Stardock and Ironclad have been looking at what's next for Sins of a Solar Empire. One of the big things on our list is to implement a new memory model for the game. The reason this matters is that right now, it's hard to add more ships or structures into the game because of the infamous 2GB memory limit on 32-bit systems.
So in the coming couple of months, we're going to be working on a new update to Sins of a Solar Empire: Trinity that implements this. After that, we can evaluate new opportunities in the Sins of a Solar Empire universe.
Maybe this new expansion should focus on the exploration aspect of 4X, maybe including things like:
-Z axis movement
-More Uncolonizable Gravity Wells types
-More movement physhics related things
Hi, I just logged in to say Thank you for working on releasing a /2gb fix, now we can have decently long huge games. Huge galaxies (100-200+ planets) are always so fun I like epic campaigns.
And pleeeeease add multi core support, I have a quad core itching at the bits to play some Sins:D&E again. I'm actually gonna go play now, but I had to come beg first.
@Kitkunwhile I don't expect 64 bit support or better multicore support you can't rule that out with absolute certainty. Except you have some genuine insight we others are lacking..
Sounds good to hear that you guys are working things out.
How about the addition of a new faction? I liked the possibility of it, or perhaps an NPC faction similar to the pirates, or even more dangerous than them. I do recall the Vasari to have created something quite dangerous as an experiment...
And a bigger fleet capacity would be nice... or some kind of conditional cap that depends on the size of the maps... It certainly would make things easier when there's over 100 planets on a single map...
Why do you think this on multi-core support? It's possible they could muti-thread parts of the game engine. I really doubt you or anyone else here knows much about the internals of the game engine. But, from personal experience it is not difficult to isolate routines that could be executed in multiple threads. It may also be possible for them to multi-thread the current game engine in different ways, maybe a thread/engine per star, or per gravity well...
This game consistently shows as a top seller for Impulse and there still appears to be a lot of interest in the game that is showed in the modding world (3 mods nomitated for top100 in moddb). If Stardock/Ironclad believe the engine, which is the most important aspect of the game, is still viable then it would be to their benefit to improve it to support multi-thread and/or 64 bit support. If they don't think the engine is viable then it might as well die off.
i do not see the point in a new expansion, there is only so much potential in the engine
I disagree. The engine is what most would call mature at this point. It would be foolish not to take advantage of it considering a lot of game developers have to purchase their game engines from third parties.
In terms of content I'm not sure what they can do to add to the sins franchise, but I would favor an expansion. I would prefer a full expansion with a larger development budget versus a smaller micro-expansion if done, but would be happy with any new content that adds to the game. TBH I was a little dissapointed with the Diplomacy expansion and would like to see them pull through to their potential.
When? How much have they learned since then? This statement doesn't really mean much to me as a lot could have changed since you read this.
Mmm... 'bout a year ago that I last heard it. Round the time Diplomacy was in development. Course I can't say what they've learned, but Stardock has been busy with Elemental and Ironclad has been working on their next project. I think IC is using a modified Iron engine, but not quite sure.
"I disagree. The engine is what most would call mature at this point. It would be foolish not to take advantage of it considering a lot of game developers have to purchase their game engines from third parties."
The engine is pretty mature, but its also approaching its inherent limits, because its only 32-bit and single-core. Even with optimizations, you can add only so much new content before the game of this magnitude becomes unplayable due to memory crashes and processor slowdowns.
I think moving directly to 64-bit and multicore engine (Sins 2?), would be better in the long run, both for Sins franchise (adding lots of new content possible) and Ironclad (licensing the new engine to other companies - I doubt anyone would buy 32bit singlecore engine in 2011).
You have to look at actually how much of the PC population actually has 64bit systems. It is still very low, maybe in 2 years it will be the norm but now I think the norm is still 32 bit.
It's a double edged sword in my eyes, the whole 32-bit vs 64-bit.
Yes, 64-bit seems to be the future as it's been more accepted than most other 64-bit systems in the last 25 years.
The problem that I currently have is that I'm running a 3.2Ghz Pentium D that just brute forces it's way through just about anything, Sins, Crysis, StarCraft 2 you name it. I would LOVE to have a 64-bit system that could utilize my 4gb of ram (instead of just 3.2gb of it) but until there is a game that I really want that is written in 64-bit only, I will not spend the money to upgrade. Why spend $800 - $1000 to upgrade a system that can currently run everything I want too as of current?
I want a 64-bit system but until there is a significant reason for me to upgrade, I won't. I've got other things to put that money towards first.
Backs up why they should continue to improve the existing engine.
@kitkunThink of FarCry 1, was ported to 64Bit without too much hassle. Or of Halflife 2, which seems to have 64bit support. There are examples of game engines that have made the jump and benefited from it. If IC sees a merit in it, the will do it. You and I will have to wait to see if it turns out the way most of us hope or not. Just because you read something 1 year ago doesn't make you know what the devs have in mind now.
Meant to comment way earlier on this, but didnt have chance to.
A few examples of games that started as 32 bit that successfully made the jump to 64 bit compatibility
Supreme Commander
Eve Online
X3 Terran Conflict.
Plus the examples posted above like Half life 2
It can be done. It already has been done. X3TC, and SupCom are still 32 bit games, but have been updated to utilize more than 2 GB of ram, and multicore support.
If the new Sins update adds these features PLUS uses some elements from The Optimization Project, or creates an optimization scheme of their own then this "Mature" engine will most certainly have an extended lifespan for at least one more add on. Plus opening up more options for the mod community. Therefore leading up to the next incarnation of the game in a year or two's time.
If there is to be a Sins 2 think of Sword of the Stars. The new SOTS 2 engine is light years ahead of the original. That is the kind of progress i would expect from Sins 2, and that will take lots of TIME to do. I would also expect to see a completion of the Sins lore, and the revelation of the Vasari's "Unknown Enemy". Perhaps Sins 2 will be the three known factions allied to fight the Unknown Enemy. We wont know until Ironclad sheds some light on this.
In the meanwhile one more expansion will keep the interest of the current fans, and introduce Sins to more new players. That is why there should be at least one more swan song for the Iron 1 engine. The fact that the dev's want to put time, and effort into this shows that there is indeed still an interest, and a viable market for Sins. So i say do it. Then work on the 64 bit Iron 2 engine (call it "Steel") So IC can shock and awe us all, and put SOTS 2 to shame.
This engine is fine - its still very fluid and can create wonderful viisuals. the Only issues are the 2gb ceiling and the way the game begins to chug during the late game. I would think that adding true mutithread and core support would reduce the lagging. I think Frogboy could assist on that - Elemental had very bad late game move lagging and has been totally smoothed out. Sure that is not real time , but the principle should be the same.
From what I can see Elemental also has a 2gb ceiling so if either game get a proper fix that could be of use to both games now and for the future.
yes but will SWOTS allow older cpu to run it like sins does..... i have SWOTS 1 and i cant play seems fun but i dont know
@Shmily123As much as I understand the fear of getting left behind when upgrades come along, that's the way of progress. Without it we would still be using mainframe computers...
Sometimes you have to invest (and every cheap PC - not intel graphics of course - of today can play sins maxed out) a little to allow things to move on.
Like I said above. I want a 64-bit computer but until there is a reason to get one, I won't upgrade. If Sins updated and it would run even better on a 64-bit for Mods and game play etc. That might just be enough of a reason there for me to upgrade all in itself.
I have to ask... what do you mean by Sins of a Solar Empire: Trinity? This update will only be available to people who bought the trinity pack? What about those of us who just bought the expansions one by one? Am I now a victim of bad wording or a victim of bad business?
Please clarify.
-Itharus
i have a new cpu but i want to no if swots will allow lower graphic cpus to run its kindof off topic here though
if they do put out a patch i cant wait if it fixes the 2 gb problem
Trinity is just a term for owning the the org game and 2 expansions. If you buy it all at once they named the package trinity. You have the same thing if bought separately. Dont worry, most are confused by this.
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