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Sins of a Solar Empire v1.03 preview

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Sins of a Solar Empire v1.03 preview

A sneak peek!

from Sins Forums

Sins of a Solar Empire is the highest rated new PC game of 2008 as well as the best selling new PC game of 2008 but we're not resting on our laurels. 

Even now, version 1.03 of Sins of a Solar Empire is in internal beta. Stardock and Ironclad are working through the features and testing the new updates based on player feedback.  Once that's done we'll get a demo version out and then move on to 1.04.

Here are some of the new features going into v1.03:

1) Significantly updated computer AI.  The AI is substantially better than in the current game. We're also evaluating whether to put in a difficulty level that gives the AI added bonuses since, in any RTS, a top human player will always be able to out think a computer AI. 

2) LOTS of new game setup options including:

+ Pirates or no pirates in a given game
+ Fleet size
+ Income rate speed
+ Build Speed
+ Ship speed
+ Research Speed
+ Culture Speed

3) The open market for buying and selling of resources has been altered so that there are random fluctuations in pricing and can crash or boom based on player behavior.

4) Imrpoved group phase jumping for large fleets of ships.

5) AI will surrender if situation is hopeless rather than drag the game out.

6) AI players will replace humans in multiplayer if a player drops.

7) Defeated players who are observing can no longer give resources or place bounties (bit of an exploit there).

8) Lots of tweaks to Ironclad Online for messaging users.

9) Improvements to network coding for multiplayer play.

This is by no means a complete list. There's dozens of small changes based on player feedback (we'll give a complete list when we release the update).

Our ETA for this release is late next week or the week after depending on testing.  We want to make sure the AI updates work pretty well (and that means, ahem, lots of play testing!) and lots of network testing.

We also have a pretty large list of things to do for a future 1.04 so if your own personal wishlist isn't fulfilled here, there's always 1.04 to look forward to. :)

156,770 views 187 replies
Reply #51 from Sins Forums Top
Please keep it up and please do NOT do a SupCom on us, where the devs were frequently talking with the community at first then just vanished after that.

(They have not had a patch for their expansion for over 3 months, yet there are plenty of issues left, and the devs have said they're working on one, but they have said VERY little about it other then it's in the works.)
Reply #52 from Sins Forums Top
Good job. Periodic patches are a sign of a great gaming company.

For the next patch, I would to be able to see my total number of labs/temples on the research screen (unless I'm just missing where it shows me).
Groupy 2 - Organize multiple applications into grouped tabs on your Windows desktop
Reply #53 from Sins Forums Top
I still really hope there are some improvements to phase jump inhibitors in there.
Reply #54 from Sins Forums Top
For the next patch, I would to be able to see my total number of labs/temples on the research screen (unless I'm just missing where it shows me).
End of quote


The research area slowly shaids in as you build new labs, reaching full at I think eight.

There does need to be an actual counter though.
Reply #55 from Sins Forums Top
All i have to say is im obsessed with this game...probably the best RTS ive ever played ..and thats all i play on my PC....you guys really did a good job....and I hope you continue to support the game....
Reply #56 from Sins Forums Top
By improved AI I hope that means the AI will be less cowardly and more willing to fight in a pitch battle.
Reply #57 from Sins Forums Top
be nice if missile frigs were toned down a tad as well. i mean, they should counter light frigates, but do they need to counter them this badly?

Technically, the counter to LRMs (or their equivalents) should be carriers with fighters. But as we all know, it doesn't take too many flak frigates to solve that. However, the counter to the flak frigs are light frigs and this just doesn't work out as the LRMs just wtfpwn the light frigs way faster than they could own the flak frigs and then it's a turkey shoot. So in essence, once LRMs are in play both light frigs and by extension carrier cruisers become a liability rather than an asset.
Reply #58 from Sins Forums Top
Can I PLEASE have your babies!!!!
Reply #59 from Sins Forums Top
Wow, I'm so stoked to see such great support for a game. Haven't seen support this great from anyone but Valve.
Reply #60 from Sins Forums Top
My faith in IC/SD has been restored, sorta, I'm still a little sore over a few other things not involving game problems though. But, for the most part, I'm hopeful once more.
Reply #64 from Sins Forums Top
Q: Does this upcoming patch fix the disappearing weapon effects when playing as Vasari, that some members here have been experiencing?
Reply #65 from Sins Forums Top
Looking really good :) Keep up the good work!
Reply #66 from Sins Forums Top
AI now knows how to surrender (based on time elapsed, relative economy, relative fleet value, resource reserves, and allied strength).
End of quote

On many occasions, it would actually be rather unsatisfying not being able to hunt the AI down to extinction (last planet razed/converted).
Unless, the player can decline the surrender and the game would continue as normal (with AI still playing, not just sitting around doing nothing)?
Please, tell me it's the latter. :NOTSURE:
Reply #67 from Sins Forums Top
You can opt to continue the game and beat him down but he won't build anything new or expand, he will just defend what he was with whatever ships and defenses are left over at the time of surrender.
Reply #68 from Sins Forums Top
Good to hear. Thanks.

By the way, will the different 'surrender behaviour' aspects be modifiable? And will they differ between the AI 'personalities' we set for them (Aggressor/Defender/Researcher/Economist)?
Reply #69 from Sins Forums Top
You can opt to continue the game and beat him down but he won't build anything new or expand, he will just defend what he was with whatever ships and defenses are left over at the time of surrender.
End of quote


Post time of 04:22 .. up to your usual sleepless nights again, Blair? Good to see you still lurking around :LOL:
Reply #70 from Sins Forums Top

Yeah, back at it. Testing 1.03 after a rough week of non-game related stuff :)

Edit: Oh, and I'm always lurking around - I just can't possibly respond to everything these days :P

Reply #71 from Sins Forums Top
This is why you get yourself cloned! :LOL:
Reply #72 from Sins Forums Top
Believe me, everyone here wishes they could - its all we can do to stay on top of reading and categorizing the most pressing issues discussed here. 1.03 and 1.04 should cover most of them and then we can start adding more creative stuff.
Reply #73 from Sins Forums Top
Hmmmmmm, sounds like you could use a forum monkey who spends most of his time lurking around anyway and looking into pretty much every thread..

Oh, wait ;) *whistles innocently*

Seriously, though, you guys are definitely doing the game justice :P
Reply #74 from Sins Forums Top
Firstly, good to see another patch out soon.

Secondly, the odd post in the Modding forum could help some people with problems that no-one but the dev team know.

And finally, any mention about using default files that are not in a mod folder to save space? Namely the 1.07Gb Textures folder?
Having one of them for every mod that even uses one custom texture is causing problems for the masses when installing and not fully reading the README, and taking up a great deal of space. Comments?
Reply #75 from Sins Forums Top
Like, perhaps, a single player campaign?

The balances and updates are awesome, but the game isn't complete until a campaign is issued. I really hope one is in the works.