Design Poll

[Vultur]

Originally posted by targon
IMHO, we need working alpha and some player feedback ASAP!

I agree with you, but first we have to decide a lot things like:
Players should start on the same planet or not?
The start of the game must be gradual or not?
Players must know if an other player is human or an AI?
What type of graphic for the Planet Map?
What type of graphic for the Space Map?
...

In my opinion the first alpha release should be a sort of Stella Polaris Tutorial, or something similar.

[targon]

Originally posted by Vultur

I agree with you, but first we have to decide a lot things like:
Players should start on the same planet or not?

In fact, it's up to scenario writers rather than core engine.

The start of the game must be gradual or not?

Needs a bit of play-testing

Players must know if an other player is human or an AI?

They will know. I don't know any game there human players and bots were undistinguishable.

What type of graphic for the Planet Map?

3D rendered isometry; possible 6DOF

What type of graphic for the Space Map?

3D 6DOF.

[DeathByTheSword]

i agree with targons last post but also with vulturs last post....dont rush in to anything to fast....but prolonging anything isnt good either

[Rasbelin]

One step at the time. I understand the importance of Alpha 1 (A1), but this is an amateur project, so we don't have such a tight schedule. Although we need to have somekind of a pace, so indeed, it will be just good to get some work done. However I agree with Vultur that we need to agree about the basic issues first as it sets the framework for the game.

[targon]

I think that our approach must be evolutionary rather than revolutionary. Rapid-prototype something working first, and get its going. Play-test, pin down bugs and collate feature requests. Implement desired parts, then again play-test etc. This is exact working scheme for any successful Internet project I'm aware of.

[Jeremy Buloch]

I am currently drawing up the basic interface to be incorporated in the game. It will include things such as map, info, view, menu, etc. I will post it once it comes from paper to computer.
-J.B.-

[Jeremy Buloch]

Because of my studies I will get back to my Basic GUI design this weekend and might be up before the new website is supposed to be up. No guarantees though as I'm not telepathic.
-J.B.-

[Vultur]

Originally posted by targon
3D rendered isometry; possible 6DOF

Sound good for the Planet Map... Just some questions:
1.Can you post some screenshoots that uses this type of graphic?
2.Is the "loading code" open source?
3.Is it possible to edit this type of file without having 3D graphic experience? (for the map editing tool)
4.Is it possible to merge with other types of graphic?

[targon]

1. I'll try to find; this type of map graphics was used, say, in Remote Assault, Dark Reign 2, Z2 and many others; while these examples are RTS, rendered approach grows in strength as 3D hardware becomes more and more fast and feature-rich, so why we need to use old approach for a new game?
2. ??? What kind of code, exactly? I know of couple dozen of open-source rendering engines, and most of them may render terrain somehow.
3. Yes, of course. Earth surfece is 100% 3D thing while it's possible to draw its map with paper and pencil. All we need is so-called "heightfield", 2D array of height values, or something comparable. This array may be filled using well-known generation algo. Peek at Terraform, opensource heightfield generator, it includes even river and erosion simulation (somewhere at sourceforge).
4. Yes, while you keep z-buffer clean or otherwise fool 3D hardware. In fact, most of 3D game engines include some 2D stuff, like sprites, for speeding up things like explosions, clouds and other "heavy" objects.

[Michiel]

Here's what I voted:

Hybrid:
Because it'll be a sci-fi-type game it should definately have space-exploration and space-battle, but I think the planets are important too. Maybe when you find a new planet you will have to take some time exploring it before you can colonize it. There should also be battles on the planet's surface too. With suborbital air units, land units, and maybe from 'spaceships' too.

Partial MP:
I allways play the single-player version of a game before going online. It not only prepares players for online play, but if you want to play alone, an SP mode will make the game faster. No point using MP when you're alone. Why not also make a LAN-mode.

Allow Custom Factions:
I didn't vote on this one, I don't understand. Please explain. I know I can't vote anymore, but still.

Lot of attention on techs:
Tech-research is just the best part of this kind of game. How else will species advance? Research a tech, which gives you the ability to build something, which can train troops/build ships, etc. I love it.

Heroes/Talents:
I like the idea, but they belong in a fixed storyline, which is not a good idea for this kind of game. Maybe after a certain research you can 'train/make' a certain hero before other factions. Maybe you can further explain this hero/talent-thing.

Dynamic weather:
I prefer dynamic weather, but if it's too complicated...

Suggestion:
What about 'world wonders', like in civ? Maybe some sci-fi version of it? Just tell me what you think.

[Jeremy Buloch]

I like the idea of having wonders. Pandemoniak can put movies to these wonders instead of every single tech.
-J.B.-

edit: Added more details.

[Vultur]

Heroes/Talents:
I like the idea, but they belong in a fixed storyline, which is not a good idea for this kind of game. Maybe after a certain research you can 'train/make' a certain hero before other factions. Maybe you can further explain this hero/talent-thing.

Suggestion:
What about 'world wonders', like in civ? Maybe some sci-fi version of it? Just tell me what you think.

In SMAC, Talents were the "happy people". In Stella Polaris, Talents will be Researchers/Economists/... people dedicated to specific duties. Leaders (called somewhere Heroes) will be "super-trained" Talents that give to the faction some bonuses (like SPs)

World Wonders will be called, if everyone agree, as in SMAC: Secrect Projects. We must decide how many SPs introduce, but this will be done after the starting hard-coding of the game engine.

[Jeremy Buloch]

Ok thanks Vultur, Secret Projects it is!
-J.B.-

[Michiel]

Yeah, sounds good. But what purpose will they serve?

[Vultur]

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