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As we draw closer to the public beta, it's time to bring that more to the fore, and start kicking around some notions, ideas, theories, and other stuff, so let me begin by outlining what the Open Beta will, and will not be, and then, we'll let the conversation go where it will from there!
In my mind, here is the minimum requirements our team MUST meet, in order that the game be considered "ready" for an Open Beta:
* Alpha Graphics in place - This includes terrain, army markers, and provincial improvements.
Where we are:
We have approximately half the terrain finished, though we are still working on the best methodology for displaying hills, mountains, and forests (as tiles, or as overlays) - I have mockups of the half that's not finished, but am holding off on further refinements on them till we hammer out how, precisely, it will be displayed. This should present no difficulties whatsoever in terms of finishing it out into a playable state. Likewise, the "army icon" is a simple one to finish...the plan being to start with one to get us up and running, and add additional "army markers" as the game matures further, to provide a variety of "looks." Where provincial improvements are concerned, we have 14 of the 16 improvements rendered and converted to tile-size for our use. These are currently being tweaked and improved on (and there has been some discussion about the possibility of moving away from having tile-based improvements, to having map sprite based improvements, which would give us an enormous amount of added flexibility with them). For the moment, this is our crowning achievement, and we need but two more advanced improvements to have this in a working state (Academy and University, both of which are in concept stage on my machine at home).
* Music - Main title theme and battle music, at a minimum
Where we are:
I consider this absolutely essential to the gaming experience, and IMO, one of the biggest weaknesses in the vast bulk of indie projects. Skimp here, and it LOOKS like an indie project. Of course, I have also discovered WHY this is so...acquiring the rights to good music is not a trivial expense, and takes an enormous amount of time in the search for "just the right sound." Nonetheless, I feel that this is absolutely essential to turning out a quality product, and there's no room for skimping. Skimp, and you may as well run without sound entirely, IMO.
I have acquired both our title theme and battle music, so in this regard, we're ready to roll, though later, I'd very much like to add alternate tracks...dunno tho, it ain't cheap, but we'll see.
As to the quality of both....
You'll have to wait to hear and judge for yourself, but it's been getting thumbs up all around from the team!
* Main map display
Where we are:
See the latest "pre-screenie" in the art thread here at 'poly. It's not quite done yet, but it's getting close. The thinking is that this will be where players spend the vast bulk of their time, so this screen has got to be rich and visually appealing, without crossing the line into loud and obtrusive. 90% complete, or thereabouts.
* Game Start Screen
Where we are:
This is in mock-up stage only, but should not be overly difficult to finish off. Another screen of vital importance, because it's what you see first, and every time you play. If it's not right, we work on it till it is. Expect to see pre-screenies soon.
* Other game menus and screens
Where we are:
Mock-ups only, and for a specific reason - In order for this process to be complete, we NEED player input. The plan is to design mockups for the major displays, and make use of player input to refine them till they're exactly what you want/need in the game. Just like we relied heavily on player input from these forums to draw our ideas around concepts you guys sugessted, we'll be doing the same thing with the menus and screens. In the end, YOU will be the driving force behind the final look of our menus.
* Completion - The goal is that the game be playable from start to finish on the day we release the beta
Where we are:
It may not be pretty yet, but you CAN play the game from start to finish. There's no fanfare at the end....no triumphant victory music or anything, but you can do it. We'll dress it up as we go (and prolly strongly influenced by what you want to see at the end of the road).
* Scaffolding in place everywhere - The goal is that even if all the in-game features are not yet enabled, all the OPTIONS will be visible (perhaps greyed out tho) so you can see where we're headed.
Where we are:
'bout 90% of this is already in place, and we keep turning new features on with each successive alpha build. I have no idea exactly how many will be "live" by the time we release....as many as we can arrange, to be sure, but most certainly not all of them. The scaffolding is nonetheless in place!
* Installation Routine
Where we are:
Not needed yet, but it'll be essential to have before we release the game. Right now, the game consists of an exe and two dll's. That's getting ready to change dramatically, with the addition of our graphics and sounds, and an installer program is a must-have (complete with some eye and ear candy while the game is installing). We have not even started on this, and it will prolly be one of the last bits we work on.
****
Things that will NOT be in the Beta
* Spells may or may not have graphics and sounds. We're getting to them as we can, but it's not a mammoth priority for us. A coolio (and ultimately necessary) addition, but not one that the game can't be played without.
* Windows and menus may or may not be finished. See above....we're looking for player input here!
* Alternate music tracks (see above...cool, but expensive....we'll add them after more critical things are done)
* Victory screens, fanfare, virtual attaboys for success in-game - see above - we want player input on this as well!
* MP - Not yet, but as I understand it, the "hooks" are in place to support it, and CB has good potential for MP, since the world size is somewhat compressed, compared to Civ, for example.
So, the question....how does this strike you? What else would you like to see up and running for the initial Beta Release?
-=Vel=-
In my mind, here is the minimum requirements our team MUST meet, in order that the game be considered "ready" for an Open Beta:
* Alpha Graphics in place - This includes terrain, army markers, and provincial improvements.
Where we are:
We have approximately half the terrain finished, though we are still working on the best methodology for displaying hills, mountains, and forests (as tiles, or as overlays) - I have mockups of the half that's not finished, but am holding off on further refinements on them till we hammer out how, precisely, it will be displayed. This should present no difficulties whatsoever in terms of finishing it out into a playable state. Likewise, the "army icon" is a simple one to finish...the plan being to start with one to get us up and running, and add additional "army markers" as the game matures further, to provide a variety of "looks." Where provincial improvements are concerned, we have 14 of the 16 improvements rendered and converted to tile-size for our use. These are currently being tweaked and improved on (and there has been some discussion about the possibility of moving away from having tile-based improvements, to having map sprite based improvements, which would give us an enormous amount of added flexibility with them). For the moment, this is our crowning achievement, and we need but two more advanced improvements to have this in a working state (Academy and University, both of which are in concept stage on my machine at home).
* Music - Main title theme and battle music, at a minimum
Where we are:
I consider this absolutely essential to the gaming experience, and IMO, one of the biggest weaknesses in the vast bulk of indie projects. Skimp here, and it LOOKS like an indie project. Of course, I have also discovered WHY this is so...acquiring the rights to good music is not a trivial expense, and takes an enormous amount of time in the search for "just the right sound." Nonetheless, I feel that this is absolutely essential to turning out a quality product, and there's no room for skimping. Skimp, and you may as well run without sound entirely, IMO.
I have acquired both our title theme and battle music, so in this regard, we're ready to roll, though later, I'd very much like to add alternate tracks...dunno tho, it ain't cheap, but we'll see.
As to the quality of both....
You'll have to wait to hear and judge for yourself, but it's been getting thumbs up all around from the team!* Main map display
Where we are:
See the latest "pre-screenie" in the art thread here at 'poly. It's not quite done yet, but it's getting close. The thinking is that this will be where players spend the vast bulk of their time, so this screen has got to be rich and visually appealing, without crossing the line into loud and obtrusive. 90% complete, or thereabouts.
* Game Start Screen
Where we are:
This is in mock-up stage only, but should not be overly difficult to finish off. Another screen of vital importance, because it's what you see first, and every time you play. If it's not right, we work on it till it is. Expect to see pre-screenies soon.
* Other game menus and screens
Where we are:
Mock-ups only, and for a specific reason - In order for this process to be complete, we NEED player input. The plan is to design mockups for the major displays, and make use of player input to refine them till they're exactly what you want/need in the game. Just like we relied heavily on player input from these forums to draw our ideas around concepts you guys sugessted, we'll be doing the same thing with the menus and screens. In the end, YOU will be the driving force behind the final look of our menus.
* Completion - The goal is that the game be playable from start to finish on the day we release the beta
Where we are:
It may not be pretty yet, but you CAN play the game from start to finish. There's no fanfare at the end....no triumphant victory music or anything, but you can do it. We'll dress it up as we go (and prolly strongly influenced by what you want to see at the end of the road).
* Scaffolding in place everywhere - The goal is that even if all the in-game features are not yet enabled, all the OPTIONS will be visible (perhaps greyed out tho) so you can see where we're headed.
Where we are:
'bout 90% of this is already in place, and we keep turning new features on with each successive alpha build. I have no idea exactly how many will be "live" by the time we release....as many as we can arrange, to be sure, but most certainly not all of them. The scaffolding is nonetheless in place!
* Installation Routine
Where we are:
Not needed yet, but it'll be essential to have before we release the game. Right now, the game consists of an exe and two dll's. That's getting ready to change dramatically, with the addition of our graphics and sounds, and an installer program is a must-have (complete with some eye and ear candy while the game is installing). We have not even started on this, and it will prolly be one of the last bits we work on.
****
Things that will NOT be in the Beta
* Spells may or may not have graphics and sounds. We're getting to them as we can, but it's not a mammoth priority for us. A coolio (and ultimately necessary) addition, but not one that the game can't be played without.
* Windows and menus may or may not be finished. See above....we're looking for player input here!
* Alternate music tracks (see above...cool, but expensive....we'll add them after more critical things are done)
* Victory screens, fanfare, virtual attaboys for success in-game - see above - we want player input on this as well!
* MP - Not yet, but as I understand it, the "hooks" are in place to support it, and CB has good potential for MP, since the world size is somewhat compressed, compared to Civ, for example.
So, the question....how does this strike you? What else would you like to see up and running for the initial Beta Release?
-=Vel=-
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