--> [Victor] has joined the Chat room
--> [Jean-Rene] has joined the Chat room
<Jean-Rene> Hi Victor
<Victor> Hello
<Victor>
<Victor> Will Seb or Luc be attending?
<Jean-Rene> Seb might be, he said he'll try. As for Luc,
    it's about 11:00AM  there, so he officially works...
<Jean-Rene> I was wondering: do you keep transcripts of
    these chats?
<Victor> I might for this one.  Unfortunately the machine
    eats the text after so many lines so you can't go back
    to get them at the end.
<Jean-Rene> you have to do it manually? it doesn't just
    save?
<Victor> Nope, there's no save option available for me.
<Jean-Rene> I'll have to build you one :-)
<Victor> FOCUS MAN!  :)
<Jean-Rene> One big news came yesterday, and it will help
    me focus on programming only... :-)
<Victor> Excellent
<Jean-Rene> That will leave me with work for only 2 or 3
    people. Better than before!
<Jean-Rene> It doesn't look like this one will be much more
    public...
<Victor> Unfortunately
<Jean-Rene> Oh well... I suppose things will pick up when
    people will have more to chew on...
<Jean-Rene> Sebastien is supposed to release 4 new
    screenshots this weekends. That will be good.
<Victor> Of what?
<Jean-Rene> Almost all of the non-battle and non-system
    graphs are done. He will release the units design,
    tech, secret services and city.
<Jean-Rene> the unit design is particularly good.
<Victor> Do you have Darren's work integrated into the unit
    design screen yet?
<Jean-Rene> I think we still need 2 or 3 models. But most
    was sent, at least enough for me to work. Once I put in
    one model, the rest is just cut-and-paste.
<Jean-Rene> To put them into the game, Sebastien still
    needs to add lightning to them. And I have to divide
    them in frames
<Victor> What about the game endings?
<Jean-Rene> We won't have cinematics, that's for sure. But
    we will have some sort of rating system based on the
    difficulty of your setting.
<Victor> And are you still contemplating a web based high
    score list?
<Jean-Rene> I would like that. There will be the
    possibility to "save" the ending screen, and possibly
    into HTML form. it wouldn't be difficult and would
    enable publishing.
<Jean-Rene> And it would be true to our philosophy toward
    the web
<Victor> Your game manual will be on-line, too?
<Jean-Rene> everything will be included in the download.
    The entire manual will be accessible through a
    right-click, and everything will be linked, like a web
    site.
<Jean-Rene> The beta was already working like that.
<Victor> Has this been done before?
<Victor> In other games?
<Jean-Rene> I don't know for games. It's quite common for
    apps, and civ had a pretty good manual. But I don't
    think it was everything like us.
<Jean-Rene> there are a couple of subtle things like that
    that will be a first in Defcon
<Victor> Such as...
<Jean-Rene> like the interface, and of course the AI. The
    music interface, the learned AI that won't start from
    the beginning for every game.
<Jean-Rene> and the complexity, the 140 players
<Jean-Rene> the ability to change everything in the game to
    build entire scenarios. Other games offered scenarios,
    but never by changing the rules.
<Jean-Rene> by changing data through the editor and
    rebuilding the AI, the player will create entire new
    rules of logic based on his data.
<Victor> Could you give an example of such a game altering
    scenario.
--> [Townsend Vol] has joined the Chat room
<Jean-Rene> If someone changes drastically something and
    Chad becomes a world power, by rebuilding the AI, the
    laws of logic applied to the world will take that into
    account.
<Victor> Hello Townsend
<Townsend Vol> Hello Guys
<Jean-Rene> New relations, new situations... If Chad became
    a world power, the US could become a third world nation!
<Townsend Vol> Glad I was able to get home to make it from
    work.
<Jean-Rene> Hi Townsend
<Townsend Vol> Thanks for all the work you guys are doing,
    we really appreciate it.
<Townsend Vol> Im taking my first programming class this
    semester.
<Jean-Rene> Well, I hope you'll remember that when  the
    times comes to register!
<Victor> It's nothing, really....                oh.
<Townsend Vol> Hey Im ready to buy the game RIGHT now.
<Townsend Vol> You get me the game and I will be happy to
    give you my money.
<Jean-Rene> You should tell that to our investors!
<Victor> Where are you from Townsend?
<Townsend Vol> I will if you tell me how to.
<Townsend Vol> Tennessee
<Jean-Rene> Will you take a course in C, or C++?
<Townsend Vol> Jean-Rene is from Canada right? Where are
    you from?
<Townsend Vol> Both
<Victor> Wisconsin
<Jean-Rene> Sherbrooke, a small town south of Montreal in
    Quebec
<Townsend Vol> C now and C++ later
<Victor> Which would you recommend Jean-Rene?
<Townsend Vol> Yes, which language is used in most game
    programming
<Jean-Rene> It depends... Both can do the same things. C++
    doesn't really give awesome new potentials. But C++  is
    cleaner to write and read, and easier to work in groups.
<Townsend Vol> I dream of the day I can work on a game
    myself
<Townsend Vol> Guess you could tell me it's a nightmare.
    HEHE
<Townsend Vol> So how is Defcon coming along?
<Jean-Rene> It's better than building spreadsheets :-) It
    can be cool, but the most uncool things take 95% of
    your time. The cool multimedia stuff is rather easy...
<Jean-Rene> Like I said to Victor, Sebastien will post 4
    new screenshots this weekend.
<Townsend Vol> Great.
<Townsend Vol> I have my money already set aside.
<Jean-Rene> I made arrangements so that I can give almost
    90% of my time to coding, so it will start again
    rapidly.
<Townsend Vol> Do you find there is a lot of interest right
    now or are you going to depend on Word of mouth
<Jean-Rene> we made many contacts with the industry
    (PCGamer, Game Center, etc.) They all want to talk
    about it, but they're waiting for a complete product to
    do a review. So it's a race right now.
<Townsend Vol> That's good.
<Townsend Vol> I mean that will be great Publicity.
<Victor> A race against the possibility of them losing
    interest?
<Jean-Rene> They won't venture into saying Defcon's cool
    (even if they said so in emails) until it's finished
    because they want to be sure we'll deliver.
<Townsend Vol> Sure that's understandable
<Jean-Rene> A race before we're no longer competitive
    technically
<Townsend Vol> I don't think people will lose interest. Mine
    builds each day.
<Townsend Vol> I have wanted a game like this forever.
<Jean-Rene> Me too, that's why I've started it. As it turns
    out, many people out there are like me ;-)
<Townsend Vol> I wish they would make a Civil War game that
    encompasses the entire war.
<Townsend Vol> Hopefully a lot Huh  $$$$$$
<Jean-Rene> with Defcon 2, that will be possible.
<Jean-Rene> we made plans until defcon3. We won't release
    anything about that, but I can tell you the best is yet
    to come
<Townsend Vol> Well if you ever need any US ARMY Basic
    training war stories let me know.
<Townsend Vol> I would be thrilled with Defcon 1 right now.
    :-)
<Jean-Rene> Me too... :-)
<Jean-Rene> my investors also!
<Townsend Vol> So have you been pleased with your progress
    and product so far?
<Victor> We're all in agreement then!
<Townsend Vol> Tell them its Worth the Wait
<Townsend Vol> Victor do you work on the game as well?
<Victor> No, just a fan
<Townsend Vol> Thanks for the site and Chat its great to
    actually interact with you guys.
<Victor> Though a did a little freelance work this summer
    on the database.
<Townsend Vol> So Victor and Jean-Rene what do you do for
    $$$$. I mean your jobs.
<Victor> My pleasure, I saw the opportunity to put a free
    chat up and I leaped at it.
<Victor> Student, panhandling
<Townsend Vol> Well if it will get you some $$ I will click
    on some of your links for you.
<Townsend Vol> Victor, I know the feeling.
<Jean-Rene> I'm currently studying a MBA. My wife is
    feeding me!
<Jean-Rene> And, again, the investors will soon pitch in.
<Townsend Vol> LOL My wife feeds me too. She is a Civil
    Engineer
<Townsend Vol> Im a lucky man.
<Jean-Rene> My business plan says that I should be
    independent, from sales or from investments, next
    September.
<Jean-Rene> Hopefully from sales...
<Townsend Vol> Well I hope you continue to make great games
<Jean-Rene> thanks.
<Townsend Vol> Do you think you would ever sign with a Big
    game company
<Jean-Rene> you mean, sell the business, or work for them?
<Townsend Vol> Your Welcome
<Townsend Vol> I mean make games and them market them.
<Townsend Vol> Like Ensemble Studios does with Microsoft
<Jean-Rene> Hopefully, I will be able to do that on my own.
    If I publish through the web, I  don't need a big
    company, But if I go retail, I'll probably have to
    sign. I guess I'll see then.
<Townsend Vol> Yeah, I the net allows you to do that.
<Townsend Vol> SO Victor have you played any versions of the
    game yet.
<Victor>  Nope, I first saw Defcon after the alpha test

...<Section Lost>...

<Townsend Vol> RIght
<Jean-Rene> Yes. We will open up the gate and take about 50
    testers. We select them based on enthusiasm and
    experience-computer specs-country.
<Jean-Rene> It will be published on the site a couple of
    weeks before selection.
<Townsend Vol> Well I am definitely, enthusiastic.
<Victor> I don't buy it.              :)
<Jean-Rene> WHAT!?! ;-)
<Victor> Townsend, you have lukewarm excitement at best.
<Townsend Vol> LOL
<Townsend Vol> Thanks a lot
<Jean-Rene> I'll disconnect soon. Do you have any last
    thing you would like to know for today?
<Townsend Vol> Alright you up there in Wisconsin, Cheese
    Head, Ron Dayne Loving people, You need to help me.
<Victor> Alright, you're excited.
<Victor>
<Townsend Vol> I really just wanted to let you know I
    appreciate it and to see how its going, any time frame
<Victor> Does anyone mind if tonight's transcript is
    published?
<Townsend Vol> I don't if it matters
<Jean-Rene> not me.
<Townsend Vol> I know you hate this but any idea when it
    will come to life.
<Jean-Rene> I'm afraid to release a date, because every
    time, something bad happened to my family. But I'm
    hoping to finish coding before May, and publish before
    the end of summer. But it's not official.
<Townsend Vol> Okay thanks, I was just wanting an Idea, I
    understand things happen
<Jean-Rene> In this business, every possible bad thing
    happens!
<Victor> Ask Murphy, it's the law.
<Townsend Vol> Well we will try and make sure your
    rewarded. $$$
<Jean-Rene> It's always new, so I don't have anything to
    fall back on...
<Jean-Rene> That's  fine by me!
<Townsend Vol> Wish I had the money to help you out but
    maybe some day.
<Townsend Vol> JR what are your favorite Comp. games?
<Townsend Vol> Victor too
<Jean-Rene> I mostly play no brainers to relieve from work.
    But I have to say that my inspirations for Defcon are
    Civ, Masters of Orion, SimCity, and a couple of RTS
    that are genuine.
<Jean-Rene> like those from bullfrog
<Victor> #1  Sim City 2K       #2  Civ II   (All time)
<Townsend Vol> The only one I have from them is Total Ann.
<Jean-Rene> But I play really old games (like death rally)
<Victor> It's hard to choose the best
<Jean-Rene> Total Ann. is from Cavedog
<Townsend Vol> II agree
<Jean-<Townsend Vol> HEEHEHE
<Jean-Rene> but they're mostly all the same
<Jean-Rene> units change, but everything else...
<Townsend Vol> I like Caesar 2, Age of Empires, Baldurs
    Gate, Sid Mears Gettysburg and a lot of others
<Victor> Some of the games I had on Com. 64 are some of my
    favorites.  Oldies, but goodies.
<Townsend Vol> I use to love intellivision, about 1,000
    years ago.
<Jean-Rene> I have to talk with Luc before he goes to
    lunch. I will see you next time?
<Townsend Vol> Okay great talking to you and keep up the
    great work.
<Victor> Thanks J-R, been fun.
<Victor> Sure
<Jean-Rene> bye guys.
<Townsend Vol> Thanks again Victor for the chat.
<Townsend Vol> Good bye and God Bless
<Victor> No Prob.
--> [Jean-Rene] has left the Chat room
<Townsend Vol> Victor when will you do this again you think?
<Victor> Well, J-R and I were hoping to have a big crowd
    tonight.
<Victor> Unfortunately, 3 isn't quite a record.
<Townsend Vol> Me too. Sorry. I just about didn't make it
    due to work. But Im glad I did.
<Townsend Vol> LOL I understand
<Victor> J-R will call up the next one.  It will likely be
    in say 3 week, if I had to guess, maybe 2 weeks, maybe
    a month.
<Townsend Vol> Well I will try and make it if you do it
    again. I think a lot are interested in the game though
<Victor> J-R says that web hits have never been higher.
<Townsend Vol> Great. I hope it works out for them. That's
    got to be more work than I can Imagine.
<Townsend Vol> Well Im going to get off of here and do some
    homework  %**&%$%())%$
<Victor> They've been on it since 1997.  J-R has been
    tinkering with the idea even longer.
<Victor> Later, It's been a pleasure.
<Townsend Vol> You take care and keep it up.  God Bless
--> [Townsend Vol] has left the Chat room