[imgleft]http://lh4.ggpht.com/_cQOyQjTP3GY/SzxZ6e06xpI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/IcsTb9OaZF4/s128/east-india.gif[/imgleft]As many of you who visit Pirates Ahoy! are aware, many moons ago we had our first Q&A with Kim shortly after East India Company was announced. At the time EIC impressed us with it's immense scope of trading around the globe and gameplay mechanics similar to Patrician. It was also exciting to think that finally there would be a game that could suit all players, a part for the traders and the non-confrontational to ply their trade from Riga to Kerala and build their company empire along the way and for others to fight their way through and plunder to their hearts content not abiding by the rules of trade, or fair play.
The sun is now setting on the development of EIC and we can now get a more definitive look at what is available as far as gameplay and scope in the final version.
Thanks again to Nitro as well as lead designer Kim Soares for taking the time after GDC to entertain us, again, with our Q&A #2.
Distribution & Timeline & General
Pirates Ahoy!: Firstly, are you still on track for a Q1 Release?
Kim: Due to latest developments, release date for EIC is Q3 2009. I assure you that the game will be that much better as to make up for the extra wait.
Pirates Ahoy!: There have recently been reports of your publisher having issues, will this effect how EIC is released, as well will it affect future responsibilities such as patches?
Kim: As everyone probably knows by now, Nitro Games has signed a publishing deal with Paradox Interactive.
Pirates Ahoy!: Will EIC be released on a digital platform such as Gamersgate or Steam?
Kim: With Paradox being the publisher, EIC is going to be released through gamersgate as well.
Pirates Ahoy!: What are the minimum and recommended requirements for the game?
Kim:
Minimum System Requirements
OS: Windows® XP
CPU: 1,6 GHz Intel® Pentium® processor or equivalent AMD® Athlon™ processor
RAM: 1 GB (2 GB recommended for Windows® Vista™)
Video: 128 MB DirectX® 9.0c compatible or better video card with pixelshader 2.0
Drive: 4X PC DVD-ROM
Sound: DirectX® 9.0c compatible sound card
Available Hard Disk Space: Approx. 6 GB
DirectX®: 9.0c
Other: 3-button Mouse, Keyboard and Speakers. Internet connection for multiplayer.
Recommended System Requirements
OS: Windows® XP / Vista™
CPU: 2,0 GHz Intel® Pentium® processor or AMD® Athlon™ processor
RAM: 2GB
Video: 512 MB DirectX® 9.0c compatible or better video card with pixelshader 3.0
Drive: 4X PC DVD-ROM
Sound: DirectX® 9.0c compatible sound card
Available Hard Disk Space: Approx. 6 GB
DirectX®: 9.0c
Other: 3-button Mouse, Keyboard and Speakers. 1 MBps Internet connection for multiplayer.
Gameplay
Pirates Ahoy!: What is the scope of EIC and how long can you have a company running for?
a. If the timeframe is quite open, will ships be available during this timeline or all up front?
b. Will upgrade and additions be available through time?
Kim: The Grand Campaign spans 200 years from 1600 to 1800. There are a number of shorter campaigns too. Different ship types come available at certain years and they can affect the balance. For example, at the start of the 17th century galleons are the most powerful warships, but when frigates that are faster and have more firepower come available galleons experience rapid inflation.
Ship types themselves are not upgradable. Players are able to develop their fleets through fleet commanders. Each fleet has a commander who gains experience and upon leveling up can learn new skills. Some of the skills are more trade or sailing oriented whilst others are pure combat skills. In addition, some combat skills are in effect all the time but others can only be activated for a short while during battle.
Pirates Ahoy!: Can elements of a fleet be re-arranged/combined only when the fleets are in same general area? If so is it possible to perform the re-arrangement after notification of immanent battle but before battle ensues? Alternatively, say my empire controls a large portion of the map. When I leave the relative safe area I encounter one of my friendly patrols. Would I be able to change the makeup of the two fleets or assign a portion of the patrol as escorts? Can I reinforce my patrols at sea or only when they come back to port for resupply & refit?
Kim: Fleets can be re-arranged, combined or split up only whilst in port. It does not matter who owns the port in question.
Pirates Ahoy!: Can fleet commanders commandeer ships for their fleets on the fly from other fleets?
a. If I have the max number of fleets created what happens to captured vessels?
b. If I loose a fleet battle does that mean all my ships were either captured or sunk?
Kim: Enemy ships boarded or forced to surrender can be looted after the battle and even included into your own fleet. There is the limitation of 20 fleets and 5 ships per fleet. In addition, you might not be able to take enemy ships into your fleet if you do not have enough crew members to operate all vessels.
You can lose the battle also by fleeing. Ships that fled successfully are returned to player command when the battle is over. If one or more of your ships surrender during the battle, after losing boarding action for example, but you still win the battle, you get those ships back too.
Pirates Ahoy!: Playing EIC is actually similar to sandbox or is it more alike to a campaign?
Kim: EIC is campaign driven. The Grand Campaign spans the entire 200 years from 1600 to 1800 but there are also a number of shorter campaigns. Campaigns have specific campaign missions that player must accomplish along the way or else the campaign is failed. These missions include importing large amounts of specific items like tea and spices, but also conquering Indian ports and sinking ships of rival companies.
We have been thinking of making a pure sandbox mode as well, but haven't really decided on that yet.
Pirates Ahoy!: Most importantly, can you play as a pirate, avoiding all trade bar selling what you have relieved from other unfortunate ships?
Kim: Well, you cannot play as a pirate nation or anything like that. Theoretically you could meet all the campaign mission import quotas by leeching on trading ships of other companies, boarding them and taking the ships as well as their cargo. In effect you would have hard time succeeding with this approach alone, as other companies would not sit idly by while you prey on their fleets.
In any case, piracy is a valid approach to supplement your more peaceful trading efforts if you are inclined to do so.
Pirates Ahoy!: What other activities can you get up to in EIC other than fighting on sea and trading? Are there any empire building elements or quests?
Kim: One thing I'd like to mention about trading is the prices. Prices in EIC are dynamic, being affected by supply and demand. The more you buy a certain item, say silk from Calcutta, the higher its price will go there as they have less to offer you. As you sell that silk at your home port the price will go down as the demand is satisfied. This works the other way around too and so prices can plummet or soar.
These price changes do not happen when small amounts are in question, but they come into play sooner or later. Player can and indeed must take these economics into account. Prices can be affected by upgrading trading post inside the port and that not only makes the items more affordable to the player but also increases the amount available. Naturally you must rule the port in question in order to be able to upgrade its buildings.
All ports are important in the game, not just those that produce Main Trade Items like tea and spices. This is because all fleets have a range that diminishes as they sail around. This is to represent their need to visit ports to resupply food and water. If you do not have access to ports in the southern tip of Africa for example, you can be effectively cut out from East Indies. That will soon cripple your economy. As all ports are important, conquering them or having access to them through pact or alliance is very important and affects overall playing strategy a lot.
Diplomacy plays important part and it can have major effect if you use it wisely. Negotiations are based on relationships between all the companies, not just the two that are negotiating. Enemy of my enemy is my friend and so on, you know. There are multiple things affecting diplomacy. AI companies also take into account the relative power between your two companies. If you are stronger they are inclined to accept even deals that are not profitable to them. You can even go as far as threaten them with war and so in effect extort other companies. Companies that feel they were treated unfairly will remember it for a long time and even threats of war do not work forever. AI companies also remember gifts or deals that are profitable to them. Player is able to do a lot of things through diplomacy.
There are also random events and missions that you can get from Company Directors, private merchants or the Crown of your country. These range from ships lost in storm to orders to conquer Indian ports.
Modification
Pirates Ahoy!: Is there any plans for a SDK release and will that SDK include tools for modeling?
a. If a SDK is planned and model tools are included, will it be possible to add land to the game?
Kim: There are currently no plans to release actual SDK. Certain files could be left open for modifying.
Pirates Ahoy!: Lastly, is there anything you can tell us at this time about your next title, Cutthroat?
Kim: Not much unfortunately as we have not officially announced it yet. It is a pirate themed game we have under development. Tag line is "You think you know something about pirates?" and the premise it includes is that you are going to be surprised by our approach on the subject.
So there you go, a bit of sad news for the modders out there looking to make TC mods, albeit that the "Certain files could be left open for modifying" may be the silver lining.
On the bright side, it looks like we can play as a pirate and take advatange of all those trading ships just sailing by looking to get plundered.
Thanks Kim and all the best for the future.
If your looking for more information about EIC:-
EIC Homepage
EIC News
EIC Wiki
EIC Gallery
PA! EIC Forum
Official Paradox EIC Forum
The sun is now setting on the development of EIC and we can now get a more definitive look at what is available as far as gameplay and scope in the final version.
Thanks again to Nitro as well as lead designer Kim Soares for taking the time after GDC to entertain us, again, with our Q&A #2.
Distribution & Timeline & General
Pirates Ahoy!: Firstly, are you still on track for a Q1 Release?
Kim: Due to latest developments, release date for EIC is Q3 2009. I assure you that the game will be that much better as to make up for the extra wait.
Pirates Ahoy!: There have recently been reports of your publisher having issues, will this effect how EIC is released, as well will it affect future responsibilities such as patches?
Kim: As everyone probably knows by now, Nitro Games has signed a publishing deal with Paradox Interactive.
Pirates Ahoy!: Will EIC be released on a digital platform such as Gamersgate or Steam?
Kim: With Paradox being the publisher, EIC is going to be released through gamersgate as well.
Pirates Ahoy!: What are the minimum and recommended requirements for the game?
Kim:
Minimum System Requirements
OS: Windows® XP
CPU: 1,6 GHz Intel® Pentium® processor or equivalent AMD® Athlon™ processor
RAM: 1 GB (2 GB recommended for Windows® Vista™)
Video: 128 MB DirectX® 9.0c compatible or better video card with pixelshader 2.0
Drive: 4X PC DVD-ROM
Sound: DirectX® 9.0c compatible sound card
Available Hard Disk Space: Approx. 6 GB
DirectX®: 9.0c
Other: 3-button Mouse, Keyboard and Speakers. Internet connection for multiplayer.
Recommended System Requirements
OS: Windows® XP / Vista™
CPU: 2,0 GHz Intel® Pentium® processor or AMD® Athlon™ processor
RAM: 2GB
Video: 512 MB DirectX® 9.0c compatible or better video card with pixelshader 3.0
Drive: 4X PC DVD-ROM
Sound: DirectX® 9.0c compatible sound card
Available Hard Disk Space: Approx. 6 GB
DirectX®: 9.0c
Other: 3-button Mouse, Keyboard and Speakers. 1 MBps Internet connection for multiplayer.
Gameplay
Pirates Ahoy!: What is the scope of EIC and how long can you have a company running for?
a. If the timeframe is quite open, will ships be available during this timeline or all up front?
b. Will upgrade and additions be available through time?
Kim: The Grand Campaign spans 200 years from 1600 to 1800. There are a number of shorter campaigns too. Different ship types come available at certain years and they can affect the balance. For example, at the start of the 17th century galleons are the most powerful warships, but when frigates that are faster and have more firepower come available galleons experience rapid inflation.
Ship types themselves are not upgradable. Players are able to develop their fleets through fleet commanders. Each fleet has a commander who gains experience and upon leveling up can learn new skills. Some of the skills are more trade or sailing oriented whilst others are pure combat skills. In addition, some combat skills are in effect all the time but others can only be activated for a short while during battle.
Pirates Ahoy!: Can elements of a fleet be re-arranged/combined only when the fleets are in same general area? If so is it possible to perform the re-arrangement after notification of immanent battle but before battle ensues? Alternatively, say my empire controls a large portion of the map. When I leave the relative safe area I encounter one of my friendly patrols. Would I be able to change the makeup of the two fleets or assign a portion of the patrol as escorts? Can I reinforce my patrols at sea or only when they come back to port for resupply & refit?
Kim: Fleets can be re-arranged, combined or split up only whilst in port. It does not matter who owns the port in question.
Pirates Ahoy!: Can fleet commanders commandeer ships for their fleets on the fly from other fleets?
a. If I have the max number of fleets created what happens to captured vessels?
b. If I loose a fleet battle does that mean all my ships were either captured or sunk?
Kim: Enemy ships boarded or forced to surrender can be looted after the battle and even included into your own fleet. There is the limitation of 20 fleets and 5 ships per fleet. In addition, you might not be able to take enemy ships into your fleet if you do not have enough crew members to operate all vessels.
You can lose the battle also by fleeing. Ships that fled successfully are returned to player command when the battle is over. If one or more of your ships surrender during the battle, after losing boarding action for example, but you still win the battle, you get those ships back too.
Pirates Ahoy!: Playing EIC is actually similar to sandbox or is it more alike to a campaign?
Kim: EIC is campaign driven. The Grand Campaign spans the entire 200 years from 1600 to 1800 but there are also a number of shorter campaigns. Campaigns have specific campaign missions that player must accomplish along the way or else the campaign is failed. These missions include importing large amounts of specific items like tea and spices, but also conquering Indian ports and sinking ships of rival companies.
We have been thinking of making a pure sandbox mode as well, but haven't really decided on that yet.
Pirates Ahoy!: Most importantly, can you play as a pirate, avoiding all trade bar selling what you have relieved from other unfortunate ships?
Kim: Well, you cannot play as a pirate nation or anything like that. Theoretically you could meet all the campaign mission import quotas by leeching on trading ships of other companies, boarding them and taking the ships as well as their cargo. In effect you would have hard time succeeding with this approach alone, as other companies would not sit idly by while you prey on their fleets.
In any case, piracy is a valid approach to supplement your more peaceful trading efforts if you are inclined to do so.
Pirates Ahoy!: What other activities can you get up to in EIC other than fighting on sea and trading? Are there any empire building elements or quests?
Kim: One thing I'd like to mention about trading is the prices. Prices in EIC are dynamic, being affected by supply and demand. The more you buy a certain item, say silk from Calcutta, the higher its price will go there as they have less to offer you. As you sell that silk at your home port the price will go down as the demand is satisfied. This works the other way around too and so prices can plummet or soar.
These price changes do not happen when small amounts are in question, but they come into play sooner or later. Player can and indeed must take these economics into account. Prices can be affected by upgrading trading post inside the port and that not only makes the items more affordable to the player but also increases the amount available. Naturally you must rule the port in question in order to be able to upgrade its buildings.
All ports are important in the game, not just those that produce Main Trade Items like tea and spices. This is because all fleets have a range that diminishes as they sail around. This is to represent their need to visit ports to resupply food and water. If you do not have access to ports in the southern tip of Africa for example, you can be effectively cut out from East Indies. That will soon cripple your economy. As all ports are important, conquering them or having access to them through pact or alliance is very important and affects overall playing strategy a lot.
Diplomacy plays important part and it can have major effect if you use it wisely. Negotiations are based on relationships between all the companies, not just the two that are negotiating. Enemy of my enemy is my friend and so on, you know. There are multiple things affecting diplomacy. AI companies also take into account the relative power between your two companies. If you are stronger they are inclined to accept even deals that are not profitable to them. You can even go as far as threaten them with war and so in effect extort other companies. Companies that feel they were treated unfairly will remember it for a long time and even threats of war do not work forever. AI companies also remember gifts or deals that are profitable to them. Player is able to do a lot of things through diplomacy.
There are also random events and missions that you can get from Company Directors, private merchants or the Crown of your country. These range from ships lost in storm to orders to conquer Indian ports.
Modification
Pirates Ahoy!: Is there any plans for a SDK release and will that SDK include tools for modeling?
a. If a SDK is planned and model tools are included, will it be possible to add land to the game?
Kim: There are currently no plans to release actual SDK. Certain files could be left open for modifying.
Pirates Ahoy!: Lastly, is there anything you can tell us at this time about your next title, Cutthroat?
Kim: Not much unfortunately as we have not officially announced it yet. It is a pirate themed game we have under development. Tag line is "You think you know something about pirates?" and the premise it includes is that you are going to be surprised by our approach on the subject.
So there you go, a bit of sad news for the modders out there looking to make TC mods, albeit that the "Certain files could be left open for modifying" may be the silver lining.
On the bright side, it looks like we can play as a pirate and take advatange of all those trading ships just sailing by looking to get plundered.
Thanks Kim and all the best for the future.
If your looking for more information about EIC:-
EIC Homepage
EIC News
EIC Wiki
EIC Gallery
PA! EIC Forum
Official Paradox EIC Forum
