28-03-2002 21:37									#1
	Moo3 Release Date Update Support Apolyton, buy Civilization III: Complete

Greetings, Alan posted this over on the Moo3 forum and Stormhound and I felt it should be forwarded on to those who don't frequent there. It's understood that this will upset some, but remember this is a common occurrence in game development:

"Keep MOO’ving!

During a regular examination of the state of the Master of Orion III project, both Infogrames and Quicksilver agreed that the game would benefit from extending its release date to the third quarter of 2002.

Work continues on the game unabated to the sounds of tapping keyboards and clicking mice. The web site and discussion boards remain open and all the latest news will be posted in these locations when it becomes available.

We understand that this decision might cause some consternation or concern. Don’t let it. MOO3 is a huge game that will receive a significant play balancing cycle. Bottom line: we will deliver an unparalleled gaming experience that is worthy of the Master of Orion franchise

Yours for better games,

Constantine Hantzopoulos
Senior Producer, Infogrames







Alan Emrich, MOO3 designer
Quicksilver Software, Inc.
The value of a good thing is to have done it."

	28-03-2002 23:44									#2
	grrr! Put an end to popups!

you beat me to it!!!
grrrr!!!
i read the announcement 9am (uk time) but didnt have time to post it here!!!

	29-03-2002 01:13									#3
	Support Apolyton, buy GURPS/ Alpha Centauri

I didn't realize there was a competition.

	29-03-2002 02:23									#4
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quote: Originally posted by Sencho I didn't realize there was a competition.

Good decision!

If you released it too early game would have many problems (like Civ3).

Anyway revolutional games should not be rushed.
That could be devastating. (for the genre)

On the other hand conservative sequels sell well even if rushed (Civ3).

	29-03-2002 02:27									#5
	Support Apolyton or Terrorists Win

Thank goodness...

If only Firaxis' publisher had been similarly motivated by quality...

	29-03-2002 03:51									#6
	Support Apolyton or Terrorists Win

I like the idea. I was waiting patiently, but I can still do that. Please deliver a game worthy of the delay. Does this mean that the AI will be better as well?

	29-03-2002 08:27									#7
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization 2

Third quarter??!! Ouch.

Oh well, if Moo3 needs the extension then its better to delay it until its ready...

	29-03-2002 16:21									#8
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization: The Boardgame

I'm very, very happy about this decision - I'd rather wait till christmans and get a great game than buy another Civ3-esque rushfest now. Excellent guys!

It also goes to prove that the developer can influence Infogrames. Not exactly what we were led to believe discussing the CIv3 fiasco with the Firaxis boys. Seems more and more that blame for the sad state of affairs with Civ3 really should be laid at Firaxis's doorstep.

But Quicksilver (and Infogrames!) are doing the right thing here. If it ain't ready, it ain't ready. Take all the time you need to produce a true classic. We will happily wait.

	29-03-2002 18:11									#9
	Support Apolyton, buy Alpha Centauri

quote: Originally posted by Seeker Thank goodness... If only Firaxis' publisher had been similarly motivated by quality...

You all forget, Infogrames is the publisher of Civ3 also.

They are probably reeling from the scathing attacks they received from their decision to stick to the schedule on Civ3 and release a product ontime and try to fix it later. Infogrames probably determined that to have anther Civ3 fiasco with MOO3 would make them parriah in the TBS world and kill any potential financial gains from a Civ4/MOO4.

	29-03-2002 18:23									#10
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quote: Originally posted by Swissy You all forget, Infogrames is the publisher of Civ3 also. They are probably reeling from the scathing attacks they received from their decision to stick to the schedule on Civ3 and release a product ontime and try to fix it later. Infogrames probably determined that to have anther Civ3 fiasco with MOO3 would make them parriah in the TBS world and kill any potential financial gains from a Civ4/MOO4.

No, Civ3 earned a lot money to Infogrames. (still on top sales)

But...

MOO3 was supposed to be released 3 months after Civ3 (in early Q1), and Infogrames didn't wanted to extend deadline for Civ3, since in could lower sales of next TBS product (MOO3).

Only bad thing is that Civ3 was rushed (so there won't be confilict with MOO3) but MOO3 is delayed (so there is no conflict after all).


Only bad thing is that some possbilie future projects will be daleyed for year or more (MOM2 maybe?).

	29-03-2002 19:35									#11
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A very good decision!

	29-03-2002 19:47									#12
	Full PM-box? Change here!

A polished game that is late is far superior to a buggy game delivered on time. Especially in MOO3 where a lot of your empire is run by "subordinates". I really don't want to be yelling at my computer, "Goldurnit, I just designed the MegaWhump Planetary Removal Dreadnought, Quit Building Swordsmen!" and having to spend an IFP to fix the matter.

	29-03-2002 20:43									#13
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

It's nice to see some attention to quality. I don't want to get bored of Moo3 after 3 games like I did with Civ3.

	29-03-2002 20:44									#14
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Another quarter isn't that signficant a delay. It's not like there's any risk of the game turning into vaporware, which is the only real danger involved with release delays IMO; there's far too much invested in the project to let it float away now.

	29-03-2002 22:21									#15
	Support Apolyton, buy Alpha Centauri

Agreed. Take your time and make it good. We've all seen the results of *ahem* rushed games.

Dave

	29-03-2002 22:40									#16
	Avatar Enlargement: We've got the solution

Looks like I'm with the few who are sad with the news.
I understand that the team wants to make a better game, but... but...

	30-03-2002 02:42									#17
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Excellent news. The game will not only be better, but there'll be less competition when it comes out as well. Right now we are in the glorious end of the drought of good strategy games, and HOMM4, AOW2, Warcraft 3, and other games are all coming out. Competing against Warcraft 3 would have been especially bad. Now there'll be some space, and we'll have a bit more time to master these games before moving on to MOO3.

	30-03-2002 05:11									#18
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Wahaaay!!!!!

I can honestly say i'm now HAPPY when a publisher anounces a DELAY - it might be an almost finished game

	30-03-2002 08:05									#19
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quote: Originally posted by Zealot Looks like I'm with the few who are sad with the news. I understand that the team wants to make a better game, but... but...

Sad yes, but are you MAD about it? I doubt it, I'm not.

	31-03-2002 04:48									#20
	Support Apolyton, buy GURPS/ Alpha Centauri

Wow... so much more civil here. On the MOO3 homepage threads about half the denizens are screaming vaporware and "hereby officiallly quit drooling on the game." Just goes to show ya what kind of people inhabit the apolyton forums: ones who KNOW.

	31-03-2002 05:49									#21
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quote: Originally posted by OctaviusIII Wow... so much more civil here. On the MOO3 homepage threads about half the denizens are screaming vaporware and "hereby officiallly quit drooling on the game." Just goes to show ya what kind of people inhabit the apolyton forums: ones who KNOW.

I dunno... The Civ3 forums here tend to be much less civil then this one. I just think what we have here for the most part is a small group of people somewhat interested in Moo3 but not so rabid about it as to be overly obnoxious/hostile/rude/etc for little to no reason.

	31-03-2002 16:37									#22
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Or else the official forum is just so difficult to navigate and cluttered only utter fanatics - who are surely not happy about getting a game they can't rip to confetti in minutes after installation - need apply. I know I tried to follow it two times, but then I decided life just to short for that.

Here, we've actually expreienced the pain of rush recently, so I'd imagine the tolerance is somewhat higher.

God work, Quicksilver.

	01-04-2002 22:09									#23
	Support Apolyton, buy GURPS/ Alpha Centauri

No, the reason the people at the official forum are in a tizzy is there's a lot of stuff hitting some very large fans right now. Including Stormhound being fired (see Storm-B-Gone), Alan no longer being allowed to post to Moo3 forums, and massive impending cuts.

This is a bad sign for a game due out two-three months ago.

	01-04-2002 22:13									#24
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization 2

So are they cutting back to reduce cost?

	02-04-2002 00:02									#25
	Remove this text

I'm not privy to the inner workings. I'm just an offsite volunteer. I just wanted you all to know that there is a lot of stuff going on, not just uberfanatics over-reacting.

	02-04-2002 02:25									#26
	Support Apolyton or Terrorists Win

quote: Originally posted by Sencho Including Stormhound being fired (see Storm-B-Gone)

Damn, I hadn't realized that things were that ****ed up...

Oh well, my philosophy is, as it always was, "if MOO3 is great I'll buy it, otherwise, who cares?"

	02-04-2002 15:03									#27
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization: The Boardgame

Oh Well I'll be waiting too...

I'm all outa good space strategy games ... And i just loove the MOO games , currently were back onto "stars!2" just to get our fix of strat for the day.

BTW : Thanks for the multiplay seems so many games just dont cut it when it comes to multiplay ... and some dont support MP at ALL ... weird ... did we all just bounce back to 1980?

I'll take 4 copies when its out!

	02-04-2002 17:24									#28
	Support Apolyton or Terrorists Win

quote: Originally posted by Sencho No, the reason the people at the official forum are in a tizzy is there's a lot of stuff hitting some very large fans right now. Including Stormhound being fired (see Storm-B-Gone), Alan no longer being allowed to post to Moo3 forums, and massive impending cuts.

Edited, since I now read the Hound-B-Gone thread.

InfoGreed is doing it again!

	02-04-2002 18:06									#29
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization: The Boardgame

They are doing cost-cuts since game will not be finished in Q2 as planned.

Which means fireing some people, SIMLIFING unfinished stuff, etc...

	02-04-2002 18:12									#30
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Anyway...

Looks like there is martial law in Quicksliver (enforced by Infogrames).