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[BigFurryMonster]

As I am also new, I hope someone will explain to me and other newbies what kind of project this is.

It is clear to me that a group of people is designing a space game - but what are the characteristics of the project ..?

Thanks,

BFM

[Rasbelin]

Well, here's a brief descriptive writing by J.B. Hopefully it helps a little bit. And do ask any questions you might have.

Stella Polaris (StP) is a turn-based strategy game that is based on a variety of games such as Alpha Centauri, Civilization, Master of Orion, as well as various other games. But mostly the game is based on brand new ideas and concepts. Made with the programming language of C++, it is developed under the GNU General Public License (GPL) and is therefore open source. An advantage of GPL is that it makes this game completely free. It will be divided in sub-programs for example, if a download is too large, the user will be able to download the movies and/or any other thing separately. Another bonus being that the user is able to decide whether or not he/she desires to install the movies at all. It is made the users prerogative. Formerly, this game was known as FreeAC. However, the project members decided on a newer, more unique name. It became Stella Polaris. The game takes place in the future where humanity is making way to begin a new life because of a catastrophe that is about to happen. Humanity is going to colonize a new world because Earth is doomed for destruction. This riveting game gives new meaning to the phrase “survival of the fittest.” You, the user, control one faction among several. As you discover new resources and new domains you will find rivals of every sort. Anything from people like you and I to beings that are different than anything you or anyone else has ever encountered. The factions will be divided by ideology. There will be various ways to acquire victory. There are diplomatic victories, economic victories, technological victories, as well as victories made by conquering rival factions. You will be able to discover a wide variety of technologies that will help you pave the road to victory for your faction. Are you are brave enough?

“Jeremy Buloch”

[BigFurryMonster]

That helps! Thanks! Some Q's I have:

• How far is the game in its development process?
• Who is working on it? How is the developing group organized?
• Is it Single Player or Multi Player?
• How can I join in the development?
• Which game elements have been decided upon?

Thanks in advance!

BFM

[Rasbelin]

1. The official status is pre-alpha, but practically we are just about to start the coding process, while the planning is of course continuing and the other tasks are also slowly progressing.

2. The Stella Polaris Development Team (SPDT) is the official development team which works with the project. The team is lead by me and the project by Blake (however I'm doing both because of his absense). Here's the current list of people in the team and what they're doing.

Management

Project Manager: Blake
SPDT Manager, Community and PR Manager: Rasbelin

Code writing

Coding Manager: Blake
Senior Code Writer: Vultur
Code Writer: alien
Code Writer: carbaher
Code Writer: Chaos Theory
Code Writer: gowyn
Code Writer: Joeno
Code Writer: Kurilka
Code Writer: vovansim

Graphics

Graphics Manager: targon

Cinematic workshop

Director: Pandemoniak

Documentation and in-game texts

Editor: Rasbelin
Senior Author: gateway103
Author: DeathByTheSword
Author: Disparat
Author: Joeno
Author: Mark123jansen

Bug testing

Bug Testing Manager: Keygen

Internet administration

Hostmaster: buster
Webmaster: Closey
Webmaster: Disparat
Webmaster: Keygen

Helpmates

Helpmate: Erix
Helpmate: Jeremy Buloch
Helpmate: Michiel
Helpmate: Sjoerd

You may notice some familiar persons among us, as well as a few Dutchies.

3. It's both single player and multiplayer (LAN, Internet, hotseat, PBEM).

4. You can look at the open positions listed on SourceForge (right now only graphics artists are actively being recruited), but you can tell freely why you'd like to join, what you would like to work with, any special skills and knowledge, and if you can work quite regularly with the project (this doesn't yet mean it's prequisite, but as it has been proven, we need to know much people can actually work with the project).

5. Err... that's a good question. Basically everything of course still open, but as you may see, we are trying to make some final basic decisions regarding the game in several polls (anyone can freely vote) and you may find quite much information in earlier threads in this forum.

Anything else I may help with?

[BigFurryMonster]

Uhm... yes. If I am not using to much of your time, that is. Do you have a website or something, or is the entire project carried out on this Forum? I would certainly like to see some of the work you have done. Non-graphics work, I mean. My skills are in the field of game design and modelling in-game relationships, so you can image I'm rather curious.

[DeathByTheSword]

well rasbelin isnt online so i will answer your question. the only real code that has been written is a mapeditor.....for the rest you have to ask vultur (if i am correct) what to do if you can code. for the rest some graphics are on the way....and the website will be launched somewhere next week on www.stellapolaris.info an message will be posted on this forum when it is done.....we will have a forum there too. and it will be our main base of operations. for the rest we are still brainstorming.....and coding is on the bring of starting....and hoi van nog een nederlander

[BigFurryMonster]

My coding abilities are not too good. However, I have a lot of experience in making professional business models. The theories, techniques and concepts used in this should partly be similar to that of a strategy game. I understand correctly that this Forum is you 'base of operations' until the website is opened?

Groeten uit Voorburg

[DeathByTheSword]

yes you do....until the website is up this is where everything happens

groeten uit Assen

[Rasbelin]

Ahh... a narrow Dutch invasion. Well, don't worry, I understood what you said.

DBTS answered your questions, so there's not anything to add. Just clarifying that the StP website and Stella Polaris Forums will be opened (current estimate) late next week. As for what you could do, would you be interedted in concept and content designing/planning as Game Concept Designer? It would be pretty much what you said. Planning how things would work together as one thing and maybe elaboarting different models in the game.

[BigFurryMonster]

I would have to think about it, but it sounds tempting. I'll get back to you on that.

[Rasbelin]

No problem. In the meantime, do stick around here and participate in any interesting on-going discussions.

[Jeremy Buloch]

Yes and enjoy the forums!
-J.B.-

[Jeremy Buloch]

I'm far from a newbie but I have a question to ask anyways and then the newbies would know the answer if they were to be interested.

Question(s) - Are the old FreeAC threads gonna be revived? Also where are the graphics from Old FreeAC?


-J.B.-

[Rasbelin]

As said several times during the past months, nothing from FreeAC Forums will be available on the website or SPF. There's simply no material that wouldn't have already been brought up here.

[targon]

Oh, looks like we have a new people!
Welcome aboard, BigFurryMonster!
We're always people-hungry, especialy for people willing to actualy do something along with hangling on the forum!