RoN in E3

[MarkG]

they are the publisher

http://apolyton.net/news/search.php?Category=All&LookFor=both&Find1=BHG&AndOr=or&Find2=

[TCO]

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]

http://apolyton.net/news/search.php?Category=All&LookFor=title&Find1=BHG&AndOr=and&Find2=MICROSOFT

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]

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]

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".

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:

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]

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]

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]

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

[TCO]

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]

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".