Article mentioning Demigod, GPG, and SupCom2

from Demigod Forums


Here's a portion of it.  Full link at bottom.  (Not a troll, just an update on news)

"Taylor mentioned at the beginning of the demo that he wanted to explore story and characters more in Supreme Commander 2, but that he also wanted to continue to focus on technology just as much as before. He then showed us our first glimpse of the game, an overhead view of a map called "Illuminate 5." If you've played the same developer's Demigod, you'd be familiar with the art style of the backgrounds. It featured a giant arena hovering over an illuminated city, and its color palate and 3D-on-2D look were highly reminiscent of the aforementioned game. This isn't the only aspect of Supreme Commander 2 that takes its cues from Demigod. The same graphics engine is being used, which makes Supreme Commander look more natural--and run smoother. Expect the game to run on a variety of systems, and to run better than its predecessor.

 

Of course, Demigod is also known for its multiplayer connection issues. Taylor acknowledged the problems, adding that Gas Powered Games has learned a lot from the experience. The developers have yet to settle on a multiplayer technology partner, but assured us that the Impulse multiplayer technology powering Demigod will not be used for Supreme Commander 2."

 

Found at:  http://e3.gamespot.com/story/6211080/supreme-commander-2-impressions

 

demigod
10,768 views 22 replies
Reply #1 from Demigod Forums Top

I think it was announced some time ago that Stardock would not be publishing SupComm2, so it would stand to reason that GPG would not use Impulse for anything, other than possible DD.

 

Reply #2 from Demigod Forums Top

wow what a cop out. GPG blame stardock? I'm yet to see a GPG staff member on these forums trying to help people out. It also kinda confirms that DG is dead to GPG. A quick money maker to shoot out the door to get some extra funds for SCII? Poor Stardock and poor DG adn poor us.

I used to be a huge GPG follower but DG and the 'idiot friendly' direction SupCom 2 is headed in is really putting my off, what are they a mini-EA now?

 

Frogboy, we'd love to see some GPG presence on thes forums explaining themselves.

 

What a PR fuck up. hah.

WindowBlinds - Free yourself of the default settings, customize your desktop.
Reply #3 from Demigod Forums Top

Chris emailed me prior to this post to say that he was taken out of context.

For the record, Demigod does not use Impulse for MP.  There is no such thing as an Impulse MP feature nor are there plans to make one.

For Demigod, GPG developed the net code and Stardock licensed from Raknet the NAT fascilator to help people connect to Demigod.

Now, since the launch problems, Stardock made the choice to assign its own team to build a new MP connection system for Demigod but again, this is for Demigod. It's not something that we would even use on our other games (our games are client/server in architecture).

I can assure you that GPG is working very hard on Demigod and both us and Stardock are commited to the *long term* support for the game.  Even today, we were having a friendly debate on the 2 new Demigods that are being developed on what powers they should have. We literally talk hours every day.

Reply #6 from Demigod Forums Top

Steam doesn't do P2P.  In fact, other than Source engine games, I don't think Steamworks provides MP connectivity features for developers (or at least any that have been used) but I could be mistaken.

I've recommended Games for Windows Live (which is what we would have used for Demigod if it had been ready at the time we had to make a decision).

Reply #7 from Demigod Forums Top

Quoting Frogboy, reply 3
Chris emailed me prior to this post to say that he was taken out of context.

For the record, Demigod does not use Impulse for MP.  There is no such thing as an Impulse MP feature nor are there plans to make one.

For Demigod, GPG developed the net code and Stardock licensed from Raknet the NAT fascilator to help people connect to Demigod.

Now, since the launch problems, Stardock made the choice to assign its own team to build a new MP connection system for Demigod but again, this is for Demigod. It's not something that we would even use on our other games (our games are client/server in architecture).

I can assure you that GPG is working very hard on Demigod and both us and Stardock are commited to the *long term* support for the game.  Even today, we were having a friendly debate on the 2 new Demigods that are being developed on what powers they should have. We literally talk hours every day.
End of Frogboy's quote

 

Good to hear, I hope GPG understand why people think they have little interest in this game though. How about some direct feedback to the community instead of everything being done by proxy.

Reply #8 from Demigod Forums Top

Games for Windows Live?

Isnt that what UaW used?

Reply #9 from Demigod Forums Top

Yes, though it has improved somewhat considerably since then. It still has its issues though, but generally tends to work.

Reply #10 from Demigod Forums Top

Dawn of War2 uses Windows live.  It works well.

Reply #11 from Demigod Forums Top

Personally I feel bad for the games that are shimmied into GfWL.  Most communties hate it due to the fact of "silver and gold" options..  Us PC gamers are to spoiled to pay for online unless it is an MMORPG :P

Reply #12 from Demigod Forums Top

GfWL doesn't have it anymore. It's completely free with all features. Only the Xbox 360 still has the silver/gold distinction.

Reply #13 from Demigod Forums Top

Does GFWL have chat room support yet?

Reply #14 from Demigod Forums Top

DOW2 used both Steam (as a platform, when you buy the DVD version, it installs through Steam), then G4W Live (ingame) as MP service (for friends/achievments).

Reply #15 from Demigod Forums Top

Quoting Annatar11, reply 12
GfWL doesn't have it anymore. It's completely free with all features. Only the Xbox 360 still has the silver/gold distinction.
End of Annatar11's quote

Oh, that's a good tid bit of information.  Thanks! :D

Reply #16 from Demigod Forums Top

"The economy has been tweaked as well. Energy and mass are still your two resources. However, now you will be able to purchase a unit or upgrade only if you can afford it, rather than queue it up as you could in the original. This means that players are less apt early on to paint themselves into a corner that they can't escape from later."

Congrats for removing one of the best features in the game...

The game might still turn up great though.

Reply #17 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Frogboy, reply 6
Steam doesn't do P2P.  In fact, other than Source engine games, I don't think Steamworks provides MP connectivity features for developers (or at least any that have been used) but I could be mistaken.

I've recommended Games for Windows Live (which is what we would have used for Demigod if it had been ready at the time we had to make a decision).
End of Frogboy's quote


The last time I looked at Games for Windows Live, it was fee based and thus completely dismissed. I know it's changed since then, but i hadn't given it a second thought. If Frogboy is reommending it, I might have to give it another look.

Oh, and too bad about the quote out of context. That quote completely blames Impulse for the problem.

Reply #18 from Demigod Forums Top

The developers have yet to settle on a multiplayer technology partner, but assured us that the Impulse multiplayer technology powering Demigod will not be used for Supreme Commander 2.

 

Rephrased:

WE'RE PUBLISHED BY SQUARE ENIX.

Surprise?

Reply #19 from Demigod Forums Top

Myself actually hope they use Impulse Reactor for SupCom2, the multiplayer should have been totally solid for atleast 6 months when SupCom2 is released and since Demigod and SupCom2 uses the same engine i dont see much point in integrating anything else.

Reply #20 from Demigod Forums Top

Quoting Sevenix, reply 19
Myself actually hope they use Impulse Reactor for SupCom2, the multiplayer should have been totally solid for atleast 6 months when SupCom2 is released and since Demigod and SupCom2 uses the same engine i dont see much point in integrating anything else.
End of Sevenix's quote

It does seem like more work, but like somebody else said above, Square-Enix is involved, Square-Enix are major pain in the rear [if anybody else has played FF online via pc will know what i mean]

Reply #21 from Demigod Forums Top

Quoting Frogboy, reply 3
Chris emailed me prior to this post to say that he was taken out of context.

For the record, Demigod does not use Impulse for MP.  There is no such thing as an Impulse MP feature nor are there plans to make one.

For Demigod, GPG developed the net code and Stardock licensed from Raknet the NAT fascilator to help people connect to Demigod.

Now, since the launch problems, Stardock made the choice to assign its own team to build a new MP connection system for Demigod but again, this is for Demigod. It's not something that we would even use on our other games (our games are client/server in architecture).

I can assure you that GPG is working very hard on Demigod and both us and Stardock are commited to the *long term* support for the game.  Even today, we were having a friendly debate on the 2 new Demigods that are being developed on what powers they should have. We literally talk hours every day.
End of Frogboy's quote

 

thx for the reply

i really think theres some more cash tobe made with demigod since its such a good game its a pity that something like connection issues stands in demigods way of selling some more copies

i cant see the logic of ppl saying its being abandoned

Reply #22 from Demigod Forums Top

I like games for windows live a lot actually. The built in voice is nice, so is the ability to join your friend's games. Also, I have an xbox (thus a lot of xbox games and friends with xbox games) so I can talk to my friends who are playing xbox  while I play my pc.