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  1. #11
    Ove_Haithabu's Avatar Junior Member
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    Originally Posted by Ubi-Thorlof Go to original post
    @Ove_Haithabu:
    The plan is to catch the feeling of the old Settlers games and build on top of that. The inventor of the series, Volker Wertich, is responsible for this one so I'm confident this will be achieved

    Regarding the resource management:
    Yes, this is exactly how it's planned (or rather: already implemented) in this one, too. Resources don't magically teleport in a big pool and like in e.g. Settlers III your carriers will have to get the wood from the woodcutter to the new building before construction can begin.

    Like the older games of the series, The Settlers will also be a game where you can simply sit back and watch your Settlers work (or take a break), buildings don't suddenly appear but have to be build and it's not supposed to be hectic RTS like Starcraft or something similar.

    I can't give you a clear info on the maps yet, but as far as I know there'll be randomly generated maps for more replayability.
    Will put it on my Q&A list for later.
    Brilliant, that is the best news of the entire Gamescom week so far. That is what I loved about the earlier versions as well. If there are random maps and big maps it would be fantastic.

    Thanks a lot for your fast replies. Since you have your Q&A list out anyway, you might as well add map editor with a questionmark to it. Personally, if there are random maps, I don't need that as much but I sense that the community will ask for it.

    Also interesting would be if there is a support for modding and a Steam Workshop. I know it's difficult to get everyones taste right. Personally I would like long production chains, many goods and less military aspect. But in order to make this a success you probably also need to look after those who did not play the old Sttlers before and they might not be interested if it is too complicated. However a Steam Workshop might address that issue if Ubisoft offeres the base game with the same goods and profesions as Settlers 1, then the community might add/replace buildings or professions for those who are into deep details on production and a variety of goods.

    But that is all extra, I don't want to sound greedy. I am already very happy to learn that resources are individual and not in a virtual pool, that buildings are properly constructed and that it will be a gae where I can sit back and watch the game as well.
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  2. #12
    When reading the news about a new Settlers title, i was filled with joy but had an immediate URGE to go in and tell (no, BEG) Ubisoft to go back COMPLETELY to Settlers 2 (10th anniversary) look & feel if they still take themselves and the Settlers franchise serious.
    In fact, I made an account on this forum exclusively for this.

    As is being said before, Ubisoft (or UbiLOL) managed to pretty much destroy the HoMM franchise when they took over control. Parts 1 to 3 were great and everything after was just pure backwards development and righteous trash really.

    Same happened when they took over control of Settlers. Part 1 was gold, part 2 was EPIC, part 3 was meh and everything after just went downhill VERY fast.

    Now seeing what they have planned with the upcoming part, especially seeing them again going to use this unwanted " next-gen engine" look & feel is NOT the way to go

    Why can't you guys keep it simple and go back to classic times? Next gen kids barely play games like these anyway so their is no customer pool there. Most players have great memories from part 1 and 2 and just want a part 2 SEQUEL. No fancy high end 3d models, superfluous next gen physics and complex mechanics but just a plain simple Settlers game containing the old but gold building mechanics (roads with flags) and simplified economics.

    I know nothing of what i'm trying to say here will influence game development but just wanted to let you guys know that you should not be surprised if Settlers 2019 will be another fail game and the final nail in the coffin for the franchise when you guys come up with yet another next-gen type of Settlers that contains 0 nostalgia and atmosphere. Please this time make graphics inferior to CLASSIC mechanics/ game play. Old fans care less about graphics and fancy stuff.

    We just want Settlers 2 look & feel with a new story line, some more races to choose from and an improved AI.That's it. Really, that is all there is to it and succes guaranteed. At least, for me and many old fans i know of

    Please do not make yet another bad decision with that overhyped Snowdrop engine. It's not suitable to create a classic Settlers experience!!!

    Edit:
    Going back to old transportation system (good over roads) = check. Please do not forget about the donkeys!

    EdIt 2:
    Is this how the game will look??? https://www.thesettlers-alliance.com...ent-2/?lang=en

    If so, once again: these new age graphics really bother me
    Please utilize this 'new' engine to recapture the OLD but GOLD graphics. No need for high level of detailed graphics in 3d 4K or anything. No need for individual characters all with their own unique cosmetics and personality. No need for walls, no need for fighting arenas. This ain't Stronghold (yet another classic thats been destroyed due to poor sequals) Just a waste of resources really! KEEP IT REAL. Who is actually requesting this?

    tx
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  3. #13
    OlaHaldor's Avatar Member
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    I do get what you mean; graphics and charm vs. function, fun and gameplay.

    But don't forget; many of the charming memories we have, and the ties to the pixeled graphics were because they were state of the art back then. I think this has a certain charm still, but only because I played those games when I was 10 years old (and beyond), and that was basically where graphics were at.

    I think Settlers 7 did a good job to get back into the cartoony, cute and charming look and feel as graphics. The gameplay and the sectors was OK, but the ideal has already been confirmed: barracks expand territory. No sectors. YAY!

    I also liked the tech tree, export/trade and the monks in Settlers 7. I wouldn't mind if they are back in the new Settlers.


    Settlers 2/3 + graphics gets a thumb up from me. Can't wait to discover more about this game. And I really hope there will be a few closed testing rounds for feedback!
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  4. #14
    Ubi-Thorlof's Avatar Anno Community Developer
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    @ hiswitzend1969: It's a bit early to talk about digital/physical versions. But from what we're doing lately with most of our games:
    Ubisoft Store will offer digital game versions only
    Local retailers (in some countries) will offer physical versions with a disk

    @Ove_Haithabu: I'll put those questions about map editor and modding on the list.

    The whole military and economy aspects of the game we'll probably address in separate blog posts at a later date since they're such important parts of the game.
    The game will feature different victory conditions, meaning you don't have to go for military if you don't want to.

    @TJL1980: I don't think high-end graphics are the main priority for this game at all, but it's supposed to look nice, cute and full of life.

    We totally understand some people really love the first Settlers games, but in the same way the following games also have a huge fan base (Settlers 3 in particular, from what I read). And which title is the best in the end is down to personal preference:
    There are lots of people who really like The Settlers 7 and still play the multiplayer. Personally, I really didn't like this game but at the same time those people would like to see the new Settlers being similar to what they love from The Settlers 7.
    I also want to add that for the studio, the people working on the game, trying new stuff is just a very exciting thing to do; the inventor of the series is leading the development of this title so we got someone who very well knows how the old titles played and felt.

    The arena you can see on screenshots and the trailer is for one of the new victory conditions besides the pure military one. And walls, well...this is not going to be a castle-builder, the main focus will remain the economy and logistics (with pushcarts and carriages), building the settlement itself. Building defences is just one feature of many.
    Did you play "Cultures" back in the days by any chance? Lots of what I've seen of The Settlers so far reminds me of it (in a very positive way) and it also had things like e.g. lots of different character models while also having a heavy economy focus with some logistics aspects.

    I hope we can still win you over with this one, but I understand that many things are different from what you loved in Settlers II. We'll release more info over the next weeks and months and will also try to address concerns from veterans like you.

    I'll start a thread for coming Q&A later today and if you got any specific questions already, post them there and we'll get back to them probably sometime in September.

    @OlaHaldor: We will have (closed) tests at a later date, but I don't have any details for you yet. Will let you know as soon as we know more
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  5. #15
    Did you play "Cultures" back in the days by any chance? Lots of what I've seen of The Settlers so far reminds me of it (in a very positive way) and it also had things like e.g. lots of different character models while also having a heavy economy focus with some logistics aspects.
    @Ubi-Thorlof: I absolutely love Cultures - still playing it! Really encouraging to hear this
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  6. #16
    Well, talking about fast feedback

    I know that most of my 'wishes' come fort from nostalgia and most likely not implementable in latest iteration of Settlers game concepts... However, with new games/franchises that have yet to show and prove themselves to the public for the first time i completely understand developers using state of the art technologies. And they get away with it simply because they have no ' predecessors' to compete with.

    When taking up daring projects such as trying to " revive" a classic franchise such as Settlers i do believe developers should be VERY careful and be VERY picky when it comes to both game play AND visual adaptation. Especially when the most heard comment about this news is that LOTS of Settlers fans on MANY game/tech websites refer to Settlers 2 and wishing to see a game that resembles/look a lot like it (basically a sequel). This fan base, even though barely active for the eye, is hands down still way bigger than that of any other Settlers successor (e.g. Settlers 7). Ergo: succes guaranteed.

    Thus instead of reinventing the wheel, or in case of Ubisoft, tearing the whole franchise apart and emphasizing on doing ' completely new things' because THEY think it's exciting (of course doing something new is more fun than doing the same tric over and over again ) why not just giving the audience what they want.

    Why is it that developers in general want to keep doing things ' different' and trying to come up with 'new' things instead of just expanding on successful formulas? Undeniably Settlers 2 (or even 1 for that matter) would still have a large active online community if this game was intensively supported these and had a great online MP environment. But indeed, this game is kind of outdated tech-wise.

    Anyway, i'm an pretty unanimous person in the online " Settlers" scene and don't expect my voice (of concerns) to have any influence on game design (after all, it's your product). It's just that i, among many others, have seen so many classic games being ' revived' (although according to media hypes), being hyped crazy, just to be disappointing afterwards seeing the end product is completely different (again both game play wise as visuals) than what people had stored in the back of their heads.

    And this time i just felt the need to "raise my voice" e.g. trying to give some sort of constructive feedback even though most if it is premature ranting about older versions of the game. Anyway, i just hope i somehow reached devs ears (and just search the internet, i'm just one of MANY that is longing for a classic Settlers game) and somehow gave a little nod in the right direction

    Well, still a long way to go. I'll keep track of the game and if needed will be willing to provide feedback on game aspects.

    p.s. nope, didn't play Cultures.
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  7. #17
    Ubi-Thorlof's Avatar Anno Community Developer
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    Pardon, I don't want to spam here
    We just want to have an active dialogue both-ways and especially now directly after the announcement there're a lot of questions and concern which are worth addressing, I think.

    We're very happy to receive such massive feedback since Tuesday, be it in the forums, on Facebook or the website. It helps us to figure out which aspects we may have to elaborate on a bit more (e.g. cause things are unclear) and, of course, what the community overall thinks of what we're showing.

    We'll publish more info soon and there'll be some playtests, as I mentioned, which should help getting a better idea of what we're doing with the new Settlers and how similar to the old games it'll be.
    So, thank you for your feedback so far, even though I'm afraid you won't get the exact experience you were hoping for. But maybe still a title you can enjoy playing.


    Oh...and you should definitely check out Cultures if you have some spare time, GOG sells it, as far as I'm aware. It's beautiful and a lot of fun.
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  8. #18
    Hey everyone, I figured to add my 2 cents here, since everyone is quite excited and the community manager is actively participating too.

    It's funny to see some of you saying "Make it like Settlers 2", "Make it Settlers 1", "Make it 3!!", and it is funny because my say would be, make it like Settlers 4! It is because that was my childhood dream game I was always restricted to play as much as I'd have wanted. We're mostly grown up now so let's think of some constructive feedback now.

    1) Be it an old game, early settlers series raised the die-hard fans we have today for a reason, and those qualities of the game are timeless and should also work today(graphics are irrelevant here)
    2) The decision making concering every part of the economy, from raw material to refined goods, and which user had to put in, was what made the series really special.
    2) You may think a remake of this older edition would be immediate success, just like Age of Empires HD, right? Well, AoE had an active community throughout the years, and users continued to develop their own version of the game(think: Forgotten Empires), which was basically a living proof for Microsoft that a remake makes sense and that there is enough community to carry it on. Think now of the old Settlers and consider making the same effort from publisher's point of view, I honestly think it wouldn't work.
    4) Ubisoft will want to attract NEW and OLD players, and the reason why anyone is listening to you is because Ubisoft probably doesn't have it all figured out yet, and they are trying to see how big, and attractive, the Old playerbase actually is.

    As everyone else, I hope the new game turns out amazing and that the series will live on. Best of luck to developers and everyone who's making the effort on the revival of the game!
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  9. #19
    Throwing my hat into the ring as well, though I'm not speaking for anyone but myself.

    If it's permissible, I'd like it if you looked to two other, relatively old city builders.

    In terms of the military component, I would love it if you looked to Caesar III. In Caesar III, firstly, you could choose to go down a campaign with more or virtually no military component. While a military component is a good way of putting a stressor on the player, it's also not what a lot of people are looking for in a city building game. Secondly, when Caesar III introduced the military component, it was purely as a defensive measure and mostly to force you to branch out your technology and to milestone your progression with an extra layer of challenge. You had to put up a wall and to defend yourself. Thirdly, it kicked ***. Ballista towers ftw.

    The other game is Black & White. The awful control and camera scheme and the godly powers and Creature aside, I've never felt as free nor my city building to be as organic as in Black & White. The Anno series forces you down a min-max funnel into maximum efficiency. Black & White was about building a village that felt real.

    I loved the Settlers 7 (172 hours on Steam) as much as I love Settlers 2-4 and I really want you to keep the child-friendly, cute and playful tone and the wholesome campaign theme. I thought it was really unfair how little recognition Blue Byte got for the S7 campaign, it was really well done and so far unparalelled in a strategy game.

    Finally, I just want to say that hearing The Settlers (8) is in development was the best news I heard from GamesCom and it has put a smile on my face this whole week. Thank you!

    (If this turns out to be a F2P browser and/or mobile phone title, I will literally mail you a voice tape of me crying.)
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  10. #20
    Stainless001's Avatar Member
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    It looks beautiful! Can't wait to find out more!
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