Messages

1

Game Development / Re: AI War: First Four Years Postmortem (And By Extension Arcen History)

« on: Yesterday at 10:48:20 PM »

I feel like I'm in a shareholders meeting!

I was thinking this very thing the whole way through!

I was one of the ones who bought AI War during the summer sale.  I had seen it a few times on Steam, and was curious about it.  Ashamedly, I was scared off by what I thought was a steep learning curve (thanks to AI War, steep learning curves are attractive to me).  But there was an achievement, which led to a ticket, which led to a prize I probably didn't care about.  Nevermind all that, it led to one of the most awesome strategy games I've ever played.  Honestly, in my eyes, Warcraft, C&C, MoO - even the venerable Civilization franchise - can barely measure up to the awesomeness contained within this unassuming game.  You won an instant fan in me, and I'm sorry for not yet being able to purchase the latest expansion.  It's something I plan to resolve very soon.  I've gotten so much enjoyment out of your games, that you could stamp your name in a turd, and I'd preorder^* it first day just to have a chance to throw more money at you.

Anyway, I wish you continued success far into the future.  Though, if you ever tire of making games, may your IP sell for millions to the highest bidder!

_{*Not a true statement.  Please don't do this.}

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Skyward Collapse / Re: Developers requesting feedback: font suggestions.

« on: Yesterday at 09:00:39 AM »

Of the ones mentioned here, I like Albertus the best, but it's hard to judge without seeing it in game. 

Digging through MyFonts.com, Core Sans M looks awesome, but would probably be better suited to AI War.

3

Off Topic / Re: RPGs

« on: June 17, 2013, 01:03:58 PM »

I just bought The Witcher 2 when it was on sale the other day. Then, I realized I hadn't really played the first one, so I've been playing it.  I'm really liking it so far, but I could sure use some fast travel from time to time.

I've also been playing The Last Story, Xenoblade, and Pandora's Tower on my PC since my lovely nephew threw my Wii across the room.  That probably doesn't really count, though.

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Off Topic / Re: Planetary Annihilation: Total Annihilation IN SPACE

« on: June 16, 2013, 03:36:27 PM »

I'm just tired of everyone crying "corporate greed" about this.  i'm sure it seemed perfectly fair to them to set the early access price equal to the kickstarter tier that gave the same.  they could have made it more clear on the steam page that the final release will be much cheaper, though.

ultimately, i wouldn't care if they made it $10,000 dollars for early access.  even that wouldn't be greedy - it'd just be stupid.

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Shattered Haven / Re: Shattered Haven 1.012 "Flying High" Released!

« on: June 14, 2013, 11:47:20 PM »

I'm glad to see some love thrown this way.  This game is among my favorites.

Any chance we'll finally see achievements one day? 

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Skyward Collapse / Re: Limit to town expansion

« on: June 11, 2013, 11:56:43 AM »

I'm not saying it's 'cheese' as much as it's one ideal strategy.

Is this such a bad thing though?  The game continues to be challenging (at least to me), even if this is the case.  That said, I wouldn't be against adding an option to limit the number of allowed town centers, so long as it was defaulted to unlimited.  Of course, if you do that, you start cluttering up the lobby with yet another option that fixes a problem that may not really be a problem for the majority of players.

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Skyward Collapse / Windows 8 Tablet support

« on: June 10, 2013, 11:18:13 AM »

I already made a suggestion on Mantis, here, but I thought I would call attention to it here to see if anyone else cares. 

Basically, the game runs great on this shiny new Windows 8 tablet I was issued at work.  The game just needs an onscreen menu button for it to be fully playable.  There are some other minor changes that would need to be made for it to be completely touch driven.  As it is, the styuls is required, else popups get in the way of menu selection, and there's no way to scroll the map around.

I hope this is easy enough to bother with implementing, or that there is enough interest to make it worth while.  I'd love to be able to play when I'm working taking a break.

8

AI War / Re: AI War: Vengeance of the Machine Headlines All-Arcen Indie Royale Bundle

« on: June 07, 2013, 10:40:50 AM »

I have all but VotM, but I'll probably pick it up anyway.  This is an incredible deal, and I hope it leads to more recognition for Arcen's lesser known titles.

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Skyward Collapse / Re: Design Discussion: Civilian Hamlets And Victories (Expansion 1)

« on: June 04, 2013, 08:27:37 AM »

So there is an opportunity cost in spending 1 or more of my actions doing "whatever" in terms of these hamlets, so what is the motivating factor that is going to make me want to do that?

The way I read the OP, one of the main benefits of utilizing hamlets will be the ability to win non-militarily.  In Civ, you can win by launching a space ship to Alpha Centauri.  I don't know what the equivalent would look like in SC, but that would be it's ultimate function.  On the road to this non-military victory, the hamlets will provide other tangible benefits, but what those could be I don't know.

10

Skyward Collapse / Re: Cataclysm (now Woes) ideas

« on: May 31, 2013, 07:48:02 AM »

Slave Revolt!  Age of man.

Each turn while active, a (band of) chapmen show up to raze a building!  This would be a cool way to reuse that defunct chapman sprite.

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Skyward Collapse / Re: Skyward Collapse 1.002 "Hunting Through Rubble" Released!

« on: May 24, 2013, 04:18:06 PM »

Man, that Ctrl key thing is a life-saver!  Thanks for that! 

12

Skyward Collapse / Re: Best description of the game ever. :P

« on: May 24, 2013, 03:06:42 PM »

Yea, banking is good for when you  need those actions.  If you're going to go over cap just spend them on stuff that produces more incense or moonstone or sunstone, etc.  Iirc that only expands your personal options without increasing faction power directly.  I may be mistaken about that though.

The only problem is then you have to fight the temptation plop out a dozen myth units just because you can.

That's how I lose most of my matches.  The same thing always happens to me in Sim City.  Go figure.   

But what if you plop them out evenly?

Where's the !!!FUN!!! in that?

No one wants to watch a perfectly balanced see-saw.  We want to see the fat kid make someone get airborn! 

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Skyward Collapse Strategy Discussion / Re: Building resource dependency list

« on: May 24, 2013, 02:14:05 PM »

One of my first heli-sims had a cardboard that you can place over your keyboard!

Seems like a lot of TI-99/4A did the same thing.  Or was that C64?

Anyway, great job on the resource chart.  Since it's a holiday weekend here at work and most folks have left already, I think I might "borrow" the plotter for a jumbo size wall poster for my office.   

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Skyward Collapse / Re: Best description of the game ever. :P

« on: May 24, 2013, 02:10:35 PM »

Yea, banking is good for when you  need those actions.  If you're going to go over cap just spend them on stuff that produces more incense or moonstone or sunstone, etc.  Iirc that only expands your personal options without increasing faction power directly.  I may be mistaken about that though.

The only problem is then you have to fight the temptation plop out a dozen myth units just because you can.

That's how I lose most of my matches.  The same thing always happens to me in Sim City.  Go figure.   

15

Skyward Collapse / Re: Suggestions from Steam users

« on: May 23, 2013, 11:33:02 PM »

EDIT:  Wow, so far, as steam comments go.... nothing bad so far, really.   I seem to recall that both Valley games were getting some nasty comments at the start (with people being so divided on those 2 games), but so far this one doesnt have any of that sort.  A little confusion from players on some aspects, but that's it.

And that's a good thing, lol, as I tend to find that the Steam boards for LOTS of games are often filled with "BLARGH ARGH THIS SUCKS" right from the start.  Actually, I cant think of one I've been to that isnt...

Looking good so far though.

Yeah, I was really surprised by this.  Maybe the trolls just haven't found the board yet.

It's also pretty high up the Top Seller's chart.  Probably too early to call it either way, but it seems to be doing pretty well so far!