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Twilight of the Arnor enters final gamma testing!

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Twilight of the Arnor enters final gamma testing!

The long wait is nearly over...

from GalCiv2 Forums

imageStardock is pleased to announce that Galactic Civilizations II: Twilight of the Arnor has gone into final gamma testing. The expansion pack to the critically acclaimed space strategy game, Galactic Civilizations II: Dread Lords, completes the Dread Lord saga with the return of the powerful Precursor civilization, the Arnor. 

Arguably the most comprehensive expansion pack in strategy game history, Galactic Civilizations II: Twilight of the Arnor has more new features and content than Galactic Civilizations II had over the original.

A labor of love, Twilight of the Arnor is nearly complete.  This week, we are putting it through final gamma testing as lots of content and goodies that were held back during the public beta are integrated in, tested, polished, etc. 

Amongst the new features includes unique technology trees for each of the 12 major civilizations. This also means unique weapons, ships, planetary improvements, and much more for each civilization.  This has allowed us to greatly expand the story of each civilization.  Moreover, a new victory condition has been added called Ascension in which players can take control of the Ascension crystals (introduced in the campaign) for victory.  The graphics of Twilight of the Arnor have been completely revamped to bring the game's visuals to 2008 standards. Check out the screenshot below to get an idea.

We have set the launch date to be April 30th (late afternoon Eastern Standard Time) for the digital release. Twilight of the Arnor does require the first expansion pack (Dark Avatar) to run.  A bundle of the entire saga is available at a discount.  The final expansion pack to the most highly rated space-strategy game of all time is nearly here...


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The Graphics Difference:

image  vs. image

115,543 views 145 replies
Reply #26 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I know people always want to keep playing, and having a map that unlocks more areas as the game progresses, so I think we should find a way in GC3 to have an 'Infinite' galaxy that just keeps growing.
Or not...I just think it'd sound cool 
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That sounds good to me Boogie  :CONGRAT: 


Nasty
Reply #27 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Edit Double Post :(
DeskScapes - Bring your desktop background to life.
Reply #28 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Maybe they added one more size up and called it "Ridiculous".Followed by yet another map size: "Ludicrous"hehe
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Then another called "Holy Crap that's big!
Reply #29 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
It sounds cool if it could be procedurely generated so as it's not the same all over but random. It may get out of hand at the end though!
Reply #30 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Brad and SD Folks,

Thanks for taking the extra time to put a polished product in the hands of the gaming community. Folks sometimes forget how they rant when they drop $50 on some half-baked turd that's not even playable until the third patch. It's nice to see a publisher/developer care enough about the product and the fanbase to spend an extra week of long days (and nights) refining what is already a very playable game (beta).
Reply #31 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Oh baby, I'll be looking forward to this.

You'll have to pardon me for not keeping up, but a few questions: I seem to remember hearing that custom races can have custom tech trees modded up, is that correct? I also seem to remember that this new expansion comes with far better scenario creation. That I can't wait for. However, will it be easier to give custom races custom dialog in this one? I might have just done it incorrectly, but when I tried to change ID numbers and incorporate custom dialog into the customracexml files, I didn't see any result.

Of course, this isn't exactly the right place to ask those questions, so I won't mind if they don't get answered. (I may hop over to the forum.)

Keep up the great work, guys!
Reply #32 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I know people always want to keep playing, and having a map that unlocks more areas as the game progresses, so I think we should find a way in GC3 to have an 'Infinite' galaxy that just keeps growing.
End of quote


I recommend you name it "Play Until Your Computer Dies" mode. :)
Reply #33 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I guess Influence Victory would be disabled then huh...

Capt: Lieutenant, how much longer until we get to 75%?
Leiu: Sir?
C: 75% of the galaxy, so we can win an influence victory
L: Well...we own 70% of the known galaxy...
C: Shweet, only 5% more to go, then we win!!!
L: Um, I said known galaxy Sir.
C: Well, what other types of galaxies are there then nimwit?
L: Unknown. Don't you think there are other planets in those stars you see in the background map?
C: Frack!!!
Reply #34 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
The constantly growing galaxy sounds incredible awesome and culture could be 75% of currently claimed. Then again, a programmer of that level I am most definitely not, and so I cannot begin to comprehend the difficulties, problems, confusabilities, and possible impossibilities.

To aid in the naming of the new super-immense galaxy size:
Soul-Crushing
Cartographiphical
Hitherto Unthinkable
(This Galaxy's Size can only be Expressed in terms of Itself)
Biblical
Eternal
Apocalyptic
Your-Mind-Will-Be-Lost-In-The-Infinite-Darkness-As-You-Realize-The-Frailty-Of-Life-In-The-Face-Of-Cold-Space
Big
No, Bigger than That
About That, Yeah

Looking forward to the release.
Reply #35 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
36 hours before release date you move it again. (By the time I got the news, it was less than 24 hours.)

I know it's going to be good, but dear god, this was originally supposed to be out in December! You had a poll asking if people would prefer to wait until January. The majority (myself included) voted yes. Release date after release date has been missed.

So very disappointed with Stardock. Yeah yeah, I know all the fanboys will start on at me now. Well sorry folks, I didn't get my complimentary Kool Aid packet when I pre-ordered. Must have got lost somewhere...
Reply #37 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Well, the beta is rather stable now... And to be fair, the majority of people not only voted January, but added 'I wouldn't mind it even if it took longer'. And unlike other publishers, you get a thoroughly tested and bugfree game with guaranteed long time patch support.

BoogieBac: Heh. A growing galaxy. Don't tease us like that! Maybe for not-MoM as well?
Reply #38 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I actually wonder what will be added in the final in comparison to the beta - some features are obvious like campaign, editors and Metaverse compatibility. But on the other hand the game yet looks quite finished in the beta...

Reply #39 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
36 hours before release date you move it again. (By the time I got the news, it was less than 24 hours.)I know it's going to be good, but dear god, this was originally supposed to be out in December! You had a poll asking if people would prefer to wait until January. The majority (myself included) voted yes. Release date after release date has been missed. So very disappointed with Stardock. Yeah yeah, I know all the fanboys will start on at me now. Well sorry folks, I didn't get my complimentary Kool Aid packet when I pre-ordered. Must have got lost somewhere...
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I agree with you but most of it is because of a certain game with a title that starts with the word "Sins". Plus everyone wants better AI which is a good and bad thing, the good thing is that it makes the AI even better, the bad thing is that because of Galciv 2's AI being better than the AI in 98% of all video games would cause big companies like EA or Nintendo to try and buy out Stardock since the AI is very good. EA is evil, they got Westwood and Bull Frog, now 2k! Run Stardock, run Ironclad, run Gaspowered Games, run, don't let them get you!!!
Reply #40 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
So when they say they over-hauled the graphics to 2008 standards, does that mean that TotA is gonna have heavier system requirements? Matter of fact, is there any system requirements for TotA posted anywhere?
Reply #41 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
So when they say they over-hauled the graphics to 2008 standards, does that mean that TotA is gonna have heavier system requirements? Matter of fact, is there any system requirements for TotA posted anywhere?
End of quote


I hope not.
Reply #42 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
The new textures apparently even reduce memory usage. Immense galaxies obviously need more resources, but other than that, I'd say if DA runs fine, TA will as well.
Reply #44 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Now, was that called for?
Reply #45 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I would LOVE to see an infinite universe. Not sure how it could work with machine limitations though, but it sure would be nice. :)
Reply #46 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
What. The. Fuck.
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why did you say that.
Reply #47 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Now, was that called for?
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Well, someone HAS to go postal over this, seems it's me. Sure, they'll improve game quality and stuff but still, WTF.
Reply #48 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Actually, you guys want to know the one-week delay cause? The new ridiculously large galaxy size. They have to be play tested and those things take serious time.
End of quote

Just to be perfectly clear on this and avoid any and all confusion.. Are you talking about 'Immense' galaxy size or have you added a new, even larger, galaxy size?

I've understood it in the way that Immense is the kind of ridiculously large size you're talking about, but just to stay perfectly clear on this!

:)
Reply #49 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
If this goes on for more then one week I'll go to the metaverse and knock stardock people's constructors out ;)
Reply #50 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I honestly don't get why people are upset about this. Everyone usually rants how publishers push out unpolished titels, yet when a company takes the extra minute to really squash the last few bugs, they should just push it out the door?

Keep in mind, TA is in PUBLIC BETA, which, for all accounts, probably is pretty close to the final product. There are constant updates about the curren status and what's being worked on.

In the last poll, the majority voted 'make sure it's bug free' instead of 'keep the early release date'. So I really don't understand what the problem is...