RoN in E3

MarkG · April 12, 2002, 10:08

It's 40 days before this year's E3 Expo (May 22-24) and IGN reported that Big Huge Games will be participating with Rise of Nations. Brian Reynolds confirmed the news to us:

Yes, we will be there in force! Rise of Nations is one of Microsoft's three or four "focus titles" this E3 so you'll see plenty of demo stations.

RoN is set for a spring 2003 release

ixnay · April 12, 2002, 21:27

It will be nice to hear some more about the game...

Alex · April 13, 2002, 15:19

More screenshots, for instance...

tniem · April 17, 2002, 12:48

The question I have is whether it will work. In my opinion Empire Earth bit off more than it could chew. So will Brian get this game to balance and be fun... I don't think screen shots can reveal that.

Alex · April 21, 2002, 10:05

Quote:

Originally posted by tniem
The question I have is whether it will work. In my opinion Empire Earth bit off more than it could chew. So will Brian get this game to balance and be fun... I don't think screen shots can reveal that.

Certainly not, but screenshots give the general look and feel of the game, so we can be tempted to try it...

I'm sure there will be a lot of previews and comments about how RoN plays. I know that that is not an indication of how good the game is, since the developers only show the things that work

, but we'll have more info, and if this info comes from screenshots too, I don't have a problem with it...

tniem · April 22, 2002, 13:47

Quote:

Originally posted by Alexnm
but we'll have more info, and if this info comes from screenshots too, I don't have a problem with it...

I remember with Civ III that we were analyzing every screen shot, drooling over playing. Of course the screen shots did not show that there were many 'features' of the game that the interface did not allow you to simply choose. Screenshots do not show game mechanics, they only show pretty pictures intended to hype the game.

Alex · April 22, 2002, 16:44

That is precisely what I said in my first paragraph above: screenshots can tempt us to try the game. It is marketing. My point is when you are interested in a game, any information about it is relevant. Even if it comes from screenshots.

s_qwert63 · May 7, 2002, 05:19

Quote:

Originally posted by tniem
The question I have is whether it will work. In my opinion Empire Earth bit off more than it could chew. So will Brian get this game to balance and be fun... I don't think screen shots can reveal that.

true!
eg. when i looked at EE screenies i was like WOW!
went to the shop and immediately bought the game...
after 2 hours i got bored with the game and its poor performance on my high end machine...
i gave it to one of my friends who still has it now...
and i don't miss it!
i have real high expectations for RoN and i want to provide as much help as i can.

asleepathewheel · May 8, 2002, 21:42

So the Civ3 expansion and RoN will both be shown at the expo.
tension?

ColdFever · May 11, 2002, 09:20

Rise of Nations Progress Report:
http://pc.ign.com/articles/359/359108p1.html

Alex · May 11, 2002, 16:39

Quote:

Originally posted by asleepathewheel
So the Civ3 expansion and RoN will both be shown at the expo.
tension?

I don't think so. Civ3 is already a well-established product, while RoN will be making its first public appearance. They will generate different buzzes.

tniem · May 11, 2002, 23:24

Quote:

Originally posted by Alexnm
I don't think so. Civ3 is already a well-established product, while RoN will be making its first public appearance. They will generate different buzzes.

Besides won't most of the RTS heads be turned towards either AOM or WC3?

asleepathewheel · May 12, 2002, 00:43

Quote:

Originally posted by Alexnm

I don't think so. Civ3 is already a well-established product, while RoN will be making its first public appearance. They will generate different buzzes.

I meant tension between the two companies, not genre related, I know that each caters to a different audience. I meant cat-fight tension. What happens when BR sees Soren?

You're right, probably nothing happens. They are probalby too adult for any bad feelings to surface.

Alex · May 12, 2002, 15:46

Quote:

Originally posted by asleepathewheel

I meant tension between the two companies, not genre related, I know that each caters to a different audience. I meant cat-fight tension. What happens when BR sees Soren?

You're right, probably nothing happens. They are probalby too adult for any bad feelings to surface.

I got your original point, I just could not possibly imagine Brian and Sid involved in a melee combat...

But... someone will be ill at ease. Who? We'll know when the respective games are presented...

TCO · May 16, 2002, 22:56

Did MS buy Big Huge Games? Or are they the publisher? And when did all this happen...?

MarkG · May 17, 2002, 05:06

they are the publisher

http://apolyton.net/news/search.php?...ndOr=or&Find2=

TCO · May 17, 2002, 11:49

thanks, mark.

Seems like none of our news articles actually document the event of them becoming the publisher. But just start citing it as background.

When did it happen and what was the subtext. this sounds pretty good for BHG!

MarkG · May 17, 2002, 11:54

http://apolyton.net/news/search.php?...ind2=MICROSOFT

Quote:

REDMOND, Wash. -- Microsoft Corp. today announced that it has entered into an agreement with Big Huge Games (Big Huge), a developer of strategy-oriented games, that gives Microsoft the exclusive publishing and distribution rights to Big Huge Games-developed titles. In addition, Microsoft also announced it has made an equity investment in Big Huge.

Based in Hunt Valley, MD, Big Huge is a newly formed independent development studio founded by veteran game designer Brian Reyonlds, whose hit list of PC game titles includes the revolutionary strategy games "Civilization II®" and "Alpha Centauri™." Before forming Big Huge earlier this year, Brian was a founding partner of Firaxis Games Inc., the computer game development house led by legendary game designer Sid Meier.

"We are extremely excited to be working with Brian and the team at Big Huge," said Ed Fries, vice president of games publishing at Microsoft. "This relationship reflects our continued commitment to grow our PC games business by working with the industry's best developers to produce top-quality games."

Microsoft and Big Huge will work together to develop innovative strategy games for the PC platform.

"Everyone at Big Huge Games is ecstatic about our relationship with Microsoft," said Brian Reyonlds, president of Big Huge. "It's a great opportunity to combine the talents of two incredible companies. Microsoft shares our vision and passion to create the best games and will be able to provide us with the time and resources we need to focus on making great games - and then make them available on a worldwide scale."

Underscoring Microsoft's commitment to being a leading worldwide games developer and publisher, Big Huge joins an impressive list of development talent creating PC games for the company, including Digital Anvil, Ensemble Studios, Gas Powered Games, and Relic Entertainment.

TCO · May 17, 2002, 12:36

ooops, thanks Markos. Wow that was a long time ago. Way before the game name was released.

Wow! If I were Sid, I would take notice. BHG with Brian designing and MS bankrolling, looks pretty powerful.

The stuff we keep hearing about RON being AHEAD of scehcule is pretty good, too! We need to get Brian to write a column on proper progra m management and than get Sid and Alan to read it..

Alex · May 17, 2002, 12:46

About the Gamers Pulse small preview of RoN (here is the link: http://www.gamerspulse.com/E3/2002/a...icrosoft.shtml ), I found interesting that they cited RoN as a "turn-based game".

Quote:

Rise of Nations is a turn based strategy game that incorporates elements of real time strategy games to create a different style of gameplay.

And more:

Quote:

Turn based games are notorious for containing long missions that require hours to complete. Rise of Nations aims to reduce excessive time requirements by the use of real time elements.

Either Gamers Pulse have not got it right, or BHG is going for a big surprise at E3...

MarkG · May 17, 2002, 12:57

Quote:

Originally posted by GP
The stuff we keep hearing about RON being AHEAD of scehcule is pretty good, too! We need to get Brian to write a column on proper progra m management and than get Sid and Alan to read it..

i'm sure he would start like this

"assuming half your core team doesnt leave the company in the first year you can succeed in making a great game on time with the following steps..."

TCO · May 17, 2002, 13:03

Thought you would say that, Mark.

1. What about Alan?

2. Maybe keeping your core team and yourn partners happy should be part of the solution.

3. Still seems that they are ahead of game development IN GENERAL. This is interesting...

MarkG · May 17, 2002, 13:18

Alan was the designer, he was not making all the decisions

TCO · May 17, 2002, 13:20

Quote:

Originally posted by MarkG
Alan was the designer, he was not making all the decisions

Probably still some good things he could learn about designing to be codeable, etc. Anyway, if not Alan than Alan's boss. And Alan had enough of a leadership position that he could still merit reading such a column...well in my speculations. Really was more of a cute comment (i.e. troll), but you never know...

TCO · May 17, 2002, 13:23

Mark two other things:

1. Could we move that old 151 thread? I bumped it, but it belongs in another forum.

2. Please don't abbreviate Game Post as "GP".