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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...


[Purchase Options]

 

The Graphics Difference:

image  vs. image

115,525 views 145 replies
Reply #101 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
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.
End of quote


It's a mistake. Any orders for physical items will have shipping costs.
Reply #102 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I know that Twilight will be awesome. Stardock does the MOST beta testing in the software industry.
I could go on and on about software development and testing, because I am a computer Science Major, but I won't.
Stardock is awesome, and Galactic Civilizations 2 is Awesome. I hope their next project is a RPG about like Empire Earth or even The Elder Scrolls.
But that's for another forum thread.

Go Stardock, you stay awesome and don't let anyone buy you out and make you less awesome.
DeskScapes - Bring your desktop background to life.
Reply #103 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
42
Reply #104 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Dont tell me the meaning of the universe bonscott :o


I am not happy that i wont get the full game to have fun with right now but i am happy that when i do get it, i will have more fun than i would ever on the 23rd :D
Reply #105 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Dont tell me the meaning of the universe bonscott :o
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Don't you mean "life, the universe and everything?"
Reply #106 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I can't fault the extra week. With Stadock's rep for excellence and continous updating, I keep coming back to GalCiv. First the original then II then DA. Heck, its pretty much the only game on my laptop, so it sees alot of use.
Reply #107 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Hey guys, if you want a prime example of releasing a product before it's ready, all you have to do is look at Windows Vista. It's been out for a year already and the most common user assessment as of today seems to be that "it stinks". I just came from Google News where there is an uproar about killing Win XP. MS PR says "users love Vista", Balmer has called Vista "a work in progress" and is now seems to be saying "maybe we'll let it stay around a little longer". The user rants on the news items will make your hair curl. Tech sites that I went to that have compared head to head performance of Win XP vs Vista for playing games all said "Win XP wins". Meanwhile, MS is working hard on Windows 7 which is "going to be great". Gates said earlier this month that its release may even be pushed forward (i.e. earlier) than its promised released date. I can hardly wait!!! I can get my copy of Windows 7 even sooner than I expected. WOW!!!
Reply #108 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Whenever anyone is, or gets near to being "Number 1", there is a big fat luminous bullseye painted on their Butt - and Professional Moaners cant resist kicking it. Traditionally On Line Forums in general are usually too negative in tone because those who are happy, rightly, cant be bothered continually saying so. Those who are not happy will always post, and so they should, as without User "pressure" the Will to improve and move onwards and upwards diminishes.

It is remarkable therefore the relatively few "complaint" posts on the forum and elsewhere on the Web re TA and attendant issues. More than anything else that fact speaks volumes about Stardock's consistent efforts over time to take the long term view in improving the Product and give the customer what they prefer whenever possible. Will there be bugs surfacing? Bound to be some, its getting to be a very complex game from a developer's viewpoint, I'd be stunned if none appeared.

However I for one am in no doubt that any bugs surfacing after Final Release will be nailed - and Stardock is the only software developer in whom I have that level of confidence. Bravo to them - and I hope they get the well deserved accolades from the Games Industry for a remarkable ground breaking Expansion Pack.

Regards
Zy
Reply #109 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Whenever anyone is, or gets near to being "Number 1", there is a big fat luminous bullseye painted on their Butt - and Professional Moaners cant resist kicking it. Traditionally On Line Forums in general are usually too negative in tone because those who are happy, rightly, cant be bothered continually saying so. Those who are not happy will always post, and so they should, as without User "pressure" the Will to improve and move onwards and upwards diminishes. It is remarkable therefore the relatively few "complaint" posts on the forum and elsewhere on the Web re TA and attendant issues. More than anything else that fact speaks volumes about Stardock's consistent efforts over time to take the long term view in improving the Product and give the customer what they prefer whenever possible. Will there be bugs surfacing? Bound to be some, its getting to be a very complex game from a developer's viewpoint, I'd be stunned if none appeared.However I for one am in no doubt that any bugs surfacing after Final Release will be nailed - and Stardock is the only software developer in whom I have that level of confidence. Bravo to them - and I hope they get the well deserved accolades from the Games Industry for a remarkable ground breaking Expansion Pack.RegardsZy
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Well PUT I second This :) 

Nasty
Reply #110 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
For gods sake Stardock don't change the release date now!
Reply #111 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Whenever anyone is, or gets near to being "Number 1", there is a big
fat luminous bullseye painted on their Butt -...
End of quote


;) ;) ROTFLOL!! :)
Made my day, buddy.

Reply #112 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
For gods sake Stardock don't change the release date now!
End of quote


Agreed. Stardock, we know you like to hold games back until they're good and ready, but enough is enough.

Etrius
Reply #113 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
For gods sake Stardock don't change the release date now!Agreed. Stardock, we know you like to hold games back until they're good and ready, but enough is enough.Etrius
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yeah, it's the truth.
Reply #114 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
For gods sake Stardock don't change the release date now!Agreed. Stardock, we know you like to hold games back until they're good and ready, but enough is enough.Etriusyeah, it's the truth.
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It's been released in its almost then-current state for the past few months. Get a life.

If you don't want to SLAVE AWAY for you FOR ANOTHER WEEK...

FOR FREE...

then sure, go away to a worse company. But this one is very stupid. I like it that way :) It works for me for free!

Reply #115 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
For gods sake Stardock don't change the release date now!Agreed. Stardock, we know you like to hold games back until they're good and ready, but enough is enough.Etriusyeah, it's the truth.
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any one want some cheese to go with that whine!!!



Reply #116 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
any one want some cheese to go with that whine!!!
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Yes please! Can I get some horseradish cheddar?
Reply #118 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
 :LOL:Two days remaim until TA's released!!!:LOL:
Reply #119 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
For gods sake Stardock don't change the release date now!Agreed. Stardock, we know you like to hold games back until they're good and ready, but enough is enough.Etriusyeah, it's the truth.any one want some cheese to go with that whine!!!
End of quote


IT'S A PUN IT'S A PUN!!!!!!!!11111!!!!
Reply #121 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Will it be available at retail stores?I don't think so.
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Seriously? Why wouldn't it be available in retail stores?
Reply #122 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Because there are no plans for a retail box yet. Just remember, a retail version swallows budget a lot and GalCivII is only a niche game played by a selected community (at least TotA will be)- the budget TotA got is spent better on polishment of the product rather than on having it stand in a Wal-Mart rack.
Reply #123 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Tommorow TA will finally be released!!!!!!!!!!
Reply #124 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Seriously? Why wouldn't it be available in retail stores?
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Kyro has stated it won't be in retail for a while now. I think he even has said that if you order it as wish a CD, then you'll only be getting a cd in a paper sleeve.
Reply #125 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Personally i think since the disappearance of the big PC boxes a few years ago, the ones with full manuals plus maybe a poster/tech tree print out there has been no reason to buy a hard copy at all, actually with the growth of internet speeds and the massively increased pubic awareness of internet shopping (i read it grew 55% in 2008 compared to 2007 in fist quarter in the UK) i believe that the market will shift heavily towards most people downloading new games from the developers directly.