Feyd
August 31st, 2005, 06:01 AM
Vincent "Ome Vince" VanGeel - Project Leader
Alex "Mandarax" Gilmore - Community Manager
GN: What inspired you to do this mod for an already great game?
Ome Vince: Mostly a setting that hasn’t been touched yet. And some game aspects we wished to test.
Mandarax: Yeah, I wasn't involved in design, so I just went along for the ride later on.
GN: How much influence have you gotten for this mod from real world events?
Ome Vince: Well, we took the storyline from the Iranian Nuclear program, and the probability that Israeli would try to stop that. But that’s a mere "backline" not even mentioned in the game.
Mostly because we didn’t want to pick sides.
Mandarax: I'll let Vince answer this definitively, but I'm working very hard to make this mod as non-similar to the present Israeli-Palestinian conflict as possible. It's somewhat like the 6-days-war, only no side is portrayed as the aggressor.
Ome Vince: Exactly
GN: That way you don’t get in trouble right?
Mandarax: Yeah, the entire concept is based on very sensitive political grounds
Ome Vince: We wanted it to be a "game", nothing that could suggest a statement.
Mandarax: The MeC team doesn't care which side wins - they just make it possible for the player to determine that for themselves.
GN: So there have been no people emailing you saying you should not do this mod?
Mandarax: We've gotten several responses, mostly in forum topics, about how "crude" or "insensitive" it is due to the current conflict over there. I personally see most of those attacks as absurd, as Palestine isn't mentioned at all. A lot of the people who were attacking the mod also happened to be modders themselves who, I honestly believe, were rather jealous of how quickly and effectively this mod materialized out of thin air.
They just used politics as a mask for their voiced irritation.
GN: When I first saw the screenshots of the mod, I was in awe at how beautifully done it was.
Mandarax: Yes, all the units were textured by one person, so the style is consistent throughout the entire mod. Really helps it look great.
GN: All done by one person?
Mandarax: Yes, it was a huge project.
Ome Vince: A huge load of work was done in a small amount of time. Being everybody was a "Veteran", we skipped the whole "finding out" phase. Research phase might describe it better.
Mandarax: The team was good to go from the very beginning, every member being long-time modders and everyone knew each other. The team worked well and quickly from day one.
GN: Now why did you guys keep the mod was under wraps and only give out a few screen shots. Then have the people say it was a mystery mod?
Ome Vince: It was a release strategy, plus we didn’t want to be distracted during the process. We wanted to generate the "quality" feeling which is hard to achieve right at the beginning
Mandarax: I personally think the mod should have had a longer advertising campaign, but, I didn't join the team until recently so Vince and everyone else were too busy working to pimp the wares.
GN: What new units will there be for the mod? I see in one screen “Magachs take the fight to the Syrians” picture that there will be Howitzers.
Ome Vince: Well basically with each science you go into, what it does is it unlocks/gives you more specific Technology. So in game, after level 3, you start to focus for instance on airpower, and you get more units, like the Apache upgrade, and the F15. So you don’t get to see everything in the beginning, hopefully making the game more fun as it goes on.
Mandarax: Yes, I personally love the Syrian "Iranian Reinforcements" science which grants F-14s, MiG 29s, and FROG-7 launchers
Mandarax: The Syrian BM-21 SSM launcher is cool, but the FROG-7 is just sexy.
GN: Along with the game play changes, how much will the game change as the player buys the generals upgrades during the game?
Mandarax: Sciences don't remove units from your build listings (except for replacement units, such as the Zela 2 supplanting the Zelda) but, the "opposite" unit type will become more expensive, so, if you get an infantry science, it'll be more expensive to get planes to support them. Or, if you get air force, tanks will become costlier.
GN: How will the game play be changed as the super weapons are vehicles, and not structures?
Ome Vince: Well, for starters, the rockets can be fired out of the sky by AA weapons. This makes you "think" before you fire. Also, you for instance will try to fire the
Super weapon from a different place in the map. In order for it to hit its target better evading the AA. This however, does "expose" your super weapon which is a costly death if discovered
Mandarax: Helicopters are great for hunting super weapons.
GN: So normally you would have one, if the options are checked for limit super powers right?
Ome Vince: Nope, you can always build one.
Ome Vince: We didn’t want people making super weapon games, as i know from playing online that ruins the game, its people's choice i know. But, it’s more fun this way.
GN: How have you guys improved the AI for those who like to play against the computer?
Ome Vince: Well, we've invested a HUGE load of time into the AI.
Mandarax: It'll kick your ass if you're not expecting it.
Ome Vince: We've tried to re-create the StarCraft AI, which expands and expands and hunts you down
Ome Vince: With primitive Stone Age tools, we've attempted to make the AI "smart."
Mandarax: Lots of times I've been futzing around in my base testing out new stuff I'd coded only to have four Hinds swoop in and take me out.
Ome Vince: I’ve had the same problem, but with T72's
Mandarax: Especially frustrating for me last night when I'd accidentally made the Israeli AA vehicle useless against aircraft.
GN: So the player would need a lot more AA defense than before right?
Ome Vince: Yes, since THIS AI builds armies of helicopters.
Mandarax: Stationary defenses aren't as effective these days, especially against human players, due to artillery and the toughness of some helicopters. The Hind is not very manuverable, but good grief it'll lay down the hurt and take a lot of punishment
Ome Vince: yup, it’s a massive Air-TANK.
Mandarax: the Israelis have the M163 "Hovet" as antiaircraft. It comes with a 20mm Vulcan cannon useful against planes, infantry and light vehicles. You can upgrade it to a Machbet, the difference being the inclusion of a four-shot Stinger launcher. The Machbet can make short work of one or two helicopters, but it can get overwhelmed.
Ome Vince: Yes, that ones my favorites
Mandarax: The Syrians have the coolest AA vehicle.
Ome Vince: I just love Vulcan miniguns.
Mandarax: The SA-6B Gainful. I'm sure you saw the screenshot of one of those 18-foot-long missiles impacting a Skycrane?
Ome Vince: yeah, that’s gotta hurt.
Mandarax: the SA-6 carries three missiles at a time. Two can knock down most any aircraft in existence. The fun part then though is hitting them head-on with aircraft; the SA-6 doesn't turn and elevate its missiles fast enough to counterattack usually.
GN: So you have gotten a lot of real world vehicles, buildings, and weapons in the game?
Mandarax: Yes, practically all units in game are replicas, or heavily based on real-world units.
GN: As from seeing the pictures, the buildings in the game and scenery, how much of that did you guys do or change?
Ome Vince: All faction buildings, civilian/generic structures, and more are a possible update.
GN: The camouflaged tanks I see are also in the game, how will that change game play for the players?
Ome Vince: Those are the Syrian dug-in defense turrets/tanks; you can also manually create camonetting for the vehicles etc. This will increase the “hiding” attribute.
GN: After seeing the screenshots, how many new effects did you put into the game?
Mandarax: There are a lot of new and modified effects; many are still going in as we speak. At the time of this interview beginning, I was making it so that heavy machineguns and auto cannons make big puffs and sparks wherever their bullets impact, you'd be amazed how tough it was to get the effect working
GN: So people that can play Zero Hour can play this mod with no problem?
Ome Vince: yeah, the learning curve is pretty easy; however, for some less "experienced" Zero Hour players we are creating a Game Document, with some images to support it.
Mandarax: It's pretty self-explanatory; you have your tank, your APC, your artillery, your fighter plane, your transport helicopter, etc. At this point there are very few global upgrades and niche specializations save for the main third-level Special Sciences. So, once you get on the ground, you're going to be hauling ass and getting the party started in seconds.
The Israelis are best at this; they have very quick-building bases and can move around rapidly to dominate the map while Syria is setting up its economy back home to prepare its heavy attacks
GN: What about the balance of the game, Will there be units that can balance the other teams units out?
Mandarax: Yes, the sides play in relatively similar style. To connect to Zero Hour, Syria plays akin to China, while Israel plays like the USA, its different, but not to different. Syrians are good at armored steamroller-fests, while the Israelis can zoom around with planes, light helicopters, and powerful infantry.
GN: But what about the USA or NATO will they be in the game somewhere?
Mandarax: No, they're staying completely out of the conflict in terms of politics/sides
Mandarax: Israel and Syria use a lot of American and Ex-Soviet equipment, but they're all used by Israeli or Syrian crews and militaries.This can be especially amusing when the Syrians get Iranian reinforcements which gives them F-14 Tomcat fighters which can then be used to shoot down Cobras,
Apaches, C-17s, F-16s F-15s, Black hawks, and other American-made aircraft.
F-14 vs. F-15? Who will win? Only time and combat will tell.
GN: Will there be a single player story line for the game or will that be in a later patch?
Mandarax: I personally haven’t heard any word of a single player campaign for either side, so I highly doubt there will be one. A campaign would have to reveal an aggressor of some sort or other.
Mandarax: However, there will likely be a multiplayer tournament set up like a campaign in the month or so following release.
GN: very cool.
Mandarax: Players will fight on life-based maps of the Golan Heights, surrounding areas, and, if one side does well enough, Damascus or Jerusalem.
GN: sort of pushing sensitive areas there huh.
Mandarax: potentially, but I see it as no worse than the GLA dropping nukes on European cities or killing civilians for money
GN: good point.
Mandarax: Especially since it won't be a conquest on the part of one side or another, GLA was trying to take over the world, whereas Israel and Syria are fighting to end the local conflict
GN: What about the “Mod Toaster” and how will this help those who already have a mod switching tool?
Mandarax: Aha, ModToaster! Now here's a cool little toy. It's in final beta as we speak. What it does is allow the user to download any of the mods hosted by it and play any and all they like with just a few short mouse clicks
If you already have a mod swapper, ModToaster will most likely not interfere, though it might get errors due to extraneous mod files in the folders. Chances are though; ModToaster will become the only mod swapper anyone will need.
GN: very nice.
Mandarax: We're doing the best we can to make ModToaster as user friendly and intuitive as possible, it's not perfectly idiot proofed yet, but it will be.
GN: Would you like to add any thing to finish off the interview?
Mandarax: Hmm...I would like to mention that it's a bad idea to get in the way of a Merkava.
GN: haha
Mandarax: they have a nasty tendency to break everything, oh man, if you get an armada of Merkavas, god help your enemy, because weapons won't.
GN: haha
Mandarax: Yeah, I think that people will be very pleased with this mod. It's simple to learn, quick to play, looks superb if I do say so myself, and there's all kinds of neato-keen ways to blow your enemy to tiny bits.
GN: Thank you for joining me in this interview, and we can't wait to see Midile East Crisis released.
Mandarax: And thank you for your interest.
Alex "Mandarax" Gilmore - Community Manager
GN: What inspired you to do this mod for an already great game?
Ome Vince: Mostly a setting that hasn’t been touched yet. And some game aspects we wished to test.
Mandarax: Yeah, I wasn't involved in design, so I just went along for the ride later on.
GN: How much influence have you gotten for this mod from real world events?
Ome Vince: Well, we took the storyline from the Iranian Nuclear program, and the probability that Israeli would try to stop that. But that’s a mere "backline" not even mentioned in the game.
Mostly because we didn’t want to pick sides.
Mandarax: I'll let Vince answer this definitively, but I'm working very hard to make this mod as non-similar to the present Israeli-Palestinian conflict as possible. It's somewhat like the 6-days-war, only no side is portrayed as the aggressor.
Ome Vince: Exactly
GN: That way you don’t get in trouble right?
Mandarax: Yeah, the entire concept is based on very sensitive political grounds
Ome Vince: We wanted it to be a "game", nothing that could suggest a statement.
Mandarax: The MeC team doesn't care which side wins - they just make it possible for the player to determine that for themselves.
GN: So there have been no people emailing you saying you should not do this mod?
Mandarax: We've gotten several responses, mostly in forum topics, about how "crude" or "insensitive" it is due to the current conflict over there. I personally see most of those attacks as absurd, as Palestine isn't mentioned at all. A lot of the people who were attacking the mod also happened to be modders themselves who, I honestly believe, were rather jealous of how quickly and effectively this mod materialized out of thin air.
They just used politics as a mask for their voiced irritation.
GN: When I first saw the screenshots of the mod, I was in awe at how beautifully done it was.
Mandarax: Yes, all the units were textured by one person, so the style is consistent throughout the entire mod. Really helps it look great.
GN: All done by one person?
Mandarax: Yes, it was a huge project.
Ome Vince: A huge load of work was done in a small amount of time. Being everybody was a "Veteran", we skipped the whole "finding out" phase. Research phase might describe it better.
Mandarax: The team was good to go from the very beginning, every member being long-time modders and everyone knew each other. The team worked well and quickly from day one.
GN: Now why did you guys keep the mod was under wraps and only give out a few screen shots. Then have the people say it was a mystery mod?
Ome Vince: It was a release strategy, plus we didn’t want to be distracted during the process. We wanted to generate the "quality" feeling which is hard to achieve right at the beginning
Mandarax: I personally think the mod should have had a longer advertising campaign, but, I didn't join the team until recently so Vince and everyone else were too busy working to pimp the wares.
GN: What new units will there be for the mod? I see in one screen “Magachs take the fight to the Syrians” picture that there will be Howitzers.
Ome Vince: Well basically with each science you go into, what it does is it unlocks/gives you more specific Technology. So in game, after level 3, you start to focus for instance on airpower, and you get more units, like the Apache upgrade, and the F15. So you don’t get to see everything in the beginning, hopefully making the game more fun as it goes on.
Mandarax: Yes, I personally love the Syrian "Iranian Reinforcements" science which grants F-14s, MiG 29s, and FROG-7 launchers
Mandarax: The Syrian BM-21 SSM launcher is cool, but the FROG-7 is just sexy.
GN: Along with the game play changes, how much will the game change as the player buys the generals upgrades during the game?
Mandarax: Sciences don't remove units from your build listings (except for replacement units, such as the Zela 2 supplanting the Zelda) but, the "opposite" unit type will become more expensive, so, if you get an infantry science, it'll be more expensive to get planes to support them. Or, if you get air force, tanks will become costlier.
GN: How will the game play be changed as the super weapons are vehicles, and not structures?
Ome Vince: Well, for starters, the rockets can be fired out of the sky by AA weapons. This makes you "think" before you fire. Also, you for instance will try to fire the
Super weapon from a different place in the map. In order for it to hit its target better evading the AA. This however, does "expose" your super weapon which is a costly death if discovered
Mandarax: Helicopters are great for hunting super weapons.
GN: So normally you would have one, if the options are checked for limit super powers right?
Ome Vince: Nope, you can always build one.
Ome Vince: We didn’t want people making super weapon games, as i know from playing online that ruins the game, its people's choice i know. But, it’s more fun this way.
GN: How have you guys improved the AI for those who like to play against the computer?
Ome Vince: Well, we've invested a HUGE load of time into the AI.
Mandarax: It'll kick your ass if you're not expecting it.
Ome Vince: We've tried to re-create the StarCraft AI, which expands and expands and hunts you down
Ome Vince: With primitive Stone Age tools, we've attempted to make the AI "smart."
Mandarax: Lots of times I've been futzing around in my base testing out new stuff I'd coded only to have four Hinds swoop in and take me out.
Ome Vince: I’ve had the same problem, but with T72's
Mandarax: Especially frustrating for me last night when I'd accidentally made the Israeli AA vehicle useless against aircraft.
GN: So the player would need a lot more AA defense than before right?
Ome Vince: Yes, since THIS AI builds armies of helicopters.
Mandarax: Stationary defenses aren't as effective these days, especially against human players, due to artillery and the toughness of some helicopters. The Hind is not very manuverable, but good grief it'll lay down the hurt and take a lot of punishment
Ome Vince: yup, it’s a massive Air-TANK.
Mandarax: the Israelis have the M163 "Hovet" as antiaircraft. It comes with a 20mm Vulcan cannon useful against planes, infantry and light vehicles. You can upgrade it to a Machbet, the difference being the inclusion of a four-shot Stinger launcher. The Machbet can make short work of one or two helicopters, but it can get overwhelmed.
Ome Vince: Yes, that ones my favorites
Mandarax: The Syrians have the coolest AA vehicle.
Ome Vince: I just love Vulcan miniguns.
Mandarax: The SA-6B Gainful. I'm sure you saw the screenshot of one of those 18-foot-long missiles impacting a Skycrane?
Ome Vince: yeah, that’s gotta hurt.
Mandarax: the SA-6 carries three missiles at a time. Two can knock down most any aircraft in existence. The fun part then though is hitting them head-on with aircraft; the SA-6 doesn't turn and elevate its missiles fast enough to counterattack usually.
GN: So you have gotten a lot of real world vehicles, buildings, and weapons in the game?
Mandarax: Yes, practically all units in game are replicas, or heavily based on real-world units.
GN: As from seeing the pictures, the buildings in the game and scenery, how much of that did you guys do or change?
Ome Vince: All faction buildings, civilian/generic structures, and more are a possible update.
GN: The camouflaged tanks I see are also in the game, how will that change game play for the players?
Ome Vince: Those are the Syrian dug-in defense turrets/tanks; you can also manually create camonetting for the vehicles etc. This will increase the “hiding” attribute.
GN: After seeing the screenshots, how many new effects did you put into the game?
Mandarax: There are a lot of new and modified effects; many are still going in as we speak. At the time of this interview beginning, I was making it so that heavy machineguns and auto cannons make big puffs and sparks wherever their bullets impact, you'd be amazed how tough it was to get the effect working
GN: So people that can play Zero Hour can play this mod with no problem?
Ome Vince: yeah, the learning curve is pretty easy; however, for some less "experienced" Zero Hour players we are creating a Game Document, with some images to support it.
Mandarax: It's pretty self-explanatory; you have your tank, your APC, your artillery, your fighter plane, your transport helicopter, etc. At this point there are very few global upgrades and niche specializations save for the main third-level Special Sciences. So, once you get on the ground, you're going to be hauling ass and getting the party started in seconds.
The Israelis are best at this; they have very quick-building bases and can move around rapidly to dominate the map while Syria is setting up its economy back home to prepare its heavy attacks
GN: What about the balance of the game, Will there be units that can balance the other teams units out?
Mandarax: Yes, the sides play in relatively similar style. To connect to Zero Hour, Syria plays akin to China, while Israel plays like the USA, its different, but not to different. Syrians are good at armored steamroller-fests, while the Israelis can zoom around with planes, light helicopters, and powerful infantry.
GN: But what about the USA or NATO will they be in the game somewhere?
Mandarax: No, they're staying completely out of the conflict in terms of politics/sides
Mandarax: Israel and Syria use a lot of American and Ex-Soviet equipment, but they're all used by Israeli or Syrian crews and militaries.This can be especially amusing when the Syrians get Iranian reinforcements which gives them F-14 Tomcat fighters which can then be used to shoot down Cobras,
Apaches, C-17s, F-16s F-15s, Black hawks, and other American-made aircraft.
F-14 vs. F-15? Who will win? Only time and combat will tell.
GN: Will there be a single player story line for the game or will that be in a later patch?
Mandarax: I personally haven’t heard any word of a single player campaign for either side, so I highly doubt there will be one. A campaign would have to reveal an aggressor of some sort or other.
Mandarax: However, there will likely be a multiplayer tournament set up like a campaign in the month or so following release.
GN: very cool.
Mandarax: Players will fight on life-based maps of the Golan Heights, surrounding areas, and, if one side does well enough, Damascus or Jerusalem.
GN: sort of pushing sensitive areas there huh.
Mandarax: potentially, but I see it as no worse than the GLA dropping nukes on European cities or killing civilians for money
GN: good point.
Mandarax: Especially since it won't be a conquest on the part of one side or another, GLA was trying to take over the world, whereas Israel and Syria are fighting to end the local conflict
GN: What about the “Mod Toaster” and how will this help those who already have a mod switching tool?
Mandarax: Aha, ModToaster! Now here's a cool little toy. It's in final beta as we speak. What it does is allow the user to download any of the mods hosted by it and play any and all they like with just a few short mouse clicks
If you already have a mod swapper, ModToaster will most likely not interfere, though it might get errors due to extraneous mod files in the folders. Chances are though; ModToaster will become the only mod swapper anyone will need.
GN: very nice.
Mandarax: We're doing the best we can to make ModToaster as user friendly and intuitive as possible, it's not perfectly idiot proofed yet, but it will be.
GN: Would you like to add any thing to finish off the interview?
Mandarax: Hmm...I would like to mention that it's a bad idea to get in the way of a Merkava.
GN: haha
Mandarax: they have a nasty tendency to break everything, oh man, if you get an armada of Merkavas, god help your enemy, because weapons won't.
GN: haha
Mandarax: Yeah, I think that people will be very pleased with this mod. It's simple to learn, quick to play, looks superb if I do say so myself, and there's all kinds of neato-keen ways to blow your enemy to tiny bits.
GN: Thank you for joining me in this interview, and we can't wait to see Midile East Crisis released.
Mandarax: And thank you for your interest.