2014 Annual Report

General discussion about anything related to Transcendence.
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I've just finished the 2014 Annual Report on Kronosaur Productions and its games:

http://multiverse.kronosaur.com/news.hexm?id=1251

Check it out for a look back at 2014 and some teasers about what's to come in 2015.
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An interesting write-up. A few questions I've got from it:

-With regards to Steam integration, would this lead to a split between the steam based services (eg. Workshop) and the Multiverse-based services, or would there ultimately be only one of the two used primarily? (I know this is an unfair question given how far off any such decisions would be, but I'm wondering if any early planning has been made as a "what if?")

-Will the non-linearity extend to the means in which we play through the game, as well as the path that we take? Part 1 features only one real way to progress: Kill people and steal their stuff. It'd be cool in the long term to see more ways to progress, be it diplomacy, trade, sneaky tactics, or bribing the ancient races with delicious fruit pies*.

-With the introduction of mouse support, are any changes to the existing campaigns/game-modes planned to take advantage of this?










*The residents of IRC felt that I needed to suggest this after I thought of it yesterday. I am truly sorry.
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Good thing I've got Vol2 content for TSB already in the pipeline! (no xml yet though >.> just models)

Great news though, and I'm very much looking forward to 2015! (And hopefully getting a TSB Vol1 public beta out before the end of it..)
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All of this sounds magnificent.

Will the planned integration of EP be available to players who purchase it after the fact?
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Shrike wrote:An interesting write-up. A few questions I've got from it:

-With regards to Steam integration, would this lead to a split between the steam based services (eg. Workshop) and the Multiverse-based services, or would there ultimately be only one of the two used primarily? (I know this is an unfair question given how far off any such decisions would be, but I'm wondering if any early planning has been made as a "what if?")

-Will the non-linearity extend to the means in which we play through the game, as well as the path that we take? Part 1 features only one real way to progress: Kill people and steal their stuff. It'd be cool in the long term to see more ways to progress, be it diplomacy, trade, sneaky tactics, or bribing the ancient races with delicious fruit pies*.

-With the introduction of mouse support, are any changes to the existing campaigns/game-modes planned to take advantage of this?
Good questions, all.

I don't know enough about Steam integration, so I can't answer definitively. The Multiverse will always be around. It is possible that we'll have to create a special Steam version of the client. But it will be a separate version that won't affect anyone else.

I like the idea of multiple ways of progressing. Almost certainly we'll start with one, but there are certainly plans to add more.

Lastly, I don't totally know how mouse support will be added. CSC America will likely be a separate client (America.exe). If so, it will supports mods just like Transcendence.exe. But I don't know how much of the RTS parts will be added to Transcendence.exe.
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JohnBWatson wrote:All of this sounds magnificent.

Will the planned integration of EP be available to players who purchase it after the fact?
Yes--regardless of when you acquire EP, you'll get the integration for free. It will essentially be part of the EP download.
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I wonder if putting it on GOG or Greenman is easier; no need to deal with integration and you can keep the client as-is. Integration is mostly for Steam's community features eg. Achievements, syncing saves across hardware, and of course pushing updates (which the game already can do I think).

All I would like is a method of paying for future expansions without using Paypal. :3
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Ultimate Chicken wrote:I wonder if putting it on GOG or Greenman is easier; no need to deal with integration and you can keep the client as-is. Integration is mostly for Steam's community features eg. Achievements, syncing saves across hardware, and of course pushing updates (which the game already can do I think).

All I would like is a method of paying for future expansions without using Paypal. :3
Yeah, I think GOG and Green Man are good ideas too. Either way, though, I think I need a special client because it will have CC+Eternity port bundled in. I need to talk to them to find out.
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george moromisato wrote:
Shrike wrote:An interesting write-up. A few questions I've got from it:

-With regards to Steam integration, would this lead to a split between the steam based services (eg. Workshop) and the Multiverse-based services, or would there ultimately be only one of the two used primarily? (I know this is an unfair question given how far off any such decisions would be, but I'm wondering if any early planning has been made as a "what if?")

-Will the non-linearity extend to the means in which we play through the game, as well as the path that we take? Part 1 features only one real way to progress: Kill people and steal their stuff. It'd be cool in the long term to see more ways to progress, be it diplomacy, trade, sneaky tactics, or bribing the ancient races with delicious fruit pies*.

-With the introduction of mouse support, are any changes to the existing campaigns/game-modes planned to take advantage of this?
Good questions, all.

I don't know enough about Steam integration, so I can't answer definitively. The Multiverse will always be around. It is possible that we'll have to create a special Steam version of the client. But it will be a separate version that won't affect anyone else.

I like the idea of multiple ways of progressing. Almost certainly we'll start with one, but there are certainly plans to add more.

Lastly, I don't totally know how mouse support will be added. CSC America will likely be a separate client (America.exe). If so, it will supports mods just like Transcendence.exe. But I don't know how much of the RTS parts will be added to Transcendence.exe.

Is there a plan to put Steam into the game / integrated?
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george moromisato wrote:(...) Either way, though, I think I need a special client because it will have CC+Eternity port bundled in. I need to talk to them to find out.
Why would CC+Eternity port need to be bundled in?
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pixelfck wrote:
george moromisato wrote:(...) Either way, though, I think I need a special client because it will have CC+Eternity port bundled in. I need to talk to them to find out.
Why would CC+Eternity port need to be bundled in?
Steam won't approve a game unless they can make money from it. One way to do that is to have a bundle of Transcendence + CC + EP and sell it on Steam for $9.
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Will CSC America have multiplayer, different playable factions, or an Ares Campaign?

It seems like it could have potential as a full-fledged space RTS.

On a side note, would it be possible to establish a Ministry of Records section for CSC America? This could lead into that originally proposed feature voting system.
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TVR wrote:Will CSC America have multiplayer, different playable factions, or an Ares Campaign?

It seems like it could have potential as a full-fledged space RTS.

On a side note, would it be possible to establish a Ministry of Records section for CSC America? This could lead into that originally proposed feature voting system.
I certainly hope that CSC America will be a full-fledged space RTS--that's one reason why I plan on it being a separate game (separate .EXE) and not just a Transcendence adventure/extension. Of course, it will be set in the same universe and share lots of artwork and code, but it will be an RTS.

It will not be multiplayer in 2015, but I am designing it with multiplayer in mind and it will be much easier to make it multiplayer (than Transcendence, e.g.).

The game is still little more than an idea, so I don't know if it will have multiple playable factions (though I would like that).

As I said, very little is actually designed yet, so I think it is too early for a Ministry section, but I like the idea of discussing various ideas with people. I'll start a thread about it in the forums. [Edit: Added a post in Drawing Board: http://forums.kronosaur.com/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=6965]
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One concern with Steam is that it would split the community. They have their own community and their own mod library that aren't accessible to non-Steam people. If there's a reputable online game marketplace that doesn't try to provide a community that would better serve our ability to keep our own.
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george moromisato wrote:
pixelfck wrote:
george moromisato wrote:(...) Either way, though, I think I need a special client because it will have CC+Eternity port bundled in. I need to talk to them to find out.
Why would CC+Eternity port need to be bundled in?
Steam won't approve a game unless they can make money from it. One way to do that is to have a bundle of Transcendence + CC + EP and sell it on Steam for $9.
Doesn't Steam allow for "free to play" games, that additionally offer "DLC", which are purchased?

What are the negative consequences of going with Steam?
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