[16:52] *** Malfador has joined channel #se4
[16:52] tescosamoa: hey hey your early 
[16:52] Mephisto: Oh, tell me, tell me, I have a NDA, too!
[16:52] tescosamoa: did you happen to see fyron around ? 
[16:52] ZeroAdunn: I will break you David!!! You cannot resist my mind melting torcher!!!!
[16:53] DavidGervais: Ask aaron how things are going. I can't say.
[16:53] Katchoo: yeah, im a member of the National Dairy Alliance too!
[16:53] Atrocities: hhey hey
[16:53] DavidGervais: Oh, Hi aaron
[16:53] Malfador: Good evening, everybody!
[16:53] Mephisto: Hi Aaron!
[16:53] Katchoo: Hi Aaron
[16:53] Rollo_: Hello aaron
[16:53] Mephisto: A much better time this time, Aaron!
[16:53] E3: (Nolan isnt just not at his computer, he doesnt have his AIM or ICQ online.)
[16:53] Atrocities: Hello
[16:53] ZeroAdunn: Evening, so, Dave says you have decided to quit working on the SE series and build giant robots, any truth to that?
[16:53] E3: lol
[16:53] DavidGervais: lol
[16:54] Atrocities: Where is Fyron?
[16:54] Mephisto: missing in action?
[16:54] Malfador: Giant Robots that can crush whole cities...
[16:54] * tescosamoa everyone we will start in 5 minutes
[16:54] E3: Not home apparently.  Very odd for him since he was annoying me with the fact that I have to leave very shortly
[16:54] DavidGervais: absent? or at class? those would be my guesses as to where fyron is.
[16:54] ZeroAdunn: Hold on a sec, I wil give him a call
[16:54] E3: Giant robots that fly through space with teh greatest of ease?
[16:55] E3: The daring your robot on the flying trapeese?
[16:55] Katchoo: Astroboy?
[16:55] Atrocities: So is it true, that Fyron is not really Aaron?  I thought this rumor was confirmed and now I am told it was not.
[16:55] ZeroAdunn: I am Aaron
[16:55] Malfador: No, Fyron is not Aaron.
[16:55] Mephisto: He really is
[16:55] * tescosamoa malfador will be here for an hour 
[16:55] Atrocities: LOL
[16:55] Mephisto: Thats the reason Fyron is missing
[16:55] * DavidGervais shakes his head, not the fyron/aaron thing again..
[16:56] Rollo_: I am Fyron
[16:56] Mephisto: I am Fyron too
[16:56] DavidGervais: no, I am fyron
[16:56] E3: Naaaaaa...... Fyron cant be Aaron.  Fyron is obsessed with FQM.... leaves him no time to be working on SE5.. which we know is what Aaron does night and day.  Right?  RIGHT?
[16:56] ZeroAdunn: Well, Fyron isn't answering his phone... (unless he got a new number, which is entirely possible)
[16:56] Mephisto: and my wife too
[16:56] Fyron: hey hey
[16:56] Mephisto: Weren't some fires near fyrons home?
[16:56] Mephisto: Ah
[16:56] Atrocities: Oh crap.
[16:56] DavidGervais: E3 change back. please.
[16:56] Atrocities: I thought he was at college though
[16:56] tescosamoa: fyron is at school now 
[16:56] Malfador: So what shall we talk about tonight?
[16:57] Fyron: Ok.. I will use the Fyron-approved name
[16:57] ZeroAdunn: I got a question!
[16:57] tescosamoa: km go ahead 
[16:57] Atrocities: How do you manage your Time Aaron?
[16:57] Atrocities: I mean I work on a mod and my day is gone, and you manage to work on whole games.
[16:57] Malfador: Manage my time?? I don't understand the question...
[16:58] Malfador: Seriously, I just have massive Word task lists. 
[16:58] Malfador: I program quickly enough, its design and business issues that take up most of the time. 
[16:59] * tescosamoa at stop having meetings with your self and do some work ;)
[16:59] Atrocities: Do you manage to get out and have any fun?  Or are you pretty much home/work bound?
[16:59] Malfador: The sad part is, is that you never really ever finish a task list. They grow much faster than you can complete items. 
[17:00] Malfador: I hit Reno from time to time, and take vacations when possible. 
[17:00] Atrocities: :)
[17:00] ZeroAdunn: Question about SEV:  Whill it continue to be a static UI a la SEIV, or modular, a la SEIII?
[17:01] Malfador: Was SE3 a modular UI?
[17:01] ZeroAdunn: Not replacable, you could just move things around
[17:01] ZeroAdunn: Rescale windows, etc
[17:01] Atrocities: Question about SE IV:  The next patch will it include a fix for the Counter Intel Facility (Reglious Tech)
[17:02] Malfador: Ah, I see. Most of it will be static, with some windows popping up near their target (for report windows). 
[17:02] Malfador: Static allows us to customize the UI to squeeze in as much info as possible. 
[17:03] * tescosamoa after at's question go mephisto
[17:03] Mephisto: Will it be possible to have a fan translation of the UI?
[17:03] * tescosamoa as malfador has only an hour if you have a question pm me and i will tell you when you can go
[17:03] Malfador: It should definitely be possible for fan versions of the UI. I just need to add data files for the windows to specify where controls are placed. 
[17:04] Malfador: Otherwise, you can change the background, but controls will always be in the same places. 
[17:04] * tescosamoa but your always free to join in open conversations that go on and you do not need to tell me the question just get in line
[17:05] Malfador: To the question of the Counter Intel Facil fix: it should get fixed if its on the list. Email it to me and I'll throw it on top. 
[17:05] Atrocities: Thanx
[17:05] * tescosamoa next is meph again
[17:05] Mephisto: What do you hold as strength of Moo3 (if you ever played it, that is...)?
[17:05] Malfador: Ouch, tough question. 
[17:06] Atrocities: Tescosamoa do you have a MS messinger id?
[02:04:44-PM] Malfador: I like some the ways they come at Empire government. And I did play it for a little while, but the UI was a real fight. 
[02:05:06-PM] * tescosamoa next is zero 
[02:05:09-PM] Malfador: And the real-time combat might have been good if the ships were a little larger. :)
[02:05:13-PM] Fyron: !topic Chat with Malfador Machinations. 
[02:05:18-PM] Mephisto: lol
[02:05:23-PM] ZeroAdunn: What aspects of starfury's ship design system will make it into SEV (firing arcs, component slots, etc...)
[02:06:04-PM] Malfador: I've been debating this for a while. If we're going to use real ship models like in Starfury, we have to have firing arcs. Otherwise ships will fire through themselves.
[02:06:23-PM] Malfador: But I may lighten up some of the other features like power generation. 
[02:06:28-PM] * tescosamoa next is firon
[02:06:33-PM] ZeroAdunn: You might want to take a look at conquest:  Frontier wars
[02:06:51-PM] tescosamoa: what part of conquest ??
[02:06:55-PM] ZeroAdunn: It has some interesting methods of real time space combat
[02:07:01-PM] ZeroAdunn: To simple though....
[02:07:11-PM] Malfador: The toughest part of it is creating an AI that can deal with the more complicated aspects of ship turning and maneuvering. 
[02:07:32-PM] Executron: ACK!
[02:07:36-PM] Malfador: Yes, I kind of like Conquest: Frontier Wars. Definitely an interesting use of maps. 
[02:07:38-PM] Executron: I'm here...
[02:07:42-PM] Executron: heya guys
[02:07:46-PM] ZeroAdunn: Yo
[02:07:53-PM] *** Firon is now known as E3
[02:08:01-PM] Executron: Conquest is very cool!
[02:08:03-PM] * tescosamoa e3 is next
[02:08:04-PM] Executron: i finsihed it
[02:08:10-PM] Executron: 8-D
[02:08:28-PM] E3: (oh woot!.  when is next? now? or when someone says the childish one can speak?)
[02:08:36-PM] tescosamoa: 5 seconds...
[02:08:40-PM] Fyron: !topic Chat with Malfador Machinations. PM Tesco if you have a question to get in line to ask. 
[02:08:43-PM] Executron: hey maybe this is really stupid... but any aproximative realease of SE5?
[02:08:55-PM] * E3 elbows Dinesky
[02:08:55-PM] * tescosamoa next is kwok
[02:09:19-PM] CaptainKwok: For the last SE:IV patch, would it be possible to create an ability that allows for specific component damage by using its family number?  Also, what about adding a few "dummy" abilities that we can use to force AIs to use specific comps?
[02:09:29-PM] Malfador: Another tough question! I was hoping for a Christmas 2004 release, but that is really iffy. There are just too many things to do within that amount of time. The beta test for SE4 took over a year!
[02:09:45-PM] Executron: thanks Aaron!!!
[02:09:51-PM] * tescosamoa next is Atrocities
[02:10:10-PM] Malfador: Dummy abilities should be easy enough. But I need a few more details on the specific component damage by family member. 
[02:10:14-PM] Atrocities: I read that you wanted to do a world conquest game, I have been a big advocate of this type of making a world conquest game like this based on aspects of 4X and RTS.  Are you serious about this, and if so can you provide any insight or info on your plans?
[02:11:03-PM] Malfador: Yes, I'd definitely like to make a world conquest game. I was a big fan of Empire, back in the day. But at this point, its just rough scribblings. No concrete design. 
[02:11:17-PM] CaptainKwok: It would be an ability that works like other damage only components, except you give it a value that matches a specific family number of the target component.
[02:11:21-PM] Atrocities: Cool =) Thanks
[02:11:30-PM] Fyron: I think he meant like the "only shield generators", but you have a custom familiy group 
[02:11:48-PM] Malfador: CaptainKwok - Write up a description (if you haven't already) and email it to me. Sounds easy enough. 
[02:11:53-PM] CaptainKwok: Ok.
[02:12:01-PM] * tescosamoa fryon is next
[02:12:16-PM] Fyron: How exactly does the Happiness racial characteristic work? 
[02:12:21-PM] Fyron: (In SE4) 
[02:12:30-PM] * tescosamoa tesco is next
[02:13:17-PM] Malfador: That explanation might take a bit of time. Basically, it just helps to keep your populations happier when unhappy events occur. 
[02:13:30-PM] tescosamoa: LOL
[02:13:41-PM] Fyron: Yes, I know. But there has been a lot of confusion as to its actual effects... numerically, not qualitatively. ;) 
[02:14:11-PM] Malfador: Numerically, I would need to go through the code. Its been a long time, I don't remember off the top of my head. 
[02:14:25-PM] Fyron: Ok. Just email me the answer then.  
[02:14:30-PM] Mephisto: LOL!
[02:14:31-PM] Malfador: No problem. 
[02:14:32-PM] Dinesku_Executrix: :)
[02:14:33-PM] tescosamoa: my question is from dogscoff
[02:14:34-PM] tescosamoa: is any chance of us fanfic writers getting to write "officially" for se5. Maybe a few short stories could be included in the manual, or maybe we could work with scenario-builders or write detailled back stories for the stock races. This last suggestion would be especially cool if the much-requested "animosity" setting (ie Druks always hate EEE etc) makes it into se5.
[02:14:51-PM] * tescosamoa zero is next
[02:14:56-PM] Dinesku_Executrix: yeah!... i'd like to right something!
[02:14:57-PM] Dinesku_Executrix: :)
[02:15:25-PM] Malfador: That's quite possible. The original race descriptions for SE4 were mainly written by SE4 fans and beta testers (with some modifications by your trully). 
[02:15:37-PM] Dinesku_Executrix: :D... cool
[02:15:48-PM] Malfador: If there are enough fans interested in this, I will make that a design goal. It will certainly help take some of the load off. 
[02:15:49-PM] Dinesku_Executrix: we'll keep an eye on that
[02:15:49-PM] Dinesku_Executrix: :-D
[02:15:53-PM] * tescosamoa go zero
[02:15:55-PM] Dinesku_Executrix: indeed
[02:15:58-PM] ZeroAdunn: What kind of system view/movement system are you going for in SEV?  Will it sill be sector based or something new?  (like maybe vector based)
[02:16:06-PM] * tescosamoa atrocities is next
[02:16:06-PM] Malfador: But people need to be aware that not everything will be accepted. And modification is always possible. 
[02:16:52-PM] Dinesku_Executrix: ofcourse...
[02:17:04-PM] Malfador: The movement style has been a major design issue. For most game designers, we love to start from scratch. 
[02:17:27-PM] Malfador: But there are a number of issues stopping that. Mainly series continuity and ease of use. 
[02:17:50-PM] Malfador: My feeling right now is that it will most likely stay a square based, sector movement style. 
[02:18:03-PM] Rollo_: how about hex based?
[02:18:04-PM] ekolis: :(
[02:18:05-PM] Fyron: How about some other shape like hexagons 
[02:18:09-PM] Malfador: I really wanted to change it, but completely rewriting the game will put the release date back years...
[02:18:32-PM] Fyron: Squares are just reallly really bad approximations. 
[02:18:36-PM] Dinesku_Executrix: why not leave it as it is *ducks*
[02:18:42-PM] * tescosamoa atrocities is next
[02:18:54-PM] Atrocities: SE V Question:  Over 5 years ago Rebellion was doing 3d combat effectively, and then BOTF did it as well.  It seems like Moo3 tried it but failed. How hard will it be for you to incorp 3d combat into SE V simular to Rebellion and or BOTF?  Second Question: In Rebellion we had the ability to add "People" with special skills to our fleets.  Can that also be a feature for SE V but make it so we can customize them? (Image - Data
[02:18:58-PM] Malfador: And too much of the code depends on the basic concept of a sector being next to each other. 
[02:19:07-PM] Fyron: Even an isometric map would be better. 
[02:19:34-PM] CaptainKwok: I like isometric.
[02:19:46-PM] * tescosamoa sneaky at 2 questions ;)
[02:19:48-PM] Fyron: Isometric is still next to each other. 
[02:20:05-PM] Malfador: First question - Does 3D combat add enough to combat to offset the learning curve created by it. I found BOTF combat to be a bit simplistic. 
[02:20:19-PM] Atrocities: I hit return by mistake, I was responding to a PM :(
[02:20:34-PM] Malfador: To the second question - Yes, I do intend to add admirals and governors with specific bonuses they add to the fleet or planet they are on. 
[02:20:37-PM] * tescosamoa fyron is next 
[02:20:57-PM] Atrocities: Thanks, I like 2d Combat for larger fleets my self.
[02:21:05-PM] Fyron: Ooh... leaders! :D 
[02:21:23-PM] Dinesku_Executrix: like Freelance and Conquest.. good implementation
[02:21:35-PM] Malfador: And 3D combat gets into a whole host of issues about weapon placements, UI layout, etc. If you don't have weapon arcs, what good is 3D combat? 
[02:21:58-PM] ZeroAdunn: Precisely
[02:21:59-PM] ekolis: Makes for better SE4 PBC :D
[02:21:59-PM] ekolis: where is SJ anyway?
[02:22:00-PM] Fyron: Weapon arcs are still good to have in 2d... 
[02:22:10-PM] Atrocities: Excellent point, and that was going to be a follow up question, not any more. :)
[02:22:16-PM] Dinesku_Executrix: SJ... haven't seen him today
[02:22:19-PM] ZeroAdunn: I don't thinkt that was the point fyron
[02:22:21-PM] * tescosamoa sj is at school
[02:22:22-PM] Fyron: From Ran-Taro: Would someone be kind enough to ask whether MM would consider (or have they considered) adding monetary economies / government types / cultural and diplomatic victory conditions to SEV (not IV)? 
[02:22:24-PM] Malfador: I can certainly make a detailed ship combat model, but trying to play it within an SE5 game would be like playing a game of chess, within a game of chess. 
[02:22:40-PM] * tescosamoa dinesku is next 
[02:22:57-PM] ekolis: Why not? Ever heard of "Archon"?
[02:23:01-PM] Fyron: It worked great in MOO2.  
[02:23:14-PM] Malfador: Yes, I am in the design stages of adding government types and alternative victory conditions to SE5. 
[02:23:44-PM] Malfador: Yes weapon arcs in 2D are good. In 3D they get very hard to manage...
[02:23:56-PM] Fyron: True. 
[02:23:57-PM] Malfador: Archon's battles were quick and easy. 
[02:24:13-PM] ekolis: Oh well, never played it myself, just thought the concept was cool :)
[02:24:40-PM] Malfador: The basic question is whether the combat for SE5 should take over an hour? Over 2 hours? over 8 hours?
[02:24:46-PM] Dinesku_Executrix: OK..I have a very basic and founding question... is SE5 gonna be 3d like Conquest:Frontier Wars, Hegemonia:Legions of Iron, etc
[02:24:50-PM] ZeroAdunn: Dependso n fleet size
[02:24:59-PM] Rollo_: no more then 10 minutes...
[02:25:00-PM] tescosamoa: combat should be quick
[02:25:01-PM] Fyron: Well for strategic play, it doesn't really matter, as it will be done quickly anyways 
[02:25:01-PM] Dinesku_Executrix: or are we still keeping the 2D for general play
[02:25:18-PM] Fyron: And in tactical, the whole point is to immerse yourself in the battle ;P 
[02:25:19-PM] Fyron: ;) 
[02:25:22-PM] Malfador: Yes, we are going for a 3D display of the solar system and for combat in SE5. 
[02:25:31-PM] Dinesku_Executrix: Thanks!... cool
[02:25:33-PM] Dinesku_Executrix: BUT!
[02:25:34-PM] * tescosamoa David G is next
[02:25:38-PM] Dinesku_Executrix: i hope not like starfury
[02:25:43-PM] Dinesku_Executrix: that wasn'treally 3d sorry
[02:25:46-PM] Dinesku_Executrix: :(
[02:25:50-PM] Dinesku_Executrix: i hope a pure 3d
[02:25:59-PM] DavidGervais: Aaron in your Wargamer interview you mention.."In the coming month we'll be releasing a detailed specification on how to modify StarFury" Are you making progress on this?
[02:26:42-PM] Malfador: Hi David! Yes, I've almost completed the Starfury modding doc. Its taken a lot longer than I thought it would. Should be posted in the beta forum later this week. 
[02:26:45-PM] Rollo_: yes, and can i have an early version... ;-)
[02:26:48-PM] * tescosamoa mephisto is next
[02:26:56-PM] Malfador: Also, there's a small utility program to randomly generate solar systems. 
[02:27:03-PM] Rollo_: wohooo!
[02:27:19-PM] Mephisto: Can you give us any insight how Diplomacy will change in SE5?
[02:27:31-PM] * DavidGervais thinks aaron is going to make many people happy.
[02:27:33-PM] * tescosamoa dravis is next
[02:27:57-PM] Dravis: What pregramming language were SE3 and SE4 written in?  Did you use any tools other then the languages themselves to create SE3/4?
[02:27:57-PM] Malfador: My main goal in SE5 diplomacy is on the AI side. I need to make the AI remember polical dealings for a lot longer, and in more specific detail. 
[02:28:11-PM] ZeroAdunn: Cool
[02:28:23-PM] ZeroAdunn: Bout dang time
[02:28:38-PM] ZeroAdunn: I just had a game where an AI told me to make peace with a race who had hunted them to near genocide
[02:28:44-PM] Malfador: SE3 and SE4 were both programmed in Delphi 4.0. Other tools used are mainly for graphics, installation etc. Programs like 3D Studio Max, Truespace, Wise installer, etc. 
[02:28:46-PM] Dinesku_Executrix: maybe some more types of Alliances
[02:28:55-PM] Dinesku_Executrix: coool
[02:28:55-PM] * tescosamoa pvk is next
[02:29:01-PM] PvK: Assuming you're staying with the sector-based movement, like you said, do you have ideas in mind for how to handle retreating from superior enemies, and improving interception compared to SE4 (where the intercepting fleet often "misses"), and if so, what are they?
[02:29:32-PM] Malfador: The AI in SE4 does remember, but they also modify it based on their current situation. For example, if the AI is already at war, it will not declare war even against a hated enemy. 
[02:29:51-PM] * tescosamoa zero is next
[02:30:19-PM] Malfador: Sorry PvK, haven't designed that far yet. I do want to re-introduce retreat, but come up with a better method execution. 
[02:30:30-PM] PvK: ok, cool
[02:30:30-PM] Malfador: method of execution
[02:30:42-PM] * tescosamoa go zero
[02:30:46-PM] ZeroAdunn: Any thoughts of larger systems?
[02:30:51-PM] * tescosamoa kwok is next
[02:30:53-PM] * ZeroAdunn forgot my originall question.....
[02:30:59-PM] ekolis: how about Star Control style, it takes a few turns to charge up your warp engines so you're vulnerable? (sorry to interrupt :))
[02:31:07-PM] Malfador: Yes, I was thinking about having more sectors in a system for more detailed movement. 
[02:31:15-PM] ZeroAdunn: I like that idea Ekolis
[02:31:18-PM] Fyron: And more detailed maps. 
[02:31:18-PM] CaptainKwok: In SE:5, what about making facilities take up different amounts of space rather than all of 
[02:31:19-PM] CaptainKwok: them occupying the same amount of space?  Planets in that case could also be varied in size rather than static sizes.  Also, what kinds of changes to planet stats are planned?
[02:31:25-PM] CaptainKwok: Woops.
[02:31:32-PM] * tescosamoa fyon is next
[02:31:33-PM] CaptainKwok: In SE:5, what about making facilities take up different amounts of space rather than all of 
[02:31:34-PM] CaptainKwok: them occupying the same amount of space?  Planets in that case could also be varied in size rather than static sizes.  Also, what kinds of changes to planet stats are planned?
[02:31:46-PM] Atrocities: Un-Offically, did the moo3 failure help sales of SEIV?  If so can you elebrate on how well it effected sales?
[02:31:57-PM] CaptainKwok: The first line should read:
[02:32:24-PM] CaptainKwok: Ok, that was wierd.
[02:32:28-PM] * tescosamoa go fryon
[02:32:34-PM] * tescosamoa then back to kwok
[02:32:39-PM] Fyron: How do you plan on implementing armor in SE5? Will it be the same uber layer of protection until it is all gone as in SE4, or will some damage be able to get through to damage internals, which is much, much more realistic? 
[02:32:41-PM] Atrocities: out of turn question, please ignor
[02:32:53-PM] Malfador: I'm still debating the "have facilities take up cargo space" idea. It seems a little strange that a massive industrial complex would take up cargo space. And if so, if there are no facilities present, you would have an incredible amount of cargo space. 
[02:33:02-PM] Fyron: No not cargo space. 
[02:33:11-PM] Fyron: Facility space. A separate entry. 
[02:33:19-PM] * tescosamoa ekolis is next
[02:33:25-PM] Malfador: Facility space might work alright. Sounds good!
[02:33:28-PM] CaptainKwok: Yes, Fyron - that's the idea.
[02:33:32-PM] Fyron: Instead of 14 facilities, have 1400 facility space. Average facilities are 100. :) 
[02:34:01-PM] Malfador: With the jumbo cannon being 500. Sounds like a good idea. 
[02:34:09-PM] ekolis: all right Aaron... you promised a final patch for SE4... any thoughts on which of our numerous suggestions might be incorporated? :)
[02:34:21-PM] Combat_Wombat: Will building a Sphereworld around a star in  a system with only one star cause planets to lose their atmospheres and organic resource values(because the sphereworld would block the sun out)?
[02:34:30-PM] * tescosamoa dinesku is next
[02:34:35-PM] ekolis: (also, how can you stand dealing with all these incessant demands on your time and labor :p)
[02:34:41-PM] Malfador: For the next SE4 patch, I'm going to try and get in as many fixes as I can (and still release it before the end of the year). 
[02:35:40-PM] Dinesku_Executrix: OK I didn't quite get this... SE5 will be like Starfury a semi-3d... or will it be real 3d (up and down movement) and question 2. qill it be possible to devise a system when we could change between 2d and 3d?
[02:35:51-PM] * tescosamoa tesco is next
[02:35:55-PM] Dinesku_Executrix: like hegemonia
[02:36:00-PM] Malfador: Armor - haven't decided yet. I do like the idea of it. But players are sometimes confused when they have armor left, and yet damage has gotten into their ship's guts. 
[02:36:23-PM] Fyron: That should nto be confusing 
[02:36:33-PM] * tescosamoa atrocities is next since tesco misplaced question
[02:36:40-PM] Fyron: What is confusing is that all armor on my ship has to be annihiliated before tehre are any holes 
[02:37:00-PM] Fyron: Armor in the front protects the back of my ship sort of stuff. 
[02:37:03-PM] Malfador: 3D - I guess this is sort of confused. Do you mean a 3D rendered display, or 3D movement of ships in space?
[02:37:12-PM] Dinesku_Executrix: 3d movement
[02:37:20-PM] Dinesku_Executrix: like Freelancer or something
[02:38:32-PM] * tescosamoa at is next
[02:38:35-PM] Malfador: SE5 will be a 3D rendered display. Movement of ships will most likely stay in the 2D plane. I have yet to see any real strategic benefit to adding this level of complexity. 
[02:38:36-PM] Atrocities: Un-Offically, did the moo3 failure help sales of SEIV?  If so can you elebrate on how well?
[02:38:43-PM] * tescosamoa tesco is next
[02:38:53-PM] Dinesku_Executrix: thank you
[02:39:05-PM] Malfador: The failure of MOO3, did help our sales, but only by a little. 
[02:39:20-PM] Atrocities: That is a shame, you have made one hell of a fine game here.
[02:39:25-PM] tescosamoa: are you considering a detailed set up system in sev ? examples are ( to help you with my idea here ) Where the admin picks the number of planets the player starts with and either a random generation of locations or they can go into the map and pick the planets., What tech levels the player 
[02:39:32-PM] tescosamoa: starts with, The starting number KT of ships and KT of units that are available. What events they want to occur and when ( and/or quick pick default types ) Be able to select the cost of each research type and what levels are available. And alter any component or facility costs abiliites or what ever. So if it is available in the game it is available for manulpilation at the game set up screens. 
[02:39:34-PM] Malfador: If we do armor like in Starfury, then you will take internal damage once your front armor is gone. 
[02:39:50-PM] tescosamoa: Then the Player on turn 2399.9 gets to go through and place what ever facilities they want on their planets, Design and deploy all ships and units in their controlled space. 
[02:39:50-PM] tescosamoa: the ability to determine what can be traded , analyzed in a game at setup. the ability to set up what level the fog of war will be ( no info on alien races to complete info )
[02:39:56-PM] * tescosamoa sorry long long question
[02:40:16-PM] Fyron: But that is still overly simplisitic! Armor on the left of the front protects every bit of the front, even though it is not presnet on the whole front. 
[02:40:20-PM] ZeroAdunn: Bad tesco
[02:40:28-PM] * ZeroAdunn hits tesco with rolled up newspaper
[02:40:38-PM] * tescosamoa it is only one question
[02:40:55-PM] * Dinesku_Executrix hits Fyron.. leave it man
[02:40:57-PM] tescosamoa: which is are you considering a detailed setup system in sev
[02:41:16-PM] Rollo_: fyron, i think keeping track of individual armor plates adds too much detail for a galactic conquest game
[02:41:20-PM] * tescosamoa mephisto is next
[02:41:21-PM] * ZeroAdunn realises tesco is right, but still wants to hit people with a rolled up newspaper
[02:41:36-PM] * Taz enjoys all this violence.:-)
[02:41:40-PM] Malfador: Detailed game setup - Some of the things you are after would be better done through game modding. But some of the placement of empires issues I'll try and get into the Game Setup.
[02:41:43-PM] * tescosamoa don't start the flutter please
[02:41:49-PM] Fyron: Rollo... stuff like leaky armor eliminates all that silliness and is not too much for a galactic conquest game. 
[02:41:51-PM] Mephisto: Are you going to change the intel system in SEV? If so, how? Spies like in Moo? Or back to the good old Se3 days? :)
[02:41:53-PM] tescosamoa: thank you
[02:42:10-PM] * tescosamoa fryon is next
[02:42:14-PM] * ZeroAdunn hates intel!
[02:43:07-PM] Fyron: Ill wait until Meph's question gets answered. 
[02:43:11-PM] Malfador: I've gotten a number of requests for Intel in SE5. Half want the SE3 system where offense and defense are separate. The other half want a more individual system where spies are used and have specific capabilities. I'm tending more towards an SE3 system of intel. 
[02:43:29-PM] Mephisto: Great! :)
[02:43:30-PM] Fyron: SE3 was better for a large scale game. 
[02:43:36-PM] Fyron: Can we get a lot more areas to put in random variation for entries in the data files? As an example, have a single black hole system, but it has a set of possibilities for abilities, instead of them all being the same for that specific black hole entry. Or for a planet, the ability for a medium planet to have 10 facility spaces, or 9, or 11, in whatever percents we want for each of them? 
[02:43:42-PM] Malfador: Offense and Defense should be separate, it was a bit confusing in SE4. 
[02:43:51-PM] Dinesku_Executrix: what was the intel in SE3?
[02:43:54-PM] ZeroAdunn: You know a good intell system would be to decide how many points you want to pour into a certain level intell project, and if the enemy has enough points poured into counter intell when the project finishes (like a project could take two turn, and you chose to spend 10,000 poitns on it) then the project gets through
[02:43:54-PM] Dinesku_Executrix: if i may ask?
[02:44:02-PM] Fyron: Go get the SE3 demo. 
[02:44:07-PM] Dinesku_Executrix: lol...
[02:45:04-PM] Malfador: I think that random entries in the data files is an excellent idea. The system types for SE4 were kind of an afterthought. Random variation would definitely spice things up. 
[02:45:18-PM] tescosamoa: agreed it sure would
[02:45:25-PM] Fyron: :) 
[02:45:32-PM] * tescosamoa zero is next
[02:45:50-PM] ZeroAdunn: Crap, I forgot my question again!
[02:45:55-PM] Dinesku_Executrix: LOL!
[02:45:58-PM] tescosamoa: next
[02:45:58-PM] Mephisto: LOL!
[02:46:08-PM] Fyron: Oh.. and that randomness should be separate, so we can have random chances to have multiple abilities on the same object. 
[02:46:14-PM] Malfador: Some things left over from SE3 still had an effect in SE4. Because of the way SE3 did graphics, SE4 still had planet sizes. This was uneeded since every planet can really have its own set of unique values. 
[02:46:15-PM] Fyron: So you could have a damaging and cloaking storm. 
[02:46:15-PM] * tescosamoa combat is next
[02:46:26-PM] Combat_Wombat: Will building a Sphereworld around a star in  a system with only one star cause planets to lose their atmospheres and organic resource values(because the sphereworld would block the sun out)?
[02:46:39-PM] Dinesku_Executrix: good question!
[02:46:42-PM] ekolis: why would they lose their atmosphere? they still have gravity :?
[02:46:58-PM] Dinesku_Executrix: yeah... i think he meant by temperature and plants
[02:46:58-PM] ZeroAdunn: Without the sun there would be no heat
[02:47:05-PM] Dinesku_Executrix: yeah
[02:47:36-PM] Malfador: You've pointed out a lovely bad modeling job in SE4! Ringworld and Sphereworlds actually removed the star and replaced it with a planet at the center of the system. Lots of players asked why they couldn't blow the star up.
[02:48:17-PM] Malfador: With a better design of Sphereworlds and Ringworlds, the effects on other stellar objects will be better. I can't guarantee that it will be perfect, but at least there should still be a star!
[02:48:45-PM] Fyron: Actually, there can be heat. Some moons of Jupiter are hot because of the forces involved in their orbits of jupiter. Otherwise they would be just as frozen as everything else that far away. 
[02:48:49-PM] Combat_Wombat: thx
[02:48:51-PM] * tescosamoa atrocities ins next
[02:48:52-PM] Malfador: Ringworlds wouldn't effect the rest of the system, but Sphereworlds would block the light from the star to the other planets. 
[02:49:11-PM] ZeroAdunn: Fyron:  Yes, but the without light the system as a whole would cool down
[02:49:11-PM] Atrocities: For SEV, and again I will email my wish list to you, will it be possible to incorp into the set up the ability to prename a races homeworld and system?  This way when I have a Dominion empire, I do not start the game in the SOL system. I have a follow up as well... 1.  In SE V can you add the ability for Min / Max vehicle size to all components?  This way a modder can specify that X componet can only go on X size ship hull.
[02:49:11-PM] Dinesku_Executrix: yeah...Jupiter has it's own heat from the core
[02:49:16-PM] Taz: If you want to get realistic - a sphereworld should take up half a system!
[02:49:27-PM] Dinesku_Executrix: ?!... that would be HUGE!
[02:49:51-PM] Fyron: It is supposed to be about the size of Earth's orbit 
[02:49:55-PM] Combat_Wombat: yep
[02:50:01-PM] Malfador: But what system name do you use if the system is occupied by two different races?
[02:50:12-PM] Fyron: Well that could be random. 
[02:50:22-PM] Malfador: Should be easy enough. 
[02:50:28-PM] Fyron: (from those two). BUt their HW would still get their own name 
[02:50:29-PM] Atrocities: You could specify which one takes lead, I guess
[02:50:46-PM] Fyron: Even in a SE4 patch that would be great... ;) 
[02:51:01-PM] Malfador: Most of these changes \ additions are easy enough to do, its just time and getting it in at the beginning which effect it. 
[02:51:23-PM] Atrocities: where has the time gone????
[02:51:27-PM] Fyron: I'd gladly wait 6 extra months for SE5 if it means all these small changes can get in ;) 
[02:51:33-PM] Malfador: The first priority on the SE4 patch is to fix outstanding bugs. Additions come after everything else works. :)
[02:51:36-PM] Atrocities: One hour poooooof
[02:51:40-PM] * tescosamoa fyron is next
[02:51:42-PM] Fyron: Can we have weapons doing some random damage? It would definitley add variety to combat if, say, a PPB did between 40 and 60 damage at range 2 instead of always doing 50 at range 2. 
[02:52:01-PM] Fyron: It would make combat less of a mathematical equation. 
[02:52:11-PM] ZeroAdunn: Yah, you could have like a percent variance number or something....
[02:52:14-PM] Malfador: But there are an infinite number of additions you can add to a game. 6 more months for X number of features. 12 months for X*2. You have to cap it somewhere. 
[02:52:25-PM] Atrocities: Just wanted to say thank you Aaron form making two games I really enjoy, Space Empires and Star Fury.  Great work and I hope you enjoy great success with both
[02:52:33-PM] Dinesku_Executrix: 30 years for the perfect game
[02:52:34-PM] Dinesku_Executrix: :-D
[02:52:50-PM] ZeroAdunn: And then it isn't perfect anymore, because it is outdated by then
[02:52:55-PM] Dinesku_Executrix: hehehhehe
[02:52:56-PM] ekolis: so, should we start working on the ultimate port of Spacewar? ;)
[02:53:14-PM] DavidGervais: aaaah, we all look forward to SE:IX ;)
[02:53:18-PM] Dinesku_Executrix: heheh
[02:53:34-PM] ekolis: yeah... I bet it's more fun in multiplayer :D :D :D
[02:53:35-PM] * tescosamoa fryon is next
[02:53:36-PM] PvK: (for two empires starting in the same system, how about a hyphenated name with each name on either side of the Hyphen?)
[02:53:47-PM] Malfador: Thanks everybody for the chat! If you have a list of items you want to see fixed or added, just email them to se4@malfador.com. I have a hundred page document with every request every made for SE4. Its just a matter of sorting through all of them!
[02:53:47-PM] Dinesku_Executrix: ?!...
[02:53:58-PM] ekolis: awww...
[02:53:59-PM] Fyron: But you missed my question :( 
[02:54:00-PM] Fyron: Can we have weapons doing some random damage? It would definitley add variety to combat if, say, a PPB did between 40 and 60 damage at range 2 instead of always doing 50 at range 2. 
[02:54:05-PM] * tescosamoa thank you malfador
[02:54:07-PM] Fyron: It would make combat less of a mathematical equation 
[02:54:07-PM] PvK: only 100 pages!? ;-)
[02:54:11-PM] tescosamoa: this was great
[02:54:16-PM] Mephisto: Thanks for beeing here! Have a nice week!
[02:54:19-PM] CaptainKwok: Thanks for stopping by.
[02:54:19-PM] Dinesku_Executrix: hey thanks Aaron!
[02:54:27-PM] Dinesku_Executrix: respect man!
[02:54:27-PM] ZeroAdunn: Thanks for stopping by, don't forget to pick up your complimenatry fruit cake at the door
[02:54:32-PM] Malfador: Random damage, sure! Just as long as its a small enough amount that it doesn't cause two completely different outcomes to the combat. 
[02:54:41-PM] DavidGervais: this has been a much better chat sssion than the one at RPBCodex. Thanks Aaron
[02:54:44-PM] * tescosamoa anyone else had questions qued up post them in the shrapnel thead and i will compose an email for malfador to answer
[02:54:46-PM] PvK: I want my fruitcake... er... no I don't... never mind.
[02:54:47-PM] Fyron: Well that is fine. It is just the ability that is needed :D 
[02:54:48-PM] Atrocities: Well that went well
[02:54:55-PM] Fyron: Thanks for coming by! 
[02:55:03-PM] Malfador: We'll have to do this again some time! Now, back to that damn Starfury modding doc...
[02:55:03-PM] * tescosamoa that way we keep it all together
[02:55:03-PM] Atrocities: :)
[02:55:07-PM] DavidGervais: and thank Tesco for doing a great job moderating.
[02:55:09-PM] ZeroAdunn: Sorry, fruit cake for speakers only, the rest of you get rat poison
[02:55:11-PM] * tescosamoa take care
[02:55:18-PM] Atrocities: Yes thanks Tesco 
[02:55:18-PM] Dinesku_Executrix: I WANT A PIZZA!
[02:55:19-PM] * Mephisto drops dead
[02:55:20-PM] ekolis: mmm raaaat poison :D
[02:55:24-PM] Fyron: ZA does not speak for #se4 
[02:55:25-PM] Malfador: Thanks Tesco! Much better than the last one!
[02:55:32-PM] Fyron: Indeed! 
[02:55:39-PM] ZeroAdunn: I used to..... but then I was fired....
[02:55:49-PM] *** Malfador has left #se4