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So what game do you want Stardock to work on next?

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So what game do you want Stardock to work on next?

Besides more GalCiv -- don't worry, that's a given

from GalCiv2 Forums

So you want not just a strategy game and not just a strategy game with a fantasy setting but a 4X, turn-based fantasy strategy game.  That answer received more votes than all of the other choices put together.  There are some very good turn-based strategy games out there already. They're not 4X per-se, but they are excellent games.  A few I recommend include Age of Wonders 2: Shadow Magic and Dominions 2 (Dominions 3 is in development).  Heroes of Might & Magic V was also recently released.

As some people are aware, Stardock has been trying to license the rights to Master of Magic.  For various reasons that I can't go into, it's not looking like that's going to happen in the time frame we're looking for.  And if we did make a 4X fantasy strategy game that didn't use the name Master of Magic, it would not be a clone of MoM.  We would proceed with our own design (though we have some ideas that are similar such as randomly generated maps, city building, spell research, etc.). 

Another popular choice was surprising -- NON-MMO RPGs.  I have to admit that we'd like to do an RPG.   A Baldur's Gate / Planetscape Torment style RPG but with a 3D engine.  I think the traditional RPG market has been underserved in the last few years.  Oblivion and the upcoming sequel to Neverwinter Nights have definitely helped but I think it's a market that has been under served.

Society, which is a long-term development project at Stardock, got some decent support.  It continues forward at a steady pace.  The IT infrastructure for it is what ultimately will take the longest to do more so than the game itself.  And there was a healthy demand for an RTS.  I would definitely like to see an RTS version of GalCiv II -- a streamlined UI with streamlined game mechanics.  I'd want to see an RTS with tactical battles that are integrated into the main screen.  I think next year when Supreme Commander comes out that the RTS world will be in for some real changes in how games of that genre should be made.  Total Annihilation remains my favorite game of all time and I think it introduced a lot of concepts that we take for granted today and its spiritual sequel will likely do the same.

Arcade and adventure games didn't get much support. But come on, who here wouldn't love to see a remake of Planetfall or Loom?

Our eventual goal at Stardock is to be able to release a new game each year.  We're not quite there yet but we're hiring developers and 3D artists as fast as we can. Go here if you're interested. We would essentially need to build out 3 full game development teams to do that.  We've got just about 2 now so we have a ways to go.

74,065 views 98 replies
Reply #26 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
here is an idea. If you want to make a fantasy game, why does it have to be just magic? How about some cool combination of magic and technology. Let me see if I can get this across well. Think Scifi but with spells and wizards. Kinda like merlin with a laser rifle. Ah that I hope Im making sense. What Im saying why stick to tradition? Break some barriers. Ive always looked at those goofy little fantay races and wondered what thier civilizations would be like in about a hundred thousand years. Wouldn't it be cool to have elves and the like battle it out in space. Just a thought
Reply #27 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
here is an idea. If you want to make a fantasy game, why does it have to be just magic? How about some cool combination of magic and technology. Let me see if I can get this across well. Think Scifi but with spells and wizards. Kinda like merlin with a laser rifle. Ah that I hope Im making sense. What Im saying why stick to tradition? Break some barriers. Ive always looked at those goofy little fantay races and wondered what thier civilizations would be like in about a hundred thousand years. Wouldn't it be cool to have elves and the like battle it out in space. Just a thought
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Reply #28 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I think it would be cool to have a modern day RPG perhaps, but with sci-fi or fantasy elements. I liked the way the original Half-Life was set in a recognisably 'today' setting, but still had lasers and space monsters in it.
Vampire also had parts set in a modern setting, which was nice.
Failing a modern day setting, I personally like futuristic sci-fi better than 'classic' fantasy. There haven't been any really good sci-fi RPGS for a while (I can only think of Knights of the Old Republic 2, and that wasn't exactly recent). We need more System Shocks or Deus Exs. And that's Deus Ex 1 not the disappointing sequel. Although Bioshock looks good...
Reply #29 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Hmm - another fantasy 4x game - sounds good to me... Wish I could do the music for it though - or at least one fantasy style game... (I've yet to 'hear' a game with some good celtic music in it ). Pity I need more instruments (Cash! :-/) to do it right though (Though I'm working on it).
Reply #30 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I voted Role-Playing. Though if it was considered I would hope it's not another fantasy elves and orcs type of deal. I was looking for a new Sci-Fi RPG.
Reply #31 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Please! No fantasy strategy game. I hate those. Always did. Fantasy does not go well with strategy games, I think. Do an RPG if you want to do a strategy game, but please, no fantasy RTS/TBS!

A Sci Fi RPG would be very, very cool. I think KOTOR proved that that can work quite well. Although Star Wars is essentially Fantasy with blasters.... Still...
Reply #32 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
here is an idea. If you want to make a fantasy game, why does it have to be just magic? How about some cool combination of magic and technology.


Have you read Metropolitan by Walter Jon Williams? It is just such a combo. HIGHLY recommended!
Reply #34 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I'd be most interested in a 4X fantasy game! Imagine making up mythical creatures using a "monster designer" and bolting on snake heads, scorpion tales, lions manes, wings etc.

If you decide to do an RPG, please make it a bit free-roaming, and open ended. I'm bored to death of linear hack n'slash "RPG's".

Also, for the love of god, please not another fantasy RPG!!! That's been done to death, seriously. What about a sci-fi or even horror RPG? An open-ended world that you can explore and interact with, and be very very afraid of...

I'm in the middle of writing a story about a world like that. It's an idea I love, and a game world I would really like to see.
Reply #35 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I hadnt even thought of it but yeah, if you cant get the rights to MOM, why not break the mold and do something different? I like the idea of mixing in a little science with the magic in either the RPG or the 4x. It would make for an interesting game in that you could take your "CIV" down either path for knowledge.
Reply #36 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
here is an idea. If you want to make a fantasy game, why does it have to be just magic? How about some cool combination of magic and technology.


The good old pen and paper role playing game ShadowRun comes to mind... god that was a lot of fun... An RPG along similar lines set in a more advanced universe with different races and that would be insane!
Reply #37 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I'd like very much a Strategic MECH game, with a little bit of RPG for the major characters, and a Turn based game for the tactical battle part.
Reply #38 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
here is an idea. If you want to make a fantasy game, why does it have to be just magic? How about some cool combination of magic and technology. Let me see if I can get this across well. Think Scifi but with spells and wizards. Kinda like merlin with a laser rifle. Ah that I hope Im making sense. What Im saying why stick to tradition? Break some barriers. Ive always looked at those goofy little fantay races and wondered what thier civilizations would be like in about a hundred thousand years. Wouldn't it be cool to have elves and the like battle it out in space. Just a thought


A little like Warhammer 40k? (Shadowrun was a good call too, BTW.)

On a slightly different tack, there was Arcanum, which was developed by "those Troika guys" ...

Reply #39 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Go here if you're interested.
This is the first time I ever regretted that I specialize on non-MS languages.
Reply #40 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
How about this idea? Something along the lines of an "X-Com/Ufo Defence" turn-based strategy/squad/combat style of game. Strategic combat combined with a research race included. The story could take place at Roswell, just after the supposed UFO crash, both aliens and human military both pointing fingers at each other for the crash...then the fight is on, and soon to spread globally! The story could develop from the 1950's onward with humans developing their own brand of hybrid technology recovered from the crashed UFO to even the field. It would involve changing politics and technology (research ,espionage, war, diplomacy, alien abductions, random events, human and alien factions, etc.)as time progressed. Possibly throw in a third race later in the game (when technology permits) in the form of a hybrid human/alien race developed as a weapon or experiment gone bad,   which is slightly superior to the others in all respects but must start later in the game or grow more slowly initially as a penalty in order to balance out the power structure.

Play as one of three races, setting your attributes, personality, etc. ala GalCiv2.

Just my 2 cents worth.
Reply #41 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I voted for a 4x, turn based fantasy strategy game, if stardock can do with fantasy what u have done with sci-fi then wow, WOW...

I think I would prefer to see a stardock original creation but I never played Master of Magic.

Of the other options I would be personally interested in a roleplaying game and I am intrigued by this society game, wether it would be my cup of tea, I do not know, after find out more info.

I would definitely like to see an RTS version of GalCiv II -- a streamlined UI with streamlined game mechanics.


I love GC2 but I would take alot of convincing on this one, I have so many RTS games that promised so much and dissappointed very quickly. RTS seem to lack the depth of TBS and have a shorter playing life for my tastes.

Our eventual goal at Stardock is to be able to release a new game each year.


Go stardock, as long as the games u produce r quality not dross. Would love to see stardock produce one of those groundbreaking, totally original games that set the gaming standard for years to come. They r getting rare nowadays.

Finally a couple of ideas for a 4x, fantasy strategy game:-

1) Heros, must have in a fantasy game, please avoid making them class specific ie.. a warrior and nothing else. I would like to see a hero designer, so the hero could be exactly what the player wants in skills and abilities.

2) Lots of different races (how about at least 1 totally original fantasy race?), also different competing factions within a race.

3) While there is no point in competing with civ, 1 race that refuses to use magic completely, only uses technology, brute force (warfare) and possibly religion. Limit the technolgy to early gunpowder age.

4) Of course plenty of the fantasy stuff we all know and love, spells galore, magic items galore, monsters (the more the better), quests, religion (multiple gods, divine help, powers, gifts), guilds etc, etc...

Should keep u busy...


Reply #43 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Good pick : a 4x, turn based fantasy strategy game.
Strange that frogboy did not play dominion2, to my opinion it is a much more worthy successor to MOM than Age of wonder2. Even dom2's AI was as crappy as MOM's .

Getting a Deluxe AI Developper working on a MOM like would really be a blast.
Well a blast, may be or may be not, but surely something I would pay for.
Reply #44 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Turn-based tactical combat was not a gaming option in your poll, but I'd love to see that. Perhaps a game where you have a single spaceship or squadron, like out of GalCiv, but you control its crew and tactics - something akin to Star Trek Fleet Command or Bridge Commander, or even Mech Commander. Maybe something where you control a Starship Troopers-style battlecruiser so that you can have land and space battles with space cannons and mobile infantry.

Also, I could not be bored more by a fantasy setting. Why not try something exciting? A tactical sim set in contemporary times, or near-future? Admittedly, it's not original, but at least there's no elves. I am really sick of elves. Or a Napoleonic game? A Master & Commander game would truly rock. Or speaking of rocks, how about a tactical sim set in prehistoric or biblical times? Something where the Roman Empire would be thousands of years in the future.
Reply #45 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Well, I must admit that another Loom type game would be welcome...

I just figure that it's not too likely to happen, as that genre is kind of gone, at the moment... But hey, if you did it, I would get it.
Reply #46 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I'd like to see an RPG. I'm glad that the poster of this news article claims "Baldurs Gate and Planescape Torment" as the kind of game they will make.

You revived turn based strategy, beyond civilizaion, so revive CRPGS as well. CRPGS are a completely dead genre (diablo clones are not rpgs) and a new game is a long time coming. I want to play something besides just NWN2 and whatever other rpg will be released once every 3 years.

DO an RPG and wait for the MOM lisence to do the fantasy strategy, thats probably the best idea.

edit: IDK why Atari, who i assume owns MOM, would give you problems. Its not like their doing anything with it the idiots.
Reply #47 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Turnbasted Strategy for the win! With Tactical Combat ofcourse! Otherwise I'm not interested.

Btw you can make MoM II without calling it MoM II Do what the original System Shock developers did. They call their new game BioShock eventhough it IS SystemShock 3

So, Atari doesn't want to sell the MoM license....I bet they're waiting until TBS becomes popular again and then they'll sell it to EA who will make a crap game out of it. (I really wonder what will happen to Command & Conquer III: Tiberium Wars). Btw, am I the only one looking forward to that game??

Frogboy: Total Annihilation your favorite..? Haven't played it (seen it though) but what do you got to say about StarCraft?
Reply #48 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Turnbasted Strategy for the win! With Tactical Combat ofcourse! Otherwise I'm not interested.

He could make a turnbased strategy RPG with tactical combat. It would be a Tacitcal turn based game...

I would LOVE to see Paradox make a game like Temple of Elemental Evil or Fallout Tactics but done right. BG2 is the progression of that, its tacitcal but real time though you can set pauses so its like a turn based game.

Tactical rpgs are BY FAR my favorite genre. If you like tactical combat i'd suggest playing them.
Reply #49 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I believe I would have to lean towards an RPG. Fantasy or science fiction, or even science fantasy, I'd be interested in giving any one a look. Certainly something to look at would be making an RPG with A.I. on par with Galactic Civilizations II, at least relatively speaking.
As for my personal preference, while as a genre I prefer fantasy to science fiction, I would like to see an good, thoughtful sci-fi RPG. And it could even be turn-based (Fallout worked with it)! I could live without multiplayer for that too, if it meant a serious, kick-ass story (Torment was single-player, and in my experience it is widely cited as the best RPG of all time).
Anyway, in the mean time, I will try to think of something more dramatic or inspiring to say, but this should serve for now.
Reply #50 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Yea... the RPG market is truly underserved. I need to purchase system upgrades before I can play Oblivion. NWN2 is also something I look forward too. There's only one Sci-Fi RPG that's looking interesting, Mass Effect. However Bioware has only announced it for the Xbox 360 at the moment, hopefully there would be a PC port.

But I'd be more than interested in an original Sci-Fi RPG. Technology (Graphics and such) has come to the point where I think we can move past the simple hack & slash orcs and elves deal. I want to travel galaxies, meet other races, uncover secrets of anicent races, command a starship etc. IMO Sci-Fi has alot more potential than the traditional fantasy universe.