Demigod BETA 2 Update Thread with comments from Mike Marr, lead designer

come here to get the info you can't find elsewhere.

By Trigeminal on December 4, 2008 10:15:18 AM from

I created a new post that should answer all your questions about getting into the beta and more, please go to my What New Beta Members Need to do to get the Beta thread.

Hey all,

For those of you not clear on this, this is not an official thread, of course. I am just looking to compile what we know into one big thread for people who are wondering on progress.

Originally they hoped to get Beta 2 to us in November. With the release of Beta 1b (or c), beta 2 was pushed to Nov. 26th. With the holiday, it was pushed back to hopefully this week.

Well, patch day is here and we have "official" word from irc:

9:33 AM <Yarlen> beta 2 has been pushed back

9:33 AM <Trigeminal> if so, what is the new expected release date of beta 2?

9:34 AM <Yarlen> I would say at least a week

9:34 AM <Yarlen> though I have high hopes for next week

9:37 AM <Yarlen> So, I'm pretty confident in next week.

So Beta 2, hopefully next week.

About the delay:

9:36 AM <Yarlen> still working on getting new features in

9:37 AM <Yarlen> plus the lead designer is in London and needs to make a balance run

9:37 AM <Yarlen> plus we're starting to run into production deadlines, so there's a lot of internal work going on

9:38 AM <Trigeminal> what does internal work and production deadlines mean?

9:42 AM <Yarlen> As to your earlier question - even though the game is still several months away from release, most stuff actually needs to be locked down well in advance.

9:44 AM <Yarlen> feature complete is the key, yes

About features on Beta 2:

From a recent dev diary, a pic shows all of the demigods preparing for a match. This has lead many to believe all the demigods will be included in beta2's initial release.

9:38 AM <Yarlen> All I feel comfortable in revealing about content is that it'll definitely have internet multiplayer in

9:38 AM <Yarlen> Plus fully updated skill trees and stuff

9:39 AM <Yarlen> I don't know if it'll include all the demigods, but yes, they've all been reworked

9:40 AM <Yarlen> the maps are getting lots of love too

Also, we can expect:

9:40 AM <Trigeminal> can you post a couple of pics of the new maps and skill trees r items up in a diary?

9:40 AM <Yarlen> I cannot

9:41 AM <Yarlen> But there will be some new diaries upcoming on other topics.

9:41 AM <Trigeminal> cool , when can we expect those?

9:41 AM <Yarlen> I have no idea, it's up to marketing.

Update 12/4/2008-1502 EST:

2:13 PM <sanctuaryy> Yarlen what are the chances of beta being released next week ?

2:15 PM <Yarlen> ask me tomorrow, but I'd say better than 50%

Update 12/9/2008-1220 EST:

Recieved information that makes it unlikely for this week. Likely in a week or two. Let's hope it is not 2 weeks from now, as a release on Christmas would be extremely cool, but given gpg and stardock employees have families, it makes the release likely delayed further. Fingers crossed.

Update 12/9/2008-1505 EST:

Recieved additional information. When Yarlen heard that it may be two weeks, he was very upset and said that will not happen. Two other "trusted confidential sources" confirm this.

Update 12/10/2008-0125 EST:

In a PM 2 days ago, Mike Marr said:

"As for Beta 2, it is -just- around the corner. I'd say another week or two on the outside."

Sorry to hold off on complete info, wanted to make sure it was ok with Tyo.

Also, in another thread he gave some great info on regulus. When it was asked by Ke5trel, "Any guesses on Reg's 4th ability?". Mike Marr replied:

"I'd guess it has something to do with flying. Just a guess though."

And it the citadel upgrade thread he helps to quell the debate by saying:

"Hey all, Just checking in on this thread. Currently the direction for the Citadel Upgrades is they will use a different currency than gold(working title War Score) that will be earned by holding and capturing flags. Each team member will have their own earned War Score and be able to use it to purchase Citadel Upgrades that benefit their entire team."

Feature update given below in TyoArk's post. Also note the word generals, let's hope that is no typo.

Update 12/10/2008-0125 EST:

<Yarlen> Beta 2 won't be this week.

Quick recap: Beta 2 extremely likely (>99%) Thursday, 12/18.

Beta 2 Features include:

VASTLY improved AI. Like wow.
New flag types. Valor, Experience, Debilitating, Celerity ...
Citadel Upgrades
Generals that can controllable minions directly like in a traditional RTS
Minimap
Key bindings
Edge-scrolling
Achievements
Achievement Items
Impulse Matchmaking

Hope the info helps. Please feel free to post any thoughts about Beta 2 in here, and particularly rumors. I'll try to update this page.

I created a new post that should answer all your questions about getting into the beta and more, please go to my What New Beta Members Need to do to get the Beta thread.

+89 Karma | 154 Replies

Thanks for the update.

2nd time my hopes were crushed. Man I hope they don't open beta 2 2 weeks before release...

So what is the official statement for delaying the release again? Continous problems with fixing/implementig?

And yeah christmas is going to stand in front of our doors. Well I think 2nd half of january would be more likely than this year.

How bout just toss beta 2to beta 3 in Feb. That way you dont have to make us wait and the game is near completion within a moth.

Another update. And I would say a delay to next year WILL NOT happen, unless there is a huge problem that is currently unforeseen.

Took vacation for nuffin

thanks Trigeminal

In other news I think my first reply to this latest update actually got pulled

Yah when i read that I actually thougt same thing Teseer except u took break for nothing.

I guess ill just put in next friday off too

I am sick of Stardock and GPG ooo we are almost ready around Thanksgiving not tooo mention the intial beta schedule which we are what 2 and half months behind and now this crap!!!! Maybe these people need to learn what a deadline is and actually make it!!! I guess not but then again Spring of 2009 is what anytime from march to middle of June!!

Better they spend time developing the game, rather than rush it out for us. You don't want an undercooked cake. I seriously don't want a rush. Time spent developing isn't time wasted, we just get a better beta at the end. Their deadline is set by them, they can set whatever they want, and the only limit is profitability. News, they don't pander to us and the initial schedule had EXTREMELY TENTATIVE (i.e. NOT RELIABLE) written on it.

Nooooooooooooo! I want the beta . I've been waiting for a while

Just kind of wish they would be more direct then anything else..Annoying to find out another week has passed and theres no reason why..oh well.

yah, it'd be nice if they could just give us a date I dond't care if its in 3 weeks just a date and a reason why.

dang, just when i thought i'd be in the beta... if its delayed till after January 10th or so, I wont get to play untill release

anyway.... BUMP BUMP BUMP BUMP BUMP

The people who ask for an earlier release are usually the same ones posting about how "buggy" and "unfinished" it is.

That being said, I agree that GPG as a whole have exceedingly poor communications skills. Perhaps I am just spoiled by Stardock. Whenever one of their beta releases are delayed for whatever reason, one of the devs will post on the boards and let us know why, and when we can expect it to be ready. Note that the only info we have comes from an IRC chat session with Yarlen, who is a Stardock employee. GPG could learn a thing or two from Stardock regarding customer relations. If GPG is ignoring us now, what will be their attitude later, when the game is released and they already have everyone's money?

Note that the only info we have comes from an IRC chat session with Yarlen, who is a Stardock employee. GPG could learn a thing or two from Stardock regarding customer relations.

I bet all the GPG guys are all coding as fast as they can. Well at least that's what I hope.

Quoting Mistralok,

reply 14

Have a little patience folks. When you are dealing with a totally new product, delays are bound to happen. Stardock will not release a title at any stage until they are confident that it is ready to go. They have polled their customer base on this subject in the past, and each time the public has voted OVERWHELMINGLY to delay release in order to have more features ready, and to give time for further polishing and or balancing.

The people who ask for an earlier release are usually the same ones posting about how "buggy" and "unfinished" it is.

That being said, I agree that GPG as a whole have exceedingly poor communications skills. Perhaps I am just spoiled by Stardock. Whenever one of their beta releases are delayed for whatever reason, one of the devs will post on the boards and let us know why, and when we can expect it to be ready. Note that the only info we have comes from an IRC chat session with Yarlen, who is a Stardock employee. GPG could learn a thing or two from Stardock regarding customer relations. If GPG is ignoring us now, what will be their attitude later, when the game is released and they already have everyone's money?

Well the answer is simple.

Look at Supreme Commander Forged Alliance... they blame THQ for not delivering patch to the game... So we will see if this is gonna happen with Demigod since its Stardock that publish it.

Quoting Mistralok,

reply 14

That being said, I agree that GPG as a whole have exceedingly poor communications skills. Perhaps I am just spoiled by Stardock. Whenever one of their beta releases are delayed for whatever reason, one of the devs will post on the boards and let us know why, and when we can expect it to be ready. Note that the only info we have comes from an IRC chat session with Yarlen, who is a Stardock employee. GPG could learn a thing or two from Stardock regarding customer relations. If GPG is ignoring us now, what will be their attitude later, when the game is released and they already have everyone's money?

I agree their communication could use some serious work, but they do communicate. That is where the week or two estimate came from, gpg. Also they were posting on here the other day. Although, they need to do it more.

Hey all,

I apologize for the poor communication from GPG. I know it sounds like a complete cop-out, but we are utterly slammed with work and are really, really focused on making Demigod all it can be.

Some of the added things for Beta 2.

* VASTLY improved AI. Like wow.
* New flag types. Valor, Experience, Debilitating, Celerity ...
* Citadel Upgrades
* Generals that can controllable minions directly like in a traditional RTS
* Minimap
* Key bindings
* Edge-scrolling
* Achievements
* Achievement Items

The list goes on and on ... you're going to love all the stuff we've got cooking.

So once again, sorry for the lack of communication and delay on the beta. However, I trust once you've got in your hands(which should be -very- soon), you're going to happier than a fox in a hen house.

Updated above. Also, ask and ye shall recieve, tyoark (Mike Marr, lead designer of Demigod) makes an appearance on numerous threads. I have all the info added above. And am confirming tyoark gave me the time range for release 2 days ago.

That being said, I agree that GPG as a whole have exceedingly poor communications skills. Perhaps I am just spoiled by Stardock. Whenever one of their beta releases are delayed for whatever reason, one of the devs will post on the boards and let us know why, and when we can expect it to be ready. Note that the only info we have comes from an IRC chat session with Yarlen, who is a Stardock employee. GPG could learn a thing or two from Stardock regarding customer relations. If GPG is ignoring us now, what will be their attitude later, when the game is released and they already have everyone's money?

have to defend GPG a bit here, they did communicate it on their own forums on december 4th.

Thanks for being patient guys, we are pretty heads down in finalizing the game right now. The biggest hold up for us has been full integration of the internet multiplayer, which thankfully is quite close. Localization prep also chewed up a decent amount of our attention in November.
Stardock wasn't happy with the idea of releasing another beta requiring Hamachi, and neither were we, so we needed to get all that multiplayer work, UI, etc done before a new release. Right now that release looks like late next week, which will also give us a chance to throw some more balance work at generals, achievements, maps, and upgrades.
In any case, we can not and will not miss the opportunity for an update before Christmas so that all that Holiday beta test time can be well spent, and we can start out the new year with a good bug roadmap toward release.
The progress on balance by the time we make a final handoff will determine which Demigods and maps are released in Beta 2.
- Servo

And I can assure you that the guys at GPG care a lot about their games, they are just a bit slow sometimes or at least it seems so to us. Yesterday I heard that even a former GPG employee who has his own business now is going to put some time into supporting the supreme commander community again, I think thats pretty passionate.

Well, to be fair I really can't handle the distraction anyway.

Here's waiting for next week.

Thanks for the update, TyoArk

OOOOOO!! I like that 98% next week percentage! Also the new features to come with beta 2 totaly worth the wait!! Thanks for the update Trigeminal and TyoArk!

New update above, definately not this week.

Woah, Servo delivers the goods too. Thanks TBO..

The way my work network filter is set up I can access Stardock forums but not GPG. Is there any way GPG devs could update here at the same time they update over there? Or maybe e-mail it to Stardock reps and mods and they could just have a post titled GPG Forums Demigod Updates or something....

It might save some speculation, since I'm sure I'm not the only one behind a filter

The Forums Are Now Closed!

The content will remain as a historical reference, thank you.

Demigod BETA 2 Update Thread with comments from Mike Marr, lead designer

come here to get the info you can't find elsewhere.