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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

115,518 views 145 replies
Reply #76 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

The Arnor get to be a race now, finally! So do they get their own ship style?
End of quote

They're not a playable race, you just get to use some of their ships.

Reply #77 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

I think some people seriously need to re-think their priorities if they are upset about pushing the launch back a week.

I think most people would agree that the currently downloadable BETA is release-quality by most standards. So anyone who is that impatient can play the game right now.

Personally, I just wanted to have extra time to polish the computer AI further, make sure all the new stuff (cut scenes, music, etc.) were fitted in just right.  We could definitely have released it tomorrow. Heck, we could have released it in January.

Is that really what people want though? The extra work we are putting in aren't to "finish" the game as much as just keep improving it. The game has largely been done for months as beta testers can attest. It's just polish polish polish.

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Reply #78 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
The Arnor get to be a race now, finally! So do they get their own ship style?

They're not a playable race, you just get to use some of their ships.
End of quote


Oh, but still that's cool.
Reply #79 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I think some people seriously need to re-think their priorities if they are upset about pushing the launch back a week.
I think most people would agree that the currently downloadable BETA is release-quality by most standards. So anyone who is that impatient can play the game right now.
Personally, I just wanted to have extra time to polish the computer AI further, make sure all the new stuff (cut scenes, music, etc.) were fitted in just right.  We could definitely have released it tomorrow. Heck, we could have released it in January.
Is that really what people want though? The extra work we are putting in aren't to "finish" the game as much as just keep improving it. The game has largely been done for months as beta testers can attest. It's just polish polish polish.
End of quote


I can wait, great and almighty Frogboy!
Reply #80 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

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!
End of quote

Yes. immense size galaxy. It takes a LONG time to test AI on that size.

Reply #81 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Personally, I just want to thank you and the other devs for taking the time to get this as close to perfect as possible. While I wish Metaverse had been enabled for the last beta, I can understand that you wanted to balance Immense galaxies first. Even still, if you need an extra week to get it to where you want it, thank you for taking the extra time. :)
Reply #82 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I think some people seriously need to re-think their priorities if they are upset about pushing the launch back a week.
End of quote


You mean to tell me this is only a game???

~grins~

OH Tequila Tuesday at Bennigans.....
Reply #83 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Let's count tequilas: One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor.

Seriously, one week is nothing. Especially if we are getting AI updates!
Reply #84 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 
End of quote


Hi-Hi... and me, i want it all in its 3D glory (as proven by an earlier thread back in December), perspective, xyz prime coordinates, send my ships up or down and again. Flattened kinda space's never been my cupa tea anyhow.

So we all may wish for a controlled & reasonable growth on playfield ratios, but the essential question remains; Polaris is still waaaaaayyyyy above Earth inside the real Milky way, it isn't stuck on a square GC map tile though.

Solution?

Buy yourselves a couple of Cray_Supers, compile us a gimmick of about 3200x3200 sectors across map option... and come back here to tell me if you'd ever reach a point where you could say: i explored everything there was in less than six months of round-the-clock gameplay (someone, please call Guiness) - sent a colony ship to the last available planet nicely hidden in the top-left corner (if there's such a thing under these crazy conditions) - see ya in about three days - be patient.

There HAS to be a limit.

I get my headful on mediums already as i tediously try to maintain a sort of managing control over a bunch of issues, so i really truly can't imagine how painsta-c-kingly tough any epic battles would develop into just ONE doddle-dribble immense map.
Thus, i purposely USE lower values. Call me tidy.

;)
Reply #85 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Comparably speaking, the delay is microscopic, the changes are astronomical, and it's all done with the speed of light. :-)
Reply #86 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Hi-Hi... and me, i want it all in its 3D glory (as proven by an earlier thread back in December), perspective, xyz prime coordinates, send my ships up or down and again. Flattened kinda space's never been my cupa tea anyhow.
End of quote


Oooooh, yeah. If there is only time/budget in GC3 for unlimited size map OR making the maps 3D (drools over a 5x5x5 map), I'm clicking the radio button for the vote for 3D.
Reply #87 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I think some people seriously need to re-think their priorities if they are upset about pushing the launch back a week.
I think most people would agree that the currently downloadable BETA is release-quality by most standards. So anyone who is that impatient can play the game right now.
Personally, I just wanted to have extra time to polish the computer AI further, make sure all the new stuff (cut scenes, music, etc.) were fitted in just right.  We could definitely have released it tomorrow. Heck, we could have released it in January.
Is that really what people want though? The extra work we are putting in aren't to "finish" the game as much as just keep improving it. The game has largely been done for months as beta testers can attest. It's just polish polish polish.
End of quote

Oh my, that was a heaping dose of logic. I guess its no surprise from Stardock. (Usually I don't brown nose so much, but if brown nosing is just never saying anything bad, and there's nothing bad to say, can anything else be expected?)

Keep up the good work.
Reply #88 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I think some people (like me) were just dissapointed that the release date was set back another week and some people just posted what they thought atm in these forums.
I think most, if not all agree with the decision and fully accept it. I know i do, even though it was a bit dissapointing when i first saw the news, i completely agree.

Now i have a question for the devs, what exactly do you mean by this:
"as lots of content and goodies that were held back during the public beta are integrated in, tested, polished, etc. "

lots of content?
such as?
Reply #89 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Even if there is nothing else, I would consider the campaign to be "lots of content".
Reply #90 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I'm of the school of thought that they should take whatever time they need. If they need the time, they need it. Unless we want to pay twice as much so they can hire twice the staff, we should expect a tenth of an increase in efficiency.

Or, they could force it out too early, and it ends up just being a watery mess... Nobody wants to clean that up.
Reply #91 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Woops, should NOT expect a tenth of an increase...
Reply #92 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I think some people seriously need to re-think their priorities if they are upset about pushing the launch back a week.
End of quote


As I mentioned before and else-where on here - I have to keep reminding myself that it's not out, given how playable the Beta is. So take your time. We'll still be here.


OR making the maps 3D (drools over a 5x5x5 map)
End of quote


That would be pretty cool.
Reply #93 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I notice people pointing out the delay (good, bad, or indifferent) but I haven't really felt this mystical effect. Maybe we all need to try what I do which is that I've pretty much scheduled out my gaming to about 8 OTHER games. Just like the stupid halo freaks that think it's the only game out there, you shouldn't be blind-sighted to just one. An example to my fact is my picture, look at it, it's R.O.B. from Super Smash Brothers Brawl! (he was originally a plastic robot with light sensing eyes for the NES) So if it's that big of a deal it got delayed try other games to help occupy our tiny minds (not directed as an insult).

So Stardock, just keep doing what you've been doing and don't let anyone say anything about it or try to stop you.
Reply #94 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I think some people seriously need to re-think their priorities if they are upset about pushing the launch back a week.
I think most people would agree that the currently downloadable BETA is release-quality by most standards. So anyone who is that impatient can play the game right now.
Personally, I just wanted to have extra time to polish the computer AI further, make sure all the new stuff (cut scenes, music, etc.) were fitted in just right.  We could definitely have released it tomorrow. Heck, we could have released it in January.
Is that really what people want though? The extra work we are putting in aren't to "finish" the game as much as just keep improving it. The game has largely been done for months as beta testers can attest. It's just polish polish polish.
End of quote


Hi Frogboy, this is the first time ive repleid to you in particular because i feel quite strongly about this

You guys at stardock have done a great job with the expansion thats for sure, congrats and that you very much, ive been enjoying the betas for months and each one has gotten better and better, AI is really coming together and graphics look amazing, there is only one detracting point.

I think the invisible ship bug makes the final release premature at the moment, it definitely would be ready if it were not for the invisible ship bug, it is so serious it destroys the game, im getting it every single map i play now and i have a save-game im about to send in which crashes every time you try and engage an invisible fleet, this is the only serious issue ive found and i have to say i think its absolutely critical.
Most seriously, the invisible ships and fleets are not even showing up as icons anymore as they seemed to in the older betas, so i have to aimlessly click around to find enemy fleets, this utterly ruins the game when it occurs.

I dont think im being too picky, and as i say were it not for this one silly but very common and very annoying bug it would have been "releasable" a long time ago.

I dont want to put a downer on the generally happy vibe here, so thanks again and please answer all our prayers but getting to the root of this thing

Sincerely Alex





Reply #95 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I think the invisible ship bug makes the final release premature at the moment,
End of quote


The invisible ship bug was fixed in the last public beta. Make sure you've got the latest build and aren't using a save from a prior version.
Reply #96 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Im using 0.98c[b].001, downloaded it about a week ago (ish) and started the game yesterday. (thats the newest version according to stardock central)

So im pretty sure it is the new one, but i also believe you when you say its fixed so i mussed have made an error somewhere, i will start a new game to be sure and let you know, ive sent in the savegame and the debugger file already, i guess you will be able to tell what version i was using on that save its the most recent game ive started.

If this is true that its been fixed then hurrah, that makes me so happy :D
Reply #97 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Yea, we made the invisible ship issue a top priority.  It's nailed.
Reply #98 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
As much as I'm itching to play the full and complete version of Twilight, I've enthusiastically supported Stardock's decision to delay its release until it meets their standards. This expansion pack is incredibly ambitious and has required numerous balance tweaks during the beta releases to keep things fair and fun, so whether Stardock needs another week or another month, they have my support.

-Autistic Angel
Reply #99 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Speaking of the public Beta and orders and pre-orders and such, why is the web form trying to charge me shipping if I pre-order the CD version? The various released GCII packages clearly say "+ S/H" for the CD versions; the pre-order of Arnor just as clearly does not.

And yet, when I try to pre-order the CD version, it sets up to charge me $10 shipping on top of the $29.95.

What gives? I thought that pre-orders were supposed to ship free, as the order page implies.
Reply #100 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
That may be a goof on Stardock's part, because the S/H most certainly is not free. And I ordered it way back when it was first announced for preorder last year.

-HM