Journals
Dev Journal
The AI in Galactic Civilizations I and II has tended to get a lot of praise over the years. But it could have been better. Much better. A big reason that kept it from being better was sheer laziness on my part. A lot of the best strategies involve algorithms that just are tedious to write. For example, I submitted feedback to GPG for Demigod’s AI based on algorithms I knew would be effective but that I didn’t actually use in GalCiv because they were a pain to write. ... [read more]
Dev Journal
If you’re a software developer on a large project, IncrediBuild is awesome. Let’s you offload all your compiling to idle machines in the office. [read more]
Dev Journal
Elemental Beta 1 Screenshots understood
With the beta scheduled to go out TODAY I thought we should go over some of the game concepts here. Now, as has been mentioned, the graphics for beta 1 are stripped far far down in order to focus on the core game play. Now when you start out the game, it is just your sovereign. The world is largely covered up. As seen in this screenshot, you see the outline of land but not much else. Eventually, you will come into contact with other players as you can see here. [read more]
Dev Journal
Elemental: BETA OBJECTIVES AND SCHEDULE
This week Elemental Beta is to begin. It will go out to all users who have pre-ordered it. For the rest of September, new users will be able to pre-order and join in as well and then it will be closed (people can still pre-order but they won’t get access until we roll out Beta 2. ALL REPORTS can go here: Elemental BETA forum . BETA OBJECTIVES BETA 1 Initial Build: Basic Compatibility Beta 1A: Initial Gameplay Skeleton Beta 1B: Initial Economic system Implemented Beta 1C: Initial AI system Implemented Beta 1D: Initial Diplomacy system Implemented Beta 1E: Initial Dynasty system implemented Beta 1F: Initial Magic system implemented Beta 1G: Initial Quest system implemented BETA 2 Initial build provides basic multiplayer (player hosted – client/server) Beta 2A: Persistent stat tracking Beta 2B: Stardock hosted option. Beta 2C: Stardock hosted persistent games Beta 2D: Stardock hosted persistent universe game (persistent dynasties) [read more]
Dev Journal
Elemental: Evolution of the game’s graphics already
The game’s graphics engine (i.e. the MAIN graphics) won’t go into beta until January 2010. But to give you an idea of how far things have gone already let’s take a look: 2006: Society rendering engine. 2007: First Engine port from Society . [read more]
News
User Videos from PAX 2009 of Elemental: War of Magic
People who attended this years PAX have been posting pics and videos of their experiences, especially with the demo of Elemental: War of Magic. The videos below come courtesy of Multra . [read more]