http://www.spacesector.com/blog/2013/03 ... galactica/Interview with Digital Reality on New “Imperium Galactica”
n February 2013, Digital Reality, the creators of the real-time space 4X game series Imperium Galactica, announced that they are “currently working on a new Imperium Galactica game”. By then the only concrete thing we were told was that it will be an online game. It would use a custom-made engine DR had been developing, and that engine would be the “first step” towards the “long-term development of several playable phases”. I reached Digital Reality for more details about the game. Here’s what the Digital Reality CEO, Andras Peller, had to say. Enjoy!
SS: Which platforms are you planning to launch your new game for? (PC, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, others?)
Andras Peller: Eventually the game will be playable on several platforms, but initially we are focussing on a PC release.
SS: What about the genre? Is it going to be a 4X game like the previous Imperium Galactica? Is it strategy? Simulation, other?
Andras Peller: Our idea is to take the 4X genre and evolve it into something more. So it will derive from 4X elements, but we will look at each of the “X” elements to find a new spin on it. The end result will not be a traditional 4X game, but nonetheless it will captivate the charm of 4X with hopefully new gameplay experiences.
SS: Will there be a single-player mode? Or, only multiplayer?
Andras Peller: Generally speaking, no. But there will be some solo gameplay included. Yes, the game will be online multiplayer.
SS: You said it will be an online game. Which type? Will it be an MMO, with a persistent world perhaps?
Andras Peller: It will be an MMO (Massively Multiplayer Online), but not persistent world. It does not mean you lose your gameplay!
SS: Will the game be online-only? Meaning, you need to be online to play?
Andras Peller: At this point, the game will be online only.
SS: What more can you tell us about the “long-term development” with “several playable phases published in the future.”? Are you going to release a playable version at alpha and then beta stages? Are you planning to open pre-orders by then?
Andras Peller: Think lateral evolution. Instead of building the whole game at once, going alpha, then beta, then release and then adding (end) content to the core gameplay (the traditional route), we want to build a dynamic world that changes and evolves further with each new installment. This process will definitely take some time, most likely spanning over years. We hope the fans will accompany us on this journey. A more detailed description can be found on our forum.
As the game will be free to play, there won’t be any preorders.
SS: Do you have a rough date for your first playable phase release already?
Andras Peller: Soon(tm). Just kidding. We hope to have the first instance ready this year. We know that the fans are dying to play the game, but we also do not want to disappoint them. The old “it’s done when it’s done” applies here.
SS: Will the game be free-to-play?
Andras Peller: Yes, the game will be free to play, but, this is important, NOT pay to win!
SS: Are you planning to go to Kickstarter or other crowdfunding platform as of now? Do you envisage to in the near future?
Andras Peller: Although Kickstarter is an awesome initiative, and we have had this question from many fans, we will not do any crowdfunding.
SS: What more can you tell us about your new Imperium Galactica game?
Andras Peller: To touch on the subject of 4X again (we know it’s a hot topic for our fans), the first installment that will be released will contain the “eXtermination” element. That being said, we look forward to seeing all the ideas the fans come up with about that on our forum.
