Demigod

[Xurtan]

So.. is anyone else sorta vaguely interested in this RTS? Comes out in a few months, doesn't look too bad so far. Decent graphics. (Although, admittedly, that means exactly nothing these days.)

http://www.demigodthegame.com/
http://forums.demigodthegame.com/332105 (Extended features list, which explains more about the game)

 (Beware of large ass picture)

The basic premise seems to be that you play as a Demigod. Either a General, which commands a large army but is individually not as strong, or an Assassin, which is lone wolf style, but much stronger against many weaker foes.

 

What is Demigod?

    * Revolutionary strategy/action game that combines tactical prowess with role-playing depth
    * Battle in a persistent online world in multiplayer, or a virtual persistent universe in single-player, as you battle your way toward ascension
    * Increase your Demigod's powers and abilities by leveling up during each battle
    * Wage massive, earth-shattering battles across a series of awe-inspiring Arenas
    * Seize key, strategic positions on the map and turn the tide against your enemy. Push deep into their base and destroy them once and for all
    * Wage war alone or join forces with other Demigods and lay waste to mutual enemies

General or Assassin?
Choosing a Demigod also means you choose a particular play style. As an assassin, become a one-man army as you wade into the front lines, devastating armies with your powers. As a general, build an army and lead them into battle, mowing down the opposition. When your general participates in the battle, they can turn the tide for their troops by healing them, weakening enemy troops and actively fighting in the battles.

Meh.

[schild]

It's basically DOTA and yes.

Also, that screenshot doesn't particularly display the game in a manner in which you'd ever play it, but it is goodlooking.

[Trippy]

Not going to care about it until after it's released and other people have a go at it. Supreme Commander was a big disappointment.

[Aez]

Meh indeed.

[Lounge]

It's basically DOTA and yes.

Also, that screenshot doesn't particularly display the game in a manner in which you'd ever play it, but it is goodlooking.

DOTA will not work as a retail game without the developer committing to monthly content patches.  The thing that kept DOTA from getting so stale was that you could count on a new hero (usually insanely overpowered) or new item once a month or so.

[Aez]

It's releasing this Tuesday.  Anyone got more info?
I might try it since I like Stardock and there's been so few decent PC release lately.

[NiX]

Seriously? Tuesday? Way to fail on the marketing effort. Unless they're hoping for another Sins of a Solar Empire.

[schild]

Seriously? Tuesday? Way to fail on the marketing effort. Unless they're hoping for another Sins of a Solar Empire.

Space Siege has made GPG go into redemption mode. They have to hope word of mouth wins the day for sure. I'm pretty stoked though.

[MrHat]

Whoa.  Tuesday you say? wtf.

[Aez]

I read their forum.

Surprise! the sniper hero who looks like a douche is completely overpowered with a 69% win ration.  Lets hope they'll patch it before release.
Even worse, I watched a gameplay video and he says a stupid line like "my aim is true" or "bolted" or "for justice" every time he fires his pimped crossbow. 

[Ingmar]

Not going to care about it until after it's released and other people have a go at it. Supreme Commander was a big disappointment.

Out of curiosity, what were you expecting from SupCom? It was basically Total Annihilation 2.0, with all that that implies (8 billion units, good multiplayer*, shitty/boring single player campaigns.)

*if you like defensive battles

[gryeyes]

Game looks great any title stardock puts out i purchase by default. Did not care for sins that much tho.

[MrHat]

Game looks great any title stardock puts out i purchase by default. Did not care for sins that much tho.

So, did you buy it? Is it fun? Would you recommend it?

[schild]

Looks like the retail version is indeed out, downloading now.

[gryeyes]

I didn't think it was released till tuesday!

[schild]

Gamestop fucked up so they released it early.

http://frogboy.impulsedriven.net/article/346061

Edit: For the record, I *hate* Impulse. it's bloated, slow and ugly. They learned nothing from Valve. I can accept slow and bloated if it's pretty. I can accept ugly and bloated if it's fast. I can accept slow and ugly if it has almost no memory footprint. It's like the contractor repair triangle for game delivery.

[schild]

Maybe I don't see the appeal here. The characters (and their voiceovers) are pretty stupid. I don't understand the flow of gameplay. Maybe I just don't get DOTA. If anyone is around that wants to explain what the fuck is going on in a coop game against the computer or something, that'd be awesome. The manual sucks and there's no tutorial. Right now, all I know, is the game runs well.

[Mosesandstick]

Is there a demo?

[Typhon]

I know DOTA and this is no DOTA.  A shame, I was hoping for a DOTA made from the ground up as a game unto itself (better character control scheme, some persistence outside of the matches, mutliple maps, maybe even some sort of campaign).  I wouldn't say this sucks, but it doesn't seem to have the frantic pace or charm that DOTA has.  Forcing units to be either lone wolf or generals also misses the DOTA point of hero variability.  I guess they were worried that if they didn't dumb it down/make it obvious that it wouldn't be "reatail enough".  Again, a shame.

[gryeyes]

As the only person on the planet who has never played a game of DOTA i have nothing to compare it to. Game doesn't appear to have any degree of complexity that would keep me interested.

[schild]

As the only person on the planet who has never played a game of DOTA i have nothing to compare it to. Game doesn't appear to have any degree of complexity that would keep me interested.

It's deeper than it appears, I think, but it's pretty straightforward now that I've played some MP.

[MrHat]

As the only person on the planet who has never played a game of DOTA i have nothing to compare it to. Game doesn't appear to have any degree of complexity that would keep me interested.

It's deeper than it appears, I think, but it's pretty straightforward now that I've played some MP.

Fun?

[schild]

As the only person on the planet who has never played a game of DOTA i have nothing to compare it to. Game doesn't appear to have any degree of complexity that would keep me interested.

It's deeper than it appears, I think, but it's pretty straightforward now that I've played some MP.

Fun?

With humans, yes. As a single-player game it is laughably bad.

[MrHat]

As the only person on the planet who has never played a game of DOTA i have nothing to compare it to. Game doesn't appear to have any degree of complexity that would keep me interested.

It's deeper than it appears, I think, but it's pretty straightforward now that I've played some MP.

Fun?

With humans, yes. As a single-player game it is laughably bad.

Cool, I'll give it a few more days, then buy it this weekend if I'm still moderately excited.

[Ard]

I like it, but I wasn't a dota player, so take my opinion with a grain of salt.  But yeah, this is not a game you buy to play by yourself in.  I need to see how the tournament/pantheon mode works though, it wasn't supposed to be enabled until today.

[Sky]

What the heck is DOTA?

[MisterNoisy]

What the heck is DOTA?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defense_of_the_Ancients

[SurfD]

DotA

Sorry, I had to.

[schild]

DotA

Sorry, I had to.

Don't feel bad, Basshunter is the man.

[Aez]

Well, the download store is busted.  Anyone know if Walmart usually sell the copies on day one?

[Pennilenko]

DotA

Sorry, I had to.

Never apologize for awesome.

[Aez]

I got it.  It me up on Steam if you want to play.  I'm in the f13 group.

[Aez]

Worst intro ever.

[gryeyes]

Gozer the Traveler. He will come in one of the pre-chosen forms. During the rectification of the Vuldrini, the traveler came as a large and moving Torg! Then, during the third reconciliation of the last of the McKetrick supplicants, they chose a new form for him: that of a giant Slor! Many Shuvs and Zuuls knew what it was to be roasted in the depths of the Slor that day, I can tell you!

[Typhon]

I'm not sure what makes this not as good as DOTA.  Here are some thoughts, some of which I'm happy with, but I can't put my finger exactly on why I think DOTA did it better.

1 schild is right, there is depth, it's not instantly obvious, but it's there.  But it's not the same type of depth as DOTA. 
* The abilities have synergies, not to the degree that some of the DOTA character abilities had synergies (see "dumbing down for retail market", above). 
* Items may have synergies, I haven't looked very hard.  If they do, they aren't tremendously obvious.  The items do not have an upgrade path that includes the initial item.  You get upgrades by selling an old item and buying a new one.

2 From the very start, you can beat the "creep" level spawns (even a whole wave) with little effort, which I guess is much less frustrating for new comers.  Unfortunately this reduces the sense of tension you get from DOTA (especially if you suck, like I do).

3 You can zoom WAY the hell out.  At this range, your character looks like blob.  I don't have the same sense of connection with the character because of this.  You aren't really seeing the attack animations or anything else.  Given this type of game, zooming way the hell out is pretty much what you need to do (until/unless you are trying to target specific demigods, but it's easy enough to zoom in a little to accomplish this).  My guess is that this is the reason that I don't feel a connection with my character.

4 The lack of a larger set of characters, and the "meh" level of interest in the character concepts and design also causes me to lack a sense of connection with the character, and therefore, the game.  I guess I'm ok with the frost/fire assassin.  I guess if I played around with the frost capabilities (instead of going pure damage output) I might want to focus on just using him (to get good with him).

5 The game isn't bigger then any individual match.  I think this is a drawback to DOTA and was something I was hoping people would address.  There is a special item you can buy with points that you accumulate over time, but this uses the points you have accumulate (i.e. it's a one-match use sort of thing).  I'm finding I have less and less interest in games that have no persistence/larger point.