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Update next week

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Update next week

Minor but important

from GalCiv2 Forums

This weekend we're back on GalCiv so that we can get an update up hopefully Tuesday or Wednesday of next week.

The main thing we're doing is fixing that annoying research behavior where after awhile, the research gets too expensive.  What's really ironic is that we added in the new algorithm in response to those who felt research was too cheap.  So we made research get correspondingly more expensive near the end of development. 

Now, bear in mind, you can change the research rate but we're just not satisfied with the research pacing in the game so twilight will get a tweak to that next week.

 

Update: Based on feedback in this thread, we're going to expand a bit on what we were going to put into the update to deal with a few additional issues so it won't come out until next week but it'll be a much bigger update.

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Reply #101 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Too much effort to please.

Stardock has always been excellent at fixing bugs that break the game and far too willing to "balance" the game to the whims of a faction that will never be satisfied.

IMHO every edition of GC has been okay as far as balance goes on the first day of release. Most of the balance tweaking has made the game at best no better and often worse than the original.

The tech bug is a case in point. The too powerful, toggle off, toggle on faction says slow tech is not slow enough so they tilt the game trying to please.

Give me a break, SD makes a game that an amoeba can win at the easisest level and only the top 5% can win at the hardest level but that's not good enough for the nut fringe. BTW, the nuts will always be the first to start a flame like this thread has been.

Reply #102 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Just to keep you guys posted it looks like tomorrow will be when the update (1.92) is released. Here's a peek at the changes...

+ Brads removed tech inflation (for now, it's really just commented out)

+ We've added zoom-to-cursor

+ Mind Control Center fixed

+ Planet tiles 'placed in oceans' fixed (with LogicSequence's help, thanks!)

+ Bunch of Tech-Tree hole are being filled (races getting new 'equivilent' starbase modules, ect)

+ Can't trade Ascention SB's

+ Score of other tiny bugs have been dealt with

CursorFX - Customize your Windows cursor
Reply #103 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
You're leaving out the unfortunate fact that game developers roll their eyes and giggle uncontrollably when you say things like "utilizing industry Agile dev principles", "weekly development velocity", and "agile-blend techniques", leaving them unable to maintain physical efficiency.

Dilbert strips float through their heads when they hear terms like "TDD", "CI", and "Scrum", blocking out all productive thoughts.

I know this because I am one, and I'm afraid my eyes rolled and I giggled quite a bit while reading the last bit of this thread.

I even had a vision of Dogbert in a funny hat.

Sure, it makes it hard to properly potentially evaluate our weekly development velocity, ... giggle... but that's a burden everyone just has to live with. ^_^
Reply #104 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
antracer: Completely and totally agreed.It must be flexible, which means that the coders building that game must also be flexible. They can't be locked into a rigid structure built because of a TDD that was written a year ago when the game's design was different.Actually, agile development is generally a lot more flexible than other methods of development, and can adapt well to changing requirements. It needs not be TDD: Other forms of agile development, such as Scrum, can be used.In the end, it's up to the development team what works for them. It should be noted that the size of the development team (9 people) is actually the recommended maximum size for a Scrum team. Any bigger, and they'd probably have to break it up into two or more teams to maintain their agility.

You're leaving out the unfortunate fact that game developers roll their eyes and giggle uncontrollably when you say things like "utilizing industry Agile dev principles", "weekly development velocity", and "agile-blend techniques", leaving them unable to maintain physical efficiency.

Dilbert strips float through their heads when they hear terms like "TDD", "CI", and "Scrum", blocking out all productive thoughts.

I know this because I am one, and I'm afraid my eyes rolled and I giggled quite a bit while reading the last bit of this thread.

I even had a vision of Dogbert in a funny hat.

Sure, it makes it hard to properly potentially evaluate our weekly development velocity, ... giggle... but that's a burden everyone just has to live with. ^_^
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Reply #105 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
... Yeah. I know that post wasn't actually witty enough to be repeated twice.

Where the heck is the EDIT button when you need it?
Reply #106 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
It got agile and legged it :LOL:

Regards
Zy
Reply #107 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Woo, all my qualms about how much this patch will actually do have been satisfied.

The only problem left with the game is coming up with some compromise code for the tech inflation. Definitely better without it at the moment though.
Reply #108 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
It got agile and legged it
:LOL:

Hey I found the EDIT Button!! :LOL: :p

Nasty

Reply #109 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
... Yeah. I know that post wasn't actually witty enough to be repeated twice.


Not to worry. Tweaking the pomposity of that poster deserves repeating. BTW, I had no idea what that guy was talking about, what in heaven's name his stated profession is, or what any of his many acronyms stand for. Nevertheless, I still know self-aggrandizing BS when I smell it.
Reply #110 from Stardock Forums Top
In my experience, Agile makes consultants and managers very happy because they get to go to meetings every morning and pressure coders, and it makes coders miserable because evaluating project progress on a daily (or multiple times daily!) basis doesn't make sense for every project. For some projects it's great, but for consultant types or managers who just got back from a course, every problem looks like a nail that's just ripe to be hit with their shiny new hammer.

First post and what an offtopic bunch of malarkey it was!

This patch sounds like good times, even though I haven't personally run into any of the bugs, yet, though I just discovered GC2 a couple of weeks ago and bought the $59.95 pack on the weekend.
Reply #111 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
You know , from reading these posts you see a reflection on society . Most are grateful for the hard work and attention to detail that Stardock has given over the years . A few are polite but slightly impatient and to me this just show their love of the game. Then theres the one or two that if you gave them immortality and invunerability today , tomorrow they would scream about how bored they are and that YOU need to do something about this because its YOUR job to keep me happy. Grow up and learn to appreaciate an honest effort made by fellow human beings who do not need to listen to an ungrateful child.

p.s. Thank you Stardock for an excellent game.
Reply #112 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Nevertheless, I still know self-aggrandizing BS when I smell it.


Well, as an actual programmer who knows what those comments are, they are not "self-aggrandizing BS". It's a method of software development that is functional. And like all methods, it has its advantages and disadvantages.
Reply #113 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Here's a peek at the changes...


Hey, I may actually buy TA now ;)
Reply #114 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
We've added zoom-to-cursor


That is a total unexpected and pleasant surprise :) . After using it in Sins I was longing for it to be introduced to the GC2 series. Thanks a ton! :D
Reply #115 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Ok call me a computer neophite but what exactly is zoom to cursor ?

We can already scroll in and out using the mouse wheel is this different somehow?

Thanks in advance for any help.
Reply #116 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Ok call me a computer neophite but what exactly is zoom to cursor ?


Allows you to zoom into where ever the mouse is pointing rather than straight in to the middle of the screen every time. Great when you can point at a planet on the edge of the screen and zoom into it without scrolling around to center it first.
Reply #117 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Oooh, Zoom to Cursor and a tech bug fix?

If you guys were chicks I'd have to make love to you for this patch.

...come to think of it, where's Cari? :CONGRAT:
Reply #118 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
if you gave them immortality and invunerability today , tomorrow they would scream about how bored they are


Interesting observation...Frank Herbert may disagree with your example though...

God Emperor Leto was for all intents and purposes immortal/invulnerable and yet boredom was his greatest fear/burden.

PS Yes I know he's not real, but he had more character than plenty of the living.
Reply #119 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Going the other way, a protector (from Niven's Known Space - if you don't know what this is, ask KP when you see him) was effectively immune to boredom.

"I could sit here with my hands folded for the rest of eternity, if I had a reason." - Jack Brennan, AKA the BrennanMonster
Reply #120 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Very true my analogy was not the best choice but I hope the meaning still got through.

Thanks for the explaination I am now looking forwards to zoom to cursor 8)

Oh and as a side note I hope that in one of the future patches they restore the tech difficulty scaling in a manner that will not cripple the Ai ( or add a new tech rate Epic??? for those who like a slower tech speed ).
Reply #121 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
@ Willy

I wiki'd Known Space and am curious. Would you recommend any of the many published in particular? I am looking for some space-set fiction atm.

@ ID

Regards meaning... aye it did... I just love the worm and you reminded me of him. :)
Reply #122 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
+ Planet tiles 'placed in oceans' fixed (with LogicSequence's help, thanks!)


Yeah! Now, if only i could get a 'good primer' on the **new** principles involved to properly convert the 39 Homeworlds (plus some more planets surfaces, btw) of X-Worlds to TA compatible raw formats... i'd be quite happy.

But, i'm testing these patterns extensively - right now.
It's only a matter of days until i figure most basics out by myself, somehow.

;)
Reply #123 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
BoogieBac, I reckon you should at least leave the Mind Control Centre patch fix off the agenda for a couple more years yet. Gotta give the punters SOMETHING to gripe about! ;)

Good to hear about the patch. Any ideas if this will affect current save games, or they should work okay? Takes me ages to get through a tiny map as it is! Life somehow manages to keep tapping me on the back with a million other things to do ... like knocking all the bricks off the house. Don't ask.
Reply #124 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
ubernaught - There are few I WOULDN'T recomend. Unfortunately, most of the early books are out of print. If you can find them all, I recommend reading Flatlander, Protector, Crashlander, and then all 4 Ringworld books - and in that order. Once you've read those, you be hooked enough to try finding all of the others.

Try used book stores, eBay, etc. I recently tracked a few missing ones down using the Barnes and Noble used book affiliates.

Be warned, though, Niven is a dirty old man. If you're easily offended by "family value" violations, you'd best avoid these.
Reply #125 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
The research cost calculation is not a bug.

Late in development, there were a number of posts complaining that researching late stage techs was too cheap and that it should be more epic.

Therefore, we added that if the # of techs researched > N then cost = cost X Z where Z is a factor that slowly increases. It is working as designed, it's just that you guys (and us) don't like it. So we're changing it back to the way it was.


Actually, I for one DO like it... I have no problem with the way research works at the moment.

If the cost progression were removed again, I would propose raising the cost of high end weapons and defensive systems.

On the matter of high end weapons: IMHO the progression to the ultimate weapon type is too steep, meaning the improvement that Doom Ray, Black Hole Gun and Nightmare Torpedo are over their direct predecessors is a bit much. I'd like it better if they did less damage (and cost less too), so the weapon progression would be more natural.

One last thing: It would be kind of nice to have something to research even after the technology tree is all complete in a game without tech victory. That should be something like an infinite continuation of some tech branches, most notably miniaturization. Each step in the chain should give a constant further benefit over the last tech in the tree right now, but at an exponential cost increase (and it should be immune to creativity, untrade/-stealable). I hope this a realistic wish. BTW, the text in the miniaturization tech line is simply awesome. "In related news, stock in Hygerion fell by 25 points today" "Sometimes smaller is better. At least, that's what I keep getting told".