Arcen Games

General Category => The Last Federation => : x4000 May 19, 2014, 12:09:27 PM

: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: x4000 May 19, 2014, 12:09:27 PM
Original: http://christophermpark.blogspot.com/2014/05/summer-2014.html

The next chapter in The Last Federation's saga.  If you're familiar with the expansion model for AI War: Fleet Command, you know the general idea here, although we also have some cool new tricks up our sleeve this time around.

Free updates to the base game have been thick on the ground since TLF's release a month ago, and we're going to continue with updates to the base game for a long time to come (not always at the breakneck pace we've had so far, but that's been true of AI War over the last 5 years, too).  As with AI War's expansion, TLF's expansions will always be completely optional and just for the fans who want more of what they already love in an expanded universe.  We never charge for bugfixes, balance updates, usability improvements, or so on -- that would be ludicrous.

Anyway, we're really excited about both where the base game is heading on its own, and about what this new expansion will bring to the table on top of that.  Stay tuned!

Update on the schedule: For the TLF expansion, that's going to be very late July or early August when we start the beta for that. Aiming for a September 2.0. That schedule has been pushed back so that I could work on the Linux ports and our site and so on, since we have some breathing room right now.  There are going to be a few more goodies packed into TLF 2.0 than I originally planned, too, so that's a bonus for you for your patience. ;)
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: GC13 May 19, 2014, 12:10:37 PM
What, no teasing the expansion's content beyond the title? You cruel, cruel man. :)
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: x4000 May 19, 2014, 12:11:49 PM
Sometimes!  ;D
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: nas1m May 19, 2014, 12:27:31 PM
Cool stuff :D!
EDIT: What are these? Speedboats in space ;)? Nevermind me. I am just excited!
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: I-KP May 19, 2014, 01:05:51 PM
Splendid. :)
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: tbrass May 19, 2014, 02:58:54 PM
The picture looks like a ray hitting the planet and shattering it. Star Wars IV was subtitled "A New Hope." The expansion is title "Betrayed Hope."

Ergo, the only logical conclusion from the limited information in this announcement is that Chris has sold Arcen games to Disney. And the expansion will bring Jar Jar Binks to support the Hydra in some sort of Federation senate. A betrayed hope, indeed.
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: x4000 May 19, 2014, 03:03:40 PM
Dang, got it in one!  Just take these rupees, okay?  It's a secret to everybody.
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: TheRevPlays May 19, 2014, 03:28:42 PM
aaahhh, you are killing me!!! Can't wait for the new stuff !! Great reason to replay the game once I finish my current play through! All these crappy triple a companies could learn something from Arcen!!!
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: x4000 May 19, 2014, 03:59:04 PM
Thank you!  :D
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: x4000 May 19, 2014, 04:01:39 PM
I hope you also do alpha player testing on expansions if you are adding new features so we can help with bugs and balance.

Oh you bet we will.  Same as we do with AI War expansions.  I'm not sure exactly the logistics on that yet, but usually we make it available for direct purchase early on our site, and then people who purchase it can give all the feedback they like, and then also we will send a steam key to those folks once we fully launch the expansion.  Something along those lines, anyhow.  We have separate processes for the expansion development and main game development, just habits that we've built up over time.
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: mrhanman May 19, 2014, 05:49:28 PM
I'm thrilled that the game has been successful enough to warrant an expansion.  Here's to many more to follow! (http://www.picgifs.com/smileys/smileys-and-emoticons/beer/smileys-beer-817053.gif)
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: Drak May 19, 2014, 08:50:03 PM
The title makes it sound like an April fool's joke...

April first comes around and it's like "Psyche, all your hopes for an expansion have been betrayed!" (Que evil laughter)  ;)
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: Castruccio May 19, 2014, 08:55:33 PM
Is it just me or are Arcen game names starting to sound like they could also be the names of indie (emo?) rock bands:

"Betrayed Hope"
"Skyward Collapse"
"Shattered Haven"
"Alone at the Last"
"Ascendant"
"A Valley Without Wind"

: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: Misery May 19, 2014, 11:31:20 PM
I always think they're good names though. 

Were it up to me, the expansion would just be named "MORE EXPLODE" or something.  Not as good with the naming bits. 


Also..... no detail?  Really?   Whyyyyyyyyy?


And obviously you can count me in for testing and whatnot, whenever that happens.  Should be interesting.
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: x4000 May 20, 2014, 09:05:46 AM
Details coming soon! ;)

Also, regarding the success warranting an expansion, we had a question on blogger about that:

: Brian Chase
Quick question since I know you guys are often pretty open about these things but did TLF really sell that well? I know the other games either failed to generate expansions or at least took more time in between as with AVWW (sequel in this case and the reason for it and the reason for the delay seem to have more to do with trying to fix the original game leading to two fragmented ideas becoming two separate games). And then one other question, do you feel that this game has been received particularly well? From what limited information I've seen it seems like this game was a bit controversial for many players where as Bionic Dues was received more warmly overall but probably garnered less sales. Anyways, just curious and love hearing about the company as a big fan, good luck!

And my response:

This game has sold the best out of any title we've ever done, in terms of the timeframe that has elapsed so far. Far, far and away the best. It's currently already up to something like 1/4 the amount of total income that AI War and all of its expansions have generated over the last 5 years, but in only the span of a month.

We're within a few weeks of breaking even on the project, although since we've been doing so much post-release support that causes the costs to rise and thus both the expansion and ongoing sales help to offset that.

The reception to this title has been great -- it's one of our least-controversial titles ever, frankly. It current is tied for our second-best metascore behind AI War (tied with Tidalis). Those being our only three green metascores, although metascores really aren't representative of the wider audience. But we've had very positive endorsements from a lot of heavy hitters, such as Total Biscuit.

Looking at the steam reviews on our steam page, there's one unhappy guy at the top who played early versions and was frustrated, and that's his prerogative. Then there's pages and pages of super happy customers before you get to the next negative customer review.

We frankly have never had a hit this big in such a short amount of time. In a month this has earned nearly what it takes AI War to earn 2 years to earn, and AI War has been our enormous heavy-hitter in terms of earnings, and basically the thing keeping our company afloat, all these years.
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: LastDay May 20, 2014, 09:28:08 AM
I'm excited!
New quests? Outpost types? Weapons? Ships? :)

These are the things I'm realistically expecting!
Don't wanna hype and expect too much.


Although I will say that I'm hoping to one day see either an expansion or a fan mod that allows you to resurrect the Hydral race, either from some old gene banks floating around or just Hydral pirates hiding in a moon somewhere... Smuggle them as resistance fighters.
It'd be funny to flip things around and resurrect the one race everyone hates, then help the Hydrals wipe everyone out. :P
Alternative "victory"...


But yeah realistically what I expect is just more of what's already in the game. :)
There's so much that could be added to it in terms of missions, etc.
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: x4000 May 20, 2014, 09:38:14 AM
But yeah realistically what I expect is just more of what's already in the game. :)
There's so much that could be added to it in terms of missions, etc.

Mostly I'm actually trying to avoid that sort of thing, honestly.  I think it's fairly obvious to say there will be new ships, weapons, and abilities -- it's no grand surprise for me to say that, or that there will be new music.  There will be new quests, but probably not a huge number of them (most of the ones I plan to add during this time will go to the base game).

The really "big things" that are being added are not on the list of what you had there, and aren't likely to be on anyone's list.  We call them "anchor features" for expansions, and each expansion always has at least one these days.  For Nihon no Mura, for instance, one was the Japanese faction, and the other were the Hamlets.  For TZR it was golems.  For CoN it was minor factions.

This expansion has three anchor features.  I will leave you with three words: Betrayal.  Invasion.  Obscura.

And that's all you get from me for now. ;)
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: LastDay May 20, 2014, 09:54:11 AM
Well I'm just going by what I've seen expansions add in other games in the past!
Such as Starcraft getting new units and maps!
So likewise I don't really expect much else than more of what the game already has, weapons, quests/mission, ships... because that's what I've seen expansions in other games add.
(Or actually I think quests and missions are the same thing... Not sure why I've listed both!)

So even though my biggest wish for the game is what I said about the Hydrals I don't expect anyone to actually spend the amount of work that would take and I fully expect it to remain a daydream. :P


I've never actually played any of your other games, so I don't really know what your other games and expansions have been like. :)
Nice to get a better idea, though. surprising amount of community interaction. I appreciate it!


Sounds like we are getting something different than what I'm used to...
I have faith it will be interesting!
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: x4000 May 20, 2014, 10:00:16 AM
I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. :)  The Civilization V expansions are probably the most comparable to the AI War expansions that I can think of in terms of actually adding whole new game systems.
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: Misery May 20, 2014, 10:08:46 AM
Hmm....

Betrayal, invasion, and..... obscura?  What the heck does that even mean?   I can think of "camera obscura" but considering what that is I cant imagine an expansion feature based on that.   Unless it means the camera with the same name in Fatal Frame, which could mean.... oh heck if I know.   Ghosts?  Why not?   That could be hilarious.

Well, I'm lost.
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: x4000 May 20, 2014, 10:29:38 AM
That one is a proper noun.
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: LastDay May 20, 2014, 10:49:09 AM
Hmm....

Betrayal, invasion, and..... obscura?  What the heck does that even mean?   I can think of "camera obscura" but considering what that is I cant imagine an expansion feature based on that.   Unless it means the camera with the same name in Fatal Frame, which could mean.... oh heck if I know.   Ghosts?  Why not?   That could be hilarious.

Well, I'm lost.
Obscura is actually Latin and means something like "dark", "dark room", "dark one".
Something about dark or unkown things, really.

Camera Obscura is actually one of the earliest forms of camera, basically just a dark box thing that projects an image of the surroundings on a screen.
I don't claim to know too much about them.

I know what you are referring to with the same name, though! ... *shudder*
Oh crap!
They'll lock us in a dark tunnel full of ghosts of dead Thoraxians! ...Do hiveminds have ghosts?
...I think that the summer heat has made my brain melt a little...

Anyway, obscura could mean anything from a dark room with shady political dealings to the dark one (Cthulhu ftagn!) raising out of nowhere.
Quite an... obscure word. ;)

Betrayal just makes me think of the Betrayed "faction" when you annoy your Federation guys too much and Invasion makes me think of attacking an another planet.

Maybe the expansion is about some sort of shady dealings. :)
I enjoy speculation, especially when I get it horribly wrong.
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: x4000 May 20, 2014, 10:58:41 AM
Fun facts to guide the speculation:
1. I took six years of Latin in school.
2. Etymology in general is important to me.
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: chemical_art May 20, 2014, 11:07:50 AM
As far as invasion went, I heard amongst the rumor mill that ground combat will be expanded greatly. Perhaps even a sub mode like space combat.
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: madcow May 20, 2014, 11:10:19 AM
I think I've figured it out. One of your own hydra heads is in fact an evil (dare I say DARK) Evuck in disguise. Betrayal is ineviditable before the impending invasion.
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: x4000 May 20, 2014, 11:15:26 AM
As far as invasion went, I heard amongst the rumor mill that ground combat will be expanded greatly. Perhaps even a sub mode like space combat.

I can definitely confirm that's not in this particular expansion, but it's something that I do want to explore in the future.  Right now I think that expanding that would be distracting from things that would better benefit from the attention, whereas later it would be a welcome extension.
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: chemical_art May 20, 2014, 11:25:54 AM
Ok then regarding ground combat. As far as obscura I don't know, but the concept of information warfare to confuse enemy races, while unlikely, sounds fun
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: Warpstorm May 20, 2014, 12:41:02 PM
...maybe an extension to the Black Market...maybe they become an actual team to be dealt with.
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: chemical_art May 20, 2014, 02:04:03 PM
Glancing at the etymology that Chris mentioned, I see a pattern of not only hiding but also of covering...


Space terrian in the form of nebula clouds, etc, that hide units in combat from units outside?
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: topper May 20, 2014, 04:32:47 PM
That one is a proper noun.

I'm nearly 100% sure Obscura is the name of a new race for the expansion.
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: x4000 May 20, 2014, 04:34:42 PM
The force is strong with... someone in this thread.  Not clairvoyant, but reasonably close.
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: madcow May 20, 2014, 05:11:09 PM
Knew it. Nailed it  :D
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: topper May 20, 2014, 05:15:52 PM
Sneak preview of new game mode intro text: (just kidding)

We are the Obscura, we dwell in the shadows.

The solar system was built as a zoo, a museum of sorts for the races we have conquered in our bloody past.

The fools are ignorant of their own true history beyond myths passed down from the first individuals of the 8 races we planted to colonize the planets in the system.

Only the High Command of the Hydrals were aware of our arrangement. We provided their leaders with powers and wealth in exchange for maintaining order in the system through space superiority.

Now with the Hydrals dead, our careful order has fallen apart. And worse, the sole surviving Hydral has united all 8 races into a peaceful federation. This cooperation could lead them to focus outward and discover us, the Obscura, hiding in the shadows.

This federation cannot be allowed to stand! I have been tasked with destroying the federation and restoring our order to the system, without allowing our involvement to become visible. I will break apart this alliance piece by piece and show them the true meaning of betrayal.

This will be the last federation!
(i don't know if i was right, but that was kind of fun)  ;D
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: doctorfrog May 20, 2014, 06:11:12 PM
In all seriousness, it might be kind of neat to have another operator like yourself sneaking about in the background, slowly emerging as a major player and adversary.

Kind of reminds me of Alpha Centauri: Alien Crossfire, which put two advanced alien subspecies on opposing sides of Planet, with the less sophisticated human factions still involved in their squabbles. It was not the best balanced thing in the universe, but it had a real cool factor.
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: Fleet Unity May 20, 2014, 07:42:09 PM
Looking forward to this I enjoy The Last Federation as much as I enjoy AI War Fleet Command! :)
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: Sounds May 20, 2014, 09:20:31 PM
That one is a proper noun.

I'm nearly 100% sure Obscura is the name of a new race for the expansion.

The only meaning I know for Obscura is that of a moth based species. Am I close?

Go Mothra!!! :D

(http://img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20131028021749/mugen/images/7/75/Mothra.jpg)
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: Misery May 20, 2014, 09:26:47 PM
Glancing at the etymology that Chris mentioned, I see a pattern of not only hiding but also of covering...

More to do with espionage, maybe?  There aint much of that right now beyond "spy probes" as far as I know, and informants which are basically just something that opens a larger menu for you.   That'd fit the "betrayed" part of the title.   Probably.


Though the ghosts would be funnier.  Or ghosts AND espionage.  GHOST SPIES.  I declare that this needs to be a thing now.
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: cupogoodness May 21, 2014, 04:07:19 AM
In all seriousness, it might be kind of neat to have another operator like yourself sneaking about in the background, slowly emerging as a major player and adversary.

A Petyr Baelish for your Varys (or a Varys for your Petyr Baelish, depending on priorities).
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: orzelek May 21, 2014, 06:23:14 PM
You can always discover that you are not actually the last Hydral...
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: ChristopherRC2000 May 21, 2014, 08:43:15 PM
You can always discover that you are not actually the last Hydral...



Now this is an interesting idea.
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: tbrass May 21, 2014, 09:17:10 PM
Hydras reproduce like Targarians, wedding brother to sister for generations... Perhaps your sibling felt spurned when you left it to be Prometheus with the natives. And now it is going to betray you. By invading your midi-chlorians with a dark plague.

Disney has been taking on a more ominous, "dark" tone these days. It would fit with their Arcen games acquisition.
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: Aklyon May 21, 2014, 09:26:45 PM
You can always discover that you are not actually the last Hydral...



Now this is an interesting idea.
The Lost Hydral!
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: khadgar May 22, 2014, 01:23:15 AM
The Lost Hydral!

The Lost Hydrals;

Three Hydrals, lost in a strange galaxy, must team up and use their unique abilities together to escape and defeat the evil Tomator Burlust warlord!
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: wwwhhattt May 22, 2014, 07:09:58 AM
You've got around four heads - maybe one of them turns evil, trying to destroy your work, so whenever you try to help someone it tries to screw you over. Although I guess you could always just have the evil head amputated then.
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: MaskityMask May 22, 2014, 08:14:44 AM
Assuming "Obscura" doesn't refer time traveling hydral outpost or something, whats the chance that they will be this games Antarians(From Master of Orion 2) aka evil npc race that aims to kill everyone due to being space Cthulhu/nazis?
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: madcow May 22, 2014, 09:06:20 AM
You've got around four heads - maybe one of them turns evil, trying to destroy your work, so whenever you try to help someone it tries to screw you over. Although I guess you could always just have the evil head amputated then.

Even that isn't always good enough

*cue ominous music*

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uQj7j8yG6A   (warning bad 80s horror movie trailer, click at your own risk to sanity)
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: Krysle Quinsen May 28, 2014, 05:00:49 PM
You've got around four heads - maybe one of them turns evil, trying to destroy your work, so whenever you try to help someone it tries to screw you over. Although I guess you could always just have the evil head amputated then.

Well, I think Hydral have hive mind for their multiple heads.
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: TheDarkMaster June 12, 2014, 08:45:32 AM
New races with the power to have some be present or absent is indeed something I expect as an expansion to this game.

One other thing I'd like to see down the line is a pair of uncolonized planets that are up for grabs as soon as 4-5 races are space-faring.  Major sources of tension between the races there.
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: x4000 June 12, 2014, 09:31:00 AM
New races with the power to have some be present or absent is indeed something I expect as an expansion to this game.

One other thing I'd like to see down the line is a pair of uncolonized planets that are up for grabs as soon as 4-5 races are space-faring.  Major sources of tension between the races there.

There is a new race, but it doesn't work at all like the existing ones.  In terms of what is expected from a (in particular a first) expansion, I think that we're really going sideways on that.  Some of the obvious things are there in force: new ships, abilities, weapons, etc.  Naturally.  But then for the new race it is just an extraordinarily different mechanic rather than giving you something that is just a variant of something you've already seen.  And there are two new game modes as well, which shake things up... well, to an extreme degree, let's say.  Betrayal Mode is particularly exciting to me, as it's practically an entirely different game.
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: nas1m June 12, 2014, 03:28:17 PM
New races with the power to have some be present or absent is indeed something I expect as an expansion to this game.

One other thing I'd like to see down the line is a pair of uncolonized planets that are up for grabs as soon as 4-5 races are space-faring.  Major sources of tension between the races there.

There is a new race, but it doesn't work at all like the existing ones.  In terms of what is expected from a (in particular a first) expansion, I think that we're really going sideways on that.  Some of the obvious things are there in force: new ships, abilities, weapons, etc.  Naturally.  But then for the new race it is just an extraordinarily different mechanic rather than giving you something that is just a variant of something you've already seen.  And there are two new game modes as well, which shake things up... well, to an extreme degree, let's say.  Betrayal Mode is particularly exciting to me, as it's practically an entirely different game.
Sounds awesome! So when do we get to know more :)?
Especially those game modes sound intriguing...
Some more bits perhaps ;D?
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: x4000 June 12, 2014, 03:57:25 PM
All right, try this on for size:

In betrayal mode, the race that you select at the start of the game (which is normally the one that is first to be spacefaring) is instead killed by you, completely.  This game mode has a completely different agenda -- all that stuff with the federation doesn't even exist.  You are able to have a population of robot-citizens under your control (like any other race), and you capture planets and so forth just like any other race would.

For the most part, a lot of your robots' attributes (racial compatibility, manufacturing rates, combat strength, etc) carry over from the race you exterminated.  Your job is to then exterminate the other 7 races and take over the entire solar system for just you and your mindless robot servitors.

Instead of the Federation Progress window, there is an Armada Management window that lets you pay credits or resources for armadas (either building them or upgrading them), and assign them to various duties (guarding planets or outposts, or attacking enemy planets or outposts).

In essence, the entire premise of the game (story-wise) is abandoned.  This is your evil twin, so to speak. ;)  It's cool, because so much of the game is the same between both, but your goals and how you utilize all the mechanics really differs because of the different endgame, etc.  I'm pretty excited about it. :)


Invasion Mode is much less drastic of a difference, being a closer variant off the base game mechanics.  But it also provides a pretty different flow, because you have to deal with the Obscura, a race that has obliterated one of the other races in that mode, and which is not a faction you can negotiate with.  They're coming for everybody, essentially, and so that complicates matters because now you have the usual wars and whatnot, plus this whole other outside threat that is creeping in.
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: nas1m June 12, 2014, 04:19:13 PM
Its a perfect fit, thanks ;).
Do you have something special in mind for the (free) "2.0" version of the base game as well?
Or will "2.0" mainly consist of what you have already added during post-release?

OT:
I will be off on vacation for three weeks starting on Saturday and won't be able to play during that time (the south coast of France will surely compensate for that ;)).
Can't wait to see what is waiting for me once I come back :D.
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: topper June 12, 2014, 04:39:38 PM
Sweet! spoilers!

I second being curious if there are other planned upcoming 2.0 base game features.

Also, any info on a starting date for the paid open alpha?
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: MaskityMask June 12, 2014, 04:40:09 PM
Aww, does that mean its impossible to have all 8 races and obscura at same time? Would have been fun even to prevent their invasion from capturing planets in first place, but still sounds cool :)
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: x4000 June 12, 2014, 04:47:39 PM
The major features for 2.0 honestly have already been put in, although there are more tweaks and whatnot planned.  There has already been a TON of stuff, of course.  That said, there are some things like the Burlust duels that will get some love, particularly in the area of having more boss-like SHMUP-style patterns and some other things like that.  For the most part, we concentrated all our efforts on the free 2.0 stuff first, and then have come around to the expansion after that.  Just seemed to make the most sense timing-wise.

Regarding having all 8 races and the Obscura at once, that is indeed possible, but not in invasion mode.  Invasion mode specifically has them as a much more central presence.  But there will also be an option for you to turn them on in other game modes as a more minor-style faction (kind of like pirates).  Where they are still present, but not dominating the attention of the solar system like they are in the invasion mode.

The starting data for the paid open alpha is... sometime in the next two weeks.  I had been hoping to be faster with this, but I've had some personal slowdowns that I've had to work through lately.  I'm coming out of that now, but it's cost me a good week and a half and productivity, I'd say.  Combination of factors there, really.  Anyway, all is well, but just a bit slower than I had wanted in an ideal world.
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: GC13 June 12, 2014, 06:31:52 PM
Do you have a blog post for the 2.0 features scheduled for paid alpha day? :)
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: x4000 June 12, 2014, 07:47:04 PM
In terms of describing the cumulative of what has been added up to that point?  That's a good idea, I'll have to work that in.
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: Teal_Blue June 12, 2014, 10:11:36 PM
All right, try this on for size:

In betrayal mode, the race that you select at the start of the game (which is normally the one that is first to be spacefaring) is instead killed by you, completely.  This game mode has a completely different agenda -- all that stuff with the federation doesn't even exist.  You are able to have a population of robot-citizens under your control (like any other race), and you capture planets and so forth just like any other race would.

For the most part, a lot of your robots' attributes (racial compatibility, manufacturing rates, combat strength, etc) carry over from the race you exterminated.  Your job is to then exterminate the other 7 races and take over the entire solar system for just you and your mindless robot servitors.

Instead of the Federation Progress window, there is an Armada Management window that lets you pay credits or resources for armadas (either building them or upgrading them), and assign them to various duties (guarding planets or outposts, or attacking enemy planets or outposts).

In essence, the entire premise of the game (story-wise) is abandoned.  This is your evil twin, so to speak. ;)  It's cool, because so much of the game is the same between both, but your goals and how you utilize all the mechanics really differs because of the different endgame, etc.  I'm pretty excited about it. :)


Invasion Mode is much less drastic of a difference, being a closer variant off the base game mechanics.  But it also provides a pretty different flow, because you have to deal with the Obscura, a race that has obliterated one of the other races in that mode, and which is not a faction you can negotiate with.  They're coming for everybody, essentially, and so that complicates matters because now you have the usual wars and whatnot, plus this whole other outside threat that is creeping in.


This is sooooo awesome it isn't even funny!!!!  Very, very cool to hear, can't wait to see how it works.  :)  Pretty cool i would think!

-Teal

: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: MaskityMask June 13, 2014, 01:57:25 AM
Regarding having all 8 races and the Obscura at once, that is indeed possible, but not in invasion mode.  Invasion mode specifically has them as a much more central presence.  But there will also be an option for you to turn them on in other game modes as a more minor-style faction (kind of like pirates).  Where they are still present, but not dominating the attention of the solar system like they are in the invasion mode.


Cool, glad to hear that :D
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: DrFranknfurter June 13, 2014, 10:27:46 AM
Betrayal mode sounds like a fun change of pace going on a killing spree capturing planets instead of protecting them. Invasion sounds interesting and probably much harder even for experts with the current game (not having as many tools to deal with/manipulate them especially if they've taken inspiration from Antarans attack in MOO2).

I'm very glad to hear it isn't too far away now. (Looking forward to AI war's expansion just as much, it'd be nice to know how to sign up for the betas)
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: TheDarkMaster June 13, 2014, 10:51:34 AM
Invasion sounds almost like what the Thoraxians seem to be set up to be, most of the time.  Only instead of being almost prohibitively hard to get into the federation (and coming with a malus if you do get them in), it's actually impossible.
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: x4000 June 13, 2014, 11:06:52 AM
@DrFranknfurter: The betas will be something that we announce here on the forums and on our social media, and they will be basically a system where you can preorder them from our site and get immediate access to the beta, as well as then getting the full version when it comes out.  The one for this game will be inside of 2 weeks, hopefully next week but that depends on how my testing goes and what all I keep needing to do to get that fixed up to where I'm ready to start showing it around.  For AI War, most likely the beta there will start in the second week of July, we'll see.

@TheDarkMaster: Yep, in a lot of respects these are kind of like a more extreme version of the Thoraxians, although these guys also have some other oddities up their sleeves in terms of showing up uninvited during unrelated battles and some other things along those lines.  If the Thoraxians are the Buggers from Ender's Game crossed with the aliens from Alien, then the Obscura are kind of a cross between the Borg from Star Trek, and... something I can't think of off of the top of my head.  Some kind of amalgamation of some of the stuff from Joe Haldeman, but nothing too specific.
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: mrhanman June 13, 2014, 11:29:16 AM
Sweet!  This is exactly the sort of thing I get excited about.  It's like getting two whole new games!
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: MaskityMask June 16, 2014, 11:47:24 AM
Huh, so something I just thought up...

I was earlier wondering why Skylaxian's secret ultimate rarely(seriously, I've never seen them after those two games where I had option to build them for peltians and acutians) seen weapon is anti robot race weapon... I mean, androns are good guys and acutians are only other robot race. Then I just now realized that in betrayal mode you control race of robots...

Was that actually planned by you guys? ._.; Well, dumb question since now it makes much more sense why "honorable good guy" race has anti robot ultimate weapon as an option xP
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: Teal_Blue June 24, 2014, 12:29:12 PM
is it the robots (Acutians) specifically, or just the first race the hydral picks?

: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: GC13 June 24, 2014, 01:10:58 PM
The first race, no matter what it is, is robotified by the Hydral.
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: Teal_Blue June 24, 2014, 07:47:37 PM
The first race, no matter what it is, is robotified by the Hydral.


Hmmmm....
seems it would be easier to lock in one of the robot races if that is the case.
So, ... Robotified Thoraxians?  Or Burlusts?  Hmmmm....  I'm not sure i am really crazy about that.
Just a personal opinion though.

: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: GC13 June 25, 2014, 12:29:24 AM
I don't know where you got the idea that the player couldn't select Acutian or Andor as their starting race in the new mode.
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: Teal_Blue June 25, 2014, 11:10:10 AM
perhaps i am misunderstanding then. The blurb said the first race chosen would be killed and the Hydral would take over, and would have a robot race to back them up. I assumed that meant killing the leadership and taking over the race?

If that were true then why not have them chose the Thoraxians first, like we can now, instead of the default Acutians when we press quick play?  If we did in fact chose the Thoraxians, or the Burlusts, or the Peltians or the Boarines, or any of the others, then our race attributes would be the same as the original race, which is cool. I mean can you imagine trying to win with the Peltians? Trying everything we could to increase our rage meter?

Anyway, when you said that whatever race we choose become robotified i was rather disappointed, i mean, why? Why do we have to throw that in there? If i wanted robots i would choose the Andors or the Acutians as you said. But what if i wanted someone else? Like say we did choose the Andors... one of the limits on the Andors at the moment is they do not bomb or invade.

</Quote>  "The attacker tooltips that mention bombardment and ground combat now also mention when an attacker is deliberately refraining from those actions (Skylaxians and Andors don't bomb, and Andors don't invade). Also uses an alternate string for Peltian invader "ground combat".  </Quote>

If that is true, then using the Andors as a race is going to be very challenging, but then again, maybe it is meant to be. Anyway, The other races all present their own quirks and it seems the 'power' races, the Burlusts and the Skylaxians or the Thoraxians might be a little to easy to use, unless there is some way to handicap them that i am unaware of.

Anyway, i thought you said the race would be robotified and i was saying that i was not really keen on that idea, why not use the races just as they are? If we chose a robot race then fine, that would give us their benefits, probably easier to build up a massive army with robots. But then again, it would be cool, if there were some requirement for some mineral or resource that would be necessary to build the robots, so it wasn't like just build them as long as we want. Anyway, all of this is just off the top of my head reactions and i haven't thought things through probably well enough and i am beginning to ramble a bit. So will say by for now, and that maybe i misunderstood what you said? Or not?

-T

: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: MaskityMask June 25, 2014, 11:45:04 AM
I think I have to point out that thing he said was that first race is killed by hydral and replaced with robot minions. And robot minions takes traits from the first race.

Just to point out that he never actually said they turn first race members into robots :P
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: Teal_Blue June 25, 2014, 12:13:25 PM

Well.... i just re-read through Chris's comments and all that and it seems i was way off, no matter what i prefer it seems that the race is 'completely killed' and the hydral has a population of robotic citizens to rule.  Hmmm....  which i still am guessing means that if i chose the Acutians that i am locked into how the Acutian's behaved? Which is ok, but does it mean that if i have robots that the Acutian robots are now able to bomb and invade?

I am harping and i apologize, but it would be way cool if we had their limitations and faults as well as their strengths. Meaning if i couldn't bomb or invade i would have to figure something else out.  :)  It seems maybe harder, but it also seems way more satisfying and cooler.  :)

Anyway, enough of that.
Thanks!

-T


: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: x4000 July 08, 2014, 02:59:39 PM
Update on the schedule: For the TLF expansion, that's going to be very late July or early August when we start the beta for that. Aiming for a September 2.0. That schedule has been pushed back so that I could work on the Linux ports and our site and so on, since we have some breathing room right now.  There are going to be a few more goodies packed into TLF 2.0 than I originally planned, too, so that's a bonus for you for your patience. ;)
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: nas1m July 08, 2014, 03:33:04 PM
Ooh goodies ;D...
Any hints?
: Re: First Expansion, Betrayed Hope - Summer 2014
: x4000 July 09, 2014, 08:44:31 AM
Hmm... I've given quite a few hints already, most of what jumps first to mind are repeats. ;)