AI War 4.0 Early Version

[Salamander]

The game is definitely up my close friends' alleys but they just never really heard of it until I mentioned it awhile back but put buying it for them and CoN for myself, until back to work after being laid-off earlier this year. I actually bought the main game and tZR via Steam when it came up randomly last year and the price was right so I picked them up. I didn't play it much at first, as while I like huge starfleets, I generally prefer small-scale battles for RTSs and turn-based games for larger forces. But, AI War plays so much like what I wanted to do with some of my old self-made hexagon map and counter games, but couldn't due to sheer volume that it's instantly one of my favorites. The variety of ships is a huge draw for me as that was something I tried to do for my games as well, albeit not as successfully as AI War. I was able to fill my games with all kinds of units, some which don't make any sense in a 'hard' sci-fi environment, but I was never too fixated on realistic ships, and when I want a more 'serious' game, we played a lot of SFB and Starfire in the day. I only caught 2 closed bugs and 1 remaining possible, so not a big contribution compared to a lot of people here, but we do what we can.

[Otagan]

Don't forget to add a category for people who have bought multiple copies for themselves voluntarily.

[x4000]

Don't forget to add a category for people who have bought multiple copies for themselves voluntarily.

Indeed, we've had a lot of that too, and are super grateful.

[Winter Born]

snip

. I only caught 2 closed bugs and 1 remaining possible, so not a big contribution compared to a lot of people here, but we do what we can.

Never sell your contribution short. You are part of the family of players who didn't wait for the finished product, but helped create it. A little piece of you is in every copy of this game that will ever be sold.

[x4000]

snip

. I only caught 2 closed bugs and 1 remaining possible, so not a big contribution compared to a lot of people here, but we do what we can.

Never sell your contribution short. You are part of the family of players who didn't wait for the finished product, but helped create it. A little piece of you is in every copy of this game that will ever be sold.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

[Shardz]

snip

. I only caught 2 closed bugs and 1 remaining possible, so not a big contribution compared to a lot of people here, but we do what we can.

Never sell your contribution short. You are part of the family of players who didn't wait for the finished product, but helped create it. A little piece of you is in every copy of this game that will ever be sold.

And that's just one of many facets which makes this game so great. I'll be saving my congratulations for the final release, but I'm impressed that the switch was so relatively fast. I'm already looking forward to the expansion...and let's hope 4.0 gets some !@#*! exposure! Maybe I'll rent a blimp with AI War painted on the side and fly it over California this weekend...Heh.

P.S. I love the tips window...this is a great reminder of important keys if you are firing it up after an absence. Might there be any chance of putting a close or minimize Tips option in settings anywhere, though?

[Giegue]

friends... I used to have... (sniff) friends...

lol, anyway, glad to see its finally sorta out! can't wait until the light is shed on the Light of the Spire.

also: you may want to edit the descriptions of the existing spire technologies to say that it is an alien technology.

[lanstro]

Well done guys.  Have a well-deserved break.

[keith.lamothe]

Not break-time yet, but thanks

[KingIsaacLinksr]

You guys did a great job with AIW and this latest expansion.  Personally, it took a lot of guts imo.  Who would:

A:  Make this expansion's profit go directly to charity.
B:  While doing this expansion completely overhaul the entire game from mechanics to graphics for free.  

Anyway, keep up the great work and I really hope this pays out in the end, I don't want my favorite PC developers disappearing  That would not make for a happy early Christmas present =(.  Tidalis is fun and this newly enhanced version of AIW is awesome so keep going!  

Good luck!

King

[x4000]

Many thanks!  We have our fingers crossed -- this is a model we think works, but it depends on the overall economy and random luck, etc, if it will bear us out at the moment.  Should be an exciting (or very discouraging, I guess) week.

[Zeba]

Many thanks!  We have our fingers crossed -- this is a model we think works, but it depends on the overall economy and random luck, etc, if it will bear us out at the moment.  Should be an exciting (or very discouraging, I guess) week.

But the silver lining of your specific situation if it takes the worse turn is that you don't have any massive debt associated with Arcen Games and its two main titles so all it really means is that its back to a normal job to pay the bills and waiting for the right moment to make a comeback. Granted there is alot of self volunteered non-paid time you guys have put in that needs making up but thats not the same as owing someone else that money.

I envy your financial savvy in running your company the way you do.  07

[x4000]

Many thanks!  We have our fingers crossed -- this is a model we think works, but it depends on the overall economy and random luck, etc, if it will bear us out at the moment.  Should be an exciting (or very discouraging, I guess) week.

But the silver lining of your specific situation if it takes the worse turn is that you don't have any massive debt associated with Arcen Games and its two main titles so all it really means is that its back to a normal job to pay the bills and waiting for the right moment to make a comeback. Granted there is alot of self volunteered non-paid time you guys have put in that needs making up but thats not the same as owing someone else that money.

All very true.  I've been in a situation in the past where the company I worked for (not owned) owed $150k in direct loans, and three times that to investors.  Wasn't a pretty picture, and when finances were about run dry it was really grim.  But, in that situation we (myself and the owner) actually turned it around and paid back all the debt, plus made some good operating buffer on the other end of it, so these situations certainly can turn around; I've seen it before.  But it's specifically because I've been in that sort of situation that I've avoided taking on debt for this.  Plus I'm just risk-averse when it comes to debt, anyway.

I envy your financial savvy in running your company the way you do.  07

Much appreciated.  Hopefully it will work out.

[x4000]

And now it's the 27th, so I've done my post in advance: http://www.arcengames.com/forums/index.php/topic,7407.0.html

Steam, Impulse, GamersGate, etc, should have it up later today.  I'm not sure what's up with Direct2Drive, if they'll be carrying CoN or even updating the older versions of AI War or what.

Oh, and there's a good chance that registering CoN keys with Steam will work right from day one.  No promises, but it looks favorable.

[Zeba]

Oh, and there's a good chance that registering CoN keys with Steam will work right from day one.  No promises, but it looks favorable.

\o/

Must have my X map..