is a nice day! I don't even want to know what the temperature was around here today. *melts thinking about it* Silly cattle rancher! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/cool.gif

Farenheit set the human body temperature at about 100 F and the 0 at the lowest temperature he could measure, so it is not exactly illogical.

Will

June 2nd, 2006, 12:51 AM

Renegade 13 said:
Fahrenheit...doesn't Celsius make so much more sense? At least it's based on something physical. 0� water freezes, 100� water boils. Logical!

Hey, Fahrenheit isn't really illogical. 32� water freezes, 212� water boils. Logical!

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/cool.gif

DarkAnt

June 2nd, 2006, 12:57 AM

Fahrenheit makes pefect sense. A naturally occuring sick cow is 100 degees fahrenheit.

Renegade 13

June 2nd, 2006, 01:25 AM

Will said:

Renegade 13 said:
Fahrenheit...doesn't Celsius make so much more sense? At least it's based on something physical. 0� water freezes, 100� water boils. Logical!

Hey, Fahrenheit isn't really illogical. 32� water freezes, 212� water boils. Logical!

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/cool.gif

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

Since we use a base-10 system, 0 and 100 are a little more logical...and easier to remember http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Renegade 13

June 2nd, 2006, 01:29 AM

Imperator Fyron said:
75 F? Man, that is a nice day! I don't even want to know what the temperature was around here today. *melts thinking about it* Silly cattle rancher! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/cool.gif

By any chance, did you write this post while eating a steak?? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/stupid.gif /threads/images/Graemlins/Flag_Canada.gif /threads/images/Graemlins/Flag_Canada.gif

Farenheit set the human body temperature at about 100 F and the 0 at the lowest temperature he could measure, so it is not exactly illogical.

True, but he messed even that up since avg. body temperature is 98.6�F if memory serves. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

Atrocities

June 2nd, 2006, 08:56 AM

One year, back in 92, we had a heat wave here and I was working night shift for the big Red S. One morning, after a grooling night stocking and cleaning, the manager came in and ripped us a new one because the work wasn't done. I asked him if he had slept well that night, and he rather rudely responded by saying, "No, the heat kept me awake." I smiled slightly and said in response, now imagine how hot is for us, we sleep during the day. He never *****ed again during the heat wave.

geoschmo

June 2nd, 2006, 08:57 AM

The farenheit system was designed for weather tracking so if you think about it a temperature scale from 0 to 100 makes pretty good sense as most temperatures throughout the year fall in that range. At least in Europe where the scale was invented.

psimancer

June 2nd, 2006, 05:33 PM

whilst i find all point here regarding the fahrenheit system valid and many informative as to its origin
i am unfortunatly stuck in the most backward progressive section of a progressive bassackwards country

as our country in the 70's was to adopt the metric system sprovisionally to globalize world measurement systems and allow for more effecient trade
over 20 years later we're still half n half
ex gallon of milk vs 3 liters of coke (source local store)
i was as a teen all for going all metric that yeazr i mean come on a sytstem of measurement that can convert from length to area to volume using two units of measure instead of having to use up 17 (seems like) sq ft hectares miles ounces galons drams sheesh i keep a book just to figure em all out

i still wish we could go all metric worldwide i feel it would be a first crawl towaards the global identity we might develope in another 500 years

also how far are we from the release now um 8 weeks ????

Hunpecked

June 2nd, 2006, 08:16 PM

Renegade 13 said:
Since we use a base-10 system, 0 and 100 are a little more logical...and easier to remember http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Logical? Are you kidding? Basing a number system on the (usual) number of digits on half the limbs of ONE primate on ONE lousy planet in the whole universe? What about primates with 20 prehensile digits? What about primates with a prehensile TAIL? What about who-knows-how-many inhabitants with who-knows-how-many extremities living on uncounted worlds in umpteen zillion galaxies?

No, far better to base a number system on a more universal standard, such as the number of leptons in a hydrogen molecule (2), carbon atom (6), or an oxygen molecule (16) (alternate suggestions welcome).

As for temperatures, again it seems rather silly to base a scale on phase shifts of an arbitrary chemical compound under conditions prevailing only at a particular distance from the center of a particular planet. Note that the somewhat more rational "Kelvin" or "Absolute" scale at least has a universal zero point, but that scale puts the boiling point of water (1 atm pressure) at 373.125 degrees, which is not exactly the kind of round number we're looking for. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif If we must use water as a benchmark, I'd suggest setting the triple point of water (273.16 degrees Absolute and .006 kilopascals pressure) to a round number (e.g. 100 degrees Rational in base 10 or 16 notation) and working from there.

I understand how inconvenient it will be to switch to a truly rational system, but I just know we'll be the laughingstocks of the galaxy (if we're not already) should we be caught using our current provincial number and temperature scales when "they" make contact. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/redface.gif

And for those who made it through the whole rant, http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

Yimboli

June 2nd, 2006, 09:00 PM

how absurd for heiroglyphics to demonstrate counting by powers of 10! clearly the authors should have had the clairvoyance to see past their 10 sausages and think about the countless little green men living on the bright dots in the night sky. the stars are, after all, quite visible from the desert. besides little green men even helped them with the pyramids! dont aliens have 6 fingers total?

e (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E_constant) is the number little green men could most likely relate to us with. so make a base e temperature system! there ya go... er... wait, that makes no sense at all. here's an idea - lets make a system that people can USE!! fahrenheit! celcius! kelvin! w00t!

QED

Kamog

June 2nd, 2006, 10:57 PM

Why should the number for temperature get bigger for hot and smaller for cold? Couldn't we have just as valid a temperature scale with, say, freezing point of water = 100 and boiling point of water = 0? Then when temperature goes up, it will be colder and when temperature goes down, it will be warmer.

Atrocities

June 2nd, 2006, 11:04 PM

You know what, you all just wasted 20 minutes of my day, 20 minutes that I no longer have, reading these posts about what... temperature.... Dudes, W T F!

Renegade 13

June 2nd, 2006, 11:12 PM

Can't use 100 as freezing and 0 as boiling. Since 100 is much greater than 0, and the energetic kinetic motion of water molecules are greater while boiling than while freezing, it just makes sense to have the greater value with the greater value, and vise versa.

Not to mention the fact that having huge negative numbers for extremely hot events would be a pain in the arse! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Will

June 3rd, 2006, 02:23 AM

But I like cold more than I like heat. So colder = bigger number = better!

If we were to be truly logical though, I say we should measure things in terms of some combination of the sums, multiples, and powers of e, pi, and phi.

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

Renegade 13

June 3rd, 2006, 02:12 PM

You have a point there Will.

I too like cold temps. much more than warm ones. My reasoning is simple; it's a lot easier to warm up if you're cold (put more clothes on) than it is to cool off if you're hot!

Defining our numbering systems by e, pi, phi would be...not fun for someone like me who isn't exactly a huge fan of math. Not to mention the fact that little kids would have a really hard time learning how to count!! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

narf poit chez BOOM

June 3rd, 2006, 09:29 PM

No, no, no...You're all wrong!

We should all count in base alphabet!

Will

June 4th, 2006, 03:44 PM

Renegade 13 said:My reasoning is simple; it's a lot easier to warm up if you're cold (put more clothes on) than it is to cool off if you're hot!

Ah, you still have much to learn, grasshopper. The best way to warm up when you're cold is to attach yourself to a member of your prefered sex, and warm up together. But that's off topic...

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

Renegade 13

June 5th, 2006, 12:31 AM

Will said:

Renegade 13 said:My reasoning is simple; it's a lot easier to warm up if you're cold (put more clothes on) than it is to cool off if you're hot!

Ah, you still have much to learn, grasshopper. The best way to warm up when you're cold is to attach yourself to a member of your prefered sex, and warm up together. But that's off topic...

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

Indeed it would be the best way to warm up, but as I'm not on such friendly terms with any member of the opposite sex, I'm afraid I'll have to stick with clothes for now! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/firedevil.gif

Yimboli

June 8th, 2006, 12:03 AM

Once again I want to shoot myself for checking this thread.

there's a faint hope lingering in my mind's recesses... i keep thinking maybe one day someone will post a link to Aaron's update on the SE5 release date...

i'm barely holding on!

dogscoff

June 8th, 2006, 05:49 AM

Hunpecked said:
I understand how inconvenient it will be to switch to a truly rational system, but I just know we'll be the laughingstocks of the galaxy (if we're not already) should we be caught using our current provincial number and temperature scales when "they" make contact.

Maybe we should all adopt Marain now: http://homepages.compuserve.de/Mostral/artikel/marain.html

I'm sure they have some sperlatively sensible measurement systems.

Raging Deadstar

June 8th, 2006, 07:46 AM

Will said:
Ah, you still have much to learn, grasshopper. The best way to warm up when you're cold is to attach yourself to a member of your prefered sex, and warm up together. But that's off topic...

Y'know, with advice like that I can just picture Will as some mystical sage/socrates like man, travelling the world bringing simple solutions to life's many problems http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smirk.gif

Randallw

June 13th, 2006, 07:22 AM

For whatever reason Malfador now says Winter 2006. I don't know exactly when this is. It's winter now here so I guess that would make it something like 5 or 6 months still to go http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

Kamog

June 15th, 2006, 01:18 AM

Hmm, you're right, now instead of August 2006 it's Winter 2006. That's disappointing, but not entirely unexpected. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

Aiken

June 18th, 2006, 06:16 PM

Oh, sure, marketing deps and their genious realease strategies. This Christamas-day obsession is getting really annoying.
I'd prefer summer '06 with monthly patches (like HoMM5).

/me dreams about public beta now.

Captain Kwok

June 18th, 2006, 06:45 PM

I don't think it has anything to do with wanting to release it for December as a marketing ploy. It's just not going to be done until Fall etc.

Raapys

June 18th, 2006, 09:39 PM

Hasn't the beta testing period lasted for an unusual long time? I once beta tested a game, Stronghold 1, and I don't think we were going on for much more than 3-4 months or so.

Suicide Junkie

June 18th, 2006, 09:55 PM

Did that game:
A) Have more than one coder?
B) Have lots of in-house testing done beforehand?
C) Have non-moddable gameplay/physics?
D) Lack fanatical beta testers?

Raapys

June 18th, 2006, 10:31 PM

The testers were pretty dedicated, but the game was, of course, rushed out the door long before beta testing was done. I'd just think the same would have happened to SEV, being a small company at the mercy of big developers, etc.

Fyron

June 19th, 2006, 07:41 PM

The only developer involved is MM. S1st isn't exactly a "big publisher" compared to something like EA or Atari.

Spectarofdeath

June 21st, 2006, 09:29 PM

I bet the beta testers have forgotten that their "testing" it and are just completly lost having fun with it. :-) j/k I'd rather have a finished product then something half finished and then patched 4 times before it works properly.

Caduceus

June 21st, 2006, 10:31 PM

I'm not in the beta, but I can assure you spectar, they're working hard.

Renegade 13

June 22nd, 2006, 02:12 AM

Um...we're supposed to be working at testing...not just having fun playing the game??

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

Kamog

June 22nd, 2006, 02:20 AM

We're counting on you, Beta Testers! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif I'm sure SEV will be a fantastic game.

Yimboli

June 24th, 2006, 02:03 PM

i wanna be a beta tester... any word on a public beta?

Captain Kwok

June 24th, 2006, 03:56 PM

MM is not a fan of public betas.

Yimboli

June 24th, 2006, 07:50 PM

Captain Kwok said:
MM is not a fan of public betas.

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

because it'd be hard to manage with such a small company?

Captain Kwok

June 24th, 2006, 10:36 PM

I think it might be too much to handle for MM with hundreds of bug report e-mails, feedback, etc. that he wouldn't have any time to program the game itself. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

Yimboli

June 25th, 2006, 12:01 AM

understood. that's a damn shame. leaves a somewhat bitter taste in my mouth, but I'm not sure who to blame.

one thing's for sure... if se5 rocks, the bitter taste will quickly fade!!

Strategia_In_Ultima

June 25th, 2006, 09:51 AM

Yimboli said:
understood. that's a damn shame. leaves a somewhat bitter taste in my mouth, but I'm not sure who to blame.

That Brewski you drank in the B&G?

No, seriously. There's no-one to blame here. Just think about it; if you were making a game, and got swamped by hundreds of bug reports every day, most of which you already know of, wouldn't you get tired of it?

Warshed

June 26th, 2006, 03:32 PM

I am sure that SE5 will be a great game and I will wait as long as it takes for them to release it without any sort of grumbling, because I know Malford is perfecting the game as much as possible before they release it. If they postponed it till 2007, I would be even happier since it means they are making an even better game.

I will be preordering SE5 and warning my girlfriend that I won't be around that weekend. Space Empires 5 will be the first game I ever preordered.

As long as it isn't as bunk as Master of Orion 3, I am sure I will be satisfied.