omf.com - september 23, 2002 developer chat log

Developer Chat - September 23, 2002

Our first developer chat was moderated by Clocks and Malfrex. The developers gave answers to 10 pre-determined questions, and then answered 3-5 minutes of follow-up questions on each topic. Afterward there was a short free-question period.

This log has been edited for clarity, and in some cases messages have been re-ordered to approximate a more natural conversation.

Clocks –

Good morning and welcome to the first Public Dev Interview for One Must Fall Battlegrounds! [Cut: explanation of interview format, chat commands, rules, etc]. Also, a thanks goes out to HomeLAN tonight for hosting our Official IRC channel free of charge.

Malfrex –

Who will be the publisher?

Judy –

[The publisher is Diversions Publishing and TriSynergy, Inc.]

Katana –

Why did you choose this publisher?

Kevin –

We are that publisher LOL

Judy –

We decided to do that because so many publishers wanted things we were not willing to do. Also, the money is so much better [through co-publishing].

DarkShock –

[Will the game] be published in Quebec?

Judy –

Yes, it will be published throughout the world, and even in Walmart. We also have IC as our publisher in Russia, and [we are working with other overseas publishers]

[Cut: 2 off-topic questions]

Malfrex –

When is the game expected to be published?

Judy –

The game will be [released] first quarter of 2003, and February is our goal.

Malfrex –

What [is] the expected price?

Judy –

The expected price is $39.95 US.

Malfrex –

Will there be a public beta? When?

Judy –

Yes, about 3 to 4 weeks before, and a limited beta with [message board members] before that.

Malfrex –

Kevin, what sort of modding tools and documentation will be included in the final release?

Kevin –

They will be very tool like ! I know that for sure!!!!! Just Kidding. The editor and tools will be released a few months after the retail version of the game! This is so that we can better document the [tools] available [...]. We will be allowing beta testers access to the dev tools before the release of the game to get feedbackabout ease of use and so on!

Malfrex –

Will there be future games?

Kevin –

Sure there will be future implementations of OMF:BG. We dont know what they will be named as of yet but we already have ideas and new designs in the slow works process for the next version of the game, which will be much more involved in both fighter complexity and arena hazard interaction and level of interaction between pilot and fighter through stats.

Jason –

Will there be an online ranking and/or stat system?

Jason –

Yes. We will be using something similar NG stats, but that hasn't been finalized yet.

Clocks –

What are the projected minimum specs?

Jason –

It will run on the least - 56k - but won't be able to play with more than 2-3 people. CPU is at least 500MHz, and a 3D card will be required - GeForce 1 or better.

Clocks –

Kevin, will online play have any fees involved?

Kevin –

No of course not! That would be insane! You buy the game you can play it forever!

Clocks –

How many people will it be feasible to have on one server at a time?

Kevin –

There is no technical limit at this moment, but to be reasonable we are standing on 16 player per server! That figure will go up with later builds of the engine, and as broadband technology becomes more and more accessible. At the moment we are sticking with 16 because fighters require more netcode [for each player's actions] than shooters do!

[...]

Malfrex –

We will now accept questions. Ask away! :)

EternalRequiem –

The retail version will have a pirating lock as other games currently do (like Diablo), correct?

Kevin –

Sure! We have not made it yet but we plan on [either purchasing or creating one]!

Worf –

By 'implementations of OMF:BG', do you mean use of the engine in unrelated games, or a sequel, or both?

Kevin –

Sequel and updates is what I meant by implementations! We would do updates [...] for a while to hammer out features we want the community to have and so forth!

Judy –

Plans are also for [the X-Box version of Battlegrounds]

GiantFightingRobot –

Since you will be releasing mod tools before the game, will you accept user-made things into the release!

Kevin –

Like will we let you send us stuff to put in the release version that will ship?

GiantFightingRobot –

Yes. I assume there would be quite high standards of course.

Kevin –

Conditionally yes, we will let you send us CASH! We will not re-release the cash though, we will harbor it in a 'CASH SANCTUARY' deep within our pockets! The cash will be cared for and loved as if it were our own!

Jason –

We will take turns with it.

GiantFightingRobot –

O_o

Kevin –

No we won't be accepting community submissions for release software! Sorry!

Katana –

What are the modes of play intended for the final release of the game, and what are the [pick-ups] intended for the final game?

Kevin –

There will be lots of pick-ups so I am not going to list them all. But the game play modes or types are: Demolition, which is currently a point-gain system; Last Man Standing, which is a free-for-all single fall elimination; and Team versions of both of these games! There are other game types but since some of them may not get implemented, it is best to say there are more we are looking at that might make it!

Thanatos –

1) How much RAM is required/recommended? 2) Will there be single-player AI [with] different difficulty levels? 3) What is the final count of bots and arenas in the release?

Jason –

128MB will work, but 256+ is recommended. There is single-player AI that's being finished up right now in fact, and it will have difficulty levels. And there will be 8 bots and 12 arenas as of right now.

[...]

Tripp –

Will you be using a disk copy protection system such as safedisk v2, [considering] the problems associated with them and some users?

Jason –

[...] That's more of a final publishing issue that hasn't been worked out just yet.

[...]

Gold-Reaver –

There is a "HCC days" event this year in November. Any chance you'll attend?

Kevin –

I have no idea what that means dude!

Jason –

What is HCC?

Gold-Reaver –

Hobby Computer Club, it's the largest club in the world. In the Netherlands, they have an event called HCC days.

Jason –

Well I don't believe we will be attending any computer club meetings in the Netherlands. Although, if they want to send some tickets or what not... heh just kidding

Tomer –

What other multiplayer options will there be [besides] internet play? Will there be an option for Direct Cable as well? And what about HotSeat?

Jason –

Well, there is LAN play. There will not be any serial support or HotSeat support.

[...]

DanX –

1) What will be included with the game, referring to posters and such? 2) Will the [editing tools] be available for download, or by purchase only? 3) Will a pre-order be available? When? 4) Will you have an advertising system, like for banner ads/commissions?

Judy –

The game is all that will be in the box, including a small booklet. We will have available other things to purchase. We will have most likely shirts also, but of course posers.

Saul –

And plush Jaguar dolls

Jason –

Yah I want a manga Jaguar... I think all [current] plans regarding editing tools is [that they will be released] for free

Judy –

Yes, there will be a pre-order, and you will be able to order from our site and others

Pyronius –

Can some of the tools be outlined? Will the DEUnraveller (or what have you) be released, or just the basic ability to mod the game (no special stuff)? Any comment on GMax?

Saul –

For music, docs will be included, and the only tool is DirectMusic Producer, which you can download from Microsoft for free

Jason –

Well, our main editing tool does just about everything regarding mods, and that will be released in some form. To be honest, I don't what the plans are involving DEUnraveller since that's a seperate tool that isn't necessarily required to create content for the engine. We are still considering gmax but that hasnt been decided yet.

Kevin –

The DE Unraveller will eventually be released as a free tool for 3DS Max.

PhreakyByNature –

Hello Kevin, Jason, Saul, Judy. Question: How will BG be marketed and promoted [other than] through us devoted fans? Do you have any feedback from places like gamespy etc?

Judy –

We will use all the same tools to market this game [that you would expect from any developer]. We have a large marketing budget, and will use PR services.

Gila –

I know this has been asked before but I still must clarify the sketchy answer given... will there be a tournament mode or an expansion for one? [And] 2) Will you have some kind of spawning option like Starcraft so multiple people can [play with one CD]?

Jason –

There will be no support for multiple people hotseating on one CD.

Kevin –

Define what you expect the tournament mode to be?

Like the old one [OMF:2097], not multi-player.

Saul –

The initial game will have simple ladder-based tournaments for single-player, and no robot upgrades. The ladder tournaments will have pretty deep plots though.

Egoraptor –

1) I heard a while ago [...] that by having a smaller amount of characters, you can give them each an arsenal of a lot of moves. Is this true? How many moves on average does each fighter have? How are they performed? And 2) Concering marketing plans: if the game becomes popular enough, do you think you'd consider making deals [...] to produce a line of OMF:BG toys? I'm a huge toy buff. =D

Kevin –

We are big toy buffs too, I have a massive collection of toys in my office! So I would love toys to be made of OMF:BG characters. The [in-game] robots [were] limited in number simply by time and team [size] that we had in the early stages. We were not limited [by] the number of moves available.

Judy –

About the toys, yes, we are considering a collection of Robots. We have to see [if] there is a call for it.

Kevin –

#1 pick is McFarlane toys to do action figures though!!!

Egoraptor –

So you earn moves?

Saul –

All moves are available at all times, though super-moves require [your energy supply] be charged.

Plugo2K –

1) You mentioned that OMF will be published by [DE and] Trisynergy. Who or what is Trisynergy, and do we know them from any other games? 2) With popular acronyms such as FPS and RPG being slapped onto games these days :), do you plan on coming up with a three-letter acronym for One Must Fall: Battlegrounds? 3) Saul, is all the music and sound complete for the game?

Kevin –

Diversions Publishing, not DE

Judy –

It is a separate company.

Jason –

Trisynergy is mainly a distribution channel

Judy –

No, they are a co-publishing company. They do more than distribute. It is just that we fund the money to publish, but get much more in the end.

Kevin –

OMF - Online Multiplayer Fighter

Saul –

[Answering #3] Music is complete, sound is not.

Plugo2K –

Ok, so OMF will be an OMF.

Kevin –

Indeed OMF will be the first OMF.

Riparian –

The website says there are [8 robots]... is the Mod community going to be able to create more [...], or is that an area of the game that will be "un-moddable"?

Saul –

Entirely new 'bots can be created, as well as skins for existing 'bots.

Kevin –

You know, making bots is doable by the mod community but it will be harder to make a whole new bot than it would be to make a new shooter character, simply by the amount of animations and tweeking that would have to be done! But dedicated modders will no doubt do it! Making "skins" will be pretty easy though!

DarkShock –

1) Is a story mode [planned]? 2) Saul, will you [make] new music for the new arenas (currents are great!)? 3) Which ports are planned (Linux, X-Box, Mac, NGC)?

Saul –

1) Yes, in the ladder tournaments. 2) No, the 8 songs [and theme music make up the whole soundtrack]

Judy –

X-Box for now, maybe [OMF:2097] for GBA also.

[Cut: request to list every 'bot's moves, and question about the next beta-test build]

Jitesh –

1) Will u need to buy 2 copies of the game if u want to put it on multiple computers, like Windows XP, or just the one [copy]? 2) What sizes are the shirts going to be? (Cause I is big being 200cm tall). 3) If there is going to be a tournament mode, will there be upgrades for the 'bots and pilots like in the original?

Saul –

No robot upgrades, nor pilot upgrades. [...] [B]ut there is a plot to each tournament as it progresses.

Cyberfrog –

Could you give some examples [of] what some publishers wanted from the game that you didn't want? (I'm just curious)

Saul –

That's probably sensitive information...

Cyberfrog –

Don't need to tell names of the publishers...

Judy –

I will tell you just a couple, then you will understand. One wanted to ship at Christmas with 4 arenas and 4 robots. One wanted use to give our [Intellectual Property].

Kevin –

Now, we got to the point that we said, 'we have enough to do it this other way'. Then no one is over us pushing for [the game to ship before it's finished].

Saul –

IP = story, game universe, etc.

Kevin –

IP also [means] rights to make more games based on OMF and OMF characters!

HF|CM_Zealot –

Anything unique you can tell us that the OMF:BG engine gives us that, let's say, the Unreal Engine build 10xx and Quake-based ones cannot?

Jason –

Well, the biggest thing about this engine is its maintainability and ease of customization. It's incredibly simple to add things at any level of the engine, and the high-level game tools are seamlessly integrated into the system. The editor is essentially another build of the same engine codebase.

ZeeDee11 –

Will there be a TV event after each match like [OMF:2097]? [...] Will there be a mechanic guy that gets made at you too? Can servers be listed using such programs as the "All Seeing Eye"?

Saul –

No TV announcer, no mechanic, as far as I know.

Kevin –

No there won't be a TV announcer! We could not secure rights for that!

Saul –

But if you do really well, a picture of Kevin will pop up. And he'll say "toasty!!"

Kevin –

Toasty! Cause Saul did so well!

Jason –

And "NICE BISCUITS"

Saul –

Just like that!

Clocks –

Ok, ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much for your time and questions.