Garry Gaber has visited the Jedi Council on TF.N again and gave an update ... also he was there to answer questions:
Greetings!
Glad to see all the excitement brewing around Star Wars Galactic Battlegrounds. To give a quick update, we are cruising toward Beta at a very fast clip, buttoning up a lot of the art in the game, and spending time on the level-specific art. Today, the Endor Bunker, as well as two of the creatures that wander the worlds, the Gundark and the TuskCat came in, as well as Obi-Wan Kenobi (both Padawan and Knight) for the Scenario Editor (translation: toybox). The art is looking great. We have so many units that you guys know and love from the films, as well as quite a few surprises. We're agressively fixing bugs and working hard to reach our Beta date in early September. After that it's polishing for a month, and then into Quality Assurance. I'll keep you all up to date as we progress.
Now, on to the latest questions:
In answer to Dark_Sith_Alf (7/21), Ewoks are placeable in the Scenario Editor, so the answer to your question is yes. In fact, not only do we have Ewok soldiers, but we also have Chief Chirpa, Logray, the medicine Ewok, and Wicket as placeable heroes. So you can hunt Ewoks to your heart's content!
Young David (7/21) - yes, that was the first picture with Wookiees in it.
Energy, in response to pat-fett (7/21) is provided by Power Cores, structures that when placed in proximity of a building, provide power to it. Power grants you a faster build rate for units produced at the building, as well as faster research of further technologies. Also, a power core is necessary to power a shield generator.
El_Emperador (7/21) asks a good question (his 3rd) and it was something the team struggled with. When you click on an AT-ST, you get the name "Mech Destroyer", which is the class of the unit. However, when you go to build it, in the rollover help, you see it's designation, which is AT-ST. The problem here that we needed to solve was quick recognizability of units in the game. How does one know that an AT-ST is equivalent to a Rebel Hover Tank? Because both are Mech Destroyers. We grappled with different solutions, but the class/designation solution seemed the most elegant. I hope you'll agree when you play the game. In answer to the (5th) question, both Artillery and Assault Mechs (the class that holds AT-AT) can knock over trees if their lasers or energy balls hit them.
The gate arts are being modified, Young David (7/22), so that the new larger AT-AT's can fit through.
The Empire Sith and Rebel Jedi are both very powerful, Dark_Sith_Alf (7/24).
Naboo and Gungans fight together in the Gungan campaign, KansasNavy (7/26), therefore we thought a separate Naboo campaign would be redundant. And wait until you see Theed! We've modeled the Palace, the Hangar, and the Power Generator, and there's more coming.
There will be holocrons in Star Wars Galactic Battlegrounds, Dark_SIth_Alf (7/26). When placed in a Jedi or Sith Temple, they will give you a trickle of Nova Crystals. Also, if you capture Banthas or Nerfs and place them in an Animal Nursery, you will get a trickle of food.
Great question, Rikalonius (7/26). The Jedi in our game do not heal like the monks in AOK. We have a new unit, called a medic which is dedicated to this task. You produce it at the Command Center. There are more units in Star Wars Galactic Battlegrounds, but we have done this to give you more interesting choice to make in the game. Also, Boba Fett is in the game as a hero. The Bounty Hunters on the Imperial Side are Rodian (Greedo's race).
Juggernauts are used by both the Rebels and Empire, according to Star Wars references, KansasNavy (7/27).
The equivalent upgrade to "Redemption" is something called "Force Influence", which lets you convert other Jedi and Sith, Dark_SIth_Alf (7/29).
El_Emperador (7/29), yes, that is the upgraded Y-wing.
Yes, Dark_Sith_Alf (8/1), bombs from TIE Bombers, for instance will be able to hurt underwater buildings and submarines, if they have been detected.
Yes, SithForceLord (8/2), the Jedi/Sith will have special powers, like Mind Tricks (Stealth) and Jedi Detection, the ability to detect other hidden Jedi and Sith.
The Speeder Bike (Scout), AT-PT (Strike Mech), AT-ST (Mech Destroyer) and AT-AT (Assault Mech) are all different classes in the game, so you can't upgrade from one to the other. That means that all four of these units can be running around in your army at the same time, Humble extra (8/2).
Stormies would be closer to archers, though much tougher. AT-PTs are like nothing else in AOK, KansasNavy (8/2).
Yes, the campaigns will have titles, Mastadge (8/2).
Yes, there will be a demo, and we will try to post before the game ships, Dark_Sith_Alf (8/2).
I'll hook up with you all later to give more updates and answer more questions.
Thanks for your continued support!
Garry M. Gaber
Director
Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds
Isn't it great? For those who still wanna check out the thread where Gaber posts all his answers and updates, you can find it here (
http://boards.theforce.net/message.asp?topic=2056960&replies=260)