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<Victor> Good evening
<Jean-René> Hi. Full room again...
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<Townsend Vol> Hello GUYS
<Jean-René> Hi townsend
<Victor> Evening
<Townsend Vol> Victor this is Christopher in case you didnt
    know
<Victor> Oh, I knew. (a.k.a)
<Townsend Vol> JR  things are looking good. Very nice. I
    kept trying to play. :-)
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<Jean-René> Good sign, I guess!
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<Darren> Hiya!
<Victor> Hello
<Mike> Hi guys
<Jean-René> Hello.
<Townsend Vol> Atleast lots more people this time around.
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<Jean-René> so, what did you guys think of the inetrface so
    far?
<Mike> It looks pretty good
<Townsend Vol> I liked it very sharp.
<Jean-René> Did the controls and uses appear intuitive?
<Mike> Too bad you couldn't include the tech sreen and unit
    design screen
<Mike> pretty much
<Jean-René> I had them working, but they were having some
    graphical glitches...
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<Darren> Graphical glitches..? :(
<Mike> I couldn't access them
<Townsend Vol> JR so has most things been going pretty
    smooth?
<Townsend Vol> Im mean not many NASTY surprises
<Jean-René> things were not falling into place, and I had
    to "lower" the bottom toolbar, which wasn't applicable
    in the referenced map.
<Jean-René> Things are going rather smoothly, on a coding
    side of things...
<Jean-René> For the first time in my life, I have a large
    project with  clean and stable code...
<Victor> You mean the clicks would not have lined up with
    the buttons?
<Jean-René> A joy to work with.
<Townsend Vol> I noticed you said that the images of ships
    and planes would not rotate.
<Darren> *cry*
<Jean-René> Sort of. I use an invisible "referenced" screen
    to let the code know what to do, and it's all dynamic
    (that's how I coded the "window" effect
<Townsend Vol> Is that right?
<Jean-René> About units rotation, I need to find a way to
    use less memory. I'll probably have to code in an AVI
    reader.
<Townsend Vol> In my opinion its not all that necessary.
    But if you can make it work so much the better
<Mike> A nice graphical touch
<Jean-René> I'm not making it my priority. The rotating
    units will probably only be included in the beta.
<Townsend Vol> So did you think up the Line idea on the
    interface?
<Jean-René> The Line idea?
<Townsend Vol> Where they draw around the data or screens
    as they appear.
<Jean-René> Ah. we call it the "laser effect". It's
    something that came up from discussions with Sébastien.
    Just playing around with the interface possibilities...
<Townsend Vol> Oh okay
<Mike> When will the beta be ready? Do you know?
<Jean-René> Using the referenced screen technique is new to
    us, and we're exploring the possibilities as we go
    along.
<Jean-René> I have a strange relation with dates, but I can
    safely say that if things continue at this pace, we'll
    have it ready before summer. But there,s still the
    matter of the AI tweaking, my next challenge...
<Darren> How is the combat AI coming along? :)
<Townsend Vol> What parts of the game will not be in the
    beta?
<Jean-René> We will try to include everything in the beta,
    a complete software.
<Townsend Vol> Okay
<Jean-René> The combat AI is handled differently than the
    strategic AI. I've coded the design, I just need to
    test how it reacts. But it should be ok.
<Townsend Vol> I not sure how you keep all that straight. I
    would be lost.
<Jean-René> But both AIs use the same principles.
<Mike> In what ways is it different?
<Victor> ("Kill the emeny")
<Mike> Will combat AI also learn as it goes?
<Jean-René> For one thing, there are only two objectives
    (defend and kill). The "how to" is more complex, but
    I've built a sort of "light" EHE.
<Mike> Adapt to your tactics and so forth?
<Townsend Vol> EHE??
<Jean-René> I don't think so, because battles will be used
    independantly by the EHE, part of a strategy, but with
    different goals. The "learned" part will be about how
    many troops, where, and when. The "how" will be
    tactical, thus logical.
<Jean-René> The EHE is the name of our intelligence module.
<Mike> Ok.
<Jean-René> You should always keep in mind that this is not
    only a wargame. It's balanced between the 4 spheres.
<Mike> Four spheres?
<Victor> Please tell us more about those other aspects.
<Jean-René> Military is 1 fourth. We've tried to give the
    same importance to the economics, political and
    demographics.
<Mike> Oh, I see.
<Townsend Vol> Can you say more about Demographics?
<Jean-René> That's our orientation of the game, that's why
    we call it a world simulator more than a wargame. If
    you only use the military, the ennemy will
    counterattack on the other 3 aspects. You'll have to
    keep some sort of balance.

...<Section Lost>...
[Jean-René answers Mike's question saying that you can attack other nations without them attacking you.  Answers Victor's question about resource prices in the economy.  Resource prices start at a set rate and change with supply and demand.]

<Jean-René> Yes, you can declare war.
<Jean-René> You can also attack without declaring war.
<Jean-René> Depends on your strategy
<Mike> Good. I really hated the fact that you couldn't in
    Master of Orion
<Darren> Moo!
<Townsend Vol> Would there be a penalty for that
<Jean-René> declaring war?
<Townsend Vol> For attacking without delcaring war
<Jean-René> If you are caugth, yes, very much so... :-)
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<Townsend Vol> Very good
<Jean-René> There will be  two kinds of responses:
<Townsend Vol> Victor Tell Lake Remath that.
<Mike> What kind of treaties can you enter into with
    another country?
<Jean-René> your population could revolt or create
    insurgency (like in the Vietnam case), and
<Victor> (inside joke)
<Jean-René> other nations could decide to butt in
<Townsend Vol> Will the people really be different
    depending on the type of Government?
<Jean-René> There are three kind of treaties. They are all
    listed in the editor.
<Townsend Vol> I mean some governments are more restrictive
    than others.
<Jean-René> They are influenced by the type of government
    and the level of military presence the government use
    on it's population
<Mike> Are you allowed to change your type of government?
<Townsend Vol> Good question
<Victor> What are the penalties for doing so?
<Jean-René> every data is changeable in the editor, and
    there is the option in the game to change one's type.
    But it would be under extremely difficult situations.
    Try to imagine the US going into a monarchy...
<Jean-René> or a dictatorship...
<Victor> Is the opposite direction easier?
<Jean-René> Not much. Look at Haiti or Russia...
<Jean-René> A government type can also be changed for you.
    If rebels take over, your country can become an
    anarchy. Or a Coup would create a dictatorship...
<Jean-René> This would mean game over, though...
<Mike> How easy is it to change a conquered countries
    goverment?
<Townsend Vol> Well we cannot have that then. Call in the
    National Guard.
<Brandon> About the visual interface, I think it would help
    things if you could move around the world map by
    scrolling without having to use the small map in the
    bottom corner of the screen.  Any chance of that?
<Jean-René> the same as changing your own. It depend on t
    he state of the conquered country. Lots of variables
    are involved in the equations...
<Jean-René> Yes. I forgot to add the feature to scroll the
    map by placing the mouse pointer at the screen edges.
    Is that what you mean?
<Mike> Scrolling without the small map would be nice if you
    could do it.
<Brandon> Yep thats what i mean
<Brandon> sounds good
<Brandon> the visual interface is one of the smothest and
    most efficient designs I have seen on a game in a
    while..
<Jean-René> Well thanks...
<Jean-René> I guess three years of work finally pays up!
<Townsend Vol> We hope so, just dont make it four
<Townsend Vol> :-)
<Brandon> By the way, i have been busy so I have not had a
    chance to get back to you since you sent me the
    database..I am in the process of reviewing it now, I
    noticed some things that need tweaking, but overall I
    think its on the right track
<Jean-René> Thanks.
<Darren> That database is like a hot potato - it keeps
    getting passed around :)
<Victor> Brandon is passed the torch, the database from the
    netherworld
<Jean-René> Sébastien didn't really like working with it,
    so I'm taking over.
<Townsend Vol> Just one more thing for you to do Huh
<Jean-René> Yeah, but I'm bored otherwise...
<Jean-René> ;-)
<Townsend Vol> Yeah right.
<Jean-René> The problem is that Sébastien is a
    perfectionnist, and I'm not. I see the deadlines, and I
    prefer a finished product that's 95% correct than a
    100% correct one that no one will ever see...
<Townsend Vol> YEs there is a fine line there isnt there
<Victor> Could you say a few words on the complexity of the
    advisors in the game?
<Brandon> and with tables of battle of foreign countries
    you are never going to get it 100% correct
<Brandon> How much more work is required on the interface
    before you move on to AI?
<Jean-René> The advisors are getting more and more
    interesting. They use the same EHE patterns to think,
    but they learn by YOUR actions, so if you start going a
    certain way, it could clouden their thinking...
<Jean-René> I would say about two more weeks, and then the
    AI.
<Jean-René> their experience will be the actions they will
    see...
<Brandon> you going to release another version of the
    interface in 2 weeks then?
<Mike> What all are you going to do on it? Any big changes?
<Jean-René> I won't sign on that, but about two weeks. I
    have another huge week in school, and I'm going back
    full time on Defcon on thursday.
<Jean-René> I have a list of about 120 things to add up...
<Jean-René> I won't go into them here tonight... :-)
<Townsend Vol> Well JR Im waiting for your game and Baldurs
    Gate 2: Shadows of Amn
<Townsend Vol> Its going to be interesting to see which one
    gets done first
<Jean-René> A contest? or challenge? ;-)
<Victor> Any other cool changes to the game come to mind,
    J-R?
<Townsend Vol> LOL I guess both.  But you both will be
    getting my money.
<Jean-René> The main cool things will be when you see the
    EHE working. On a graphical side of things, I don't
    know anymore what's cool in Defcon... I've looked at it
    for too long.
<Townsend Vol> Did your investors come through for you?
<Mike> I have to go. The interface looks great! Keep up the
    good work!
<Jean-René> Seems so, yes. I'm meeting one tomorrow with
    our new CEO, and a group of five next week.
<Jean-René> Thanks Mike.
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<Townsend Vol> Well best of luck.
<Brandon> new CEO?
<Jean-René> Yeah. I've met her here. She's also doing her
    MBA, and I'm a R&D type anyway. So she's coming along.
    Our team is growing rapidly. We'll be 8 in a couple of
    months...
<Jean-René> I'm still the primary owner anyway, so
    everyone's doing their job.
<Townsend Vol> Need an official Beta testing team.  A BUG
    ZAPPER  :-)
<Jean-René> I'll announce her on our site probably this
    weekend, and add her email address.
<Jean-René> Is there anything else?
<Townsend Vol> Well only HOmework but who wants to do that.
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<Victor> Any closing thoughts for the readers, J-R?
<Jean-René> Errr... don't really know...
<Victor> That is if there are no other live questions.
<Townsend Vol> Come on your a smart guy THINK THINK THINK.
     :-)
<Victor> Something inspirational, preferably.
<Darren> Ah, the end of the chat is coinciding nicely with
    the release of action half-life beta :)
<Victor> : )
<Jean-René> 'been sleeping 4 hours nights for the last two
    weeks...
<Townsend Vol> Well Thanks again JR and best of luck the
    rest of the way. We appreciate it.
<Jean-René> Thanks.
<Darren> Indeed, thanks :) Perhaps we'll see those fancy 3d
    units sometime :)
<Townsend Vol> See you all later.
<Jean-René> soon, I promise... :-)
<Darren> G'night all
<Darren> *chuckle* Later guys
<Jean-René> See you all with the next release.
<Townsend Vol> Good night and God Bless.
<Victor> Thanks for coming everyone, a better showing
    tonight.