Frogboy Frogboy

NEW POLL: December or January release?

▼

NEW POLL: December or January release?

Tell us what you'd prefer!

from GalCiv2 Forums

We are on track for a December release of the second expansion pack, Galactic Civilizations II: Twilight of the Arnor.

However, as we work on it, we realize that we have a historic opportunity to do the beta releases in such a way that we can reintroduce each major civilization with its new unique technology tree.

But as some have observed, the compressed beta schedule doesn't allow for us to really give each civilization that kind of reintroduction that they (and we) think they deserve.  That each civilization now has unique ship parts, planetary improvements, and technologies which can significantly alter the game play means that having time to really enjoy the civilizations as they are released seems important.

On the other hand, many will want to have this expansion pack finished in time for Christmas.

So we put the question to you guys: Which would you prefer? An early December release date for Twilight of the Arnor or an early January release?

Advantages of coming out in December:

  • You get it sooner
  • It can be purchased as a Christmas gift for other people
  • Stardock gets prestige for releasing two good expansion packs in a single year

Advantages of coming out in January:

  • More time for the public beta of the expansion pack.
  • Brad (me) can spend more time enhancing the computer AI before release.
  • More time to get preview coverage.

So you tell us. We can go either way. There is a web poll on the left side of the main page of GalCiv2.com. Vote there and post here and we'll go with the majority.

 

105,488 views 166 replies
Reply #101 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
patience is a virtue.
Reply #102 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
later release is fine by me. Keep up the good work.
Siege of Centauri
Reply #103 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

The way I see it, if new players are like "this game sucks ass and they should have waited a month, then great... they can go back to playing Halo 3, the most hyped game of all time, that to me looks like every other shooting game out there. We don't want them as customers.

...

Who cares what they think. I guess money is the only thing that matters. Like I care what these guys say. World in Conflict got a 95% from Gamespot, the highest rated game of the year, and it stinks!!
End of quote


Yikes - when did Frogboy die and leave the company to you?

It certainly doesn't matter to me if Halo players like GC2, but funny thing is that I think Stardock might care about getting more players. I think they make the choice what customers they want, not you, not me. Ratings = more sales = more incentive to continue building games with such excellent support.

If you want the game sooner, certainly vote on it, but don't try to be the CEO of Stardock....
Reply #104 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Later for me.

Just have some good timing for Christmas so people could order the game as a gift.
By then most of the IU & AI should have been done including bugs fixing so players who will be gifted Twilight of the Arnor won't have the feeling to get an half-cooked thing when playing the beta.
It would be great also to have at least 5-7 species released by then.
Reply #105 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
For those that are going to buy the TotA expansion anyway, why not go ahead and join the beta. So far the Beta has been playing with few crashes, mostly in the trading screen. The expansion is a nice improvement to game play. The only reason to wait is that you really can't budget $25 at this time. It's not like the game is so buggy as to be more frustrating than fun.

I'm also wondering how much emphasis to place on reporting all the typos and grammatical errors. Is there a better XML viewer than Notepad/Wordpad to review the spelling and grammar of the game?

scintilion
Reply #106 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I would like to see a new beta release today to see what has been added and also giving us some more extra to play with and since it is the 8th. But future releases of betas I would like to have the dates revised.
Reply #108 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
You know normally I would say Jan, but in this case December is fine with me. I have always liked the fact that when you buy a game from stardock your not really buying a game but more a membership to a ever growing game. This game has been patched and updated alot of times and were not just taking the standard bug fixing patches but rather new content and graphic updates the expansions in a sense were huge patches that added tons of new content so either way I feel that by Jan the game will have all the content that is mentioned, besides I am a beta player so I sort of all ready have TA, it really is only a question of title, will we be offically be playing TA or DA in Dec, why not let Stardock have to honor of a new expansion before the new year. I really dont think it will effect the quality cause of the continued commitment by the game developers.
Reply #110 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I don't see how it matters either way for one signular reason... You guys are a good company that actually provides good patches. So if it is declared "official" one month early it doesn't matter, it will still be in the same condition a month later. except it will be called v1.1 instead of v1.0
And on the month of the release it will be 1.0 instead of beta 0.9

Although I would prefer to NOT play it until it is ready... so for me it means waiting for january regardless of which you decide.

Besides, last I heard online purchases of games is about 4 or 5 times the purchases in stores... and online purchases are games people buy for themselves. Not Christmas gifts.

So if you WILL be doing extra polishing and getting it to the exact same state, then go ahead and push the release to just before christmas to make extra money.

If it means however that some things will be lost and dropped, then go ahead and wait.
Reply #111 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Would rather wait for a full, thoroughly tested release, so despite pre-ordering some time back, I'm happy to wait. Whatever it takes guys.

So, just to clarify, JANUARY! (Though I'm not participating in the beta. I've done enough beta testing of other things for one year.)
Reply #112 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I vote later. Because then I'll have the money . And because I'd like a quality release rather than a rushed release.
Reply #113 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I can't vote currently. But later, later, alligator.

---
Reply #114 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I'd say December simply because any additions that would be made in January can simply be included in a patch.

I dont see why people can't see that this is what would happen.
End of quote


i've seen this point come up, but i'm not sure it represents thorough consideration. SD has other projects on the horizon. i trust they won't abandom support for GC2, not even after TA is done and all the bugs are ironed out (they've hinted at further expansions). however, Sins is still in development, Brad's mentioned Political Machine 2008, and there's that myserious fantasy TBS they've mentioned once or twice--plus all the windows blinds stuff that earn them their bread.

i'd rather see TA get as much polish as it can while it's a major center of their attention.
Reply #115 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
January seems a bit soon to me...I would prefer April, as long as I have beta access.
Reply #116 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
What can I say, January Its always better to wait for a totally finished product than to have one rushed and tons of patches at release.
Reply #117 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
January! Those that can't wait can play the betas!
Reply #119 from GalCiv2 Forums Top


If you want the game sooner, certainly vote on it, but don't try to be the CEO of Stardock....
End of quote


Ok Mom.
Reply #120 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
i didnt expect SUCH a clear poll result. wow. im with the masses.
Reply #121 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
January.
Reply #122 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Here,s a good example. Empire Earth 3 , just released, major patch, straight after.

Don't do that. Take all the time you need guys. Get it right first time.

So you know what I think.

Take even longer if you need to.

Work hard Stardock and you'll have no complaints from me.
Reply #124 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
January is fine. But PLEASE open the pre-order option (and so the Beta) for guys without credit cards like me!
Reply #125 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

January is fine. But PLEASE open the pre-order option (and so the Beta) for guys without credit cards like me!
End of quote


Actually I think you can. The PayPal option works for a week after each new beta release, if I understand it correctly.