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Dark Avatar Beta on 11/16

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Dark Avatar Beta on 11/16

Almost here!

https://www.galciv2.com/darkavatar
from GalCiv2 Forums

The public beta of the expansion pack, Galactic Civilizations II: Dark Avatar is scheduled to start on November 16th.  We have the main features done, still doing AI which will continue right up until release.

The main features of the beta over Galactic Civilizations II v1.4 include (but are not limited to):

  1. Planet environments. You can't immediately colonize all the good worlds. Now players will need to research the correct technology for that.
  2. Agents. Players can spend money on espionage to hire agents who in turn are assigned to defend planets or do harm to opponent planets (they nullify the activity of most planetary improvements).
  3. Custom Opponents. You can design your own opponents including what they look like and what their ships look like (i.e. you can assign what the AI uses for various classes of ships). A lot of modding support has been done so that modders can upload their own ship styles rather than replacing what's on disk.
  4. Templates. Players can design a template ship and use it in the future.
  5. Two new civilizations. Are now in.
  6. Tons of new ship parts -- hulls, and extras.
  7. Ship Intelligence center.
  8. Asteroid Fields. Players can now harvest resources from an asteroid field and send it to a destination planet.
  9. Lots of new planetary improvements and techs.
  10. Diplomatic treaties. There are some new treaties players can make with alien players.
  11. Graphics. Overall the graphics in the game are noticeably better across the board.

What's not quite ready yet but will appear somewhat in the beta:

  1. The Epic Generator. It..kind..of..works...but...it's really complicated. This is something the betas will help pin down since it's so subjective.
  2. Super-Abilities. To make each civilization truly unique, they've been given their own special super ability (i.e. an ability with code behind it). These..kind of work sort of but not in all cases. Still working on these.
  3. Mega Events. Same. We have some in, but a lot more need to be added. These are like regular events in GalCiv II except a lot more of them.

What's not in at all yet: The new stream-lined technology tree interface.  That should be in by December.

The beta will be available to everyone who has pre-ordered the game.  See the link below to learn more about Dark Avatar and how to get it.

 

36,847 views 45 replies
Reply #26 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Thanks ugleb. That was the kind of answer i was looking for. I know the basic idea of it. just needed it broadened alittle
Reply #27 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I see that ship intelligence center shows crew compliment. If you guys have done that, why not go the extra step of allowing the capture of enemy ships somehow? It would probably only require that an extra component be added to a ship to allow it to capture enemy ships, then you could just have it do a random roll and compare the two ships crew counts against each other.
ObjectDock - Access shortcuts and frequently used applications from an animated dock.
Reply #28 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Is there a way to check if a pre-order has been placed/received?

I know that I pre-ordered before you changed from an add on to an expansion, but I don't know if that ordered changed.

Also, my credit card info may have changed.

Is there a way to check any of this?

thanks.
Reply #29 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I know that I pre-ordered before you changed from an add on to an expansion, but I don't know if that ordered changed.


It's always been an expansion, it just grew a bit bigger So long as you preordered, it's still good. It doesn't matter when you did the preorder (before or after the date was moved).

If your CC has changed, or will expire before the final release, you should contact [email protected] to find out how to make sure you're still all set.
Reply #30 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Cool. Can't wait to get in on all the new goodies. Here's to a fantastic expansion
Reply #32 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
What AI improvements are in DA? I'm not interested in extra features, just a smarter AI.

Thanks for the most fun AI in a TBS game yet. Still a massive amount of work to do to utilise my uber water cooled rig to the most though. Any way to make the AI "learn" or be smarter by using more of my PC's computational capacity?

What about setting it up to play itself over and over again and save build orders etc. that work well? Anyone tried this kind of sandpit development technique?

[edit] I've been thinking about this a little more. Shouldn't it be possible to leave the AIs playing each other millions of times and save what works and what doesn't? Maybe a programmer can tell me why it wouldn't work?
Reply #33 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
(Citizen)LogicSequenceNovember 6, 2006 17:07:42Reply #13LOOKING GOOD! can't wait to start testing! Few questions tho:

A. Any rough idea how large the download will be? <500Mb, >500Mb?
B. Are mods functional with DA yet? Will there be a seperate Mods folder for DA?
C. Should DA be placed over a fresh install of GC2?


Reply #34 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I don't know what the plan is for the public beta content-wise, but my last test build was under 500mb IIRC. Mods should work fine, and as long as you haven't altered the core GC2 files, you shouldn't need to reinstall.
Reply #35 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

The AI in this first build is really basically the same as 1.4. Nothing too special yet.

It'll be over the coming weeks that I get to sit down and start doing stuff with it.

I mean hey, I've got Battlefield 2142 and Company of Heroes and the Supreme Commander beta. It's a busy time.

Reply #36 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
What's your Battlefield rank Frogboy. You any good?
Reply #37 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I am on pins and needles for this. Keep the good stuff coming!
Reply #38 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Sweet, beta on my birthday. Life is good. ^^
Reply #39 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Any chance the spies can assassinate enemy heroes?

Will the epic generate list what the saboteurs due to the target sites?

i.e. the Drengin Empire super factory recently had a spike in work safety accidents… production was slowed due to a killer bees… recent production models of the latest star fighter where recalled due the lack of an engine, the problem seems to be in the blue print having coffee stain on where the engine should have been… two hundred workers have come down with bushy eyebrow syndrome slowing work as the need to constantly shave to see…giant mutant space squid found in no 2 washroom 3rd floor to have been eating employees unknown as how it got there?

Will spies gain experience?

Will they have names/numbers or history?

i.e. Number 234 graduated the spy academy on Earth has been successful on two missions…

Are the asteroids all one type or will there be different types,i.e. some made of ice?
Reply #40 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Question- when on Thursday will it be out- need to determine when I take my trip...

Reply #41 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
well i love the dual tennis courts on the 2nd pic
Reply #42 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
hmm no beta, yet. Hope it will be available soon.
Reply #44 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
where to download the beta?
Reply #45 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
where to download the beta?


It is available on SDC for those who have preordered.