The New Field of Glory

[mschund]

I assume the new version will work on Microsoft 8, is this assumption correct? I was told by the tech guy at Costco that anything that runs on Microsoft 7 would run on 8.

[gudin]

Considering Windows 8 is a massive redesign on every level with a completely new UI concept, I think the guy at Costco is being very optimistic. That said, as far as I know this is developed using Unity, which is up to date, I would be shocked if it didn't.

[CharlesRobinson]

Is the AI any better in the new version?

[Brigz]

Is the AI any better in the new version?

I don't think so. I believe they want to finish the new code and maybe will tackle the AI later. People that know more about this than me will probably respond.

[batesmotel]

Is the AI any better in the new version?

I don't think so. I believe they want to finish the new code and maybe will tackle the AI later. People that know more about this than me will probably respond.

Dan (Cothyso) and company are writing the new code from scratch while attempting to maintain compatibility with the current behavior. Given that the current AI isn't documented so not really easy to reproduce, and also isn't very good, there probably is a fair chance that the new AI will be better.

Chris

[Count dTen]

I think the most fascinating part of a PC game IS the AI. Since the old AI is not well documented, the new AI can't help but be different. That said, I hope they adopt a modular design to make it easier to refine and update. That might also allow "flavors" of AI to be selected or randomly assigned. (Hmm, kind of betrays that I'm primarily a solo gamer these days, doesn't it?) Still an "Early Slav" AI should behave differently from a Seleucid or Knightly.

[cothyso]

Hello guys,

The AI is a part of the code which needs a lot of time to be proper developed. The initial version of FoG(U) will only have a basic AI, due to the limited amount of time we have at our disposal for it. It will be continuously enhanced in the post launch patches and addons. Even if the focus is on the multiplayer part of the game, a good AI will still be needed for the multi-side multi-nation games we're intending to add to the game (as AI can play the places not taken by human players in those games).

Until then, first things first. we need to finish the combat code, in order to start the beta

[TheGrayMouser]

[quote="cothyso"] Even if the focus is on the multiplayer part of the game, a good AI will still be needed for the multi-side multi-nation games we're intending to add to the game (as AI can play the places not taken by human players in those games).

quote]

Now your talking !

[Turk1964]

Lokks like we might be getting close to beta testing I definetly want to be part of that so put me down please.

[jimudon]

How does one request to be a beta Tester?

[FedeM]

Any improvements regarding stopping redownloads or to avoid the posibility of modifying your move if you notice yu screw it or not to charge if the outcome was really bad?
It would be nice if once you made a move or whatever you are not able to change it. No matter if you make a redownload or not.
Cheers!

[stockwellpete]

How does one request to be a beta Tester?

My understanding is that there is likely to be a large-scale beta test quite soon and that an invitation to participate will be posted on this forum by the developers in due course.

[Count dTen]

Like the GreyMouser, I found the answer about the multiplayer AI to be somewhere between intriguing and breathtaking. I'm really interested and hope to learn more. Meanwhile, I will continue to beat on the heads of old friends now far dispersed to try the game. The ease of doing things by PBEM makes FOG/PC a great tool for keeping folks in contact. (Now if you'd just add development on FOG-R--I've yet to play it on a table.)

[dbeves]

Considering Windows 8 is a massive redesign on every level with a completely new UI concept, I think the guy at Costco is being very optimistic. That said, as far as I know this is developed using Unity, which is up to date, I would be shocked if it didn't.

Well its not actually - its basically a piece of crap tablet interface (that no PC user actually wants) stuck on windows 7 - in a desperate attempt to compete with apple in MS foray into the hardware market. The only issue is whether it works with metro. Which doesnt matter as you can simply bypass it. In any case Unity 4 is supposed to support metro at some point.

there has been a lot of scare mongering about windows 8 and what it will do to PC - when in actual fact it does nothing to how PC games run as once you disable metro its basically windows 7. the real issue is windows 9. Which will be a completely closed operating system if things go as I suspect they are with microsoft.

One major thing you could fix is the bizarre combat results which stopped me playing the game

[Pseudonius]

One of the best things about the rewrite is that it's being done by a FoG enthusiast with a long-term commitment to the game. I think that's a tremendous slice of good fortune for all of us, and very rare indeed AFAIK! As others have indicated, I would much rather that time is taken to get each stage of the re-write - and then the future development - done properly. As an old programmer I know that pressure of time is the real killer when it comes to introducing major flaws into a game. So I hope that Dan (Cothyso) and his team take just as long as they need... I would much rather see a finished product in six or nine months' time than a buggy, half-finished job that's rushed through just to please the punters!

I'm also delighted to hear that we will be able to continue to use all of the modules we've bought in the past with the new game. That's another refreshing break from the standard model in the gaming world of milking the customers for every penny you can get. Respect to Slitherine and all involved for that decision!

One thing I would ask is that as the game develops adequate thought is given to the development of a decent AI. I completely take on board the point that this is not going to be in place straight away, but in the longer term I believe that one of the main requirements for the game to survive and blossom is that decent solo play is possible. With the current AI that's problematic (to put it politely). The fact that most contributors on here are multi-player enthusiasts may obscure the importance of a functional single player mode for the long term.

[cothyso]

I do really know, and believe, that AI is the most important part of a game like this. And I do intend to make an AI which ultimately should beat most of you guys IT will take time, but that's my original intention. and also, AI scripting. You won't see any of these any time soon, but I was just letting you know that for the long term, we're aiming high.

Also, I've completely dropped AWG from the time I've started working on this, and who knows? maybe you'll see more of the stuff I was planning for AWG in the future sequels of FoG.

[Brigz]

AWG? I seem to have a memory lapse of this.

[cothyso]

AWG (Ancient Warfare Game: here, here and here) - I've always wanted to make an ancient warfare tactical game, as all of the other ones were either dead, or not complete (not offering everything I was expecting from such a game, specially from the gameplay rules, at least from my point of view). So, finally I've re-started the work on that sometime at the end of the last year (after I've worked a while on it while working in London on British Telecom's piiq tablet during 2010-2011), only to drop it dead (at least for the moment) as I've started working on the new FoG(U), and from then on didn't had time for anything else

[Brigz]

Ah...yes. Now I remember. I hope you get time to work on this after your rewrite of FoG. Looks very interesting. I am always on the look-out for ancient warfare games. It seems that every ancient war game I have tried always come up short for one reason or another. I thought FoG was finally the one game that would be what I was looking for. Hopefully with this re-write it still might be that game.

So, get back to work Dan.

[Pseudonius]

I do really know, and believe, that AI is the most important part of a game like this. And I do intend to make an AI which ultimately should beat most of you guys IT will take time, but that's my original intention. and also, AI scripting. You won't see any of these any time soon, but I was just letting you know that for the long term, we're aiming high.

That's great news Dan, thanks for posting about it!!!

Happy