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Galactic Civilizations II: Dark Avatar schedule announced

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Galactic Civilizations II: Dark Avatar schedule announced

Expanding the expansion, open beta, new release date and more!

from GalCiv2 Forums

We have decided to expand the expansion pack! What does that mean? We're adding a lot of major new features to it. It won't quite be a sequel but it will certainly be a lot more than your average expansion pack.

As you guys gave us suggestions and new ideas we realized that we didn't want to have to wait until some future sequel to add in those features.  So we're going to push the release date of the expansion pack to around the 1-year anniversary of the release of Galactic Civilizations II: Dread Lords. But for players who want to start playing it before Christmas, we're going to have a public beta program that anyone who pre-orders the expansion pack will be option to download and play.

Galactic Civilizations II: Dark Avatar, was originally designed to add new units, new maps, a new story-based campaign, user-created civilization opponents, an epic generator, espionage agents, asteroid fields, new treaties, unique planet environments, and much more.  However, after going through the list of suggested features Stardock decided to expand on the already impressive feature set.

New features beyond the original concept now include a stream-lined technology tree, Mega Events, super-abilities that are unique to each civilization, a visual make-over, more advanced opponent design features, and a lot more.  We hope you like the results!

The war may be over, but the conquest has just begun...

More information can be found at https://www.galciv2.com/darkavatar.

42,363 views 69 replies
Reply #26 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
QUESTION: If you install a Beta, can you just install the full version over the top when its done, or will it involve uninstalling and reinstalling everything?


Most generally, yes, you can keep most of the beta stuff without needing to redownload it at release. At least the big stuff liek graphics and movies, if those are included in the beta, since those things aren't really very subject to change.

I read at Gamespot that a Gold Edition of the game will be out in Feb 07. I guess the question is: Will the expansion pack be in stores next year as well or will the only way to get the expansion be via online from Stardock?


The DA+GC2 combo pack will replace GC2 at retail. AFAIK the only way to get *just* DA will be via direct-order. Marketing is much simpler that way and it lessens the cost of having to retail two different boxes at once.
Reply #27 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I have to say that the idea of stream-lining the tech tree sounds bad.

Less tech or less tech branches would be a BAD thing.

And "stream-lining" does imply less and not more.

Please do not remove or simplify the tech tree.


Again, the Starbase Fortification tree is pretty annoying, unnecessary, and quite stupid honestly. "I haven't even researched the theory of using Mass Driver weapons in space combat yet, but I can build uber-powerful mass-driver weapons for all my starbases because I fully researched Starbase Fortification"

Right... the weapon/defense modules given by Starbase Fortification should just be part of their respective weapon/defense techs, IMHO

That and, based on one of those screenshots at Gamespot, the Terraforming tree might be folded into the new Colonization techs, given that one of the techs being traded to the Altarians by the Torian player is "Advanced Aquatic Colonization".

Those are two changes that can be easily made to streamline and improve the Tech Tree without really losing anything.
The Political Machine 2024
Reply #28 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I hope when you stay "streamlining" the tech tree you will make it more interesting. Using the same words with Roman numerals after them is very boring. I liked the GalCiv 1 tech tree MUCH better, for even if it didn't make complete sense, atleast it was much more fun.
Reply #29 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
The DA+GC2 combo pack will replace GC2 at retail. AFAIK the only way to get *just* DA will be via direct-order. Marketing is much simpler that way and it lessens the cost of having to retail two different boxes at once.


That's what I was thinking. Thanks!
Reply #30 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I have one question, when you mention that pre-orders well allow access to beta when do you mean? Hmm what I mean is whats the timeline for allowing pre-orders to participate in the beta. Will it be on the old release date, earlier, later?

Thanks for any info.

O yes, ne other question. Pre-ordering without those tokens requires a credit card correct, we can't use paypal?
Reply #31 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
O yes, ne other question. Pre-ordering without those tokens requires a credit card correct, we can't use paypal?


Right. Paypal doesn't support delayed transactions so the only way to use that is to get tokens, then preorder with those.
Reply #32 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Ah yes I remember reading that somewhere, thanks for the info.

Hurry up credit card application!
Reply #33 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Woo! This is a welcome turn of events! I personally am not concerned about the decision to streamline the tech-tree (the original didn't seem arbitrary enough.)

Oh, and I take back what I said in the poll, I'm pre-ordering now!  
Reply #34 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I for example, created an entire Starfleet set and an entire Klingon set of ships (using Kryo's most excellent hull mod) and would love to see a battle between the two play out.



If they actually allow the use of the mod in MV games that is

However this is good news and i am looking forward to the Beta's!!
Reply #35 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Very good news indeed.

I am already pre-ordered and I await the beta next month.
Reply #36 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Cool...but...more features == more bugs and unbalance. I seriously hope they take their time with this.

Please don't bite off more than you can chew.
Reply #37 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Sweet!!

I just pre-ordered the expansion. I knew I would order it eventually, but seeing the news of the open beta program was all the incentive I needed to pre-order now.

In regards to the "stream-lined technology tree". When players submit meta-verse games does the data regarding their researched techs get submitted as well? If it is, was that information used as part of the decision making process in regards to changes to the technology tree?
Reply #38 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
This is very good news! I love you guys!
Reply #39 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
i just preorder and this news oh ya kick ass i can wait!
Reply #40 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
This just sucks. I love this game...I'd give you 50 bucks cash to get an expansion...but for it to be download only...without a credit card, that just leaves me high and dry.
Reply #41 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Well, I'm excited. Looks like I'll be adding my pre-order to the list in the coming weeks. Can't wait to read what some of those additional features are! Great news!
Reply #43 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Templates? That's something I'll look foward to. It's a minor feature but I'm glad I no longer have to have unaltered (save for extras) hull designs kicking around.

Mega events + Intellegent placer? Yes!, But say the Drengin find a piece of the Telnath crystal (Galciv I veterans will remember this), Will the scale of diplomacy tipped so that I can help incite a war against the Drengin befor it's too late? I.E Will mega events change the diplomatic landscape as a side affect?

Super Abilities - Sounds interesting, Which one of theese three will happen with them?

- Abilities are hardcoded to each race
- Abilities are chosen from the standard ability menu
- Super Abilities get their own new menu

Personally I'm hoping for the latter.

Agents - Will we be able to get them to do things other than sabotage buildings? I'd like to see some more options alongside them, Things such as infiltrating ships or aiding efforts to attain information on another race (As it is done now)

Epic Generator - Two thumbs up, I only hope that more story nodes will keep getting added with subsequent DA updates.

Custom Opponents - I saw on the screenshot that race behaviours were the names of races, Can we get a little "?" button next to the behaviour changer that gives detailed information on each behaviour option?

User-Assignable default AI ships - This is just like choosing the shipset right? Could Stardock please elaborate on this?

New stream-lined technology tree - I think many people will be happy about this.

Asteroid Fields- Sounds interesting, I'd like to see this in game.

Could there also be other types of space terrain? Some things I'd like to see are wormholes that stay open for a random ammount of time (From a week to five years or so) and allways link to a certain point in space? Or how about nebulae? A massive cloud stretching 5x4 that provides cover (Sensors can not penetrate then too far)

I could keep going on and on, But I guess I'll have to wait for christmas.

Reply #44 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Posted By Kryo:

If we handle it the same as we did with GC2's beta, it'll run in phases. Each time a new phase of testing begins, everyone who has preordered before that point gets access to that phase. If you preorder after a phase beings, you have to wait for the next one.

Can't say whether that's what we're going to do now, but that's how it worked in the past.


So anyone who has already preordered will have access to the first open beta?

Do people who have preordered prior to the change in release date need to re-preorder?

How can someone confirm their preorder?
Reply #45 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
will dreadlords pop up in a normal game?


Yep!
Reply #46 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Yes I too am wondering...will the price change due to the extra time to create the expansion and all the add'l content being added? Additionally what about us folks who have already preordered? Will we have to pay the difference IF the price goes up?

While I understand that digital distribution keeps your costs way down I fear the expansion's price may go up to offset the [greatly] extended production time and, therefore, increased production costs. That being said I for one would happily pay the extra amount, as I imagine most people would.

Either way sounds like a good call to delay things to add features. Keep up the good work!!
Reply #47 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Yep I'm with Logicsequence, how can one confirm their pre-order?

I have already put my virtual money where my audio outlet is, however my credit card submitted expires end of November... will I have to resubmit my order with new card? I know this is prob more of a question for your online shop than anything else...

Just don't want to miss out on the beta...

Will there be a price increase?
Reply #48 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

 

So anyone who has already preordered will have access to the first open beta?

It is my understanding.

Do people who have preordered prior to the change in release date need to re-preorder?

Why would it be the case?

Reply #49 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Right. Paypal doesn't support delayed transactions so the only way to use that is to get tokens, then preorder with those.


But technically speaking, it's not really a preorder once you guys start providing the goods(the beta). Would you take Paypal then?
Reply #50 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Mega Events???
Aren't they already iplemented in game?I had an event in which all unhabitable planet got PQ10, another with fanatics popping up? So what are these mega events?