Sorry for taking so long to post this – damn real life just keeps getting in the way. A big thank you to all who attended – and in particular to SJackson for posing the majority of the questions.
As promised we are hoping to hold a follow up WebChat due to the problems that arose during the last one. This is currently pencilled in for Thursday 13th June @ 8pm. I’m just awaiting on confirmation from the Devs that they can all make it, but so far Nobular, Mark and Ryan will definitely be there!
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Q) SJackson : I’ll start off with what was being discussed on the forums, how is the ME coming along?
A) toffee_jules : The ME is the hardest component of the whole build, and its coming along slowly right now.
toffee_jules : When the structure of the game is complete, the ME will still be in development
Q) SJackson : At the moment in your client, are you able to make substitutions or tactical tweaks which have an effect?
A) toffee_jules : No
jDiddy : The core of the current ME is quite advanced but its features have not been implemented
jDiddy : However it is temporary
toffee_jules : Jon is building the game at the moment, and the only features that are live are those I spoke about in the update
Q) SJackson : Once we reach public alpha, will matches be in real-time like a match would last a few minutes, or will it be like an instant result until it is more developed?
A) jDiddy : No its ‘real time’ at the moment
jDiddy : Lasts about a couple of minutes
super_st : Nice, better than just having an instant result
jDiddy : Although it is predetermined
Q) SJackson : Does it have a text commentary and if so what does it tell?
A) jDiddy : Yes, it has text commentary back to the old champ man days if you played them
Nobular : its very engaging – even at the level we are using
Nobular : and the text commentary keeps our attention
jDiddy : it gives highlights of events minute by minute
Q) SJackson : Did you guys have someone join the time who had experience working on ME’s?
A) jDiddy : Yes
jDiddy : We have a very good guy
jDiddy : Unfortunately he is a very busy man too
Q) SJackson : Any chance of some new screenies in the near future?
A) Nobular : With the new blogs and a bit of an upturn in social media activity – we will be getting more info out Steve
Nobular : and screenshots will be part of that
Nobular : The reason we have been so hesitant in the past to sent out screenies is that we weren’t totally happy with them
Q) SJackson : I know this may be a stretch for you guys to answer, but is it looking likely some of us would be allowed into the client by the end of the year?
A) jDiddy : We don’t really like giving dates out to be honest, since we never really know how much time week by week all of us can spend on it
jDiddy : and we need to be very sure it is ready for the public
Nobular : I said in my blog that I thought that was achievable – but also that the rest of the devs would kill me for saying that!
toffee_jules : It’s possible Stephen, but time will tell
Q) SJackson : I remember quite a while ago you released a bunch of screenshots, and one of them had a stadium in, what exactly was that from?
A) toffee_jules : That’s original artwork
toffee_jules : Ryan put that together
Mark : That was one Ryan created was working with some 3D modelling software.
Mark : Eventually a lot of the graphic elements/images will be like that.
Q) joe_tompkins : Any news on when we can reserve team names, remember hearing that would be close at some point? Guess you might be waiting for the new website though.
A) toffee_jules : We are waiting for Damm to finish the website build
Nobular : Joe – We brought a guy on board to help with the website – but he suffered a few set backs
Q) SJackson : So far I’ve been really impressed with the screenshots, wouldn’t think that that game shown isn’t even in public alpha.
A) toffee_jules : It’s a question of functionality in the client stephen. The appearance is very good, but we need to add more content before public entry
SJackson : But they speak volumes for the work you guys have done so far
jDiddy : hopefully… hopefully
Nobular : Uncle J Diddy deserves a lot of the credit, he has been extremely generous with his time
Mark : There’s still a lot more to do (must pull my graphical finger out!)
Q) SJackson: what are the main functions you guys still need to add into the client?
A) Nobular : the economy is a biggie SJackson
SJackson : one part I am really looking forward too
Nobular : it has been pretty much designed on paper
Nobular : and bits and pieces of it have been implemented
toffee_jules : yep teams need to have a structured income system
Nobular : but it’s an area we intend to spend a lot of time on as a group
Nobular : as it is crucial to so many aspects – and is integral to making a success of the game
Q) SJackson : With regards to finance, in FML £6m was quite a lot of money for example, but in real life that is nothing, are finances going to mirror FML or more real life in terms of value?
A) jDiddy : Economy is tough and only testing is going to help develop that part of the relative unknown
Nobular : I think one of the aim is to try out a few systems and see which one fits best
jDiddy : Exactly
Nobular : if that means mirroring real world – then so be it
Nobular : but it could be that the game has its own levels – and they mightn’t mirror anything
Nobular : and those are the kind of testing environments that we will need more of you guys in for
Nobular : it would be hard to thrash out an economic model/system with just the 10 or 12 devs in there
Mark : Luckily it’s not true to life at the moment, my team is in debt by £273,000,000,000 in the test client at the mo!!
Q) SJackson : Sounds like you need some public testers lol
A) jDiddy : Lol in all honesty yes we do
jDiddy : id be happier with 100 or so
Q) SJackson : Are youth academies in the client at all?
A) jDiddy : Not at the moment Steve, but all in good time…..
Q) drstonk : How much do you guys hope to start with or will it be reasonably fully formed at birth?
A) jDiddy : Reasonably fluffy
jDiddy : It needs to be really in order to give a good impression
jDiddy : When the devs no longer have a social life then I think it will be time
Q) SJackson : Have you guys given Kickstarter another thought, or is it something you won’t do now?
A) toffee_jules : Kick starter is still a possibility
toffee_jules : But we need to have a more complete project first
SJackson : I think it could really work for you guys
jDiddy : But not quite at the moment
SJackson : Would you look at Steam Greenlight as well?
toffee_jules : We want to show a movie of the game in operation
jDiddy : Yes that would be nice
toffee_jules : Steam is a possibility but we haven’t really discussed it yet