What you see there is an internal build, its different from the one we have, or will get. This next patch is about performance and stability.

Er, I know.  I am referring to when the next "patch" is arriving rather.

A very interesting video.  You know, I hope this doesn't sound harsh, but having seen that and listening to the conversation, I have no idea how you plan on getting this product "finished" by July 16th for the gold mastering and August release date.  I'm really curious how this all comes together in just over 1 week.

I have to agree with this. I can understand the idea of the empires viewing themselves as good, and the whole concept of the fight being between "neutral" cultures clashing over principles, but it's flawed in this case. We the players empathize with the kingdoms and so I think the vast majority of us will see this game as a very clear cut good vs evil struggle, with the kingdoms as good and the empires as evil. There is absolutely nothing about the current implementation of the empires that would ever make me think "maybe these aren't bad guys," and lore or background story wouldn't change that. Their techs sound evil, their buildings sound evil, their leaders look evil, and they corrupt the very ground they build upon.

Yeah well... You all look evil to me. Maybe I should smite you with my righteous soul sucking sword of utter disaster and catastrophe... Then I can bathe in the blood of chickens before stomping you into the ground along with your petty philosophical meanderings and anti-empire propaganda.

In star wars were all told that the Rebellion is good and the Empire is bad. Maybe I see it the other way around. The Empire brought stability and ... So long as no one REBELLED... Peace.

Whats good whats evil. No one really has the answer to that question...Everyone just likes to THINK they do.

Personally I intend to make my own Empire and lead the strong and capable of the land to a most righteous victory over the cowed peons and the mob of illiterate jackasses that are the Kingdoms. The idea that all are equal will fade as swiftly as their meager lives.

Long live the supremacist doctrine!

(This post is purely sarcastic...- This disclaimer intended for those with no imagination nor sense of humor.)

End post.

Remember the private and public beta are very different, the private already having tactical combat etc. Also afaik 16th July is for feature lockdown, then there is time for bug-fixing? My understanding is that by the time is released they expect to already have a post-release patch fixing found issues.

For me this is definitely eye candy - I never zoom in that far. I'd much rather the time was spent on the gameplay mechanics etc and this was left for later...

Fair enough - in that case I'd rather the 3D artists and animaters spent time making more creatures or adding variety...

fixing the particle engine is probably pretty trivial actually, after all it has been working fine for some time, someone must have checked in a change too that build that inactivated it is all.

Adding spells is easy XML, Icons and effects, most of which are probably ready and just not hooked in yet.

They will still need to polish and do some bug fixing but I'm not to worried to be honest and if it does slip it slips, no big deal.

Also if you haven't played many stardock games they will probably go on enhancing the release version for some time.