PDA

View Full Version : Thank you Ubisoft for getting Nival on board.



kot_tdc
04-01-2005, 03:06 PM
When Ubisoft bought M&M rights I gave up on the series since there is almost no other good turn based game development team like old NWC. However, I totally forgot about Nival.

Both Etherlords and Silent Storm games were great tactical strategy game. Now that Nival picked up HoMM there is a chance for the series to not just keep going(which it has been doing since H2) but actually improve. Use your skills Nival and make this game as great as H2 was! It might be your ticket to both reviving the turn based strategy ganra and making Nival one of the best game development houses in the world.

Things I want to see in H5:
1) A passworded hotseat waiting screen so I don't have to watch my oponent all the time in case she is ready to use my turnhttp://forums.ubi.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

2)No heroes fighting in the battles! keep it like it was in H2 and Ehterlords. They can cast spells or add bonuses but they shouldn't be a moveble unit.

3)Better net support. A robust netcode and a matching service similar to Battle.net. You know that it might make or break this franchise, so please don't go the way of H4!
Simple and easy to use multiplayer will do more than any ammount of money wasted into voice actors!

4) Speaking of voice actors, don't use them!
The worst parts of Nival games were voiceovers.
If you don't have a great voice team like Blizzard does, DON'T do them at all.
It will save you money and won't ruin the game immersion. Nothing ruins the game more than a subpar voiceovers.

5)Support your fanbase. In gaming history fan support and dedication(fanboism?) has made even weak games sell well. Look at Diablo2 and WoW!
Those games are weak especially for Blizzard to make them, but a strong fansite community and dedication has made these games succesful and fun to play. Give regular updates to the fansites and keep the fans happy and you will have far more marketing done for you for free than any annoying popups on the net can do.

6)KISS.
Don't add too much to the game, it should be easy and fun to play. It should be balanced and not too confusing. This way you can get to a far more diverse customer base than just
hardcore HoMM fans and other turn based fanatics.

7) Opera in town screenshttp://forums.ubi.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

8) Actually make some form of cat a unit,
I would say a diamond lion golem would be fine. Oh, and has to be stronger than the black dragons and Titans. You do have Titans and dragons planed right?

KOT
//domo arigato

ToHeroes
04-01-2005, 03:12 PM
I agree with points 1 through 7 http://forums.ubi.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

simon_cowell
04-01-2005, 03:23 PM
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by kot_tdc:
8) Actually make some form of cat a unit,
I would say a diamond lion golem would be fine. Oh, and has to be stronger than the black dragons and Titans.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

No, what the game really needs is a platipus. Every factions needs its own platipus. Like Royal Platipus, or Dread Platipus. Diamond Platipus Golem is ok too.

SandroOrc
04-01-2005, 03:38 PM
Points 2 and 3 are the only ones I really care about. Heroes 4 sucked because the Heroes fighting completely ruined the balance of the game. Combine that with no multiplayer support at launch and I never got into the game one bit. Learn from past mistakes and go back to the Heroes3 format with just few basic improvements http://forums.ubi.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_razz.gif

P.S. Hi KOT and anybody else that knows me here

ValiantFwiffo
04-01-2005, 03:47 PM
*Pours KOT a saucer of milk*

You forgot "Never use anything associated with Russians, because Russians are all major screwups". http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/mockface.gif

MT_Silver
04-01-2005, 03:50 PM
What H5 really needs is flying monkeys.
Huge ones.
With pointy teeth. http://forums.ubi.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_razz.gif

The Wise Man says:
"Avoid dying."

kot_tdc
04-01-2005, 04:34 PM
Thanks clam.

Sandro, hi. I haven't seen you in war3 lately.
I know Rick and his friends are in Atheroth and J is in WoW. I am mostly in Guild Wars on weekends when I can play. Any good multiplayer strategy games out now? I hear Act of War is good but it doesn't run on my pc.

kot

SandroOrc
04-01-2005, 04:43 PM
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by kot_tdc:
Thanks clam.

Sandro, hi. I haven't seen you in war3 lately.
I know Rick and his friends are in Atheroth and J is in WoW. I am mostly in Guild Wars on weekends when I can play. Any good multiplayer strategy games out now? I hear Act of War is good but it doesn't run on my pc.

kot <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I lost my WC3 disk a few months ago and was too cheap to buy a new one for a game I rarely played anymore anyway. I played WOW for quite a while, because some of my friends got really into it, but it didn't hold my interest long. I've mostly just been playing poker lately. I figure I might as well make some money while playing games http://forums.ubi.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_razz.gif

Kareeah_Indaga
04-01-2005, 05:03 PM
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by kot_tdc:

4) Speaking of voice actors, don't use them!
The worst parts of Nival games were voiceovers.
If you don't have a great voice team like Blizzard does, DON'T do them at all.
It will save you money and won't ruin the game immersion. Nothing ruins the game more than a subpar voiceovers.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I wouldn’t say don’t use them, but do ensure they’re done well. I am reminded of Shadow of Death; the voices themselves were nice, but 3DO must have recorded them while the actors were reading through the scripts for the first time, because nine times out of ten the tone was either non-existent or very bizarre for the circumstances.

OZFirst
04-01-2005, 08:26 PM
A cat, can it be?

Yes, it is!

///OZ

Campaigner_1st
04-03-2005, 10:13 AM
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by kot_tdc:

1) A passworded hotseat waiting screen so I don't have to watch my oponent all the time in case she is ready to use my turnhttp://forums.ubi.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Good idea.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by kot_tdc:
2)No heroes fighting in the battles! keep it like it was in H2 and Ehterlords. They can cast spells or add bonuses but they shouldn't be a moveble unit. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Finally someone reasonable! http://forums.ubi.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by kot_tdc:
3)Better net support. A robust netcode and a matching service similar to Battle.net. You know that it might make or break this franchise, so please don't go the way of H4!
Simple and easy to use multiplayer will do more than any ammount of money wasted into voice actors! <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Very good suggestions. A master server that requires cd-keys and that contains a matchmaking service is grand.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by kot_tdc:
4) Speaking of voice actors, don't use them!
The worst parts of Nival games were voiceovers.
If you don't have a great voice team like Blizzard does, DON'T do them at all.
It will save you money and won't ruin the game immersion. Nothing ruins the game more than a subpar voiceovers. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

LOL! http://img13.exs.cx/img13/2691/rofl7.gif that's right! In Etherlords 2 Eileen had this strange English dialekt that was so lame. The others were good though!

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by kot_tdc:
5)Support your fanbase. In gaming history fan support and dedication(fanboism?) has made even weak games sell well. Look at Diablo2 and WoW!
Those games are weak especially for Blizzard to make them, but a strong fansite community and dedication has made these games succesful and fun to play. Give regular updates to the fansites and keep the fans happy and you will have far more marketing done for you for free than any annoying popups on the net can do.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

This is were you're dead wrong....Diablo II and WoW were gigantic thanks to Blizzards reputation and their grand commercial budget. The fanbase wasn't needed to spread the word.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by kot_tdc:
6)KISS.
Don't add too much to the game, it should be easy and fun to play. It should be balanced and not too confusing. This way you can get to a far more diverse customer base than just
hardcore HoMM fans and other turn based fanatics. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Easy to learn yet difficult to master. The balance should cover the whole game making some factions strong in one thing while weak in another and so on.
The game should have great depth. There are tutorials that learn you the game.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by kot_tdc:
7) Opera in town screenshttp://forums.ubi.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Absolutely! But it should be on/off selectable.
KOT
//domo arigato

REMA_BK
04-03-2005, 10:46 AM
I don't agree with point 2!It stupid for heroes not to fight!!!Think.Hero stats transfer to creture stats.It's stupid and unfair.You're going with lvl5 hero and you meet a lvl10 hero.His creatures are much stronger than yours because of the hero.You are going to loose just like that.It's stupid...

Vitirr
04-03-2005, 11:13 AM
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Campaigner_1st:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by kot_tdc:
3)Better net support. A robust netcode and a matching service similar to Battle.net. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Very good suggestions. A master server that requires cd-keys and that contains a matchmaking service is grand. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

NOO!. I want my old fashioned play by ip. Why on earth should I depend on a server, register in it just to play with my friend?. Nah, just keep it simple. Make it good and stable, but the simplest as possible.

loonyjoe
04-03-2005, 11:28 AM
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by REMA_BK:
I don't agree with point 2!It stupid for heroes not to fight!!!Think.Hero stats transfer to creture stats.It's stupid and unfair.You're going with lvl5 hero and you meet a lvl10 hero.His creatures are much stronger than yours because of the hero.You are going to loose just like that.It's stupid... <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
no, it's not...
the lvl of the hero shows, how experienced he is as an army leader. and the more experienced the leadder is, the better his troops behave on the battlefield...pure logic....

NailagCiad
04-03-2005, 01:01 PM
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by REMA_BK:
I don't agree with point 2!It stupid for heroes not to fight!!!Think.Hero stats transfer to creture stats.It's stupid and unfair.You're going with lvl5 hero and you meet a lvl10 hero.His creatures are much stronger than yours because of the hero.You are going to loose just like that.It's stupid... <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Think before you type. Those levels come from somewhere. If the enemy hero is five levels ahead, he surely deserves to be five levels ahead -at least if the map is reasonably balanced. This difference in level might be interesting to overcome when playing against someone with less skill(such as the AI), but if, in a fight between two otherwise equally skilled humans, with armies of roughly equal size, the one with lesser level has a roughly equal chance to win as the one with the higher level, there wouldn't be a point in developing heroes- use chests for gold no matter what, don't visit learning stones that's even remotely out of the way, etc. Simply put, the game would be Creatures of Might and Magic.

PeXalot
04-03-2005, 02:10 PM
im tottally whith nailagciad

in heroes 4 i allways must buy a knight for tactics and loose half of my base hero exp for tactics .....stupid

Real_King_Louis
04-03-2005, 02:41 PM
Just dropped by to say hello to an Old Friend. How ya doin' Krazy Kat? http://forums.ubi.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

- K -

Campaigner_1st
04-03-2005, 03:03 PM
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Vitirr:
NOO!. I want my old fashioned play by ip. Why on earth should I depend on a server, register in it just to play with my friend?. Nah, just keep it simple. Make it good and stable, but the simplest as possible. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

A master server that requires cd-keys locks out pirates from multiplayer. But there are ways around that. Tunneling software such as BattleLAN and so.
I don't think you can get it any simpler and better than Battle.Net http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/16x16_smiley-indifferent.gif

C_h_u_c_k_l_e_s
04-03-2005, 03:31 PM
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Campaigner_1st:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Vitirr:
NOO!. I want my old fashioned play by ip. Why on earth should I depend on a server, register in it just to play with my friend?. Nah, just keep it simple. Make it good and stable, but the simplest as possible. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

A master server that requires cd-keys locks out pirates from multiplayer. But there are ways around that. Tunneling software such as BattleLAN and so.
I don't think you can get it any simpler and better than Battle.Net http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/16x16_smiley-indifferent.gif <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I vote to have both. A master server, such as blizzard.net with passwords is fine. You'll create a community of young kids who all type in 1337, but that's fine. To each his own. But I also want a tcp/ip option where I can play with my select friends who I know I can trust not to bail on me when they start to lose. And by the way....yes it can be simpler than Battle.net. TCP/IP leave out the middleman and does a direct connection (as it were). Other than hotseat, THAT is the most simple way. But like I said....do both.

kot_tdc
04-03-2005, 06:59 PM
Battle.net is just a good interface for tcp/ip
, so I don't see why they would remove direct tcp/ip even if they add a good net interface.
As long as it's not gamespy arcade it should be ok anyway.

As to the heroes not being a part of the battle, it's just a thought and if they add them and make them work well I'll be happy to accept it. However, from my Heroes expirience
heroes work much better as commanders rather than fighters. They still should be able to cast spells etc. On the other hand Nival has a good reputation

kot
//Thank you Kingo.

I am recovering after a surgery so I have a bit of free time. Otherwise it's all work and sleep, work and sleep and some warcraft on Fridays.
Oh yeah and there is Guild Wars Beta, which I loved dearlyhttp://forums.ubi.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

What about you bossman?

REMA_BK
04-03-2005, 07:44 PM
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by loonyjoe:
no, it's not...
the lvl of the hero shows, how experienced he is as an army leader. and the more experienced the leadder is, the better his troops behave on the battlefield...pure logic.... <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Where's the logic?The same creatures fight with diferent heroes.The ones with better items are stronger.The hero is supose to be stronger,not creatures!The "tactics" skill is more logical option.U must learn to lead an army better than ur opponent so u could have an advantage over him in battle... Tell me that's not logic! http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/35.gif

LegendReborn
04-04-2005, 09:07 AM
1) Agreed

2) Agreed

3) Agreed. Though I would also like direct TCP/IP

4) Agreed, though if the voice acting could be well done, it CAN add something. Overall though I think it could be skipped.

5)Agreed, though I would contend that the base games that Bliz has done such a good job supporting were actually quite good in their time...

6)Yup, though on the other hand don't go too far down the Keep It Simple Stupid line. It needs to be deep, however leaving hooks in the code for future add-ons is OK, as long as the base game is fun to play without the add-ons...

7) Agreed (It would be cool to have the ability to SET town music though (especially if we could import our own music...))

8) LOL, eh, a cat unit would be fine..

I'll add

9. Don't be afraid to have a single discrete unit be the strongest, however when you do, make sure it is either avilable to all sides, or has a HUGE investment cost. One option is to make the other supporting units for the faction noticeably weaker... I love the thought of deploying my "Nexus of Unthinkable Power" unit... and thats a NUP outta me.

;-P

Fidanas
04-04-2005, 11:07 AM
I agree that NIVAL is a very talented game developmpent team. I recently experienced Silent Storm, and it reminded some of the good old feeling X-COM has offered me. And thats very difficult beleave me. Somehow i feel safe about they decissions for HOMM-V.