Sept.05: Rantz update: "LAST PUSH..." before release?

Master Marcus · September 5, 2002, 20:27

Rantz has posted a short comment here on the official forums . Hope they're not too tired when being so workaholics when rushing the final stages of the project. Encouraging though... so will it be Q4 2002 or Q1 2003?

vmxa1 · September 5, 2002, 22:06

2003, no xmas for us.

Tuberski · September 5, 2002, 23:30

I really expected this game to be delayed and delayed and delayed.

It better be worth it.

CaptProton · September 6, 2002, 03:07

Infogrames Germany has set the Release Date from September, 21th to November the 28th

moomin · September 6, 2002, 06:11

So, let's call this the semi-final push. Or perhaps the quarters

playshogi · September 6, 2002, 10:53

Last year they said Civ3 would be released followed in 3 months by MOO3. Maybe they meant: "PTW would be released followed in 3 months by MOO3"

Hagbart · September 6, 2002, 16:18

Yes they are lazy! It better be good when it IS released!

Master Marcus · September 6, 2002, 17:46

Quote:

Originally posted by playshogi
Last year they said Civ3 would be released followed in 3 months by MOO3. Maybe they meant: "PTW would be released followed in 3 months by MOO3"

Good one. That's EXACTLY what they meant

moomin · September 6, 2002, 19:26

Well, since PTW might very well prove to be the game Civ3 should have been, the Moo3 team was right all along.

We should have listened to them!

Saurus · September 11, 2002, 15:00

A Finnish computergame magazine says moo3 should be available at 20.9.

This will hardly be the case of course - still Better to bugfix the game though than rush it.

Heroes4 is a good example of a game that was released too early and was only mediocre due to gameplay issues and a horrible and clearly un-finished A.I. I am willing to wait a long time just to ensure the same won't happen to moo3.

-S

moomin · September 11, 2002, 15:13

No, your wrong. If a Finnish game mag say so, it's sealed. On the 20th it is!

vmxa1 · September 12, 2002, 00:57

Of course I would prefer a bug free game, but to tell you the truth, give it to me with a few if you fix them. Homm4 is a good exaple, I was worried that 3DO would fail and not give me anything. Civ3 had many bugs, but I still had fun and it is getting better. Since it looks like Stars2 is not coming and GalCiv is way off and and not tested, I will take nearly anything at this point.

moomin · September 12, 2002, 03:10

Funny, games are becoming much like politics. You commit because there's nothing else out there, not because you believe in it.

vmxa1 · September 12, 2002, 11:42

Have you read the splash on Avault for Moo3 today? Alpha not done, but they expect to have game in stores this year???? That wil be very scarry.

Proteus_MST · September 12, 2002, 14:03

There is a lucky bunch of 25 Boys and girls out there who can betatest the game.

Hope the Game is worth waiting for

moomin · September 12, 2002, 15:55

Let me get this straight: the game is alpha right now, they're gonna use all of 25 beta testers and it's supposed to be in stores before x-mas.

Cool.

You still gonne buy it and report back to us first day, vmxa?

vmxa1 · September 12, 2002, 16:13

You bet. Well I am not sure about the report back part. I will get it as soon as I see it and fire it up. If it is good, I may be slow on he update part.

Q Classic · September 12, 2002, 20:12

only 25 beta testers?

looks like infogrames is at it again, giving us customers the beta...

Master Marcus · September 12, 2002, 21:49

Quote:

Originally posted by vmxa1
Have you read the splash on Avault for Moo3 today? Alpha not done, but they expect to have game in stores this year???? That wil be very scarry.

So what's the deal??? Can Rantz or somebody from QS tell us if MoO3 has really reached alpha or NOT??? Either way, I'm not expecting to see the game in store shelves before xmas...otherwise that will be scary for sure, say not having all the time to play at content those great games & expansions coming up this fall... But they did say: 3 months after...Civ III's release ( errr, meaning Civ III: Play the World expansion pack)

Kloreep · September 13, 2002, 14:17

Quote:

Originally posted by Master Marcus
So what's the deal??? Can Rantz or somebody from QS tell us if MoO3 has really reached alpha or NOT??? Either way, I'm not expecting to see the game in store shelves before xmas...otherwise that will be scary for sure, say not having all the time to play at content those great games & expansions coming up this fall... But they did say: 3 months after...Civ III's release ( errr, meaning Civ III: Play the World expansion pack)

I'd be very surprised if the game isn't in Alpha. Alpha means that the framework code for the game has been implemented and there is an actual program to run, but not all gameplay and features are there. So it's pretty easy to say a project is Alpha.

IIRC, the news article said that the Orion Senate is the only feature left to implement. So, once that's done, MOO3 can be said to have reached Beta, which means all features have been coded and there's a game to play, but it's still very buggy and not fit for release. So it seems QS is forming the beta team right in time.

Rantz · September 18, 2002, 20:05

Quote:

Originally posted by Master Marcus

So what's the deal??? Can Rantz or somebody from QS tell us if MoO3 has really reached alpha or NOT???

IG's definition of Alpha is what most think of as a Beta. There will be more than 25 people testing (as there are now) however in terms of the 'general public' IG is allowing 25 public testers.

The game is in the balancing, bug-fixing, and 'hmmm, should that be harder or easier' to do phase. Last night, I played a 300-some turn game without a crash.

and yeah, I enjoyed myself. So, Nov 26th is the current street date. Hope you all can hold out until then.

Master Marcus · September 18, 2002, 22:43

Thanks for the input, Rantz

we're holding our breath 'til street date release...for now, between civ sessions, and before going megalomaniac in huge galaxies, I'm testing my adrenaline & testosterone side with UT 2003 demo...who said we must stay civish 365 days a year?

ravagon · September 18, 2002, 23:39

vmxa1 · September 19, 2002, 01:57

I tend to presume a late day and then if you beat it I will be happy, rather than bummed if the date slips. In any event got my money and will be waiting. even though I have not worked in over a year. I do have my priorites.

September 23, 2002, 19:55

Rantz (above) says a street date of Nov 26th. Cut to news page: an item is posted Sep-22 wherein Rantz indicates they are "expecting" the manual to be 180-200 pages in length.

Oops!

Typical production of a print manual within the software industry--from the time you send "final copy" off until the time you receive bound, finished manuals back--is 6 weeks. Add 1 week for product build, another week for distribution and you're looking at 2 months from the time that you know precisely how big your printed manual is, until it's in boxes "on the street"!

In other words, kiss November 26th good-bye. (Unless, of course they street without a manual

!)

Rantz · September 23, 2002, 20:00

Quote:

Originally posted by DATarbell

Typical production of a print manual within the software industry--from the time you send "final copy" off until the time you receive bound, finished manuals back--is 6 weeks. Add 1 week for product build, another week for distribution and you're looking at 2 months from the time that you know precisely how big your printed manual is, until it's in boxes "on the street"!

In other words, kiss November 26th good-bye. (Unless, of course they street without a manual

!)

Deadline for the manual is a week from Friday in order to make the abovementioned date. Not of course, to throw water on a perfectly good conspiracy

Grumbold · September 23, 2002, 20:19

If its oil based, that'll just cause the flames to flare up

September 24, 2002, 00:07

Ahhhh! My conspiracy is melting!

campfreddie · September 24, 2002, 08:51

Quote:

Originally posted by Rantz

Deadline for the manual is a week from Friday in order to make the abovementioned date. Not of course, to throw water on a perfectly good conspiracy

Ahh, so that's why most manuals have several mistakes and list incorrect unit statistics, etc.

They are sent off before the game is beta-ed. I've always wondered why software companies seemed to have such terrible QA procedures!

It still doesn't forgive any formatting errors though. I will be assessing your manual for spelling, grammar and layout. I also demand English spellings in our manual or your tech support will be overrun by brits denouncing your upstart colonial misspelling. Perhaps an England-only beta-test for the manual is in order?

Seriously though, it's good to see some progress. If the manual is complete, then the gameplay must be more or less 'set in stone'... perhaps 'set in rubber'.

Camp Freddie - Sparing Canadians in a tophat and smoking jacket since 1885

November 19, 2002, 15:05

Quote:

Originally posted by Rantz

Deadline for the manual is a week from Friday in order to make the abovementioned date. Not of course, to throw water on a perfectly good conspiracy

No more throwing water. I want my promotion from "Conspiracy Theorist" to "All-Knowing Prophet"!