03-02-2003 10:54									#1
	Brad Wardell Interview, Part 2 Support Apolyton, buy Civilization III: Complete

Brad Wardell is the Project Lead on Galactic Civilizations, set for release March 25th of this year. He is also the Founder and President of Stardock Systems, the company that has employed a dozen full-time staff for the past one-and-a-half years developing the follow-up to its original game release of the same name in 1994. This single-player, turn-based strategy game set in outer space is being published by Montreal-based Strategy First.

In the second of a three-part interview with Apolyton CS, Wardell first compares and contrasts GalCiv to Master of Orion III. He then discusses: the bane of both micromanagement and critical mass, the mechanisms through which to encourage the development of Modification (MOD) Packs, Stardock's unique approach to beta testing and the difficulty in composing his career highlights to date.

A part of this one-on-one dialogue will be published every Monday up until and including February 10th. Comments are welcome in this thread.

--------------
Dan; Apolyton CS

Last edited by DanQ on 10-02-2003 at 20:49

	03-02-2003 15:09									#2
	Suffering from ads?

eh!?

quote: Or maybe a galactic recession will hit and seemingly invincible civilizations that are over stretched will come crashing down to be split into several new civilizations. In short, if the game is really over, you won't have to mop up. The AI will simply surrender. But often times things can change and bring the game new life.

Very nice
Something that i feel has been missing in most TBS games, the big downfall of empires.

	03-02-2003 15:42									#3
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization 2

It's getting very difficult not to be getting excited about GalCiv, isn't it? I especially like Brad's comments about the criteria and choices involved in selecting and utilizing beta testers. Solid stuff, that.

Actually, I'd really like some bad news now. There has to be some, or the game will never live up to the hype.

	03-02-2003 15:44									#4
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations: Deluxe Edition

Now I'm getting really excited. If I understand rightly what Brad said, then my biggest civ bugbear will finally be defeated - the critical mass problem, where you know you've won, but then have to :
a) Finish it off (takes hours) or,
b) Start a new game
If Brad has fixed it to be challenging right though to the end, and if this is done intelligently, then this will be the best civ game ever. I can't wait, I really want to know if he's cracked it, or not.

-Jam

	03-02-2003 16:42									#5
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations: Deluxe Edition

quote: Actually, I'd really like some bad news now. There has to be some, or the game will never live up to the hype.

Here's the best i can come up with, and these things can be considered good things mind you.
1. No multiplayer
2. No tactical combat
3. 1 month delay
4. Too tough AI

	03-02-2003 17:16									#6
	Get a bigger avatar today!

Those are _all_ good things Lemmy especially No. 4

-Jam

	03-02-2003 18:45									#7
	Increase the size of your Attachments

I'd be upset about the one month delay, except they're using the time to improve gameplay. If they release too close to MOO3, I'll have to pick this one up instead.

	03-02-2003 19:15									#8
	Support Apolyton or Terrorists Win

You have to buy BOTH, Harry, or we'll make you feel like an outsider when we start comparing them. Plus if you don't buy GalCiv, then Brad will be sad, and if you don't Buy MoO3, then Rantzie will delete you. You'll just have to borrow money against your house like I am and buy both

-Jam

	03-02-2003 19:40									#9
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

Sadly, I'm a renter and I'm running out of plasma to donate. I accidentally cut myself this weekend and my blood oozed with all the consistency of oatmeal. I may be able to buy both when they come out; I just may lose my wife in the process. Of course, with two brand new games I probably wouldn't notice she was gone for several months...

	03-02-2003 22:22									#10
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

Finally, if you're unstoppable the computer will just quit! Now THAT is AI (Turing would be proud).

As for the hype - if The Two Towers (the movie that is), Vice City, and Metal Gear Solid 2 could exceed the hype, this thing has a shot.

I'm not buying MoO3 out of the gate. Too many delays, cuts, and changes. Sounds like a dog to me. I'll wait until someone I know buys it, and then try it out. But by then, GalCiv will be out (and I did not pre-order in time for the beta ) and I won't care.

	04-02-2003 01:02									#11
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations: Deluxe Edition

Yup, looking too good, so good I just preordered, so if there's any serious bad news, it will hit now..