Topic: December News 2011: Announcing a hiatus (Read 1864 times)

Shimrra · « **on:** December 10, 2011, 08:24 pm »

A wonderful winter dear community,

well, the winter may be wonderful, but in terms of news, UEaW doesn't seem to be this too. So first I would like to apologize for the lack of news in the last month – and for the content of this news as well.

I'm sure, "Get to the point“, you all will say now. So here the news are:
We're announcing a hiatus until next year january.
So there the bad words are. No, the words aren't „UEaW is dead“. The words are just: We're taking a deep breath, getting some distance and reevaluate our situation.

Why, you may ask now.
To be honest: UEaW isn't going on well. We have been sticked to the same point of progress for around two months now. This has a huge amount of reasons and the most of them are Real Life issues. For example, Chris is very busy with his university education and I'm very busy too, as a grade 11 student. Some exams are coming in for both of us, or are already just a few days away. However, this leads to the very unappreciated situation, that our free time is too limited to continue modding.
And far too limited when you consider, that we have a lot of other things, we have rather to do in our free time. Additional, a sort of "burn-out“-phenomenon has arrived in the team.

Your next question will probably be: Have they tricked us? Wasn't UEaW shortly before it's finishing?
Well. It was and is. In fact, we have just around 5%-10% missing – this includes a big part of the Galactic AI, the GUI, some balancing and the VA, as well as some testing and adding missing text entries of course. But if you consider the amount of time spent by working on UEaW (should be in total around 1000-2000 working hours now), the amount of 5%-10% isn't that less anymore. And it is definitivly not less when the whole team is busy with education and real life.

So what is going to happen after this hiatus?
We really don't know. In the worst case, UEaW will be canceled, sadly as it is. In this case, we will release the actual version and give the rights to everyone who would like to use our stuff, who is asking and crediting us. In the best case, we will be able to continue our work and finish it soon after the winter.
In the very best case, we will get more support, who is able to do high-level coding, needed for the AI or a texturer/modeller, who will finish the GUI and do some textures which are left (or optional).

So, these are the bad news of this month. I hope we will have better ones the next time.

Until then, have a nice christmas time
Shimrra

Argonnath · « **Reply #1 on:** December 10, 2011, 09:31 pm »

I have still good faith in you! I hope you can find new staff member soon.

Ajaxthekungfu · « **Reply #2 on:** December 11, 2011, 07:12 pm »

Sincerely hope this is only a temporary setback, the work you guys/ (and gals?) have done is amazing.

Daohor · « **Reply #3 on:** December 12, 2011, 03:19 pm »

Please let this be a sick joke, but alas, I understand. RL should always come first for anyone and seeing as you have worked so hard at it these past years I wish you all good luck with what ever RL throws in youre face(s) and hopefully we will see UEAW through to completion.

lugema1 · « **Reply #4 on:** December 12, 2011, 05:18 pm »

Don't let bad times get you down! I'm shure the comunity won't let this die. There will be people willed to help. Im shure...
And even if not we have to fight against all the bugs and stuff ourselves

Arrum · « **Reply #5 on:** December 12, 2011, 09:22 pm »

Would like to see the unfinished version uploaded anyway.

FullMonty · « **Reply #6 on:** January 03, 2012, 09:32 pm »

God, give me strength.

Unknown Person · « **Reply #7 on:** January 08, 2012, 09:24 pm »

Dark times are upon us, Dark times indeed.

=

not

Republic at War · « **Reply #8 on:** January 08, 2012, 10:44 pm »

so whats the final word?

Carbon X12 · « **Reply #9 on:** January 10, 2012, 09:50 pm »

Very unfortunate, hope you have a successful all of you and mostly you and "Chris" shimrra, without you.. I wouldn't be typing this message now, good luck with your Exams

Kratas · « **Reply #10 on:** January 12, 2012, 06:32 pm »

That is fairplay indeed.

Aelek · « **Reply #11 on:** January 14, 2012, 06:11 am »

Didn't see this coming.

/sarcasm.

Here's what the problem is - nobody cares much anymore. The game is six years old now, the tech is old, and I doubt too many people still play the base game online, let alone mods. The only way it'll live on is through advertising it, that we need new and/or more people to help with development or whatever it is we need. Support would be nice, but we could also use some familiar faces, say... some of the former members or the site and team? But anyways, like I said, the game's old tech and it's a one hell of a long shot.

Republic at War · « **Reply #12 on:** January 14, 2012, 07:21 am »

the reception to RaW was mighty impressive for a game which as you pointed out is ageing. There is obviously still an audience who would greatly appreciate seeing this one come out. your point about needing more team member is valid though, if i knew anything about modding i would offer my assistance.

Shimrra · « **Reply #13 on:** January 14, 2012, 09:55 am »

Well, Aelek, I can't agree. FoC is still the only good strategy game in the SW-genre, so anyone who wants his own Star Wars-game by modding MUST choose FoC/EaW as engine.
Furthermore, RaW wasn't a big step forward, apart from the ground techniques - nearly 0 scripts and the gameplay was still the same. Space graphics bad as hell. I could mention more points, but I think you've got it

In fact, there are just a few mods playing around with actually enhancing gameplay in some facettes - but nothing bigger. UEaW was meant to cover all new techniques: awesome graphics, a more logic gameplay and a load of new scripts. And you know why nothing has been published so far, which really covers those 3 points? Because it is far to much work! All modding groups, who tried the same, died. There is a point at development, where a team of 2 members is just not enough to keep the motiviation up. THIS is the problem. If we would be 3 core staff ppl, coding/scripting/modelling the mod's content, it COULD be made. But 2? No, 2 just can't keep up each other.

Republic at War · « **Reply #14 on:** January 14, 2012, 06:37 pm »

so, your decision is made?

FullMonty · « **Reply #15 on:** January 18, 2012, 06:37 pm »

I thinking yes. The decision has been made.

Now we just have to beg someone to post what they have.

Aelek · « **Reply #16 on:** January 20, 2012, 10:01 pm »

People have just grown up, most of the "old" people like me have moved on. They're either too busy with real life or have better games to play. If people still cared, they'd be here. I'm not trying to be cold about it, but that's the truth.

Argonnath · « **Reply #17 on:** January 20, 2012, 11:26 pm »

Can't you just put UEAW hold for a while. And same time do some promo/recruiting job?

Aelek · « **Reply #18 on:** January 21, 2012, 06:04 am »

With the way thing's are going, perhaps it's time to resurrect one of my old slogans for this site?

UEaW for life.

Because we can only remember the older times, not be in them.

Republic at War · « **Reply #19 on:** January 21, 2012, 04:40 pm »

I agree with this

Ultimate Empire at War

News:

Author Topic: December News 2011: Announcing a hiatus (Read 1864 times)