10-05-2003 17:40									#1
	Trial version of RoN in FilePlanet Support Apolyton, buy Alpha Centauri

http://www.fileplanet.com/files/120000/123437.shtml

Only for registered users!!

	10-05-2003 19:20									#2
	Avatar Enlargement: We've got the solution

Pretty interesting. I see that again companies are encouraging the sites that demand money for their services, which I don't really like... meh. I wonder when it's on other places .

And, what are the differences between that thing and the beta...

	10-05-2003 22:10									#3
	Enter the AD-FREE zone

Based on information from Obsidian of RoN Heaven and Pyros of RoN Xtreme (who quotes Graham@BHG), this demo at FilePlanet does not include multiplayer and will remain exclusive to the GameSpy network for only about a week.

I'll be sure to pass on better information when available...

	10-05-2003 22:13									#4
	Support Apolyton, buy Call to Power 2

Yeah, I saw info that it's for a week exclusive... which is ridicilous! IIRC, the game is getting released in 10 days, so a public demo just 3 days before the final release seems a really bad idea to me.

I wonder if the demo has scenario editor... something the beta didn't have.

	10-05-2003 23:32									#5
	Help yourself to an AD-FREE life

I have a subscriber account ( I signed up for 6 bucks and got planetside and ron, then cancelled- net cost 6 bucks).

As I understand it, the game will be out in a few days for non subscribers.

Even so, it has this stupid netquartz e-pad software to protect against piracy. The problem is that it's preventing me from installing the game because of the e-pad software.

Once again, software protection messes up a game

If I get it working, I'll let you know

	11-05-2003 05:03									#6
	Support Apolyton, buy Call to Power 2

Finally got it to work by trying it on my old 300Mhz P3, Geforce2, 320MB RAM. Slowed down a tiny bit in big battles.

There are two ways to play-quick tutorial and quick battle. In the first, you play as the english and go at your own pace, with a voice explaining what different things are when you click on them. In the latter, you choose one of about 5 or 6 nations and can play against 1 to 7 computer opponents. There are limited choices for map type, etc.

I did have one lockup in the tutorial mode after I paused.

It feels like the game races along- You're constantly doing things and checking on cities. What's cool is that if you leave a city alone, it will continually be productive without you having to check on it. I definitely found that I was mainly concentrating on my cities near the front. I finished a game in just over an hour in the information age as the germans. The artwork is awesome, and the units look good. I played on the easiest setting, and the computer was nipping at my heels in terms of technology (and beat me to the classical age)

On the downside, the game still suffers from imprecise unit control, though there are options to do so. Too often the battles seemed to degenerate into chaos, but I probably need a little more experience.

The only other thing I didn't like was that it seemed like I could immediately rush into the first few techs right at the beginning. There's little impetus to do otherwise, but it kind of makes the starting units useless

My final complaint is that it's hard to find oil on the map. Maybe I was being obtuse, but it would be cool to have it pop up on the minimap or something.

Overall, it's quite cool and gives you an excellent taste of what's to come. Even without multiplayer or the campaign, it's really good.

	11-05-2003 16:18									#7
	Suffering from ads?

Sounds like pretty worthless to beta owners . Actaully, it can't give you a taste of what's coming, because the campaign is so different and so good that, well, you've got to see it .

However, this should get those in doubt to buy the game.

	11-05-2003 22:21									#8
	Enter the AD-FREE zone

Yeah, if you have the beta, don't bother. But for us unlucky people, go for it (or wait a few days)

	11-05-2003 22:46									#9
	Support Apolyton, buy GURPS/ Alpha Centauri

I'd say wait anyway. I do really dislike the idea of paid gaming sites, as said, and therefore I will be happy if little people download it from Fileplanet. I have though today talked to 2 guys who got it without a fileplanet subscription... gee.

I understand BHG, but it's still a shame that they didn't want to make a normal public demo.

	12-05-2003 00:46									#10
	Funny how people criticize those who try to make money via the internet. Got spare money?

I find it strange how people can not understand that there are people who want to make money off the internet. A lot of people just think they deserve so much for free, and when they don't get their way they complain. An example of this is the RON demo not coming out fast enough, or the demo being available to those with paid subscriptions. Gee whiz! Can it actually cost money for File Planet to offer the hundreds of downloads to people? Wow! God forbid they actually charge and try to make some money from it! Gaming sites don't owe you anything, so complaining about how you can't get your game for free it pointless. I am glad they offer the free downloads that they do.

As I see it, BHG is going to release a demo around the time of the games' release which makes sense because people will try the demo, like it, and then be able to buy it. People just don't understand that FilePlanet probably paid BHG to gain access to an early demo to give their paying subscribers perks that the non-paying people don't get. This is called businesses interacting with each other to profit off their product.

But then again, maybe most people who complain haven't yet learned how the world works and don't understand that businesses don't exist to give free stuff to people.

*This rant is in defense of FilePlanet and BGH which so many people rag on.*

	12-05-2003 00:49									#11
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

Hey all. I am new here to these forums, but wanted to comment on the RoN trial demo. I simply can't believe how much I like this game. More and more, the more I play, the more I like it. I think I have finally found an RTS I can really get into. I seem to try them all, but only really like a very special few. Most of them are so generic when it comes down to gameplay, no matter how many "little features" they include, that I get tired of them pretty quick. Rise of Nations seems to be very different (so far).

There are SO MANY cool little things this game brings to the party, and unlike some other faster games, you actually have time to use/enjoy these features. It is great!

Just wanted to say hello to everyone on the forums, and tell the designers (if they ever read the forums), that this game seems to be extraordinary. Thank you!

One question for the experts if you don't mind: Attrition. Now, I have played about 5 games, all very long and drawn out, and all very fun. However, I don't see the the negative effects of attrition having much effect on things. Can someone explain exactly how it works, and tell me if I am missing something here. The concept of attrition is superb... beyond superb actually, which is why I am so keen on understanding it. Oh yeah, and forget supply trucks; explain attrition effects to me assuming I have no supply trucks.

Thanks again.

~ Leaper

*edited for clarity

	12-05-2003 01:30									#12
	Increase Your PM Length

I thought the purpose of a demo was to encourage people to buy the actual product.

I don't see how limiting the availability of a demo helps to accomplish that goal.

	12-05-2003 01:42									#13
	Support Apolyton or Terrorists Win

You are right! The purpose of a demo is to help sell the product. But there is also a purpose to allowing sneak previews as this allows the sale of more services.

	12-05-2003 01:58									#14
	Full PM-box? Change here!

Meh, I just came to believe that Internet should be free content wise. I've been using free Web content for years, and want it to continue that way.

I do perfectly understand peoples's desire to make money, but I rather thing it could come from things that don't require payment to access content.

And now, cl

	12-05-2003 04:32									#15
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization: The Boardgame

Well, as we've seen, the internet doesn't really work without money (how many dot-coms have gone down the tubes?). For myself, I feel that it's well worth it for 7 bucks a month to get preferred servers and beta and demo downloads. Others still will get the demo, just later, so I don't see the problem.

Anyways, some points now that I've played a bit more
-Oil is shown on the mini map as little black squares when you get to the modern age. Made life easier than hunting around the map for it.

-It seems somewhat easy to win with a wonder victory, especially against the egyptians. This is probably since I'm only playing on easy level, but you can turn it off, of course (in the real game, not the demo)

-Each age only lasts as long as you let it. In my last game, I was endlessly attacked by the Egyptians early on, and it took a while to get to the middle ages.

-Unit control is getting easier, but I wish there was a "stand ground" order (or I need to find it)

- It doesn't seem like the computer researches the attrition upgrades at the towers on the easier levels, which means that your troops take much less damage

-The only wonder that seems a little unbalanced is the Terra Cotta army. I built it and forgot about it for a little bit, and when I came back, I had a gigantic army of infantry, which I used to blitz through a number of enemy towns.

The game gets better and better as I learn more. The AI is pretty good, even at lower levels. It attacks at opportune times and keeps up pretty well and will even surpass you if you fall asleep at the wheel

	12-05-2003 05:45									#16
	Remove this text

Hey Mahdimael -

I agree totally. The game gets better as I learn more. I had a killer 2 hour 4 player game this afternoon. I am playing on Easy also until I learn what I am doing. I have not come close to losing yet though, so I will probably move it up next game. I took the British, and about 15 to 20 minutes into the game, the Egyptians offered a Peace Treaty. I accepted, and we proceded to wipe up on the Germans after that. The 4th group, the Bantu, never allied with anyone, so they pretty much tried to keep to themselves. What a fun game.

I have noticed that most of the real fighting (for me at least) has not started until Age III or beyond, with things REALLY heating up as soon as gunpowder hits. Until then, it is mostly jockying for land... kinda' cool.

As far as your stances and attitudes. They are all there, including Stand Ground, which is great when you want to protect your borders and entrench. You just have to find it.

Using the left mouse button to switch formations, and the mouse wheel to switch density of formations while you have your armies right-clicked is just an AWESOME idea from the developers. Probably my favorite little 'feature' so far. Also, when making Terra Cotta, which I always try to do (maybe a bit unbalanced... not sure yet), if you click your waypoint on one of your Generals, then the soldiers will come out and goto wherever he is on the map. Super cool feature, alot like WarCraft 3 with the Heroes.

Anyway, I just wanted to concur that this game is fantastic so far. Battles feel like full scale wars. Oh, and aircraft carriers... way cool!

~ Leaper

	12-05-2003 17:39									#17
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

quote: Originally posted by Leaper Also, when making Terra Cotta, which I always try to do (maybe a bit unbalanced... not sure yet), if you click your waypoint on one of your Generals, then the soldiers will come out and goto wherever he is on the map.

I'm still discovering cool things in the game. What you mentioned above works with any production building; set the rally point on any other unit - not just generals - and it will join it. Beyond that, if you've set up a control group hotkeyed to 1-9 or F1-F8 and you set a rally point on a unit belonging to the group, the newly produced units are automatically added to that group. Of course you can set a rally point on a fixed location, too.

BTW, I'm learning to use the "stand ground" stance to make the battles more manageable; like any RTS they can get messy but there are options to make battles less so. I find the individual military unit AI better than my poor micromanaging skills, so things turn out better when I devote my attention to the stance of the whole force engaged in combat.

	12-05-2003 18:23									#18
	Support Apolyton

Guys, just remember that the AI really is a complete pushover on Easy .

	12-05-2003 20:24									#19
	Increase the size of your Attachments

Is there a place somewhere were you can get the demo now already without being subscribed to Fileplanet?.
I can hardly wait a week.

	12-05-2003 20:34									#20
	Tired of ads?

Not legally. However, I have heard that it should become public on 12th, which is today, probably in a few hours.

	12-05-2003 21:15									#21
	Support Apolyton or Terrorists Win

quote: Originally posted by Solver Not legally. However, I have heard that it should become public on 12th, which is today, probably in a few hours.

As I also asked you in the other thread: Where did you get that info? I thought Fileplanet had it exclusively for a week?

	12-05-2003 21:39									#22
	Support Apolyton, buy GURPS/ Alpha Centauri

BHG site says it will stop being exclusive "next week" - this week. Somewhere else, there was a banner like RoN trial on FilePlanet 9th - 11th May.

Go check RONH or other sites .

	12-05-2003 22:13									#23
	Support Apolyton or Terrorists Win

http://www.strategyplanet.com/ron/

	12-05-2003 22:21									#24
	Support Apolyton, buy GURPS/ Alpha Centauri

Yeah, that one, thank you.

Hmm, interesting, they're going to get a good general discussion on topics of piracy...

	12-05-2003 22:23									#25
	Remove this text

I personally don't think the demo will be out for free before the actual game release...but people keep saying a demo takes time, well the demo is available at Fileplanet -- call it a trial or not, it demonstrates the game, therefor is a pre-made available demo.

It is just up to the company whether or not to release it for free.

	12-05-2003 22:31									#26
	Increase the size of your Attachments

The point of demo is to be for free, so that people can get an idea of their game. Question is only when will it become free.

	13-05-2003 02:59									#27
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations: Deluxe Edition

quote: Originally posted by Rohag I'm still discovering cool things in the game. What you mentioned above works with any production building; set the rally point on any other unit - not just generals - and it will join it. Beyond that, if you've set up a control group hotkeyed to 1-9 or F1-F8 and you set a rally point on a unit belonging to the group, the newly produced units are automatically added to that group.

Absolutely true. I actually read through every single tool tip at the beginning to learn that trick, otherwise, I may have never tried it. Also, the whole formation density and switching with the wheel and left mouse button: tooltips also! There were a few more things I learned there too.

I am ready to go for a 4 person game again, this time taking it off "easy". I will report back with how bad I get creamed later.

~ Leaper

	13-05-2003 06:32									#28
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization: The Boardgame

Sure enough, I discovered more as I played. The diplomacy style game is really cool. Multiple players are really cool. I'm really enjoying it, and can't wait to try the campaign

	13-05-2003 07:37									#29
	Support Apolyton or Terrorists Win

Downloadng the trial from riseofnations.com now, running a 450, GeForce 2, 198RAM, hope it works fine for me

by the sounds of it, rise of nations could be a winner

I'm hoping, in the future, to make rise of nations, more civ like, that is, if it can be edited and the graphics changed (which I recently discovered, they can! !