107 replies to this topic

[evilbobthebob]

Hello Phoenix Rising fans.

 

First off, I'd like to apologise for the extremely long time between news posts. If this was the only way you kept up with the mod, I can forgive you for thinking we'd ceased development. Those of you who read more of the forums see the team members making comments from time to time, and we made a call for alpha and beta testers for the latest version over the past year. Still, this doesn't make up for the silence we've sustained up to now.

 

I'd like to change that myself, primarily because I finally have some free time and partly because our team leader and the prime driver of the mod, Phoenix Rising, is without a computer capable of doing modding right now. This isn't particular cause for alarm, because the current build of the mod is very feature-complete. However, there still remain areas that need polish and improvement.

 

So what have we been doing for the past two years? Our initial plan for the next version of the mod was primarily based on integrating the information provided by the release of The Essential Atlas. As software project tend to do, we experienced some rather strong feature creep, and as one thing led to another, we realised we had a version of the mod that is no longer a mere incremental update. In fact, we have:

• General
  • Made numerous changes to improve performance
  • Remade and rebalanced the hero system
  • Rebalanced tech trees
• Galactic Mode
  • Brought our galactic maps in line with The Essential Atlas
  • Added new planets
  • Entirely rebalanced and remade our core sandbox campaigns (still a work-in-progress)
  • Created a new planetary bonus system
  • Created a new hyperspace system
  • Rebalanced freighters, including the addition of light transports
  • Improved the display of research
• Combat
  • Improved land combat
    • Begun the process of adding infantry weapon models
    • New units
    • Improved weather system
  • Added many new maps in land and space
  • Entirely revamped space combat to be in line with land combat:
    • New armour, health and shield system
    • New weapon balancing and types
    • Better display of unit statistics
    • New units
    • Increase in map size to accommodate the changes

Many of these changes, especially those based around planets and maps, have already been mentioned in prior news posts. Check those for more information on those specific topics. As for the rest, I hope I can bring you more news posts in the near future providing examples and details. In the mean time, I'm happy to answer questions you may have here on the forums.

 

evilbob

Edited by evilbobthebob, 18 June 2014 - 03:58 PM.

[a.fake.name]

Just a thought bob, add to the homepage/forum a 'last updated' box, and update it even if there's nothing new just so people know for sure it's not a dead mod.
 

[evilbobthebob]

I'd love to, but I don't have control over that stuff.

[a.fake.name]

Just put it on a to-consider list for PR to approve/deny.
All I'm saying is if folks see some sign of life, less of the issue you mentioned of folks thinking things could be dead due to lack of news posts.

[Aizen Teppa]

Everything sounds very yummy, yummy indeed. Don't worry PR fans are here to stay (even if we jump between mods when waiting for 1.3 ...2.0 uhmm whatever number).

 

I have to admit tho title of this particular thread covers it completely...

[a.fake.name]

I don't even jump between mods anymore, there are a few other good ones, but at the same time none come close to PR.

Hell even in the things they do better, PR has more consistency and just tries to stick to canon, and in the end that alone makes it worth playing.

[Moggwhy]

Cant wait for the release

[P.O._210877]

I don't even jump between mods anymore, there are a few other good ones, but at the same time none come close to PR.

Hell even in the things they do better, PR has more consistency and just tries to stick to canon, and in the end that alone makes it worth playing.

 

The thing with this game (in my mind it's not a mod anymore) is that it's being build from the ground up; meaning the art, fx and other flashy stuff are secondary concerns compared to gameplay, AI, maps and general optimization. Sure some flashy features along with brand new units and models are currently in the works but my point is that PR's way is to build a solid game then focus attention on the "goodies" and polishing the chrome.

 

Make no mistake though, that day IS coming.

Edited by P.O._210877, 18 June 2014 - 12:27 AM.

[a.fake.name]

So basically they're doing right what few games have done right for a long ass time.

To all the mods, and mostly profesional game companies, that focus on graphics first (hey bethesda, yeah you): you're the fucktards stagnating an entire industry.

Also, gaming 'journalists' and magazines are to blame a lot too.

[P.O._210877]

Well let's just say that it is  stimulating and rewarding working with a group of people that are COMMITTED to creating quality work. When you look back at what was the mod at it's start and what is currently being tested, you can see very clearly that forethought and experience (gained by a lot of trials and errors) are what drives this project. 

I'm glad to be a, small, part of this group who wants to bring the EU's GFFA to life.

[johnchm.10]

However much time this needs, take. Be like the Batman:Arkham games and not CoD. Take the 2 years or whatever to create a great game and not churning out shit (seriously. Ghosts. Are you fucking kidding me, IW? You've become what Treyarch was before Black Ops)

[evilbobthebob]

Sneaked in an edit to include the improved weather systems in the change list...I'd almost forgotten about them.

[a.fake.name]

Yeah,

 

Well let's just say that it is  stimulating and rewarding working with a group of people that are COMMITTED to creating quality work.

Honestly, were the mod a retail game I would consider it up there with Fallout in the attention to detail devoted to the mod SPECIFICALLY because of the direct adherence to the canon.
 

[SpardaSon21]

As much as this seems to be jumping on the bandwagon, I honestly appreciate the attention to the small details that go into Phoenix Rising.  A lot of mods settle for "close enough" and it never quite comes out feeling like a proper Star Wars game because of that.

[Aizen Teppa]

Sneaked in an edit to include the improved weather systems in the change list...I'd almost forgotten about them.

 

Well it's not a problem if you forgot about more things. Please edit/update as often as you like... or leave it late as a surprise feature(s). Up to you..   

[johnchm.10]

Aside from Thrawn's revenge, what mods are out there that are actually good for eaw/foc? Ive been tracking a few on moddb, in case I see anything the pr team might like, but the only ones that look worthwhile are this, Thrawn's Revenge and the vong at war mod, thats yet to be finished?

[megabalta]

There are several very nice mods (although most of them are a bit chaotic for my taste), Awakening of the rebellion 2 and Alliance mods have nice skirmish gameplay values, Old republic at war is nice because it has old republic ships, but I'm watching this WIP project more closely.

[a.fake.name]

There are several very nice mods (although most of them are a bit chaotic for my taste), Awakening of the rebellion 2 and Alliance mods have nice skirmish gameplay values, Old republic at war is nice because it has old republic ships, but I'm watching this WIP project more closely.

I think I played Awakening of the Rebellion once years ago.
That's the scripted campaign one where instead of research, tech gets upgraded as you go to a specific planet and advance the plot by doing something right ?

[megabalta]

I'm not sure, never played a campaign for more than 20 minutes. I don't like it's clustered galaxy map. But they do like to script, they even have triggerable cgi movies.

[Aizen Teppa]

Well for the moment I'm hooked up on ICW vel TR. Excellent mod. Well balanced and thought out. Today started playing as Pentastar Alignment. Really nice change from usual fighter spam kind of strategy ..

 

Awakening of the Rebellion - fine mod, but not played in years. Not up to the scratch when compared with PR or TR.

 

Alliance - yes. Massive mod with few interesting features but my Emperor - it is completely MENTAL.AI cheats like mad, it can deploy anything, anywhere in any numbers.