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Ensemble Studios Chat 24Oct97

[Optimizer joined channel AofE]
Optimizer: whew! I couldn't get in from my machine
newuser: In the first one...I had to move way out to the bottom and create my town....
RedRaider: Glad you made it!
Optimizer: I'vew been trying for 20 minutes
Daedalus: Greek is easy, but am stuck in the last one, Wonder.
AngelM: Hi Optimizer! - have a connection problem myself!
newuser: How many scenarios in Greek Campaign?
Optimizer: Anyway, better later than never. How do we want to start this?
[Patrick joined channel AofE]
Patrick: hi everyone
Daedalus: 8.
AngelM: its a free for all Matt
RedRaider: I know somebody has a question about the animals
Optimizer: That's ok; I do pretty well in free for alls
TexasTech: Why can we click on the birds if we can't do anything with them?
Patrick: Yeah, and why do birds have hit points if we can't hurt them?
Optimizer: TT: you can inspect any moving object in the game to see what it is
[mork joined channel AofE]
Optimizer: The bird has hitpoints because it is "alive"; It's just part of the engine
TexasTech: I love this game, but if I were going to create a game of ages, and had flying birds, I
wouldhave put in falconer units.
Optimizer: Hehe, that actually was on our design wish list for a while
TexasTech: Another animal question, in the scenario builder you can add "tame" lions, that you can
control, can you tame the lions that are already in the games?
Optimizer: TT: Nope, a wild Lion always stays wild
Patrick: Whats the point of Elephant Kings and Lion Kings?
Optimizer: They are much more dangerous than normal lions and elephants. They give you more
flexability in your senario design
Patrick: aah
newuser: Could someone please explain an optimum way to use groups....???
mork: Are you thinking of any add ons down the line? i.e. Different units/abilities etc. And while were on
it other animals? I'd pay a few bucks to download a new critter or warrior.
[Scipio joined channel AofE]
Optimizer: There is no "optimum" way to use groups. It all depends on the situation
Scipio: I'm back!!! Couldn't use Daedalus (???)
Patrick: If your using catapults, put them in one group
Optimizer: We are seriously considering add-in and expansion options; Nothing more I can tell you at
this time
[ArchangelM left channel AofE]
Scipio: How about editing heroes names? Could be useful while making scenario and/or campaigns.
RedRaider: Are there any hints to help us discover any easter eggs?
[AngelMike left channel AofE]
newuser: I never seem to be able to use groups. I group units...have them attack a tower or anything...but
then I would want them to attach the villager who is repairing it at the same time...
Optimizer: Editing names, units, and other attributes all are on our wish list.
Patrick: yeah, I heard something about a camaro
mork: Great. Also as an avid and picky game player allow me to congratulate all involved with this game.
It is an instant CLASSIC in my book!
newuser: if I do that then they stop attacking the tower...
Optimizer: RR: I don't have any hints
Scipio: Make sure you set diplomacy to enemy, newuser.
Patrick: Why are you guys holding back the easter eggs?
Optimizer: newuser: perhaps you should put a couple of your units into a second group?
Optimizer: newuser: I am assuming you know that you can assign number keys to groups..
newuser: Well I can do that...but it should be automatic...in a real life situation it would be that way....
RedRaider: Do you have a degree in computer science or any other degrees? How did you get the job?
Scipio: If you're neutral, your units won't attack building and villagers on their own.
mork: to newuser:deselect the group and then select one only form that group and have him kill the
repairman
Optimizer: Patrick: So our users will have the thrill of finding them
Optimizer: newuser: perhaps you should put a couple of your units into a second group?
Optimizer: newuser: I am assuming you know that you can assign number keys to groups..
newuser: Well I can do that...but it should be automatic...in a real life situation it would be that way....
RedRaider: Do you have a degree in computer science or any other degrees? How did you get the job?
Scipio: If you're neutral, your units won't attack building and villagers on their own.
mork: to newuser:deselect the group and then select one only form that group and have him kill the
repairman
Optimizer: Patrick: So our users will have the thrill of finding them
newuser: mork: you cannot when they are in a group...you have to ungroup them...
Optimizer: newuser: the design is that the person who controlls their units better in combat will do
better; if too much is done automatically then skill won't count for anything
newuser: opt: i know how to assign numbers...how do I use the numbers....effectively....
newuser: opt: right...
Optimizer: rr: I dropped out of college. I got the job by answering an ad.
[PTX joined channel AofE]
PTX: hello
Scipio: newuser-- Select a unit of an already selected group to have only this one higlighted.
RedRaider: Are you serious, Are you hiring?
Optimizer: you don't have to ungroup them. You can CTRL-click to select a single unit
TexasTech: rr, i dont think your parents would like you dropping out of school
mork: newuser. Hit the x on the interface or esc on keyboard then specifically order one of your men,
after he kills the repair guy he'll start back killing the tower
PTX: no, newuser
Optimizer: rr: I had 15 years experience before coming to Ensemble Studios
mork: Thanks optimizer I learned something
PTX: What's your job, Optimizer?
Scipio: Optimizer--What's your job exactly at ES?
Patrick: He's a graphics optimizer
PTX: ahh, hence the name
TexasTech: Why is it that in multiplayer games, you can not drop a single player who is lagging the
entire game into a complete stop?
newuser: i think i got it...thanks everyone...will try it...
PTX: The graphics are incredible Optimizer
Optimizer: I am responsible for the "Graphics Engine" portion of AoE; I have many other various
responsibilities; the next largest being to "Optimize" slow section of code and make them faster
PTX: I'm really amazed with what you've done with them
Optimizer: tt: It's on the wishlist: due to DirectPlay problems we did not have enough time to include it
Optimizer: PTX: thank you; credit must go to our talented team of Artists
PTX: Yes, the art is great too, but the animations are sooo realistic
Optimizer: All I do is make them draw fast and correctly.
Scipio: In MP, how do you set starting ressources? Other than 20,000 food, etc... I can't do it in the game
settings.
RedRaider: Opt: Do you enjoy playing thegame after working withit for so long?
TexasTech: on my wish list is the ability for the peons of the game o create motes around buildings
mork: Question. On the easier two levels there seems to be a decided drop in the computer opponents
building of their society after a while. Is this so or my imagination? Also am currently playing on
moderate and still have seen no walls from opponents. Are they built by computer AI in only the hardest
levels?
Optimizer: I still enjoy the game greatly. Several of us can be found on the internet at various times for
pickup games
Scipio: I have 5 boxes (starting age, etc...) but not for the starting ressources.
Scipio: Odd...
TexasTech: its there scipio, because i have used it
Optimizer: TT: the AI is less agressive at the easier levels
Patrick: In Deathmatch it is not there
PTX: I'd say that the inclusions of civs like Rome and some of the native americans trines (incans, aztecs,
etc.) would be on my whishlist
Optimizer: Scipio: That is Deathmatch; DeathMatch is a random game with Super-high resources
Patrick: If you included native americans, you would have to add different animals
PTX: Patrick: The idea of deathmatch, is to start out with HUGE resouces for fast paced
Optimizer: PTX: We have noted that ourselves
Scipio: Ah, ok. Taught something was screwy with my copy.
[Daedalus left channel AofE]
PTX: Yeah, I think that would be really cool
Optimizer: Patrick: The Design for AoE 2 is still undecided
mork: How are sales going with the game? Is it too early to tell?
Optimizer: ES is also working on a different game, being designed by Sandy Petersen, who did Call of
Cutulu and did 70% of the DOOM and DOOM II levels (and Quake 1 levels)
Optimizer: We have no sales informaion yet.
Patrick: Sales probably pretty high
PTX: Online but sales are quite high I hear
Scipio: In some stores, they dissapear like magic.
mork: I wish you success. Farewell for now! Thanks for a real quality product.
PTX: c-ya later
Scipio: bye mork
Optimizer: mork: take care
AngelM: I missed something here? Who is PTX?
PTX: Just a random fan of the game, AngelM
Optimizer: ok, do we have any other gameplay questions?
AngelM: ahh..
AngelM: Gotta call it a night - thanks for stopping by Optimizer!!
RedRaider: Is fission man in the retail version?
PTX: Does the CPU AI ever build wonders
Optimizer: RR: yes
Optimizer: PTX: Yes
Optimizer: ok, night all!
PTX: ok, c-ya later
PTX: thanks for chatting
Optimizer: We're glad everyone has enjoyed the game so much. It makes us happy
Scipio: Optimizer-- This question have been running awhile, but since you're the guy for speedy
graphics, what about having each civs their own set of units?
RedRaider: see ya

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