Greetings!
Below is the status of where we are on the development of Elemental.
BETA 1: Game Mechanic Exploration (Fall 2009)
BETA 3: War & Peace Beta. (Summer 2010)
BETA 4: Beyond Elemental Beta (Ongoing)
Release: Elemental publicly available (August 24th)
Version 1.1: First major free update (30 days after release)
Version 1.2 (Second free major update (60 days after release)
Copy Protection:
Notes:
All is subject to change based on player feedback and our own determination on where the game is at.
I take it the longer BETA was picked. So late summer 2010 release?
Delete.
So all of Beta 1 consists of an initial magic system? Without magic spells (which are implemented in Beta 3)?
I think there is more to it.
1. Spells will have lots of flashy 3D particle effects that may not be available in the 1st 3D build. So while we may have spells by the end of Beta 1, they are likely removed again in Beta 3. They said one benifit of the cloth-map only is they can play with things without having to make expensive graphics, this is especially true for spell animations.
2. Custom spells, Beta 6 has some complex custom stuff, but I think its safe to assume that some custom things like spells, magic, and maps will be implemented prior to that. they already have people making custom spells (see original countdown to beta release where they had the artists make some spells) so chances are that may be one of the 1st things we'll be testing for custom functionality. (right after custom tiles, which I suspect will be in the 1st 3D build since it seemed to work just fine at PAX)
Cool Im ready to test!
Windows 7 dont fail me now!
"Introduction to Magical Spells" sounds more like a tutorial than the implementation of fancy graphics.
Well seeing as how windows 7 will be released before Elemental, they better make sure it'll run on that os as well.
Ah, fair enough. Thanks for clarifying. So this system they set up with 1A, 1B, 1C ect... those are all part of Beta 1 which is initially available, or are these features going to be gradually implemented as Beta 1 progresses? And since they have come up with a beta schedule that is much more comprehensive than the original one, I am curious as to the anticipated timeline (granted a certain amount depends on how many changes the beta causes).
It's one thing to be able to research magic spells and such and another thing to actually start getting a bunchof powerful spells.
Ah well, i thought we were going to complete the testing of gameplay elements before adding fancy graphics. But the schedule does seem to indicate otherwise.
Ah, so the world destroying spells (and I would assume the tactical battle spells) are the ones not implemented then.
I think this kind of open information is just great. In other beta's there's almost a lack of respect for the tester's whereas this makes you feel more involved and integeral to the process.
Jorune
What are you talking about? Win 7 runs everything.
Delete
The whole Beta process looks like it is going to be alot of fun, but the graphics and gameplay at first are not. I look forward to helping as much as my job and family alllow.
I always dreamed of having a job as a game tester. This will certainly show us alot about game play as a game is being developed and polished.
Sir Devo
The anticipation is killing me!
Thanks for the outline and I really like the staggered addition of gameplay elements. Should make it much easier to focus on specific areas of the game. Have really enjoyed beta testing previous Stardock games, and can't wait to get started again!
I have never tested a Stardock game before, and I am nevertheless looking forward to not having any fun at all. It looks like this will be a really interesting process!
I'll echo others comments and say that the schedule is very encouraging as far as the amount of involvement we're likely to have.
So to hit August 2010 release you are planning on roughly 1 release every two weeks (actually faster than that to allow for time between gold master and manufacturing/distro...
or do you suspect that some stages may take only a week and others might take 3 or 4 weeks?
At any rate VERY cool to publish this schedule.
GIEF BETAZ NOW PLX!
jing downloaded (and understood how to use it )
From what I remember hearing at PAX they were shooting for February 2010 for release which would be much nicer than August haven't looked around though to see if they've changed that.
We're not planning on a February release. It was decided we would "indulge" and extend out the beta process piece by piece.
Don't deny it. You are delaying it to be able to spend more time developing the AI. We know how much you love that part!!!
It's up.
The beta is up?
I dont see it yet.
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