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DanQ
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Emperor of Apolyton, Ruler of the Here and Now
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Ontario, Canada
Aug 1998
time: 00:25
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The second of a six-part detailed preview of Master of Orion III is now online. This six-page article, accompanied by sixteen screenshots, is written by Apolyton CS Co-Owner/Administrator Daniel Quick.
In late December, 2002, an advanced beta copy of [MoO3 arrived in my mailbox. Since then, I have had the opportunity to examine this much-anticipated turn-based strategy title first hand – both inside and outside of the gameplay itself, says Quick. What has been posted today is the first of six installments of this feature. In this edition, the focus is on the wealth of pre-gameplay customization options and their importance in a healthy and enjoyable engagement.
On behalf of the Apolyton CS staff and administration, I would like to thank MoO3 Producer Constantine Hantzopoulos and the rest of the game's team at both Infogrames Interactive and Quicksilver Software for this opportunity.
Part 3 will be posted next Thursday (barring any unforeseen circumstances). Comments on this article are welcomed in this thread.
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Dan; Apolyton CS
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Alexfrog
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Awesome!!
I have wanted some race custmization details (w/screenshots) for awhile.
Thanks!
Also: the last screenshot for me would not maximize...the little picture if clicked on only lead to a tiny picture of it in a new window.....there a problem there?
Could you just say how many picks it is to go from Random to Yes or to No in the Orion Senate pick??
Also, I know the #points for the various picks differs some by race...do you have any examples? does it differ a little or a lot?
How much does it cost to chace picks like accuracy, toughness, etc. Are they 20 like most of the other ones up there, or something else.
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13Matt13
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Confusion, USA
Apr 2002
time: 05:25
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The part about sole survivor should say "...and is the on one that an NOT be disabled", shouldnt it?
The link to the biodiversity pic opens up the "special attributes" pick.
And the phrase "as eluded to above" should be "as alluded to above"; "eluded to above" would mean "escaped from above".
The "Senate" link doesnt maximize.
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Main_Brain
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Economic World Center
Jul 2002
time: 06:25
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Its nice :=)
Im surprised there are only three Difficulty Levels though?
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Alexfrog
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Yes, regarding the number of races: if you put 15 computer races, you DONT get all 16 races in the game, since there can be duplicates. UNLESS they changed that and no longer allow duplicates, which is always a possibility.
On the infogrames moo3 boards, there is a thread where we calculated out all the probabilities of various numbers of races being represented in a game with 16 empires....
Re: 3 difficulty levels. I read somewhere (official I think) that there were 4. Maybe one is a tutorial difficulty??
In the past, MOO games have had easy/normal/hard/impossible or tutor/easy/normal/hard/impossible.
However, it would seem to be in Rantz and Chantz's 'style' to not have an 'impossible' mode. They cut everything they consider 'cheesy', and a game difficulty level of 'impossible' could be perceived as such.
I realled liked this preveiw, as it was a much more in depth and detailed look at race creation than we have had before from any previous source. And race creation is the part that interests me the most (as it did in MOO2).
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Gamble
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I feel compelled to suggest you (DanQ) should stick to writing law papers, where your writing style may be more appreciated, in some twisted way. You said too little using far too many cumbersome words, IMHO.
Two errors I happen to remember... it's "lest you regret it later", not "least". And it says "+.5" as manufacturing production bonus for Natural Engineers. The text states +5. Not like I personally care too much, having no clue whatsoever what exactly manufacturing production is and how it operates and influences things.
Those screenshots are nice to have though.
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Hrett
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Houston, TX
Oct 2002
time: 05:25
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quote:
Originally posted by Gamble
I feel compelled to suggest you (DanQ) should stick to writing law papers, where your writing style may be more appreciated, in some twisted way. You said too little using far too many cumbersome words, IMHO.
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DanQ -- Gamble may be right, but I guess we all have our own opinions. I thought it was well written and informative, but then, I am a lawyer and probably warped beyond all hope or reason.
I do have a question -- I think you mentioned something that suggests that you have only played one game for about 80+ turns? Is this correct? If so, why only one game?
Thanks for the preview! Keep it up and good luck with your school.
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LDiCesare
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La Ferté sous Jouarre France
Jan 2001
time: 05:25
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The most interesting bit of info was IMO the part about the Orion Senate.
If it is random and you have an advantage by being part of it, running again until you are part of the Senate at no pick cost is a valid strategy, but is boring.
They should have made it so that the player has to take a pick in order to be part of the Senate.
I also found the review long for what it says, but without that amount of detail, would I have spotted the above-mentioned problem?
I think it is good to have a thorough review. It is just that everyone would like to learn about the gameplay...
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ikilledmybroker
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Real-Time Combat. Is there an option to "Auto-Combat" or am I confusing with GalCiv ?
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iamafrogok
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The preview cleared up some points (minor). But it did seem to be just a textural descirption of the pictures :\. Exploring your own personal views more maybe worthwhile. The interface slick, responsive? Have you test the game out on some computers of varying performance. How was the installation (no problems? length of time? 2CD issue?).
Maybe a submission of questions that you can sift through and pick out. [a]majority of asked questions [b] Questions that your allowed to answer
The one week time displacement between posts is that a restriction imposed on you?
Also commenting on teh quality of the opening video maybe a sweet touch.
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Unspeakable Horror
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quote:
The one week time displacement between posts is that a restriction imposed on you? |
I think it´s because Real Life (TM)
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Craig P.
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quote:
Originally posted by LDiCesare
The most interesting bit of info was IMO the part about the Orion Senate.
If it is random and you have an advantage by being part of it, running again until you are part of the Senate at no pick cost is a valid strategy, but is boring.
They should have made it so that the player has to take a pick in order to be part of the Senate. |
This got thrashed out rather thoroughly on Delphi, and I believe the current system is the compromise that people largely agreed made the most sense.
There are supposed to be race designs which have an advantage by NOT starting in the Senate. The Senate gives you the advantage of diplomatic contacts, at the cost of early contact and less space to expand.
Of course, anyone who's really lame can keep restarting until they hit the option that's "right" for their race, but if you're so set on that you might as well just spend the picks.
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Alexfrog
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quote:
Originally posted by LDiCesare
The most interesting bit of info was IMO the part about the Orion Senate.
If it is random and you have an advantage by being part of it, running again until you are part of the Senate at no pick cost is a valid strategy, but is boring.
They should have made it so that the player has to take a pick in order to be part of the Senate.
I also found the review long for what it says, but without that amount of detail, would I have spotted the above-mentioned problem?
I think it is good to have a thorough review. It is just that everyone would like to learn about the gameplay... |
note that choosing NOT to be in the senate is ALSO 10 points...
Basically, for some stratgies you want to be in, for some you dont. If you want to guarantee this, you must pay 10. i.e. CHOICE of whether to be in senate is 10, random is 0.....of course in SP you can restart, but in MP you probably cant, so it matters there.
It would of course be best to save the 10 points and be flexible...having a strategy for each case.
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LDiCesare
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La Ferté sous Jouarre France
Jan 2001
time: 05:25
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quote:
of course in SP you can restart, but in MP you probably cant, so it matters there. |
I will only do SP so I think it shouldn't be random in SP. As for MP, if it provides a definite advantage to be or not to be part of the Senate, then that's one more ransom factor that I'd rather get rid of. Having bad starting position is already hard enough. If you are stuck with no contact or lose 10(!) picks, then you will be easy prey to your neighbours.
quote:
Of course, anyone who's really lame can keep restarting until they hit the option that's "right" for their race, but if you're so set on that you might as well just spend the picks. |
I am sure I will always restart until I always have the same setting (whatever that be, doesn't matter), so I can compare my games one with another. If in my second game I had 10 free race picks, I cannot really compare it with my first and know whether I made a progress in terms of strategy.
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TCO
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Richmond, VA
Jan 1970
time: 00:25
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Dan, you wrote a poor article. It was wordy and pompous. You used empty filler phrases and recounted unimportant observations--who cares that you watched a friend play MOO2?
Concentrate on the real content. Ditch the faux sophistication and fake lawyer style. Deliver your message in the minimum amount of text. This doesn't mean for you to eliminate detail. What it means is that every word must count.
Read THE ELEMENTS OF STYLE by Strunk and White. Or any good composition book. You will learn to write more interesting prose.
Last edited by TCO on 18-01-2003 at 22:28
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TCO
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Richmond, VA
Jan 1970
time: 00:25
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From Strunk and White, Rule 13:
Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts. This requires not that the writer make all his sentences short, or that he avoid all detail and treat his subjects only in outline, but that every word tell.
Many expressions in common use violate this principle:
the question as to whether: whether
there is no doubt but that: no doubt (doubtless)
used for fuel purposes: used for fuel
he is a man who: he
in a hasty manner: hastily
this is a subject which: this subject
His story is a strange one.: His story is strange.
In especial the expression the fact that should be revised out of every sentence in which it occurs.
owing to the fact that: since (because)
in spite of the fact that: though (although)
call your attention to the fact that: remind you (notify you)
I was unaware of the fact that: I was unaware that (did not know)
the fact that he had not succeeded: his failure
the fact that I had arrived: my arrival
----------------------------------------
An online text: http://www.bartleby.com/141/
(this is the earlier edition, prior to White, now public domain.)
Last edited by TCO on 18-01-2003 at 22:43
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16-01-2003 23:24
I'm assumin you didn't play multi yet so you wouldn't know if everyone does their turns at the same time. A final point is there hotseat?
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